Text 18

Ice-hockey.

Ice-hokey is the fastest team sport in the world and one of the most popular games in Russia. The game originated in Canada in 1850’s and was brought to Europe where in 1908 the International Ice-Hockey federation was formed. In 1923 ice-hockey was first shown in Russia (Soviet Union). In 1946 the first championship was played.

Hockey is played on an ice surface called a “rink”. The rink is surrounded by boards. At the opposite ends of the rink there are two metal goals. The rink is divided into three zones - defensive, neutral and attacking - by two blue lines. There is also a red centre line, central blue face-off circles near the goals.

Two or three referees conduct the game, which is divided into three 20 minutes periods of actual playing time with two 10 minutes intervals.

Each team consists of 19 players, but only six of them may play at a time. After 2-3 minutes of play field players change. There are three forwards (the centreman and two wingers), and two defencemen. A goalkeeper guards the goal.

The game begins in the central face-off circle. The referee drops the puck between the sticks of the opposing players who try to pass it to their team-mates. The aim is to drive the puck over the goal line into the goal. That team who scores the goal more times becomes the winner.

Our national ice-hockey team is among the best teams of the world. It is many times European, world and Olympic champion. Russian ice-hockey players are world famous.

1. Answer the questions

1. Where and when did the game of ice-hockey originate?

2. When was the International Ice-Hockey Federation formed?

3. What can you say about the rink?

4. What is the duration of the game?

5. How many players does the team consist of?

6. What is the aim of the game?

7. What do you know about our national team?

2. True or False?

1. Ice-hockey is the fastest team sport in the world and one of the most popular games in Russia.

2. The rink is divided into two zones - defensive and attacking - by two yellow lines.

3. Two or three referees conduct the game, which is divided into four 20 minutes periods of actual playing time with five 10 minutes intervals.

4. The referee drops the puck between the sticks of the opposing players who try to pass it to their team-mates.

5. Each team consists of 19 players, but only eight of them may play at a time.

Text 19 Figure Skating.

Skating originated in Scandinavia and is mentioned in Scandinavian literature of the second century. Skating has been widely practiced on the canals of Holland since the Middle Ages. The first instructional book on skating was published in London in 1772 thirty years after the formation of the world’s first skating clubatEdinburgh in 1742.

The national associations of Austria, Germany, Great Britain, Holland Hungary and Sweden collaborated in 1892 and the International Skating Union (I.S.U.) was founded. As the world’s governing administrative body the I.S.U. has since supervised and standardized regulations in figure skating, ice dance, synchronized skating, speed skating and short track.

The I.S.U. chose St.Petersburg as the venue for the first world figure skating championship in 1896. Nikolai Panin-Kolomenkin became the first Russian Olympic champion with the best performance of special figures. It was at the 1908 Olympic Games in London.

Coach is a main man who must control all the components in raising the skater’s skill. He must know the laws of the stage, be apply to make up and create a costume. Today’s coach must be well qualified, not only by keeping up with the times, but also forging ahead skating. The tremendous development of figure skating during recent years has raised the standards of this wonderful sport to heights, which were dreamt of only ten years ago. Now what we witness is the desire of the skaters to achieve a unity of polished technique and artistic performance. A figure skater in action must exude power, elegance, speed and precision of performance. The progress of figure skating will also depend on the emergence of original skaters, personalities in sport.

Skater dances to music so he or she must remember that the judges and spectators will hear that music only once and hopefully enjoy it at the first time. If they feel the urge to clap to the beat so it’s great.

Figure skating is a beautiful event. It’s the whole life. A skater can achieve great results only working hard.

1. Answer the questions.

1. When did skating originate?

2. When was the I.S.U. founded?

3. What is the I.S.U. responsible for?

4. When did the first skating club appear?

1. Choose the right word or word-combination to complete the sentences.

dances, judges, collaborated, control, working hard, tremendous, raised

1. Coach is a main man who must … all the components in raising the skater’s skill.

2. The national associations of Austria, Germany, Great Britain, Holland Hungary and Sweden… in 1892 and the International Skating Union (I.S.U.) was founded.

3. The … development of figure skating during recent years has … the standards of this wonderful sport to heights, which dreamt of only ten years ago.

4. Skater… to music so he or she must remember that the …and spectators will hear that music only once and hopefully enjoy it at the first time.

5. A skater can achieve great results only… .