ВУЗ:
Составители:
Рубрика:
pick-up trucks; gigantic tires; “people-powered” aircraft;
motors; automobile engines; a hot-air balloon; a crew; skate-
boarding; lawnmower engine; “ultra-light-weight” planes;
exhausting; enjoyment; recreation; the Handicapped Olympics.
4. Read the text.
Unusual Sports
There are several sports and sport activities in the U.S., all having
their strong supporters, which many people think are a bit strange
or at least unusual. For example, Americans will race just about
anything that has wheels. Not just cars, but also “funny cars” with
aircraft and jet engines, large trucks with special motors, tractors,
pick-up trucks with gigantic tires, and even motorcycles with
automobile engines. By contrast, several sports are popular
because they do not involve motors. The first “people-powered”
aircraft to cross the English Channel was pedaled by an
American. And the first hot-air balloon to make it across the
Atlantic had a crew from Albuquerque, New Mexico.
There are also several sports in the U.S. which were once
thought of as being “different”, but have now gained international
popularity. Among these, for instance, is skate-boarding. Another
example is wind-surfing which very quickly spread in popularity
from the beaches of California and Hawaii. Hang-gliding became
really popular after those same people in California started
jumping off cliffs above the ocean. Those who like more than
wind and luck attached a small lawnmower engine to a hang-
glider and soon “ultra-light-weight” planes were buzzing around.
The most recent unusual sport that first reached popularity in
the U.S. before spreading elsewhere is the triathlon. This most
demanding sport came from a late-night discussion in a Honolulu
bar in 1977 about which sport was the most exhausting:
swimming, bicycle racing, or long-distance running. Someone
suggested that they all be put together. The result was the first
triathlon, the “Ironman,” in 1978, with 15 participants. This
contest was a 3.9-kilometer ocean swim, followed immediately
by a 180-kilometer bicycle race, and ending with a 42 kilometer
run. Five years later there were already 1,000 such competitions
throughout the U.S., and the triathlon is becoming more and
more popular in Europe, too.
Some Americans watching triathlons conclude that keeping
fit can’t be that much fun. It is clear, however, that since the
publication of Cooper’s book Aerobics (1968), sports in
America turned from an assortment of team activities to what
one observer called “a prescription for everyone’s health.” The
emphasis, on physical fitness has involved increasing numbers
of Americans in activities that provide the necessary physical
conditioning and at the same time offer enjoyment and
recreation. Swimming, jogging, cycling, and calisthenics can be
done in company with family members and friends, have no real
age limits, and are performed more for health and fun than for
competition. Everyone can participate in these activities. The
widespread public support for the Handicapped Olympics in the
U.S., for example, indicates that “everyone” does, indeed, mean
everyone.
By Douglas K. Stevenson,
“American Life and Institutions”
// “This is America Today”, p. 279-
281.
Background Notes
aerobics: (used with a plural verb) any of various
sustained exercises, as jogging,
calisthenics, and vigorous dancing,
designed especially to stimulate and
strengthen the heart. The idea of aerobic
exercises (aerobics for short) was
pick-up trucks; gigantic tires; “people-powered” aircraft; triathlon, the “Ironman,” in 1978, with 15 participants. This
motors; automobile engines; a hot-air balloon; a crew; skate- contest was a 3.9-kilometer ocean swim, followed immediately
boarding; lawnmower engine; “ultra-light-weight” planes; by a 180-kilometer bicycle race, and ending with a 42 kilometer
exhausting; enjoyment; recreation; the Handicapped Olympics. run. Five years later there were already 1,000 such competitions
throughout the U.S., and the triathlon is becoming more and
4. Read the text. more popular in Europe, too.
Some Americans watching triathlons conclude that keeping
Unusual Sports fit can’t be that much fun. It is clear, however, that since the
publication of Cooper’s book Aerobics (1968), sports in
There are several sports and sport activities in the U.S., all having America turned from an assortment of team activities to what
their strong supporters, which many people think are a bit strange one observer called “a prescription for everyone’s health.” The
or at least unusual. For example, Americans will race just about emphasis, on physical fitness has involved increasing numbers
anything that has wheels. Not just cars, but also “funny cars” with of Americans in activities that provide the necessary physical
aircraft and jet engines, large trucks with special motors, tractors, conditioning and at the same time offer enjoyment and
pick-up trucks with gigantic tires, and even motorcycles with recreation. Swimming, jogging, cycling, and calisthenics can be
automobile engines. By contrast, several sports are popular done in company with family members and friends, have no real
because they do not involve motors. The first “people-powered” age limits, and are performed more for health and fun than for
aircraft to cross the English Channel was pedaled by an competition. Everyone can participate in these activities. The
American. And the first hot-air balloon to make it across the widespread public support for the Handicapped Olympics in the
Atlantic had a crew from Albuquerque, New Mexico. U.S., for example, indicates that “everyone” does, indeed, mean
There are also several sports in the U.S. which were once everyone.
thought of as being “different”, but have now gained international
popularity. Among these, for instance, is skate-boarding. Another By Douglas K. Stevenson,
example is wind-surfing which very quickly spread in popularity “American Life and Institutions”
from the beaches of California and Hawaii. Hang-gliding became // “This is America Today”, p. 279-
really popular after those same people in California started 281.
jumping off cliffs above the ocean. Those who like more than
wind and luck attached a small lawnmower engine to a hang- Background Notes
glider and soon “ultra-light-weight” planes were buzzing around.
The most recent unusual sport that first reached popularity in aerobics: (used with a plural verb) any of various
the U.S. before spreading elsewhere is the triathlon. This most sustained exercises, as jogging,
demanding sport came from a late-night discussion in a Honolulu calisthenics, and vigorous dancing,
bar in 1977 about which sport was the most exhausting: designed especially to stimulate and
swimming, bicycle racing, or long-distance running. Someone strengthen the heart. The idea of aerobic
suggested that they all be put together. The result was the first exercises (aerobics for short) was
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