Representación de Planes de Instanciación en SmartBooks

Understanding the order of events in a text means that you know what happens first, second, third, and so on. This information helps you understand the ideas in the text.

Number the sentences from 1 (first event) to 9 (last event). The first one is marked for you.

a. The writer rested.

b. The writer started the race.

c. The writer finished the race.

d. The writer returned to the finish line.

e. The runner with one leg started the race.

f. The runner with one leg finished the race.

g. The writer passed the runner with the one leg.

h. The runner with one leg stopped using his crutches.

1 i. The writer and the runner with one leg qualified.

Relating Reading to Personal Experience

Discuss these questions with your classmates.

1. Would you like to run in a marathon? Why or why not?

2. The writer says his motto is “There is no great goal achieved without greater sacrifice.”

Do you agree or disagree? What examples can you give?

3. Is there someone who has inspired you in your life? Explain your answer.

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Reading 3

Previewing Vocabulary

The words and phrases in the box are from the reading. Discuss their meanings with a partner. Look up any new words in a dictionary. Then next to each word or phrase below, write the number of a related picture. For some pictures, more than one number is possible.

crest of a wave elastic cord gears glider

handlebars hiking snowboard steep, rocky cliffs

Scanning

Scan the reading to find and circle the words and phrases in the box. Then read the whole text.

Extreme Sports

Extreme sports give people a strong sense of risk, thrill, and excitement. They are physically demanding, and they often involve speed and height. One reason many people participate in extreme sports is because of the “adrenaline rush”¹ they get. Another reason is because they like a challenge. People who choose extreme sports want to experience something very different from daily life.

Even though they may be dangerous, extreme sports are popular with people in many parts of the world. Some people like to participate in these sports, while others just like to watch them. Here are some of the most popular extreme sports.

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1 adrenaline rush: a sudden, intense feeling of excitement that the adrenal gland produces when the body is under stress

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Extreme Sports 28

Bungee jumping: This sport involves jumping from a very tall structure, such as a bridge or high building, while attached to a long elastic cord. The excitement comes from the free fall after you jump. The cord stops you at the end of the fall and makes you bounce up and down.

Bungee jumping was first done in New Zealand but is now common in many countries.

Hang gliding: In this air sport, you pilot a hang glider, a very light aircraft that does not have a motor. Most people only use the movements of their bodies to control the glider. Hang gliders can fly very high and cover great distances and can also perform amazing stunts in the sky.

Mountaineering: This is one of the most popular sports. It combines mountain hiking and climbing. Sometimes it includes skiing in snow-covered areas. Maybe this sport is so popular because it can be more extreme or less extreme depending on the difficulty of the mountain you choose to climb. It is a sport that any physically fit person can do.

Mountain biking: Mountain bikes have stronger frames than other bikes. They are usually wider and have larger tires. The gears are designed to help bikers climb steep hills and ride over rough areas. The handlebars allow you to sit up straighter than on other bikes. Mountain biking activities include riding over rough, open areas in the country and riding up and down steep hills. Some mountain bikers do stunts while riding.

Surfing: A surfer rides the crest of a wave as it rolls toward the shore. The most extreme surfers ride huge waves that are more than 20 feet (about 6 meters) high. There are two different types of surfboards: long and short. Each type of board requires a different surfing style. Surfing is probably one of the oldest extreme sports. It has been part of Polynesian culture for hundreds of years, but today it is popular around the world.

Snowboarding: Snowboarding began with a man’s gift for his daughter. He tied two skis together. There was a rope in the front for her to steer with. Standing on this snowboard, his daughter could “surf ” downhill in the snow. This toy, the Snurfer (from the words snow and surf) became hugely popular. Over time, people improved the original design, leading to the modern snowboard. Today, expert snowboarders try death-defying tricks and turns on their boards. They challenge themselves by snowboarding in mountainous places with deep snow and obstacles such as steep, rocky cliffs.

3

Write the name of the sport that matches each description.

1. This sport is popular in the winter:

Vocabulary Study

Match the words from the reading that are similar in meaning.

1. very (par. 1) a. challenge (par. 1) 2. dangerous (par. 2) b. stunts (par. 6) 3. cord (par. 3) c. rope (par. 8) 4. control (par. 4) d. steer (par. 8) 5. difficulty (par. 5) e. hugely (par. 8) 6. tricks (par. 8) f. death-defying (par. 8)