Popular Sports in the English Speaking World - 12

A) ____________________________This is a very popular sport in Australia, New Zealand and throughout the U.K. and Ireland. It is played by two teams with 15 men each on a grass pitch. The aim of the game is to score tries, worth 5 points, penalty kicks, worth 3 points, or conversion kicks, worth 2 points. To score a try a player has to carry the oval shaped ball over the opposition's try line. To score a conversion or penalty the player has to kick the ball between the posts in the oppositions half. England are the current World Champion's of this sport following their victory in the 2003 world cup held in Australia.

B) ____________________________This sport is the most popular in the world and is played throughout the English speaking countries. It is particularly important in the U.K, however. It is played by 2 teams of 11 players with a round ball. The aim of the game is to score goals by kicking the ball into the opposition's net. The world cup takes place once every 4 years, the last one was held in Japan and South Korea in 2002 and Brazil were victorious. England is the only English Speaking country that has won the world cup in this sport - they were victorious in 1966.

C) ____________________________This is an individual car racing sport and takes place on tracks in venues around the world, from Malaysia to Brazil. It is very popular throughout the English Speaking countries. The current world champion is the German, Michael Schumacher.

D) ____________________________This is a team sport played in England, New Zealand, Australia and Jamaica on a grass pitch by two teams of 11 players. The aim of the game is to score more runs than your opponents team by hitting the ball and running between the wickets. This game takes a long time to play, up to 5 days per match. The current world champions are Australia.

E) ____________________________ This is an individual sport, although it is sometimes played in pairs or doubles. The top players, both men and women, compete in tournaments around the world throughout the year, but there are 4 major competitions called 'Grand Slams' - one is held in Australia, one in Paris, one in England and one in the U.S.A. The current world number one is the Swiss player Roger Federer.

1. True (T) or false (F)?

a) A try is worth more points than a conversion.

b) Brazil are the current football world cup champions.

c) Cricket matches are very short.

d) All the 'Grand Slams' take place in English speaking countries.

e) Roger Federer is a famous Scottish tennis player.

f) England have won the football world cup.

g) A Formula One race is held in Brazil.

h) Players score runs in rugby.