EXTREME SPORTS

An extreme sport (also called action sport and adventure sport) is a popular term for certain activities perceived as having a high level of danger and that are counter-cultural. These activities often involve speed, height, a high level of physical exertion, and highly specialized gear or spectacular stunts.

Base Jumping

Bungee jumping

Skydiving

Skysurfing

Skateboarding

Street luge

Jet Ski

Base JumpingThis sport began way back in 1978, when parachutists started jumping off El Capitan, a 100-metre-high cliff in Yosemite National Park, California. BASE is an acronym for Buildings, Antenna, Span, Earth and participants have to freefall from an object in each case. Being able to make split-second decisions is essential as these objects are not very high off the ground and you need to open your parachute at just the right moment. Before even contemplating your first jump you should have done at least 100 skydives. You are at the mercy of gusts of wind during the descent and must know exactly how to steer yourself away from danger. Illegal in some countries, this sport has claimed the lives of 20 jumpers since it was invented and many more have been severely injured.

Vocabulary

Being able to make split-second decisionsBefore even contemplating your first jump At the mercy of gusts of wind How to steer yourself away from dangerHas claimed the lives of

Estimated Rates

1 Death

2340 Base Jumps

117000 Skydives

Gerunds and Infinitives

1. Look at the following sentences from the reading text:

a) Being able to make split-second decisions is essential as these objects are not very high off the ground.

b) Before even contemplating your first jump you should have done at least 100 skydives.

2. The words written in bold are all gerunds. Match each of these gerunds with the appropriate explanation for its use:

1. As the subject of a clause or sentence

2. After prepositions

Gerunds and Infinitives

A. The gerund is used in the following cases:

B. The infinitive with to is used:

1. As the subject/object/ complement of a clause

2. After prepositions

3. After certain verbs

1. To express purpose2. After many

adjectives, eg surprised, delighted, disappointed, happy, important, lucky, necessary, possible etc.

3. After certain verbs.

1.The gerund as the subject/ object/complement of a clause or sentence:

Subject: Cycling is good for your health.

Object: I find shopping for clothes really boring.

Complement: My favourite sport is swimming.

2.The gerund after prepositions:

I look forward to hearing from you.

I can’t get used to living without her.

3.The gerund after certain verbs:

Peter suggested going for a picnic.

1. The infinitive to express purpose:

I’m learning English to help me get a better job.

I’ve been meaning to paint the front door for ages, but I keep forgetting to buy the paint.

2. The infinitive after many adjectives:

I was surprised to hear she had failed the exam.

3. The infinitive after certain verbs:

He offered to give her a lift, but she decided to go by bus.

Gerund and infinitives after verbs

1. Verb + gerund

Have you finished cleaning your room?

The following verbs are normally followed by the gerund:

Adore, dislike, give up, detest, don’t mind, can’t stand, admit, avoid, consider, feel like, put off, miss, prevent, suggest etc.

2. Verb + infinitive with to

He promised not to tell anyone what she had said.

The following verbs are normally followed by the infinitive with to:

Agree, appear, arrange, ask, attempt, choose, decide, deserve, hesitate, hope, learn, manage, offer, etc.

3. Verb + gerund or infinitive

a) Like, love, hate and prefer are usually followed by the gerund. However, the infinitive is also possible with little, if any, difference in meaning.

I love going/to go for long walks in the hills.

The infinitive is common for specific situations:

I hate to interrupt, but we really must be going.

b) Begin, start, continue and intend can be followed by the gerund or infinitive with no change in meaning.

When I arrived it started to rain/raining.

c) Forget, remember, go on, mean, need, regret, stop and try can be followed by the gerund or the infinitive, but with a change in meaning, eg:

• Mean + gerund = to involveDieting usually means giving up things you enjoy.

• Mean + infinitive = to intendI meant to phone the electrician but I forgot.

1. Complete each space with a preposition from the box.

at in on about with of

I’m (really) keen_______ sport/cinema etcI’m not (really) interested______ listening to……I’ve never been fond_______ watching…….I’ve always been good/bad_______ playing…….. I get (really) bored________ doing………I never get excited_______ going……….

adjective+ noun or gerund preposition

2. Complete the sentences using the gerund or the infinitive of the verb in brackets.

a) When I suggested ______ (go) skiing she was extremely enthusiastic and we arranged_______ (meet) at seven o’clock on Saturday morning.

b) I can’t help_______ (smile) when I see my dad playing tennis. He’s had hundreds of lessons but he still hasn’t learnt _______ (hit) the ball properly.

c) Playing with golfers better than myself has certainly helped_______ (improve) my game. Now I’m even considering_______ (take) golf up professionally.

d) One of my cousins has promised_______ (take) me windsurfing with him as soon as I’ve finished_______(study).

3.Complete the sentences using infinitive constructions.

• She didn't tell me (do / what)_________

• We asked a man (get / to the station / how)_________

• We didn't know (go / this way or that way / whether)_________

• She found out (queue / for the tickets / where)_________

• I learnt (juggle / with three balls / how) __________

1. What is Ben’s profession?

2. How old was he when he did his first jump?

3. Why he decided to do his first jump?

4. What does he do before jumping?

5. For how long is he doing skydiving?

6. Is easy for people to have their first jump?

Which of these extreme sports would you most and least like to do? Give reasons for your answers.Have you ever tried any unusual sports?

Discussion

Thank you