1. Listen to the text «Baseball» and choose the best variants to complete the
sentences.
1) In baseball players must … .
a) hit a ball with a bat
b) catch a ball
c) catch another player
d) hit another player with a bat
2) … there were professional teams in other cities.
a) Within ten years
b) Within a few years
c) Within one year
d) Within twenty years
3) Each year since then the National League winner and … have been playing
in
the World Series.
a) the British League winner
b) the Australian League winner
c) the American League winner
d) the Canadian League winner
2. Listen to the story and mark the sentences «True» (T) or «False» (F).
1) Baseball is America’s worst sport.
2) There are two teams in this game.
3) The players run around four bases.
4) The team wins that finishes with more runs.
5) Everybody believes that baseball originated in Great Britain.
6) The first professional team was organized in the USA.
3. Complete the sentences with the words from the box.
World two businessmen baseball
1) The early teams were not professional.
2) The event was called the Series.
3) teams from New York played a game following Cartwright’s rules.
4) saw that they could make money with professional baseball teams.

My favorite kind of sports is table tennis. It is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth with rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net. Except for the initial serve, players must allow a ball played toward them only one bounce on their side of the table and must return it so that it bounces on the opposite side. This game can be played inside or outside. Points are scored when a player fails to return the ball within the rules. Play is fast and demands quick reactions. A skilled player can impart several varieties of spin to the ball, altering its trajectory and limiting an opponent's options to great advantage.

 Он является аргентинским футболистом, который в настоящее время играет за Барселону и за аргентинскую национальную сборную. Он родился 24 июня 1987 года в Росарио - это большой город в центральной Аргентине. Его отец был рабочим на заводе, а мама - уборщицей с частичной занятостью. Именно его отец обнаружил талант Лионеля. Он начал играть в футбол за местную команду, когда ему было всего пять лет. Позже он играл за местную молодежную команду, которая за следующие четыре года проиграла только один раз. В возрасте 11 лет он серьезно заболел, и на его лечение требовалось много денег. Местная команда отказывалась оплачивать лечение. Но вскоре к таланту Месси проявил интерес спортивный директор Барселоны и тот переехал в Испанию. Во время своего дебютного матча за Барселону он стал самым молодым игроком, побившим рекорд, и забившим первый гол в игре лиги. Это был его прорыв. Все последующие годы были довольно успешными для молодого Месси. Его низкий рост, быстрая хватка и безжалостный стиль атаки сравнивались с другим всемирно-известным аргентинским игроком - Диего Марадоной. Именно Лионель Месси в итоге принес успех и славу Барселонской команде. В возрасте 21 года он получил свою первую награду «Чемпион мира». Он также является обладателем золотой Олимпийской медали и многих других международных наград. На мой взгляд, его талант, мужество и волевой характер достойны восхищения.He is an Argentinean footballer, who currently plays for the Barcelona and Argentine national team. He was born on June 24th 1987, in Rosario - a large city in central Argentine. His father was a factory worker, and his mum was a part-time cleaner. His father was the one to detect Lionel’s talent. He began playing football for the local team when he was only five. Later he played for the local youth team, which lost only one game during the next four years. At the age of 11 he was diagnosed with a serious disease, which required lots of money for treatment. The local team was unwilling to pay for his treatment. But soon the sporting director of Barcelona showed interest in his talent and Messi moved to Spain. During his debut game for Barcelona he became the youngest player to break the record and to score the first goal in a league game. This was his breakthrough. All the seasons that followed after this game were rather successful for young Messi. His short stature, speed and relentless attacking style were compared with other world-famous Argentinean player - Diego Maradona. It was Lionel Messi who consequently brought success and fame to Barcelona team. At the age of 21 he received his first FIFA World Player of the Year nomination. He is also the holder of an Olympic gold medal and many other international awards. In my opinion, his talent, courage and strong-willed character are worth admiring.