Unit 10: At the stadium

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Aims and Objectives

In this unit you are going to learn about current issues related to visiting stadiums. You are also going to practise past tenses.

The grammar focus of this unit is:

Vocabulary

Vocabulary Practice

Exercise not available in this language version.

Comprehension

Exercise 1: Multiple Choice Questions

Chose the correct answer.

Recording:
Transcript:

Bradford-Lincoln were playing 0-0, the match was going into the 41st minute when suddenly some spectators saw smoke coming from under the rows in block G, and then the light of fire came up. Visitors on the tiers in block G first felt heat under their feet, but then they realised what was happening. Several spectators went quickly for the fire extinguishers, but found none, as they had been taken away by the stewards to avoid possible vandalism. The fire escalated and flames became visible all around. People started for the door and a stampede broke out. People tried to escape through the safety exits, but many of them were closed to prevent fans without tickets from entering the stadium. The fire spread a like flash and even though the fire brigade arrived just four minutes after being called, the killing heat and flames buried 56 people at the stadium. That was a match with no winner, a match that changed the lives of many football fans.

  1. Bradford-Lincoln were playing
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. The match was going into
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. Suddenly some spectators saw
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  4. The light of fire came up
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  5. Fire extinguishers had been taken away
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  6. People started
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  7. Many safety exits were closed
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  8. The fire brigade arrived
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  9. Heat and flames buried
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  10. That was a match
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice Questions

Chose the correct answer.

Recording:
Transcript:

The fire was caused by a lit cigarette which was dropped accidentally by one of the spectators through a hole in the stand. The stand seats did not have any risers so paper and debris accumulated in the dry empty space under the stand, just waiting to be lit. Later investigation showed that the tragedy could have been prevented, since an inspection a year before the tragedy had warned the club that accumulating rubbish under the wooden stands presented a serious risk, however the club didn't replace the stands for financial reasons.

  1. The fire was caused
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. The stand seats didn't have any
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. Paper and debris accumulated
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  4. The tragedy
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  5. An inspection had warned the club
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  6. Rubbish under the stands presented
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  7. The club didn't replace the stands
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?

Exercise 3: Exposed Cloze

Use the correct word or expression from the list below to fill in the gaps in the sentences.

  • arena
  • ballpark
  • circus
  • extinquisher
  • fire
  • hooligans
  • horse
  • movable
  • relict
  • safety
  • seats
  • section
  • stamina
Transcript:

sports require strength and stamina

arena is for indoor sports

baseball match is at ballpark

bullfights are a relict of the past

gladiator games were in the circus

horse race at the hippodrome

tiered seats

standing-only section

movable fields

hooligans demolished the club

fire extinquisher

fire brigade

safety exit

sports require strength and ?

? is for indoor sports

baseball match is at ?

bullfights are a ? of the past

gladiator games were in the ?

? race at the hippodrome

tiered ?

standing-only ?

? fields

? demolished the club

fire ?

? brigade

? exit

Exercise 4: Multiple Choice Questions

Chose the correct answer.

  1. Sports require a lot of
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. Baseball match is at the city
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. Gladiator games were
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  4. Horse races are at
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  5. Athletes get ready in
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  6. Perfect view is from
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  7. Names of stadiums are
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  8. Fire extinguishers are
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  9. Safety inspection prevents
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  10. Fans in E block
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?

Exercise 5: Substitution

Use the text in brackets to transform each sentence.

Example:

Sports require a lot of strength and stamina. (hard work)
Sports require a lot of hard work.


  1. ?

  2. ?

  3. ?

  4. ?

  5. ?

  6. ?

  7. ?

  8. ?

  9. ?

  10. ?

Grammar Practice

Exercise 1: Transformation

can -> can't

Example:

They can build a new arena. (can't)
They can't build a new arena.

  1. A.
    B. ?
  2. A.
    B. ?
  3. A.
    B. ?
  4. A.
    B. ?
  5. A.
    B. ?
  6. A.
    B. ?
  7. A.
    B. ?

Exercise 2: Transformation

may? -> mustn't

Example:

May the team train twice a day?
The team mustn't train twice a day.

  1. A.
    B. ?
  2. A.
    B. ?
  3. A.
    B. ?
  4. A.
    B. ?
  5. A.
    B. ?
  6. A.
    B. ?
  7. A.
    B. ?

Exercise 3: Transformation

must -> needn't

Example:

They must announce the winner soon.
No, they needn't.

  1. A.
    B. ?
  2. A.
    B. ?
  3. A.
    B. ?
  4. A.
    B. ?
  5. A.
    B. ?
  6. A.
    B. ?

Exercise 4: Transformation

can -> will be able to ("CAN" in future)

Example:

They can build a new arena.
They will be able to build a new arena.

  1. A.
    B. ?
  2. A.
    B. ?
  3. A.
    B. ?
  4. A.
    B. ?
  5. A.
    B. ?
  6. A.
    B. ?
  7. A.
    B. ?

Exercise 5: Transformation

will be able to-> won't be able to ("CAN" in future)

Example:

They will be able to build a new arena.
They won't be able to build a new arena.

  1. A.
    B. ?
  2. A.
    B. ?
  3. A.
    B. ?
  4. A.
    B. ?
  5. A.
    B. ?
  6. A.
    B. ?
  7. A.
    B. ?

Exercise 6: Transformation

will be allowed to-> won't be able to ("MAY" in future)

Example:

They may build a new arena.
They will be allowed to build a new arena.

  1. A.
    B. ?
  2. A.
    B. ?
  3. A.
    B. ?
  4. A.
    B. ?
  5. A.
    B. ?
  6. A.
    B. ?
  7. A.
    B. ?

Exercise 7: Transformation

will be allowed to-> won't be able to ("MAY" in future)

Example:

They will be allowed to build a new arena. (won't be allowed to)
They won't be allowed to build a new arena.

  1. A.
    B. ?
  2. A.
    B. ?
  3. A.
    B. ?
  4. A.
    B. ?
  5. A.
    B. ?
  6. A.
    B. ?
  7. A.
    B. ?
  8. A.
    B. ?

Dictation

Exercise 1: Dictation

Listen to the complete recording first. Then go to the textbox and use the ‘>’ key to listen to the text section by section. Type what you hear into the textbox. For detailed instructions, read the Exercise Help.

Recording:
Transcript:

The difference between a dome and a conventional stadium lies in the enclosing roof. Domes offer both sportsmen and spectators complete shelter from the outside weather and so events can be organised at any time of the year.

?

Exercise 2: Dictation

Listen to the complete recording first. Then go to the textbox and use the ‘>’ key to listen to the text section by section. Type what you hear into the textbox. For detailed instructions, read the Exercise Help.

Recording:
Transcript:

Even though domes are called stadiums because of the space they offer they are used mainly for outdoor sports. Domes used for indoor sports are referred to as arenas.

?

Checklist

After completing this unit you should be able to understand and talk to current stadium-related issues. You should also master past tenses.

Version 2.0 (2013-01-03 13:42 CET)
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