TEXT 2 BACH A AUTUMN TERM 2009

 

SURF THE DUNES!

 

Surfing is a sport that has really taken off in England in the past few years. Although it looks difficult, standing on the board is a piece of cake for most people. It you can’t do it at first, don’t give up. It’s not the end of the world, keep on trying and you’ll soon pick it up. Normally, the first time someone manages to ride a wave all the way to shore, they are on cloud 9. Some people adore surfing so much that they get completely hooked on it. If it happens to you, you will constantly be saving up to get to exotic places. If you go surfing to Australia, look out for sharks!

 

But if water is not your cup of tea, why not hit the dunes, or sand hills, and surf the sand? Speedsters from New Zealand to New Mexico are catching the wave of a hot new sport called sandboarding. You can sandboard on your feet or lying down and use anything from a piece of cardboard to an old snowboard. But a sandboarder needs to overcome sand’s friction (rubbing force). So boarders take advantage of freshly blown sand, with air trapped between the sand particles.That makes for boardind speeds of more than 88km (55 miles) per hour. “Sandboarding is free and fun. When you sandboard, you practically glide on air,” says Tim Beale, of Sandboard magazine.

 

1) A-Find expressions in the text similar in meaning to these ones.

 

a- To be very easy. b- To abandon. c- to learn.

d- To like, to be fond of e- To be very happy f- to be addicted

 

B- When you have found these expressions in the text, make up a sentence

of your own with each one.

 

2) Answer the following questions in your own words.

 

a- What can happen to people who like surfing?

b- What is the main difference between both kinds of surfing described in the text?

c- How can sandboarders reach a high speed?

 

3) Are these sentences True (T) or False (F)? Quote the text with your

answers.

 

a- Surfing has become less popular in England.

b- Standing on the surfboard is hard for most people.

c- You need expensive equipment to go sandboarding.

d- Friction is an important problem in sandboarding.

 

4) Write questions for the underlined words.

 

a- Surfing has taken off in England.

b- You can sandboard on your feet or lying down.

c- Beale said that sandboarding is free and fun.

 

5) Write a composition (100-150 words)

 

A personal description: Describe your favourite sportsman / sportswoman.