Sports and pastimes

Пояснения к тексту

1. to become proficient – стать профессионалом

2. to win without boasting afterwards – победить, не хвастаясь

1. Athletic sports include running, boxing, rowing, jumping, diving, swimming, etc. To become proficient in these sports one must practise constantly. People are fond of them at schools, universities and clubs all over the world. Other popular outdoor sports (field sports) are hunting, shooting, fishing, horse-racing, motor-racing and mountain-climbing. The most popular outdoor games are football, cricket, hokey and tennis. Indoor games include billiards, card games, chess and draughts.

2. England is the home of sports. Many of the games now played all over the world originated in Britain. In Britain they think that people do their work better if they have a good rest.

3. What is a sportsman? He is one who is interested in sports. But even if a person has no opportunity to play any game, we can call him a sportsman if he has something called the “sporting spirit”. It is the ability to smile in times of danger and hardship, the ability to win without boasting afterwards, and to lose without complaining. Some people hate playing if there is no crowd to applaud them, some play only to win prizes, others are unwilling to play against stronger opponents for fear of defeat. Such people are not sportsmen in the best sense of the word.

4. Thousands of people of moderate means practise fishing. Some of the fishing streams and rivers are reserved, others are open for public. Fishing is a very quiet and peaceful occupation and is an excellent pastime for those who dislike noise and crowds. Horse-racing is practised in many countries of the world. The horses are specially trained and are ridden by professional “jockeys”. The sport of mountain climbing appeals to many adventurous people. Every year fatal accidents happen, but every year finds young men and women arriving to mountains to risk their lives among the high peaks.

5. The most popular game in the world is certainly football. This is the game that people play in nearly all countries. There is another game called rugby football because it originates in Rugby, a well-known English school. There is also an American kind of football, different from the other two. Hockey is fairly popular in England and some other countries. Tennis is one of the most popular international games as well.

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Дата добавления: 2015-05-10