Unit 7: Athletics

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Aims and Objectives

In this lesson you are going to learn vocabulary and phrases concerning running and high jump. You will also review expressing degrees of likelihood.

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:
JOURNALISTYou have done many marathons, how many exactly?
DANEOn Sunday it will be my 116th.
JOURNALISTWhen and how did you get started running?
DANEJust a couple of years ago actually. Running was not my thing but I found out it was the easiest way to get rid of some excess weight and so I kind of fell into it.
JOURNALISTYou are about to compete in the Stillwater marathon, what makes it special?
DANEIt's not necessarily the course, not even the scenery, it's the people and people at this place are gorgeous.
JOURNALISTHow do you get ready for a marathon?
DANEThe old joke is: How to eat an elephant? It's one bite at a time. And it's the same with a marathon.
  1. Dane has attended
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. Dane has been marathon runner since
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. Stillwater marathon is exceptional because of
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  4. According to Dane
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice Questions

Chose the correct answer.

Recording:
Transcript:
TV REPORTERThere are not many people who have a signature move in any sport, how did you come up with the idea?
DICKActually I was a scissor high jumper. Later my coach explained to me I would be limited in my progress if I stuck with scissors, so he tried to teach me how to do the straddle but I could not get the hang of it. So I changed it into something more modern.
TV REPORTERYou won the gold Olympic medal in 1968 using the flop, how many others were using flop at that time?
DICKThere were no other high jumpers using the style and little did I know that it would change the event. All the young kids that saw me on the television said: I want to do that. They are the ones who created the revolution.
  1. Dick
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. Dick was unable to learn the straddle so he
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. At 1968 Olympics
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  4. The revolution was carried out by
    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.

  • euphoria
  • feeling
  • improve
  • part
  • provides
  • rather
  • reason
Transcript:

Running is a hobby that provides some sort of euphoric feeling for runners who want to be better and better. For some reason, running provides more euphoria, when the distance that has been run is longer rather than shorter. Those who take part in running are continuously trying to improve their time, distance etc.

Running is a hobby that ? some sort of euphoric ? for runners who want to be better and better. For some ?, running provides more ?, when the distance that has been run is longer ? than shorter. Those who take ? in running are continuously trying to ? their time, distance etc.

Exercise 4: Exposed Cloze

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

  • competitor
  • middle
  • named
  • out
  • times
  • winner
Transcript:

Satenik Ghazaryan, who has been named Armenia's national winner for the European Athletics Women's Leadership Award, started out as a competitor and was many times national champion in the middle distance events.

Satenik Ghazaryan, who has been ? Armenia's national ? for the European Athletics Women's Leadership Award, started ? as a ? and was many ? national champion in the ? distance events.

Grammar Practice

Exercise 1: Exposed Cloze

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

  • can't
  • must
  • must
  • ought to
  • should
  • should
Transcript:

They ought to have been here by now. What's the time?
She can't be at work. Today's her day off.
That should be Franz at the door, he said he'd stop by.
You haven't eaten today? You must be starving!
My coat isn't where I left it. Someone must have taken it.
The weather forecast for tomorrow is excellent. Yes, it should be lovely.

They ? have been here by now. What's the time?
She ? be at work. Today's her day off.
That ? be Franz at the door, he said he'd stop by.
You haven't eaten today? You ? be starving!
My coat isn't where I left it. Someone ? have taken it.
The weather forecast for tomorrow is excellent. Yes, it ? be lovely.

Exercise 2: Cloze

Fill in the gaps in the text below. For each gap there is only one correct answer.

Transcript:

I am one of the best at short distance running. I am bound (bound) to win.
Tom is very slow. He is not likely (not likely) make it under 30 minutes.
Look, he is so much better then the others, he is sure (sure) to get a gold medal.
Ursula is likely (likely) to be late at home this evening, she is at her friend's party.
Veronica is certain (certain) to catch a cold, she has forgotten her sweater and it is so freezing outside.
The chances (chances) are it will rain tonight.

Example:

I am very tired. I __ (not likely) to come.
I am not likely to come.

I am one of the best at short distance running. I ? (bound) to win.
Tom is very slow. He ? (not likely) make it under 30 minutes.
Look, he is so much better then the others, he ? (sure) to get a gold medal.
Ursula ? (likely) to be late at home this evening, she is at her friend's party.
Veronica ? (certain) to catch a cold, she has forgotten her sweater and it is so freezing outside.
? (chances) are it will rain tonight.

Exercise 3: Cloze

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given.

Transcript:

In all probability George will become the best high jumper of the season. (chances)
The chances are George will become the best high jumper of the season.

Our coach is unlikely to chose Henry to represent our team. (doubtful)
It is doubtful that our coach would choose Henry to represent our team.

The package should arrive in a couple of days. (ought)
The package ought to arrive in a couple of days.

She will get lost when she arrives at Ankara. (bound)
She is bound to get lost when she arrives at Ankara.

I will probably not get a car for my birthday. (faint chance)
There is a faint chance I will get a car for my birthday.

This will surely be the best event of the season. (without a doubt)
Without a doubt this will be the best event of the season.

In all probability George will become the best high jumper of the season. (chances)
The ? the best high jumper of the season.

Our coach is unlikely to chose Henry to represent our team. (doubtful)
It ? would choose Henry to represent our team.

The package should arrive in a couple of days. (ought)
The package ? in a couple of days.

She will get lost when she arrives at Ankara. (bound)
She ? when she arrives at Ankara.

I will probably not get a car for my birthday. (faint chance)
There ? a car for my birthday.

This will surely be the best event of the season. (without a doubt)
? the best event of the season.

Exercise 4: Substitution

Transform the following statements to the past.


  1. ?

  2. ?

  3. ?

  4. ?

  5. ?

  6. ?

Exercise 5: Multiple Choice Questions

What do the following sentences express?

  1. The chances are it will rain tomorrow.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. It is bound to happen in 3 days.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. I may see you on Friday.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  4. There is every likelihood of us wining the championship.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  5. He can't have got home already, the train won't have arrived yet.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  6. There shouldn't be a problem with your application.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?

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:

Running is an aerobic activity where only the strong survive.

?

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:

The official distance of a marathon run is 42.195 kilometres. It is usually run as a road race.

?

Checklist

Now, after finishing this lesson you should be able:

To talk about your home and housing.

To understand common vocabulary and phrases concerning running and high jump.

To express various degrees of likelihood.

Version 1.1.0-alpha (2013-01-03 13:42 CET)
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