1A The Worlds Game 11

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Throughout history, people have played some version of a kicking game. What the world now calls football, or soccer in the U.S., began as far back as 2500 b.c. with the Chinese game of tsu chu. The sport were familiar with today originated in Britain; by the 1840s, Englands Football Association1 had established a set of rules, and the modern game was born. Today more than 120 million regular players from all over the globe participate in the game annually, truly making soccer the worlds sport.

Europe: Home of the Rich and Famous Europe has the largest number of soccer players on Earth and is also home to the worlds richest and best-known professional teams. Europes major clubssuch as Spains Real Madrid and Englands Manchester United have evolved from local teams to global brands,2 with supporters all over the world. Some are owned by foreign businessmen, who invest large amounts of money in their clubs, hoping to earn significant returns on ticket sales, television and advertising deals.

Widely considered the greatest soccer player of all time, Brazilian star Pel is the only person to have won three World Cup tournaments as a player.

Planet Football

Asia: A Growing PassionOver the past two decades, an intense soccer competition among Japan, China, and South Korea has helped to increase enthusiasm for the sport across Asia. In China, for example, recent data suggest that soccer is now more popular than traditional Chinese favorites such as table tennis and basketball. This enthusiasm has also helped to bridge differences and bring people together. The 2002 World Cup, co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, was a victory for cooperation and friendship, and in the Middle East, youth soccer teams have also helped to promote peace.

Australia and Oceania: Soccer Down UnderFor decades, Australian sports have been dominated by cricket, rugby, and Australian

Rules football. Today this region still has the fewest number of

soccer players and teams. But interest in soccer is growing, as immigrants3

from the Balkans4 and other countries bring the sport and their enthusiasm for it to their new country. The result: in 2006, Australias national team (nicknamed the Socceroos) made its first appearance at the World Cup Finals in 32 years.

A skilled midfielder, Englands David Beckham is also a globally recognized brand, known for his celebrity lifestyle.

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North America: A Sport for EveryoneIn North America, almost 28 percent of the professional players are womenthe largest number in the world. The womens World Cup finals are a hugely popular event; one match held in Los Angeles drew a crowd of over 90,000, one of the largest ever for a womens sport. Mens soccer is also gaining in popularity throughout North America, despite tough competition from other popular team sports, such as baseball, American football, and (especially in Canada) ice hockey.

Soccer: A Global ForceThanks to its worldwide popularity and the reach of satellite television, soccer has experienced a major evolution in recent years. Todays major teams import both players and coaches from abroad, and clubs once supported only by their local communities now have fans all over the world. In the last quarter century, soccer has succeeded in cutting across national lines to become a global, interconnected sportone that has the power to unite us all.

Brazilian striker Ronaldo is the highest goalscorer in the history of the World Cup with 15 goals.

1 An association is an official group of people who have the same job, aim, or interest.2 A brand usually refers to a type of product that is made by a certain company and is known

by many people.3 An immigrant is a person who has come to live in a country from another country.4 The Balkans is a region in southeastern Europe that includes Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, etc.5 Someone or something that is prominent is important and well-known.6 FIFA is the Fdration Internationale de Football Association (French for International

Federation of Assisiation Football). It is the international governing organization of professional soccer.

Africa: Soccers New FrontierAfrica has a number of talented players; however, the continent lacks strong domestic teams and faces the prospect of losing many of its best players to the European clubs. Several national teams have powerful athletes, though, and Africas more prominent5 role in the soccer world was established in 2004 when FIFA6 awarded the 2010 World Cup tournament to South Africa.

South America: Unbeatable TalentSouth America produces some of the most exciting soccer on Earth, and many of the most admired players. Brazil has won the most World Cup finals ever and is the only team to have participated in every World Cup to date. Youth soccer is also an enormous business in South America (third after Europe and North America), but as with Africa and Asia, many of the best players join the wealthy European teams for the chance to earn big money and international recognition.

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U.S. star Mia Hamm scored more goals for her country than any other player in history.

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Reading ComprehensionMultiple Choice. Choose the best answer for each question.What is this reading mainly about?a, the history of soccerb, the popularity of soccer around the worldc, the increasing popularity of women's soccerd. China's passion for soccerWhich game is NOT mentioned in the passage as a popularsport in China?a. table tennisb. basketballc, badmintond, soccer

AsiaAustralia

North America

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GriticalThinkingDo you thinksoccer can beused to improveinternationalrelations? Why orwhy not?

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What is the main idea of the third paragraph?a. ln Asia, soccer is a very competitive sport.b. ln Asia, soccer has increased in popularity in recent years.c. Soccer has helped to promote peace in the Middle East.d. The 2002 World Cup was held in Asia.According io the passage, South American soccer teams don't payas well as _.a. African teamsb. Asian teamsc. European teamsd. North American teams

5. ln line 79, the word drew could be replaced witha. paintedb. controlledc. arrivedd. attracted

B. Classification. Match each sport (a-h) with the region in whichit is most popular, according to the passage.

a. American footballb. Australian rules footballc. baseballd. basketballe. crickett. ice hockeyg. rugbyh. table tennis

lA The World's Game I3

version enthusiasm evolve award prospect intense

Vocabulary PracticeA. Gompletion. Complete the information using the correct form of words from the box'

One word is extra.

Soccer is an extremely popular sport, supported by 1' fans all over the rvorld.

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B. Words in Gontext. Complete each sentence with the best answer'

1. For many things,a. the lnternet

is an excellent source of data'b. a supermarket

2. A decade is a period of --

Years'a. ten b. twenty

3. An example of an enormous animal isa. a rnouse b, a whale

4. The frontiers of science are things that area. known by everyone b. near its limits

5. lf we are talking about something'S prospects, we are interested in itsa. future

that 3. in EuroPe,"table football," because it lvas

a Atablesoccergar:

There is, horvever, an indoor 2,

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of the gameparticularly in the United I(ngdom, rvhere it r.vas knorvn asplayed on top of a table. In addition,Germany develoPed a similar game'called "kicker." The games eventuallycrossed the Atlantic to America, rvherethe game of "Foosball" rvas born.

Foosball is played on a special tablervhere each player controls their "team"by turning sticks, to rvhich the "players"are attached. As in real soccer, points are4.

--by Putting the ball inthe other player's goal. Foosball, or tablesoccer, requires 5.

-focus,

and excellent hand-eye coordination,rmaking it a fast and exciting game.1 Coordination means uslng the ditferent parts of your

body together efficientlY.

Use prospect with:(a.) prospect forlof peace, prospect forlof war(rr) prospect of being (somethingl' prospectof having (something)

t4 Unit I Sport and Fitness

b. past

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