Bmx is great!

1. Read the first text and answer the following questions.

• What does abbreviation BMX stand for?

• When and where was BMX cycling invented?

• Is BMX an Olympic sport?

BMX cycling is one of the most popular sports nowadays. It was born in California, USA, in the 1970s, when teenagers started modifying their bikes to make something a bit more exciting to ride on. At first they need the new tougher bikes to try some of the cool tricks they saw motocross riders do. The bike riders quickly started running their new sport Bicycle Motorcross, which then became BMX. As well as BMX racing, rider can also take part in freestyle events, which are all about who will make the most spectacular jumps. In 2008 the sport made its Olympic debut in Beijing, China.

2. Read the second text and insert the number of paragraph.

• Paragraph □ tells us why Andy Ruffel enjoys being a BMX rider.

• In paragraph □, we learn about Andy`s visits to America and the popularity of BMX in Britain.

• In paragraph □, we learn that Andy has to train hard.

• Paragraph □tells us about Andy`s first BMX bike and gives information about his career in Britain.

1) When Andy Ruffel was thirteen, he saw a fantastic BMX bike in a shop window. He found a Saturday job and finally he had enough money to buy the bike. It cost ₤ 179. Now, at the age of 17, he is Britain`s BMX champion. He became a professional last year and he rides a Mongoose bike that cost ₤ 900!

2) Andy had to work hard to become a success at BMX. Before he left school, he trained in the evenings and at weekends. Now he trains 6 hours a day, preparing for races and practising acrobatics. He has to be very fit, so he often goes running and does exercises in the gym.

3) Why does he work so hard? “BMX is a great sport. When I do a difficult jump in front of a big crowd, it`s very satisfying”, he says. “I hold the world record for the longest bunny-hop. I jump over 26 people”.

4) Ruffell competed in the USA three times. He admits, “The Americans are better than us, but BMX is becoming popular in Britain too. There are now sometimes five or six thousand people an a competition”. BMX riders can earn a lot of money in the United States. Would Andy like to go and live there? “No, I`m quite patriotic. I want to stay here in Britain”.

The All Blacks

1. Read the text, using a dictionary if necessary

Rugby is the most popular sport in New Zealand: the country even has the world's first rugby museum! The game was played there for the first time in 1870. New Zealand's national rugby team, the All Blacks, are formidable force in international rugby and have a winning record against every international rugby team.

The team first competed internationally in 1884. They went to New South Wales, Australia, and played and won eight games!

The All Blacks got their name because they wear black shorts, shirts, socks and shoes. Their shirts have the sign of the silver fern, a native plant which is sacred to Maori.

Before a rugby match, the All Blacks do the "Ka mate haka", a Maori dance. A player of Maori origin starts the haka, and the other players chant, gesticulate, make terrifying faces, and Jump in the air. It’s not surprising that their opponents are impressed!

The Haka song:

Ka Mate! Ka mate!

Ka ora! Ka ora!...

There was death,

there was death.

And now there is life!

Jonah Lomu is a living rugby legend. He was just 19 when he started playing for the All Blacks in 1994 and became the youngest player in rugby history. The "gentle giant" has played 73 games for them and 63 internationals!

Notes:

• formidable – внушительный

• silver fern – серебряный папоротник

• to chant – скандировать

• to make faces – строить гримасы