Outcomes Advanced p 103. Play. Speaking

1. Conversation: Talk about the following questions with your partner for about 5 minutes. The pictures are there to help you.

1.    Are people in your country crazy about sports? In some countries there seems to be a link between violence and vandalism with football. Why should this be? Should hooligans be banned from football?

2.    Does it bother you that people gamble on sporting events? Do you bet? How often? What's the biggest bet you ever placed? Why is gambling addictive? Should some forms of gambling be banned?

3.    Doping is widespread in many professional sports. Do you think it's a necessary evil? What do you think makes athletes take banned substances or indulge in blood transfusions, when they know that there is a risk to their health - and to their career, if caught?

4.    A "bloodsport" is a sport in which an animal is killed or injured (fishing, bullfighting, dogfighting, hunting, etc.). What is your opinion of these? Are they justified?

5.    Do you ever watch women's football? Why, why not? What do you think is the biggest barrier in driving visibility of women’s sport? What role do you think sponsorship brands should play?

6.    These days, some gamers make a living from playing video games. Do you think professional gamers are similar to the athletes in other sports? Why or why not? Some video games are very violent. Do you think they influence their players to be violent in real life? If so, what should we do about it?

2. Partner A/B:Below there are some issues related to the topic. You must talk about at least two of them for 3 minutes. You may be asked further questions about the topic when you have finished.

•          If you had the opportunity to do away with any sport, what sport would you do away with? Why? Which is more important in sport - winning or taking part? Are you a good loser?

•          Do you ever play video games (computer or phone games) Do video games help develop skills? What mental or physical skills do they help players to develop?

•          ‘Tighter and “more feminine” clothes for female players would make the spectacle more popular.’ Do you agree with this statement?

•          Is gambling a social problem? If so, what can be done about it? Does your personality change when you’re gambling?

•          What examples of sexism do you see in sports? Why are there fewer opportunities for women than men in professional sports?

•          If you were to try an extreme sport, which one would you try? Why? Why do you think people like risky sports?

Vocabulary

vandalism:/ˈvændəlɪzəm/ the crime of destroying or damaging something, especially public property, deliberately and for no good reason

hooligan:/ˈhuːlɪɡən/ a young person who behaves in an extremely noisy and violent way in public, usually in a group

dispute: an argument or a disagreement between two people, groups or countries; discussion about a subject where there is disagreement

gamble:[intransitive, transitive] to risk money on a card game, horse race, etc. Gamble (at/on something).

to bet:[intransitive, transitive] to risk money on a race or an event by trying to predict the result

bet: an arrangement to risk money, etc. on the result of a particular event; the money that you risk in this way

to place:[transitive] place something to give instructions about something or make a request for something to happen. To place a bet. To place an order. To place an advertisement.

addictive: if a drug is addictive, it makes people unable to stop taking it; if an activity or type of behaviour is addictive, people need to do it as often as possible because they enjoy it

to ban: to decide or say officially that something is not allowed

to dope: dope somebody/something to give a drug to a person or an animal in order to affect their performance in a race or sport

widespread:/ˈwaɪdspred/ existing or happening over a large area or among many people

banned substances: are drugs that competitors are not allowed to take because they could artificially improve their performance.

indulge:[intransitive] indulge in something to take part in an activity, especially one that is illegal

blood transfusion:/ˈblʌdtrænsfjuːʒn/ the process of putting new blood into the body of a person or an animal

blood sport: a category of sport or entertainment that involves bloodshed. Common examples of the former include combat sports such as cockfighting and dogfighting and some forms of hunting and fishing.

bullfighting: the activity of fighting and killing bulls as a traditional public entertainment, popular especially in Spain

dogfighting: an illegal entertainment in which two dogs fight with each other

hunting: killing wild animals and birds as a sport or for food

barrier: a problem, rule or situation that prevents somebody from doing something, or that makes something impossible

visibility: the fact or state of being easy to see

sponsorship:/ˈspɒnsəʃɪp/  financial support from a sponsor.

sponsor: person or company that pays for a radio or television programme, or for a concert or sporting event, usually in return for advertising

brand: a type of product made by a particular company

make a living: to earn the money one needs to pay for housing, food, etc.

do away with: (informal) to stop doing or having something; to make something end

bad/good loser: If someone is a good loser, they accept that they have lost a game or contest without complaining. If someone is a bad loser, they hate losing and complain about it

mental skill: the set of trainable mental abilities and methods that are held to underpin successful learning and performance. The basic mental skills include concentration, goal-setting, imagery and mental rehearsal, relaxation and self-talk.

physical skill: Physical skills are the skills necessary to perform an action effectively and accurately.

develop:/dɪˈveləp/ to gradually grow or become bigger, more advanced, stronger, etc.; to make something do this

tight: fitting closely to your body and sometimes uncomfortable

spectacle: a performance or an event that is very impressive and exciting to look at

sexism: the unfair treatment of people, especially women, because of their sex; the attitude that causes this

opportunity: a time when a particular situation makes it possible to do or achieve something

extreme sport: sports that are extremely exciting to do and often dangerous

risky: involving the possibility of something bad happening

coastering: is a physical activity that encompasses movement along the intertidal zone of a rocky coastline on foot or by swimming, without the aid of boats, surf boards or other craft.

bungee jumping: is an activity that involves jumping from a tall structure while connected to a large elastic cord