Unit 11: Water sports

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Aims and Objectives

In this lesson you are going to learn vocabulary and phrases concerning water polo and swimming. You will also review orientation vocabulary. Finally you are going to practice direct and reported speech.

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:
INTERVIEWERWas it dangerous to cross the Channel?
MIKEI'd say yes, it was long and cold. Sometimes you get really close to big tankers because the Channel is a busy shipping route.
INTERVIEWERAnd what sort of preparation did you have to do?
MIKEAs hypothermia is a big problem, you have to start acclimatising in cold baths at least few months before the swim. You also need to get used to swimming in the sea.
INTERVIEWERWhat about the weather?
MIKEThe sea must be calm but otherwise when you get in you have to finish no matter what.
  1. Crossing the Channel is dangerous because
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. Before the swim, you need to
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. According to Mike
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice Questions

Chose the correct answer.

Recording:
Transcript:
INTERVIEWERNatalie, how many world records have you had?
NATALIEI don't know exactly, I love to break them and they can be broken at any time but Olympic medals are something that lasts.
INTERVIEWERIt has been an impressive run through 2 Olympics.
NATALIEYeah, I have 11 medals and I am very proud of my accomplishments.
INTERVIEWERWhat's gonna be next for you?
NATALIEI'm taking a break now, maybe for a few months, I don't know yet.
  1. Natalie
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. According to Natalie
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. Olympic medals
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  4. At the moment Natalie
    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.

  • aspects
  • demanding
  • keeps
  • physically
  • shape
  • together
Transcript:

Water polo is one of the most physically and mentally demanding sports. Constant swimming keeps the body in great shape while the speed of the game trains reflexes and quick thinking. Water Polo basically takes the most difficult aspects of soccer and football and puts them together in a pool.

Water polo is one of the most ? and mentally ? sports. Constant swimming ? the body in great ? while the speed of the game trains reflexes and quick thinking. Water Polo basically takes the most difficult ? of soccer and football and puts them ? in a pool.

Exercise 4: Exposed Cloze

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

  • believe
  • breaststroke
  • maintained
  • occurs
  • timing
  • training
Transcript:

I believe that the most effective way to train for the breaststroke is through component training. The major problem in training breaststroke occurs when the stroke is not maintained correctly; i.e. with proper timing and body position on the water.

I ? that the most effective way to train for the ? is through component ?. The major problem in training breaststroke ? when the stroke is not ? correctly; i.e. with proper ? and body position on the water.

Grammar Practice

Exercise 1: Substitution

Use the text in brackets to transform each sentence.

Example:

"I am going to stay in Budapest for a few days. I will call you every evening."
She said she was going to stay in Budapest and that she would call me every evening.


  1. ?

  2. ?

  3. ?

  4. ?

  5. ?

  6. ?

Exercise 2: Substitution

Use the text in brackets to transform each sentence.

Example:

"How old are you?"
He wanted to know how old I was.


  1. ?

  2. ?

  3. ?

  4. ?

  5. ?

  6. ?

Exercise 3: Substitution

Report the following conditional sentences.

Example:

"If you don't hurry up, you'll miss the flight."
She said that if I didn't hurry, I would miss the flight.


  1. ?

  2. ?

  3. ?

  4. ?

  5. ?

  6. ?

Exercise 4: Substitution

Report the following sentences with the word given.


  1. ?

  2. ?

  3. ?

  4. ?

  5. ?

  6. ?

Exercise 5: Exposed Cloze

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

  • "I can run 42 kilometres in less then 2,5 hours"
  • "I love this music so much"
  • "I will never be able to finish this task"
  • "I will never change my mind"
  • "Perhaps we should wait with this transaction"
  • "Stop it"
Transcript:

"Stop it", she said categorically.
"I love this music so much", Jack said passionately.
"I will never be able to finish this task", Tom said resignedly.
"I will never change my mind", Sophie said stubbornly.
"I can run 42 kilometres in less then 2,5 hours", Arthur claimed confidently.
"Perhaps we should wait with this transaction" Martin's boss suggested cautiously.

?, she said categorically.
?, Jack said passionately.
?, Tom said resignedly.
?, Sophie said stubbornly.
?, Arthur claimed confidently.
? Martin's boss suggested cautiously.

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 match yesterday was terrible, I almost got drowned.

?

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:

Natalie Coughlin has won 11 medals at two Olympics, she has also broken many records.

?

Checklist

Now, after finishing this lesson you should be able:

To ask about the way.

To understand common vocabulary and phrases concerning water polo and swimming.

To use direct and indirect speech.

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