Last week we taught Kari the basics of rugby - a sport she knew nothing about. This week she has actually seen a game so she was able to ask more questions. Learn more vocabulary and practice your comprehension with the exercises on the transcript.
Last week we taught Kari the basics of rugby - a sport she knew nothing about. This week she has actually seen a game so she was able to ask more questions. Learn more vocabulary and practice your comprehension with the exercises on the transcript.
Last week, we had a very interesting conversation with Coach Kari about rugby, a sport which she had never seen and knew nothing about. It was quite a challenge for me to explain the sport to her. Well today we're going to check in with Kari and find out if she has had a chance to see any rugby.
Hi Kari, how are you today? Have you seen any rugby matches since last week's podcast?
I have. I watched the France and New Zealand match. What an exciting game right? I mean, I saw penalties tries scored and points kicked from really far out. I thought New Zealand would win but in the end it was France.
So having seen the game Kari, do you have any other questions about rugby?
So is this an old sport - how exactly did it start?
Well, it is claimed that William Webb Ellis. invented the game of rugby in 1823. He was a schoolboy in a school called Rugby School in the town of rugby in England.
His schoolmates were playing soccer or football with their feet. And he decided to pick the ball up and run with it because he was finding the game boring,
Interesting story,
But Kari, that is the myth. The truth is that sports similar to rugby already existed at the time. And he was given the fame for having created it, but in fact, many people played similar games before that.
Interesting but you know, it's quite a quite a contact sport and the players play this without any protection. Why is it so popular?
I think the main reason it's popular is because it's seen as a gentleman's game and the players, because of the fact that it is physically dangerous, respect the referee far more than they do in sports, for example, like football. And they tend, although not in all cases, not to cheat as much as they do in other sports.
Now, I'm going to try something here. So if players are playing rugby, and they run the ball over the line and score the points, do the fans yell, try.
You know, like in American football, the fans are like go or you're even in soccer.
Well, I don't think you can hear the word try when they're yelling. They're just so happy that they just cheer and give a good give a good yell, but I don't think they actually say the word try.
Okay, okay, I was trying. So tell me. Rugby World Cup is happening now. Who's a good team to watch?
Well, the host country is France and they are considered one of the favorites. They have in fact never won the World Cup, but it's considered to be their best opportunity of being champions with the team that they have at the moment. The second favorite is Ireland. They are the number one ranked team in the world and the other countries which are always considered very strong. South Africa and New Zealand.
I have heard of New Zealand I think there's a team maybe called the All Blacks right?
You're right Kari. They're very famous because rugby in New Zealand is almost like a religion. It's the most important sport that they have. And also famous because of the dance called the hakka.
Yes, I have seen that before on TV, something like fighting dance maybe?
Well, in New Zealand, the Maori people who were the original inhabitants of New Zealand had a number of different dances that they did at certain occasions and the war downs that they have. It's called the Hakka so because rugby is a violent, confrontational game. It's almost like a war. So they do this dance at the beginning to intimidate and to frighten the opposition players.
It's a super cool tradition. Are you telling me that I can't watch the Americans in this Rugby World Cup this year?
Questions:
1. What rugby match did Kari watch after the podcast?
a) France vs England
b) New Zealand vs South Africa
c) France vs New Zealand
d) Ireland vs South Africa
2. Who is credited with inventing rugby according to the myth?
a) William Webb Ellis
b) A group of schoolboys
c) The town of Rugby
d) The sport already existed
3. Why is rugby seen as a gentleman's game?
a) It is physically dangerous
b) Players don't respect the referee
c) Players cheat less than in other sports
d) All of the above
4. What do fans yell when a player scores a try in rugby?
a) Go
b) Try
c) They cheer and yell
d) None of the above
5. Which country is considered one of the favorites to win the Rugby World Cup?
a) New Zealand
b) South Africa
c) Ireland
d) France
e) All of the above
6. What is the Haka?
a) A famous rugby team
b) A dance performed by the Maori people
c) A type of rugby ball
d) A rugby move
7. Did the United States qualify for the Rugby World Cup this year?
a) Yes
b) No
c) It is not mentioned in the text
d) None of the above
Correct answers:
1. c
2. a
3. c
4. c
5. e
6. b
7. b
Definitions:
a. to shout loudly, often because of anger or excitement
b. a traditional story, often involving gods or heroes, explaining the beliefs or customs of a society
c. a sport in which physical contact between players is allowed or even required, such as football or rugby
d. to make someone feel afraid or scared
e. something that requires effort and skill to overcome or achieve
f. to help or encourage someone or something, often by providing assistance or resources
g. to act dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage
h. tending to cause arguments or disagreements; aggressive or hostile
i. an official who enforces the rules in a sports game or competition
Words:
1. to frighten
2. to support
3. myth
4. a challenge
5. confrontational
6. to cheat
7. referee
8. to yell
9. contact sport
Correct matches:
1. d
2. f
3. b
4. e
5. h
6. g
7. i
8. a
9. c
referee, myth, a challenge, confrontational, contact sport, to yell
1. Running a marathon is _____ for many people.
2. I don't believe in the Loch Ness Monster _____.
3. Football is a _____ where players tackle each other.
4. The _____blew the whistle to start the basketball game.
5. _____________ on a test is not the right thing to do.
6. It's not polite _____ in a library.
7. Some people are naturally _____ and enjoy arguments.
8. Horror movies can sometimes ___________ me.
9. I will always ____________ my favorite sports team, no matter what.
Correct answers:
1. a challenge
2. myth
3. contact sport
4. referee
5. Cheating
6. to yell
7. confrontational
8. frighten
9. support