UNTI 12, 13 READING

UNIT 12 – E11
A. READING
Part 1. Read the passage and choose the best option A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.
Nowadays gymnastics are very popular in China and some other Asian countries. Modem gymnastics began in the nineteenth century. In 1811 an outdoor gymnastics centre for men was opened in Berlin where they could do bodybuilding and exercises on a high bar and other pieces of equipment. At the same time, gymnastics, without equipment, was developed in Sweden as a keep-fit programme for schools.
Dance is an important part of training as it prepares you for the types of movements required in gymnastics. One of the aims is to make the body stronger for jumps and turns and for movements of balance. It also helps your body bend forwards, backwards and sideways, and improves the way you hold your body. In competitions women perform some of their exercises to music, so dance, gymnastics and music are all connected.
To become a top gymnast, it is important to start when very young. In fact, most gymnasts start with simple exercises while they are still at kindergarten. Girls are already performing in competitions by the age of ten, and Olympic medals are often won by fourteen or fifteen-year-old girls.
Boys develop physically later than girls and so Olympic gymnastics medals are usually won by men between the ages of nineteen and twenty- five. Some pieces of equipment, for example the rings, require great physical strength and boys need to develop their bodies fully before attempting such difficult exercises.
In competitions, gymnasts have to perform on different pieces of equipment. All gymnasts perform on the floor and jump over a “horse” with four legs. Gymnasts have to show that they can move neatly and easily, hold a position steady, keep their balance while doing a handstand, and jump both forwards and backwards.
Only men perform on the rings, on the double bars, on the high bar, and on a type of “horse” with four legs which has two handles fixed to the top surface. Only women perform on the high-and-low bars, one of which is higher than the other, and the “beam”, which is a length of wood only four inches wide which is fixed at a height of 1.20 metres above the ground. Both men and women do floor exercises on the mat. There are a few simple safety measures to follow while training.
It is always important to work with a trainer. Training by yourself in a gym can be highly dangerous.
Make sure you take off any watches, rings or necklaces before you start.
Wear tight clothing without collars or belts so that it doesn’t catch on any of the equipment.
Look after your health and do not practise if you are unwell or have any injury.
1. When and where did modern gymnastics begin?
A. in Asia in the 19th century                    B. in Europe-in the 19th century
C. in Africa in the 19th century   D. in America in the 19th century
2. What did Berlin set up the gymnastics centre for in 1811?
A. for people to do gymnastics without equipment B. for men to do gymnastics with equipment
C. for people to do outdoor gymnastics D. for men to do indoor gymnastics
3. Why is dance an important part of gymnastics training?
A. Because it helps you keep your balance. B. Because it helps your body bend easily.
C. Because it includes the types of movements required in gymnastics.
D. Because it makes your body stronger for jumps and turns.
4. What does a gymnast have to do to become a top gymnast?
A. He/She starts with simple exercises. B. He/She begins training while being still at kindergarten.
C. He/She starts training at the age of ten. D. Both A and B.
5. Why are women younger than men among the Olympic medal winners?
A. Women are physically stronger than men. B. Girls develop physically earlier than boys.
C. Boys cannot move as neatly and easily as girls.
D. Women are better at performing exercises to music than men.
6. What piece of equipment do only women gymnasts perform on in the competitions?
A. the rings                                                   B. the double bars
C. the high bar       D. the high-and-low bars
7. What is always important for a gymnast while he/she is training?
A. working with a trainer B. taking off any watches, rings or necklaces before training
C. wearing tight clothing without collars or belts D. looking after his/her health
Hướng dẫn giải 
1. B     2. B      3. C     4. D      5. B     6. D      7. A 
Exercise 2. Choose the best option A, B, C or D to indicate the correct sentence that combines each pair of given sentences.
1. Have