高中英文（一）Outside Reading — 116099796
Unit 6 Taiwan’s Popular Sports
Part A 閱讀—Reading Section
Today in Taiwan, most people are active in sports or other health-conscious activities which
include traditional Chinese shadowboxing and martial arts, as well as dancing and hiking. Other
modern exercises include yoga from India and aerobics from the West. Many people in Taiwan,
both young and old, also like to play modern western sports.
One of these more popular imported sports is baseball. Although baseball came from England,
Americans made it into the game that is now played around the world. Many children enjoy this
team sport because it needs speed, good eyesight, throwing and catching skills, and team work
among the players. Besides, all you need is a bat, a ball, baseball gloves, and a place to play. In fact,
the game is so popular in Taiwan that, in the past 20 years, Taiwan has started two professional
baseball leagues. People in Taiwan really love baseball!
Basketball has become more popular in Taiwan in recent years. Anyone who can run and
throw a ball into a hoop can play this simple game. Official games have two teams of five players
each, but young people often play one-on-one just for fun. Most cities have basketball courts in city
parks; the only other gear needed is a basketball. This may help explain why basketball has become
so popular around the world.
Other sports are also becoming popular in Taiwan. Golf and tennis, for example, have become
popular among the middle-aged and middle-class. The young like bicycling, skateboarding, and
in-line skating more. People of all ages are learning to enjoy water sports such as swimming,
snorkeling, and deep-sea diving. It seems that nearly everyone in Taiwan is devoted to one or
more sports.
And why not? The benefits of exercising are well-known. Besides keeping and improving
health, joining in sports also builds good character. Learning to work with others, practicing the
sportsmanship of winning and losing, sacrificing time and suffering pain all help to build up one’s
character. Schools, businesses, and the government should all encourage students and workers to
join in sports or other exercises for the good of society.
--Written by Bruce Bagnell--
health-conscious [`hElH"kanSJs] adj. 有健康意識的
activity [Ak`tIvJtI] n. 活動
Chinese shadowboxing [tSZI`niz `SAdo"baksIG] n. 太極拳
yoga [`yoqJ] n. 瑜珈
India [`IndIJ] n. 印度
aerobics ["eJ`robIks] n. 有氧運動
eyesight [`ZI"sZIt] n. 視力
popular [`papyJlK] adj. 流行的
league [liq] n. 聯盟
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高中英文（一）Outside Reading — 116099796
hoop [hup] n. 籃框
official [J`fISJl] adj. 正式的
one-on-one [`wVnan`wVn] adv.; adj. 一對一地／的
gear [qIr] n. 設備；器材
as well as 和；也
middle-aged [`mIdL`edjd] adj. 中年的
middle-class [`mIdL`klAs] adj. 中產階級的
skateboarding [`sket"bOrdIG] n. 溜滑板
in-line skating ["InlZIn `sketIG] n. 溜直排輪
snorkeling [`snOrkLIG] n. 浮潛
deep-sea diving [`dip`si `dZIvIG] n. 深海潛水
character [`kArJktK] n. 品格；性格
encourage [In`kRIdj] v.t. 鼓勵
Part B 讀後練習—Post-reading Practice
Ⅰ True or False: Mark T for a true statement and F for a false statement.
Ｆ
Ｔ
1. The ancient Chinese never did any exercise.
2. One reason basketball is so popular is that it doesn’t require a great deal of expensive
Ｆ
Ｆ
equipment.
3. Only baseball and basketball are popular in Taiwan.
4. One reason why participating in sports is good for students is that they can earn a lot of
Ｔ
money.
5. Taiwan has two professional baseball leagues because people like baseball very much.
Ⅱ Comprehension Questions: Choose the best answer to each question.
Ｃ
1. We know the ancient Chinese
(A) preferred in-line skating
.
(B) enjoyed deep-sea diving
Ｂ
(C) practiced martial arts
(D) never do exercise
2. One skill mentioned in the reading that is necessary for baseball players is
Ｂ
(A) strength
(B) speed
(C) good hearing
(D) good character
3. Which of the following sports is not popular in Taiwan?
Ｄ
(A) Baseball.
(B) Rugby.
(C) Tennis.
(D) Swimming.
4. Which of the following CANNOT build up one’s character?
(A) Work with others.
(B) Sacrifice time.
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高中英文（一）Outside Reading — 116099796
(C) Suffer pain.
(D) Win all the time.
Part C 字彙練習—Vocabulary Practice
Fill in the blanks with proper vocabulary.
league
1. He is not in the same l
e with us.
gear
2. You need fishing g
r when you go fishing.
encourage
3. You should e
e him to practice more to pass the exam.
character
4. He is honest and sincere, so his neighbors all think that he is a man of
popular
health-conscious
activities
official
middle-class
one-on-one
c
r.
5. Professor Smith is p
r among the students for he is smart and
humorous.
6. Nowadays, more and more adults are h
s because there are so many
diseases resulting from high-tech and fast-speed life.
7. When you feel stressed, you can do some physical a
ies to release your
pressure.
8. His father is offered an o
l position in the company.
9. The m
s usually refers to people who are neither rich nor poor.
10. Our school holds o
e basketball games every year.
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