Discuss
1. What are your favorite leisure-time activities?
2. Compare baseball and tennis. In what ways are they similar? How are they different?
3. What are some noncompetitive sports?
Leisure-Time Activities
1 At one time, leisure meant resting, relaxing, doing nothing, sitting on the front porch swing and
watching the world go by. Today, however, most Americans crowd a lot of ac tivities into their so-called
leisure time. They may perform these activities to become physically fit, learn something new, do
something creative, bring the family closer to- gether, or have a great adventure. Having fun, of course,
is another goal. But many Amer- icans take their leisure pursuits quite seriously; they hope these
activities will enrich their lives in some way.
The Big Three of American Team Sports
2 Team sports appeal to Americans' love of socializing and competing. The most pop- ular team sports
in the U.S.A-baseball, football, and basketball-are both spectator sports and participatory sports. Boys
and girls begin playing softball (a game similar to baseball but with a bigger, softer ball) when they are
about 9 or 10 years old. In high school and college, football and baseball are played primarily by boys
and men, and basketball is played by both sexes.
3 Baseball is often called the national pastime. People from other countries sometimes wonder why
Americans enjoy this sport so much. "It's dull," they say "Most of the time, the players are just standing
still, waiting for someone to hit the ball." And that's true. But hitting that ball is quite a challenge. A pitch
thrown by a professional pitcher usu- ally travels more than 90 miles (145 kilometers) an hour. Hitting
a ball thrown that fast is a difficult challenge for any athlete, so when a batter hits the ball out of the ball
park (a home run!), the fans scream and cheer. The professional baseball season ends with the World
Series, seven games played between the nation's top two teams. As with championship football, fans
sometimes pay hundreds of dollars for a ticket to a World Series game. But those that watch the games
at home on TV probably see them better.
4 Football involves knocking down a player who is trying to carry the ball down the field. Although
players wear a lot of padding and other protective gear, injuries are fairly common. Versions of the
game that involve less physical contact-flag football and touch football-are played by teams enjoying
the sport just for fun and exercise
5 As a spectator sport, football is extremely popular, especially among men. Women sometimes call
themselves "football widows" because, during the football season, their boyfriends or husbands are
either at the stadium or glued to the TV set. Both college football (played on Saturday afternoons) and
professional football (played on Sunday afternoons and Monday nights) attract huge audiences. At the
end of the college foot- ball season, the best teams compete in Bowl games. The day's festivities are
colorful and exciting, involving parades with floats and marching bands. Bowl games attract huge
crowds and big TV audiences. The professional football season ends with the Super Bowl, the game
between the country's top two teams. More than 130 million peo- ple worldwide watch it on TV. It is the
most watched TV show in the world. Because of this huge audience, advertisers pay about $2 million
for a 30-second advertisement!
6 Note that the game Americans call football is not what Europeans call football. To Amer- icans, that
game is soccer. Soccer, the world's most popular sport, the national sport of most European and Latin
American countries, has not been a great success in the U.S. as a professional sport. However, it is
one of the fastest-growing team sports in U.S. el- ementary and high schools and is also a popular
college sport.
7 While baseball and football are played outdoors (or in huge enclosed stadiums), bas- ketball is the
world's most popular indoor sport. Variations of the game are also played informally outdoors. Nearly
every park in the U.S. has a basketball net and hard-surface playing area, and many American homes
have a basketball net outdoors. In the U.S. there are 29 professional men's teams. In addition, women's
professional basketball has been growing in popularity. Basketball is also played competitively by high
school and college students.
8 Professional basketball players make almost impossible shots! ful. Michael Jordan, the former
Chicago Bulls player, became famous of his achievements on the basketball court. Jordan's 13-year
career earnings (his salary for playing plus earnings for endorsing products in ads) exceeded $300
million! Is it any wonder that almost every tall American boy hopes to grow much taller and eventually
play professional basketball?
What are the three most popular team sports in the U.S.?
What's the difference between Bowl games and the Super Bowl?
Other Popular Sports
9 Americans know that athletics is good for the body and the mind. Those who are se- rious about
exercising can find all kinds of activities to do, everything from winter sports to water sports. Some are
safe, tame, and not very strenuous. Others require speed and great endurance. Some even require
courage. Many Americans spend a lot of money on equipment and instruction to participate in sports
they enjoy. Others talk about exer- cising more but never get around to it.
10 One sport that can be played from about age 10 to 110 is golf. This popular sport is played all year
except when the ground is covered with snow. Doctors highly recom- mend it for mild exercise, and
they often practice what they preach. "Don't get sick on a Wednesday," people joke. That's doctors'
traditional day off, and supposedly they're all on the golf course. The achievements of American golfer
Tiger Woods have been an in- spiration to golfers everywhere. He won the Masters Tournament in
1997, at the age of 21, and is still ranked the world's best golfer. He's also a one-man representative of
American multiculturalism. His ethnic background is a blend of African-American, Na- tive American,
Chinese, European, and Thai!
11 Another sport that is not extremely strenuous and appeals to a wide age range is bowling. About 43
million people bowl in the US. Many bowling leagues (groups of teams that compete against each other)
are formed by coworkers or members of com- munity organizations.
12 Tennis, played by millions throughout the world, is also popular in the US. It is played all year, indoors
or out, and provides a very vigorous workout. When two people are playing against each other, it's
called singles; when four play (two teams of two play- ers each), it's called doubles. As with other major
sports, top professional tennis players win a lot of money and become famous.
13 Americans also enjoy winter sports on snow or ice. Skiing attracts both individuals and families. (It's
not unusual to see 4-year-olds starting their skiing lessons.) In flatter areas of the country. "mountains"
are artificially created and covered with artificial snow. Skiers also go to resorts with real mountains in
places such as Aspen, Colorado. Ice- skating, indoors and outdoors, is also popular. Hockey (the
national sport of Canada) is a popular team sport for boys in the U.S., too. Girls, however, are more
likely to enjoy figure skating (doing various difficult maneuvers on ice).
14 The newest category of sports is called extreme sports. These are risky activities involv- ing speed,
high skill, and danger. They include daredevil tricks on snowboards, skate- boards, and bicycles;
parachute jumps off bridges or cliffs; bungee jumping; barefoot waterskiing: and skydiving. Most
Americans consider extreme sports enthusiasts ex- tremely foolish. However, others see them as
carrying on the traditional pioneering, ad- venturous spirit that enabled Americans to conquer a
wilderness.
What are some important differences between golf and tennis?
Exercise and the Great Outdoors
15 Some people get their exercise at health clubs, which have exercise equipment and exercise
classes. Others equip their homes with treadmills and weights to work out in their bedroom or family
room.
16 Can people exercise while sitting down? Of course! They can use stationary bicycles or regular
bicycles (nearly every American child has one). Other sit-down outdoor sports are motorcycling,
snowmobiling, and riding a wave-runner (on water).
17 Can one exercise without expensive equipment? Yes, indeed. Walking, running, and jogging are
also popular ways of keeping fit. In fact, walking is the most popular form of exercise in the US. Some
shopping malls open early to allow members of walking clubs to exercise and window-shop at the same
time. Before going to work, many Americans go jogging, using park trails or just running around the
block Runners with great endurance can enter marathon races (approximately 26 miles, or 42
kilometers, long).
18 Some Americans want to get away from urban life and get back to nature. They go hiking, camping,
boating, or fishing. They enjoy waterskiing on a quiet lake or scuba diving in the ocean. And some,
despite the disapproval of animal lovers, commune with nature by hunting small animals (such as ducks
and rabbits) or large ones (such as deer and bear). About 16 million Americans get hunting licenses
each year. Finally, many Americans enjoy the great outdoors at home by taking care of their lawns and
gardens.
What are some activities to get exercise and enjoy the outdoors at the same time?
Live Entertainment for Every Taste
19 In 1996, while Americans spent $6.4 billion to attend sporting events, they spent an- other $9.3 billion
on theater, opera, and classical musical performances. Rock music concerts also attract millions of
people, especially during the summer, when many con- certs are held in huge outdoor areas. Many
Americans are not satisfied to be merely spectators and listeners. Amateur performances, many of
excellent quality, can be found all over the U.S. on any weekend. Theater groups, orchestras, and
bands easily get enough volunteers to produce fine music and theater for the local community at very
reasonable prices.
20 Entertainment involving animals is popular in many places. Most bigger cities have zoos and
aquariums, Circuses travel around the country, bringing excitement when they come to town. And then
there are rodeos, a form of entertainment popular in the Amer- ican Southwest, Latin America, and
Australia. Among other activities at rodeos, cow- boys (and cowgirls) demonstrate their skills by climbing
atop wild horses and bulls- for very short rides!
21 Animals also provide entertainment and an opportunity to lose money quickly at the racetrack.
Americans race horses, dogs, pigeons, even pigs! Races are just one common form of gambling in a
country with a great many other opportunities to do so. Fifty years ago, racetracks and Nevada casinos
were almost the only forms of legal gambling in the U.S. Today, 37 states have lottery games, and 22
states have gambling casinos on Na- tive American reservations. Many states have riverboat gambling
casinos. There is also informal gambling among friends and coworkers, including bets on major sporting
events or Friday evening poker games. Altogether, gambling in the U.S. is a multibillion- dollar industry.
Name some places where people can go to see animals in action.
Picture and Sound
22 By far, the most popular leisure-time activity is watching television. There is at least one TV set in
98% of American households, and many have two or three. About 82% of American homes have a
videocassette recorder (VCR), which is capable of recording and playing back TV shows or movies.
23 What's on TV? Afternoon programming consists mostly of game shows, talk shows, and neverending dramas commonly called soap operas. For children, daytime TV offers clever programs that
educate while entertaining. There are also a lot of cartoons. At din- ner time, news is broadcast. Evening
entertainment consists mostly of situation come- dies (sitcoms), which portray some aspect of life
(families, singles, seniors, and so on) in a humorous way. There are also movies, adventure shows,
dramas, and various weekly shows with the same cast of characters and general theme but a different
story each week.
24 For those who want more TV than the free stations provide cable TV is available in most parts of the
country. To receive cable TV, one must pay a monthly subscription fee. Wires are attached to the TV
set to enable the subscriber to receive the cable broad- casts. Cable channels tend to specialize in one
type of program. There are stations for news, sports, movies, music videos, business, health, history,
and the arts.
25 TV, at its best, is entertaining and educational. However, there are two problems:
Most viewers watch too much, and the quality (especially on the free stations) is often poor. How much
is too much? Studies indicate that the average American watches TV about 28 hours a week. (Children
watch about 20 hours; older women are up to 42 hours.) According to one study in 1950, American 14year-olds had a vocabulary of 25,000 words, but today's children the same age know only 10,000 words.
The reason for the decrease may be that TV takes up a lot of leisure time kids once spent reading.
Tech- nology will continue to offer consumers bigger TV screens and clearer pictures at af- fordable
prices. Moreover, TV of the future will be more interactive. (Viewers will have more control over the
action.) Better technical quality may encourage viewers to watch even more and, some say, become
even less physically fit and more overweight.
26 And what about quality? On the commercial networks especially, many shows are silly, trite, in poor
taste, or extremely violent. By the age of 18, the typical American has seen 40,000 killings on TV and
in movies combined. Does all this fake bloodshed cause some teens to commit real violent crimes?
Some people think there's a connection. American TV has earned the insulting nicknames "boob tube"
and "idiot box." But for those who want to avoid either too much TV or bad TV, the solution is simple:
Click the "off" button.
27 Movies are another common source of entertainment, viewed in theaters or at home. TV stations
show movies, and thstars become public idols. Once a year, the movie industry gives out a whole series
of honors to movie-makers. Nearly a billion people worldwide watch this televised awards presentationthe Academy Awards.
28 Other popular sources of entertainment are recordings and radio. Sales of recordings in all forms
(compact discs and audiocassettes) exceed $12 billion annually, with com- pact discs by far the most
popular medium. Radio, too, has its place in the American entertainment scene. It's a great companion
in the car, on the treadmill, or on the jog- ging trail.
What are some problems with American TV?
In your opinion, what's good about it?
Leisure for Learning, Collecting, and Creating
29 No, radio and TV have not made reading obsolete. Nor is it true that Americans get all their news
from radio or television. Reading is still an important leisure-time activ- ity. The U.S.A. has about 1,800
daily newspapers with a total circulation of about 60 mil- lion. The country also produces thousands of
magazines and journals-weeklies. monthlies, and quarterlies. Some are of general interest. Others are
directed at people in a specific group based upon age, religion, occupation, or interests. Bookstores are
thriving, too. The latest trend is toward the large bookstore that is much more than just a place to buy
books. Customers come for lectures, workshops, and coffee. They bring the family, and everyone
browses. They meet the author of a new mystery or how-to book. Libraries are also very busy because
they offer a great deal to keep users coming back. Most libraries have computers equipped with the
latest software and Internet access. And today's libraries also offer a wide variety of programs for all
ages-from sto- rytelling pajama parties for young children to travelogues for adults on the go. Americans visit libraries about three times as often as they go to movies.
30 Besides reading, there are endless numbers of hobbies that are not strenuous Stamp collectors,
coin collectors, Internet surfers, photographers, doll house furniture builders, painters, jewelry makers,
orchid growers, and many others become skilled in a particular activity. Many hobbies have magazines
and Internet groups devoted to their field.
What evidence is there that Americans still read a lot?
31 Leisure-time activities probably define a person as much as his or her occupation does. Americans
tend to begin and continue friendships with people who enjoy the same leisure pastimes. After all,
mountain climbers don't have much in common with stamp collectors.
A. Underline the phrase that means the same as the one quoted from the reading. The numbers in
parentheses give the paragraphs in which the phrases are used.
1. "spectator sports and participatory sports" (2)
a. sports to watch and sports to play
b. team sports and individual sports
2. "professional baseball" (3)
a. played by teams that get paid to play
b. played for enjoyment
3. "physical contact" (4)
a. running a lot
b. touching each other
4. "endorsing products" (8)
a. buying particular products
b., saying in an ad that the particular products are good
5. "Is it any wonder?" (8)
a. It shouldn't really be surprising. b. Do you ever want to know?
6. "despite the disapproval of animal lovers" (18)
a. although people who love animals don't like this
b. when animal lovers disapprove
7. "Amateur performances, many of excellent quality" (19)
a. many good amateur performances
b. a lot of amateur performances
8. "physically fit" (25)
a. ready to go and exercise b. in good condition because of regular exercise
9. "No, radio and TV have not made reading obsolete." (29)
a. People still read.
b. Reading is no longer a popular activity.
10. "leisure-time activities" (31)
a things to do with one's free time
b. activities that don't require much effort
B. What activity would you perform to accomplish each goal? Write one activity on each line.
1. become physically fit:
2. learn something new.
3. do something creative:
4. have a great adventure:
These are the 15 key vocabulary words for this chapter. They are boldfaced in the reading. Pronounce
these words after your teacher and discuss their meanings.
amateur*
leisure
compete
athleticst
network
equipment
hobby
spectator
individual
strenuous
stadium
subscription
station
team
fan
B. Complete these sentences with some of the key vocabulary words. Make the nouns plural if
necessary, and put the verb into the correct tense and form. .
1. _________is another word for sports.
2. Swimming and golf are usually ________. Baseball and football are always________ sports.
3. People often go to a(n)_______ to watch two teams__________in a sporting event.
4. Spectators cheer for their favorite team. They are__________of that team.
5. An athlete who doesn't get paid to play a sport is a(n)__________athlete.
6. If you want a magazine delivered to your home regularly, you subscribe to it.
You can also get a(n)______to cable TV channels you like.
7. Tennis is a(n)__________sport. Players have to do a lot of running.
8. Most TV shows are produced by large companies called_______. Then, they are sold to various
smaller TV
What is suggested in each of these paragraphs? Discuss your inferences with a partner
1. paragraph 5: "The "football widow' says her husband is ged to the TV set. Is this a literal or a figurative
statement? Is he really glued? What does the wife mean?
2. paragraph 20: Why do you think the rides are short? What happens to the riders?
3. paragraph 21: Why do people who come to the racetrack lose money quickly?
4. paragraph 29: Guess what a "how-to" book is. Give some examples: Find the words browse and
thriving, and try to determine their meanings from context. Then check your dictionary.
On each blank line, write the letter of the correct phrase to complete the sentence. The numbers in
parentheses give the paragraphs in which the expressions are used.
1. Baseball is called the national pastime (3) because it________
a. is a very popular sport throughout the U.S.
b. was very popular in the past
2. If doctors practice what they preach (10), they_______
a do what they advise others to do
b. give a lot of speeches
3. People who work out (15) a lot_____
a. have an outdoor job
b. exercise often
4. If you are window-shopping (17), you are____
a. not spending any money at that time
b. buying new windows for your house
5. People who are trying to get back to nature (18)___
a. play golf or tennis
b. go hiking in the woods dril
6. A soap opera (23) is a__________
a. radio or TV story that continues day after day
b. long, sad opera
7. The nicknames boob tube and idiot box (26)_________
a. are insulting references to TV
b. are complimentary references to TV
A. Comparative Patterns with Adjectives There are two comparative patterns for adjectives. For short
adjectives: Bowling is easier than baseball. For longer adjectives: Some TV shows are more interesting
than others. with complete statements.
Work with a partner and take turns answering these questions
1. Which sport is more popular-walking or jogging?
2. Which sport is more strenuous-tennis or golf?
3. Which activity do you think children like better-reading a book or going to a circus?
4. Which is easier-shooting a ball into a basket or hitting a baseball?
With a partner, scan paragraphs 1-3 looking for gerunds. Then complete the following sentences, using
a gerund in each.
1._________is the most popular form of exercise in the U.S. this afternoon.
2. Let's go________ this afternoon.
3. He is thinking about__________next summer.
Debate these issues in small groups. Then choose one and write about it.
1. Is it beneficial or harmful for children to be involved in competitive athletics?
2. Is it wrong for people to train animals to perform for human amusement? Or is it acceptable if the
animals are treated well?
3. According to a major study, the average American child spends a total of 38 hours a week using TV,
radio, recordings, video games, and computers. Is this good or bad?
Then, they are sold to various smaller TV