The evolution of sports in the modern world is an interesting one. In the past, men took up spears to hunt animals for food. He who could use the spear most expertly would usually bring home a bigger supply of food. Nowadays, men take up spears only in sports, in what we now call 'javelin throwing'.
What used to be essential skills in survival, such as running, shooting and jumping, are now skills that are tested primarily in the sports arena. Man no longer has to aim well to shoot at a deer grazing in the grassland or jump over difficult terrain in pursuit of his prey. What he does have to do now is to prove to others that he can shoot further or more accurately than the other competitors, or outrun his opponents in a race.
The pursuit of excellence in sports has become the desire and purpose of every true sportsman today. Sportsmen have to be armed with an indomitable spirit of determination and discipline in order to reach heights ordinary men can only dream of. Carl Lewis, one of the world's fastest men, ran the 100-meter race under ten seconds. Michael Jordan outjumped and outscored his opponents in many basketball matches in the United Sates. Michael Owen captured the hearts of millions of fans when he outsmarted the opposing team to dribble and kick home a crucial goal during the 1998 World Cup. These sportsmen lay claims to glory through their amazing feats in the sports they play and excel in.
However, what significance does sports hold for the ordinary people -- people who cannot perform extraordinary feats like the above-mentioned sports icons of modern times ? Thankfully, sports exist for another very vital reason. They promote health. When we engage in a sport, whether it is cycling, swimming, playing football or tennis, it helps to build up our physical as well as mental strength. When the body is strong, it means that we are able to fight off infections or illnesses, such as cold or fever, better and faster than someone who is not physically healthy.
Sports also help to build up our mental strength. Engaging in any type of sports demands focus. One would not want to cycle right into the drain or be hit by a tennis ball coming right at you. Similarly, we need discipline to complete the various exercises. it takes time and effort to train to play basketball or to complete a long distance run.
Hence, sports have become an integral part of our lives and it is no wonder that the Singapore Government is trying to encourage a nation of healthy living by promoting sports.
Answer the following questions using complete sentences
1.
According to the writer, how did sports evolve ?
2.
What does the phrase 'bigger supply of food' (paragraph 1) refer to ?
3.
What must a sportsman have to pursue excellence in any sport according to the passage ?
4.
Why are those sportsmen mentioned in paragraph 3 famous ?
5.
What does the phrase 'promote health' (paragraph 4) mean according to the passage ?
6.
What does 'mental strength' (paragraph 4) refer to ?
7.
When is a person 'physically health' (paragraph 4) ?
8.
What is the phrase in paragraph 4 that has the same meaning as 'resist' ?
9.
What is the Singapore Government trying to promote ?
10.
Why do you think having a nation of healthy people is important ?
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
1. What do you call a type of shape that has five sides?
2. Which way is anti-clockwise, left or right?
3. Which is the most widely spoken language in the world?
4. What colour symbolizes peace?
5. Who is the founder of Microsoft?
6. Global Warming is Caused by the Excess of Which Type of Gas?
7. What is the Name of the Biggest Rainforest in the World?
8. What is the Largest Joint in the Human Body?
9. Who is the prime minister of Barbados?
10. Name 2 capital cities of Caribbean countries - not Barbados.
1. If I have US $45.91, how much money would I receive in Barbadian currency?
2. On Amazon, the price of VR goggles is US $120.65. How much would I have to pay in Barbadian currency?
3. What number when multiplied by 2 gives a product of 69.08?
4. Kerry has 520 points in a game. I have 10% MORE than she does. How many points do I have?
5. Abdul wants to fly to Aruba. The plane ticket costs $3200. Samir will give him 20% of the money. How much money will Samir give Abdul?
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1)tsbsihela - to create, to build
2)imrunqeerte -something that you need (r)
3)elgacaomuf -to blend in
4)unoromse - big, giant
5)dueneatrv - having fun, experincing new things, exploring
Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow. Remember to always answer questions in a complete sentence. Poverty Five times a day, the crowd of students flocked around the window through which the caretaker sold her cakes, then broke up in the yard to play and walk about, while heartily biting into long pieces of a type of gingerbread with jam. And five times a day I was forced to endure this spectacle without participating in it. I never had a cent to my name. I was forced to stand in the background, and the sight of those cakes the pupils bought in a joyous uproar and devoured greedily and freely about me, overwhelmed me with passionate desire. Thus I began filling myself with water from the tap, in a corner of the yard and, every now and then, I returned to it, trying to drown my stomach to keep it qui
Persuasive Writing Persuasion is the act or process of presenting arguments to move, motivate, or change your audience's mind. Common Persuasive Techniques 1.Emotional Appeals: One persuasive technique is appealing to the audience’s emotions: Fears, desire to seem intelligent, need to protect their family, desire to fit in, etc. 2. Rhetorical Questions: Rhetorical questions are questions that do not require an answer Example: Do we want our children growing up in a world where they are threatened with violence on every street corner? 3. Repetition: By repeating letters, words and phrases the author can reinforce an argument and ensure that the point of view being made stays in an audience's mind. 4. Evidence: Statistics, expert opinions, research findings and anecdotal evidence. 5. Inclusive and Exclusive Language: 'People like you and me don't want to see this happen' Activity 1 Read the persuasive piece and answer the
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