Games & Sports

Reading I

The First Olympic Games

A. Complete the sentences with the words given below.

[exquisite, inherited, underworld, embroidered, stew, decreed, mounted, rejoicing, furious, lush]

a. We are having stew for lunch today.

b. The demon was sent to the underworld for his disobedience to the gods.

c. The sleeves of his coat were embroidered with gold.

d. Smita was absolutely furious at having been cheated.

e. Her wedding dress was absolutely exquisite.

f. The prince inherited the kingship after his father's death.

g. There was great rejoicing when the Nepali Football Team won the SAFF U-19 championship.

h. The king mounted his horse and rode away from the palace.

i. The government decreed that the following day would be a holiday on the occasion of Eid.

j. It was wonderful to spend a week in the lush countryside.

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B. Write if the following statements are true, false or not given based on the information given in the text.

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C. Answer these questions.

a. Who was Tantalus?

=> Answer: Tantalus had a mixed human and divine background. He was half man and half god, being the son of the great Greek god Zeus.

b. Why were the gods angry with him?

=> Answer: Tantalus provoked the gods by carrying out a horrifying plan involving Pelops, his own son. He cut Pelops into pieces and intended to present him to the gods as a stew.

c. What punishment did gods give Tantalus?

=> Answer: The gods punished Tantalus by sending him into the underworld. His punishment was to stand there eternally in water that reached up to his neck.

d. What special qualities did the horses of the king and Pelops have?

=> Answer: The king's horses had magical powers and possessed enough speed to outrun lightning. Pelops' horses were similarly extraordinary, as they were able to run faster than the wind.

e. What was the risk of proposing to Princess Hippodamia? How did the stable boy help Pelops win the race?

=> Answer: Marriage to Princess Hippodamia involved a dangerous condition. A man seeking her hand had to race against the old king in a chariot contest. If he failed to win, the king would chop off his head.

The stable boy secretly assisted Pelops by exchanging the bronze pins of the king's chariot for candle-wax pins. When the race was underway, the wax melted because of the heat. The chariot then fell apart, which caused the king's death.

g. How did the king die?

=> Answer: The king died in the middle of the chariot race. The wheels of his chariot came off, causing him to be thrown out and killed.

h. Why did Pelops and Hippodamia organize a feast?

=> Answer: Pelops and Hippodamia arranged the feast to commemorate the old king. They invited heroes from different parts of Greece and included athletic contests and races in the celebration.

i. How did the events of the feast become the origin of the modern Olympic Games?

=> Answer: The competitions connected with the feast later developed into a permanent sporting tradition. Pelops decreed that the games should be organized every four years, till the end of time. Since the contests were held on the fields of Olympia, they became known as the Olympic Games.

j. How is the Olympic torch lit?

=> Answer: The Olympic torch is lit from the rays of the sun on the Olympic fields in Greece.

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D. What is the significance of the Olympic Games in the world today? Discuss.

=> Answer: The Olympic Games have worldwide importance because they bring together athletes representing different nations in a shared sporting environment. They encourage participants to value fair competition, courage, excellence, and determination. Beyond winning medals, the Games create a sense of international unity and provide an opportunity to celebrate the abilities and achievements of human beings.

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📚 Grammar I

A. Complete the text below with the present perfect or present perfect continuous tense of verbs in the brackets.

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B. Complete the sentences below with the present perfect or present perfect continuous tense of the verbs given in the brackets.

a. Siddhartha has learned to drive just in ten years.

b. It has been raining all summer. There have been floods and landslides in many places.

c. Polden: You must have finished the book. I think you have been reading it since last week.

Ricky: No, I haven't finished it yet. Actually, I started it just yesterday.

d. What have you been cooking for so long?

e. You have promised to help me many times. You really need to help me today.

f. The children have their exams next week, so they have been preparing a lot.

g. The film is really wonderful. Have you watched it yet?

h. Sitaram has been painting his house all day. He has not finished it yet.

i. Finally, they have fixed the leakage in their roof.

j. I am so tired now. I have worked hard lately.

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✍️ Writing I

A. Read the following paragraph about a popular footballer and answer the questions.

a. Which sentence is the topic sentence of the paragraph?

=> Answer: The topic sentence of the paragraph is: "English footballer David Beckham rose to fame in the late 1990s due to his skills and popularity."

b. Are the other sentences related to the topic sentence?

=> Answer: Yes. The remaining sentences are relevant to the topic because they explain Beckham's achievements, football career, and continuing fame.

c. Which sentence concludes the paragraph?

=> Answer: The sentence that concludes the paragraph is: "His popularity continues even after he retired from professional football."

d. Are the topic and concluding sentences similar or different?

=> Answer: They are different. The first sentence introduces Beckham's rise to fame, while the last sentence draws attention to the fact that his popularity remained even after his professional football career ended.

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B. Write a similar paragraph about your favourite player. Mark the topic, supporting and concluding sentences in your paragraph.

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Reading II

The Popularity of the Different Sports in the World

A. Fill in the crossword puzzle with the correct words from the text.

ACROSS

1. •

   a person who works as a professional, especially in a sport

2. •

   existing for longer than people can remember, very old

3. •

   possible to approach, enter, or use

4. •

   long and thin, often in a way that is unusual

DOWN

1. •

   a British game by two teams using a bat and ball

2. •

   connected with activities that people do for pleasure when they are not working

3. •

   a hit of the ball before it touches the ground

4. •

   a large pile of earth or stones; a small hill

5. •

   showing or feeling respect and slight fear

Answers

1. •

   Athlete

2. •

   Cricket

3. •

   Recreational

4. •

   Immemorial

5. •

   Volley

6. •

   Accessible

7. •

   Mound

8. •

   Reverent

9. •

   Elongated

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B. Choose the correct alternative and answer the questions.

a. Which two games are popular in the world for their cheap equipment?

=> Answer: i. football and hockey

b. In which countries is cricket particularly popular?

=> Answer: iii. India, Pakistan and Australia

c. What is the significant difference between regular volleyball and beach volleyball?

=> Answer: iii. the size of the playground

d. Which of the following games involve the use of a ball and bat?

=> Answer: i. baseball and cricket

e. Which country is supposed to have named "golf"?

=> Answer: iii. the Netherlands

f. Which of the following games have their varieties in terms of the places they are played?

=> Answer: i. rounders and baseball

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C. Answer these questions in short.

a. Mention two reasons why sports are popular.

=> Answer: Sports are enjoyed because they support good health and offer an entertaining way to use one's leisure time. They also attract audiences who enjoy seeing talented athletes perform impressive physical feats.

b. What does historical evidence say about the origin of football?

=> Answer: Historical evidence places the development of football in England during the 19th century. However, games resembling football were played much earlier, with evidence showing that similar forms existed in China around two thousand years ago.

c. What is the main difference between cricket and baseball?

=> Answer: Cricket and baseball are different in the arrangement of their playing grounds and in the equipment used. Cricket has a long rectangular pitch at the centre of the field, where the ball is bowled towards the batsman. Baseball is played on a diamond-shaped field and has a mound at its centre, while the batter stands at home plate to face the pitched ball.

d. How is regular volleyball played?

=> Answer: In regular volleyball, two teams compete from opposite sides of a raised net. The players send the ball across the net and attempt to make it land on the other team's side of the court to earn points.

e. Who originated basketball and when?

=> Answer: Basketball was originated by James Naismith, a Canadian teaching in the U.S., in the late 19th century.

f. What risk is involved in rugby?

=> Answer: Rugby can be dangerous because it involves frequent physical contact and tackling. Players do not have the same level of protective padding and helmets used in American football, so the possibility of physical injury is greater.

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D. Rank the games mentioned in the text above in the order of your preferences.

People may have different choices when ranking sports. My preferred order for the games mentioned in the text is:

1. •
   Football (Soccer)
2. •
   Cricket
3. •
   Hockey (both field and ice)
4. •
   Tennis
5. •
   Volleyball (regular and beach)
6. •
   Table Tennis (Ping Pong)
7. •
   Basketball
8. •
   Baseball
9. •
   Rugby
10. •
    Golf

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📖 Grammar II

A. Complete the text below with the correct alternative from the brackets.

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B. Complete the sentences below with the correct alternative from the brackets.

a. People always admire this picture.

b. His leg was hurt in the accident. This is to say: He hurt his leg in the accident.

c. Some people dress their children very badly. The passive form of the sentence is: Their children are very badly dressed.

d. Two of my dinner plates have been broken. That means someone has broken two of my dinner plates.

e. They will forget this story in a few years. This story will be forgotten in a few years.

f. You must answer all the questions. All the questions must be answered.

g. The packet of biscuits has been eaten by the boys. This is to say the boys have eaten the packet of biscuits.

h. The bridge was built last year. The active voice of the statement is: People built the bridge last year.

i. The field is being plowed by the farmers. The farmers are plowing the field.

j. How is a tiger trapped? The active voice of the statement is: How do people trap a tiger?

k. "The teacher will help us." This statement has a passive voice as we will be helped by the teacher.

l. "The tiger should be preserved" is the passive voice of we should preserve the tiger.

m. The bird has built a nest. It means a nest has been built by the bird.

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C. Change the sentences below into passive voice.

a. People could hear the noise of explosion from a distance.

b. We ought to break down the building before it collapses.

c. Has he translated the book in any other language?

d. I like people driving me to my home.

e. Can anybody solve this problem?

f. We had to book the ticket in advance because of the festive season.

g. Who might have stolen your bicycle?

h. I didn't notice that you were recording the class.

i. Does he always sing songs in the party?

j. She will draw the painting beautifully.

k. Let the mechanic repair my bike.

l. People believe that the Mahabharata was fought in the 10th century BCE.

m. What are you instructing them now?

Passive Forms

a. The noise of explosion could be heard from a distance.

b. The building ought to be broken down before it collapses.

c. Has the book been translated in any other language by him?

d. I like being driven to my home by people.

e. Can this problem be solved by anybody?

f. The ticket had to be booked in advance because of the festive season.

g. By whom might your bicycle have been stolen?

h. It wasn't noticed by me that you were recording the class.

i. Are songs always sung by him in the party?

j. The painting will be drawn beautifully by her.

k. Let my bike be repaired by the mechanic.

l. It is believed that the Mahabharata was fought in the 10th century BCE.

m. What are they being instructed by you now?

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💬 Writing II

Write a dialogue between you and your friend about the upcoming Sports Day/Week in your school. Include the following points in your dialogue.