Unit 2 Inside view Conversation 1 Are you on your way to the boathouse? No. What's happening?

There's a practice race to help choose who will row on the college team.

Mark really wants a place on the team,

so he has to row well today. And I'm going to watch. Well, I'd like to, but I have an essay to finish. That's too bad! I know how you feel . Maybe I can come later?

Sure. I'm thinking of having lunch in the boathouse bar, and then watching the rowing all afternoon. How do I get to the boathouse?

It's easy. Can you see where we are on the map? Here, look! OK, which way round are we standing? ... Yes, got it!

OK, go down Catte Street, and turn right into the High Street. Go along the High Street and turn left into St Aldates. Walk along St Aldates, past Christ Church College until you get to Folly Bridge. I see.

Then when you get to the bridge, cross over the river ... turn left and walk along the river bank.

Keep going along the river ... And you're there! The boathouses are on the right,

and the Hertford College Boathouse is the last one along. You can't miss it.

Thanks. I'm looking forward to seeing the rowing. No problem. We shouldn't miss the rowing – it's a great university tradition! I know, Mark was telling me. Like the boat race between Oxford and Cambridge universities every year. Of course! The great rivals!

The Boat Race has been going for years, maybe nearly 200 years. And Oxford won it this year!

Yes, but Cambridge was very close behind. Anyway see you later, down by the river. Bye.

Conversation 2

So the rules are ... the boats follow each other and the one behind has to bump the one in front... just like that one has done. Is that Mark's boat?

Yes! Look, his boat is about to bump the one in front! Well done!

Hi you guys!

Fantastic, Mark. You were amazing! Well, we won the practice race,

but I'm worried about getting a place on the team.

The problem is that there are at least three other people on the team who have rowed before.

And I can't help thinking that they were better than me. Don't worry, Mark. Everything will be OK. And then I hurt my knee getting into the boat. Oh, I'm so sorry!

Too bad, but it's only a scratch. Listen up, Janet is right.

No need to get nervous, Mark.

You were the strongest looking guy in the boat today. Chill out! Hey, they're putting the team list on the door. Let's go over and see.

No, you go! I cant bear to look! OK.

Hey, Mark, great news!

You got a place on the college team! Congratulations!

That's great, Mark, you deserve it. You trained so hard. I can't believe it! Outside view

At the weekend in Britain,

millions of people take part in some kind of sporting activity. Half of all men over 16 regularly participate in sport.

Even more people spend part of the weekend watching sport, especially football. From August to April, football is everywhere. The top level of the game is professional football in the Premiership. We went to a training session with a Premiership team from south-east London, Charlton Athletic. The players train every morning.

In this session, the head coach worked on passing the ball quickly and taking corners.

Football is played in schools and as a leisure activity. Both girls and boys play.

Cricket is the main summer sport in Britain.

Local teams play in towns and villages every Saturday and Sunday from April to September .

Cricket is played between two teams of 11 people. We went to Lord's,

the headquarters of English cricket to see an indoor coaching session.

These ten- year-olds learn how to improve their cricket skills, even in the winter.

Tennis is another popular sport,

especially in the summer after the famous Wimbledon Championships. There are tennis courts all over Britain. Other popular sports are golf, swimming, cycling, keep fit and walking.

But there is no doubt that for most people football is the national sport. Listening in Short conversations Conversation 1 We only had nine players, and they had 11.

So Andy, their captain, offered to play on our team. Yes, he's a really good sport. What do we learn about Andy? Conversation 2

That's two goals each, and only a quarter of an hour until the end of the match.

Yes, but don't forget there's usually five minutes extra time. When will the match probably end? Conversation 3

Sorry I'm late for class, Doctor. At last! Right, let's get started.

We're going to discuss sport and its place in society. So who'd like to start the ball rolling? What does the man want to know? Conversation 4

Did you see Beckham miss that goal?

It was wide open, he could have scored easily. Well, he is 35 after all.

What does the woman mean? Conversation 5

What would I do if I lost my place on the team? If I were you, I wouldn't worry about it.

They need someone with your strength and experience. They'd be crazy to replace you. What is the woman's opinion? Discussion

Did you see that?

Did you see how the New York Knicks player

pushed the Chicago Bulls player in the last minute? Too late now, the game's over. And the Bulls were about to win. Do you think that was fair play?

Probably not. But its quite hard to say what fair play is.

No, its not. Fair play is being a good winner and a good loser.