Unit 9: Winter sports

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Aims and Objectives

In this lesson you are going to learn vocabulary and phrases concerning ice hockey and skiing. You will also review some weather vocabulary. You are also going to practice the use of gerunds and infintives.

The grammar focus of this unit is:

Vocabulary

(super G)

Vocabulary Practice

Exercise not available in this language version.

Comprehension

Exercise 1: Multiple Choice Questions

Chose the correct answer.

Recording:
Transcript:
INTERVIEWERJulia, tell us about your path to the Olympics.
JULIAWell, I grew up in Squaw valley, so we had the Olympics in 1960 and I just grew up around all that so it has always been my dream to go to the Olympics.
INTERVIEWERAnd how do you keep fit?
JULIAIt's always great to go skiing. I love to spend a lot of time on the slope with my friends.
INTERVIEWERHow has technology changed competitive skiing in recent years?
JULIAThe slopes are getting very difficult, they are injecting them with ice so we are continuously looking for what is going to work in these conditions.
  1. Julia always wanted to go to the Olympics because
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. Julia keeps fit
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. Competitive skiing has
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice Questions

Chose the correct answer.

Recording:
Transcript:
RADIO REPORTERWhat's the most important thing for ice-hockey success?
WAYNEWell, first of all you've got team commitment and you have got to believe your coach's game plan. If your best player doesn't follow it, it trickles through the whole team.
RADIO REPORTERYou also have to devote yourself physically, don't you?
WAYNEYeah, you have to have that commitment that you play with broken ribs or a cracked finger. I remember when we lost in 1983 I was walking around their locker room and I have seen how beaten up they were - only then I realized what it takes to become a champion.
  1. The most important thing in ice-hockey is
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. If the best player doesn't follow the coach's plan
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. A good ice-hockey player
    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.

  • almost
  • certain
  • demanding
  • mountainside
  • regularly
  • significantly
Transcript:

Skiing is a demanding sport which utilizes almost every muscle in your body. However, there are certain muscles which are used more then others as you make your way down the mountainside. Focusing on these muscles will significantly improve your form, power and safety on the slope. Professional skiers exercise regularly to ensure top performance.

Skiing is a ? sport which utilizes ? every muscle in your body. However, there are ? muscles which are used more then others as you make your way down the ?. Focusing on these muscles will ? improve your form, power and safety on the slope. Professional skiers exercise ? to ensure top performance.

Exercise 4: Exposed Cloze

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

  • arrow
  • event
  • introduced
  • mass
  • point
  • simultaneously
Transcript:

The mass start event was introduced at the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. Skiers start simultaneously lined up in an arrow format with the best-ranked positioned at the arrow’s point. The women’s event is 30 km and the men’s is 50 km.

The ? start event was ? at the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. Skiers start ? lined up in an ? format with the best-ranked positioned at the arrow’s ?. The women’s ? is 30 km and the men’s is 50 km.

Grammar Practice

Exercise 1: Substitution

Use the text in brackets to transform each sentence.

Example:

She was writing a test. She got very nervous.
She got very nervous writing a test.


  1. ?

  2. ?

  3. ?

  4. ?

  5. ?

  6. ?

Exercise 2: Cloze

Infinitive or gerund?

Transcript:

I finished wearing (wear) a uniform the day I left school.
I saw him buying (buy) new skis.
Nicole used to practise (practise) in this ski resort.
Ophelia likes cooking (cook) rich meals.
Ophelia's husband prefers her to cook (cook) lighter meals.
My coach forced me to prolong (prolong) my training.

I finished ? (wear) a uniform the day I left school.
I saw him ? (buy) new skis.
Nicole used ? (practise) in this ski resort.
Ophelia likes ? (cook) rich meals.
Ophelia's husband prefers her ? (cook) lighter meals.
My coach forced me ? (prolong) my training.

Exercise 3: Transformation

Rewrite the following sentences by using the word given so that they mean the same.

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

Exercise 4: Cloze

Gerund or infinitive (without to)?

Transcript:

Look at the water roaring (roar) down the valley!
I saw Robert get (get) into his car and drive away.
Suzie didn't hear me come (come) in.
Can you smell something burning (burn)?
Did you notice anyone go (go) out?
I could feel my leg throbbing (throb) with pain.

Look at the water ? (roar) down the valley!
I saw Robert ? (get) into his car and drive away.
Suzie didn't hear me ? (come) in.
Can you smell something ? (burn)?
Did you notice anyone ? (go) out?
I could feel my leg ? (throb) with pain.

Exercise 5: Substitution

Make sentences with seem.

Example:

Has she lost weight?
She seems to have lost weight.


  1. ?

  2. ?

  3. ?

  4. ?

  5. ?

  6. ?

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:

It is safer to use headgear when downhill skiing.

?

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 Edmonton Oilers won four Stanley Cups with Gretzky in the 80's.

?

Checklist

Now, after finishing this lesson you should be able:

To talk about weather.

To understand common vocabulary and phrases concerning ice hockey and skiing.

To use gerunds.

To use infinitives.

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