Vocabulary

5 Words that go together

Choose the correct alternative for each gap.

In order to 1 have / keep ourselves fit and healthy, we all need to 2 make / do some exercise, or 3 play / make a sport like football or tennis. But why do people 4 take part / take up extreme sports? It can't be for their health. 'People BASE jump and sky surf because it 5 keeps / makes them feel alive.' says psychologist Ed Reeves. 'They need 6 to take / to make risks to make their lives more exciting.' Yet most people who 7 play / doextreme sports are very calm. Whether they are 8 running / jumping out of a plane, 9 walking / climbing up a rockface or 10 taking / holding their breath under 30 metres of water, they don't seem worried about 11 doing / making a fatal mistake. David Jones is a good example. Before a 216-metre bungee jump, David felt 'calm and peaceful'. 'I'm glad I 12 had / made the decision 13 to make / to do the jump,' he said later. 'At one point I 14 reached / got a speed of 190 kph, and I could see the trees rushing towards me. It was an incredible experience. '

In order to keep ourselves fit and healthy, we all need to do some exercise, or play a sport like football or tennis. But why do people take up extreme sports? It can't be for their health. 'People BASE jump and sky surf because it makes them feel alive.' says psychologist Ed Reeves. 'They need to take risks to make their lives more exciting.' Yet most people who play extreme sports are very calm. Whether they are jumping out of a plane, climbing up a rockface or holding their breath under 30 metres of water, they don't seem worried about making a fatal mistake. David Jones is a good example. Before a 216-metre bungee jump, David felt 'calm and peaceful'. 'I'm glad I made the decision to do the jump,' he said later. 'At one point I reached a speed of 190 kph, and I could see the trees rushing towards me. It was an incredible experience. '

6 Phrasal verbs with take

A Match the phrasal verbs in italic with their meanings a-f.

2 Matthew never took to off-piste in-lining. He gave it up after two attempts.

3 Although her parents disapproved, Amy still took up free diving.

4 The bungee jump was incredible. It took David's breath away.

5 Clare takes after her older brother. They both love taking risks!

6 According to experts, extreme sports are taking over from normal sports such as basketball and tennis.

a to start doing something regularly

b to replace something

c to be extremely surprised by something

d to accept/decide to do something

e to look or behave like someone

f to develop a liking for something

a to start doing something regularly - to take up

b to replace something - to take over

c to be extremely surprised by something - to take one's breath away

d to accept/decide to do something - to take on

e to look or behave like someone - to take after

f to develop a liking for something - to take to

В Now answer these questions so they are true for you.

2 Would you take on an extreme challenge like bungee jumping? Why / Why not?

3 Are you usually a calm or a nervous person? Who do you take after?

4 Have you ever done a sport which took your breath away? What was it?

7 Prepositions

Complete sentences with the correct prepositions.

• for • to • of • from • off • to

2 Risk addicts are turning to more and more dangerous activities to get their thrills.

3 Mike can't go free-climbing today. He's suffering from a sprained ankle.

4 I feel sorry for people who don't do extreme sports. They don't know what they're missing.

5 If Paul's not careful, he's going to fall off his snowboard.

6 The BASE jump has been cancelled due to bad weather.