SKIING

PRE-READING TASKS

I. Discuss with your group-mates before you read the text:

1. What do you know about skiing?

II. Say:

1. What form of entertainment is extremely popular in many countries in winter?

2. What you know about skiing as a competitive sport?

3. What types of skiing there are?

4. What ski equipment аnd clothing you?

5. What basic skiing techniques you know?

6. What the most important amateur skiing competitions are held?

III. Learn the words and translate the word combinations and sentences:

1. Skiing [] n лыжный спорт

Skiing is a popular for of entertainment in many countries and a competitive sport.

2. Alpine skiing [] n горнолыжный спорт

3. Nordic skiing [] n лыжное двоеборье

4. Cross-country skiing [] n лыжные гонки

Cross-country skiing is hiking on skis over snow-covered ground that is flat or slightly hilly.

5. Downhill skiing [] n скоростной спуск

Downhill skiing is the most popular form of skiing. Highly skilled downhill skiers can race down steep mountain slopes at speeds of about 100 kilometres per hour.

6. manoeuver [] n движение

7. bottom of a slope [] n подносе склона

8. fall line [] n прямой спуск (по склону)

Fall line is the most direct route to the bottom of a slope.

9. schussing [] основная стойка спуска в прямом направлении

Schussing is skiing straight down the fall line without turning or stopping.

10. traversing [] n спуск наискось

Traversing means skiing across a slope at an angle to the fall line.

11. pole [] n палка

12. reduce [] v снижать, сбавлять (скорость)

Skiers use traversing to reduce their speed.

13. edge [] n ребро v ставить лыжи на ребро, закантовать

Skiers edge their skis while traversing.

14. avoid [] v избегать, уклоняться (от) :

15. tilt [] n стойка лыжника v ставить (лыжи)

16. angle [] n угол

17. bite [] входить (о лыжах)

Skis bite into the snow.

18. wedge [] (snowplough [] ) n "плуг"

Wedge, or snowplough, is a-basic manoeuvre for slowing down or stopping. The back ends of the skies are pushed out bringing the front ends together in a v formation.

19. inward [] а внутренний, обращенный внутрь

20. stem [] v тормозить а торможение

Stem is the initial movement in ateered turns in which the back of the ski closer to the top of the slope is pushed out.

21. the carved parallel [] n поворот на параллельных лыжах

22. virtually [] adj фактически, в сущности

23. perpenducular [] а перпендикулярный

24. chatter [] v вибрировать, стучать

Skis chatter across the snow.

25. hockey (skate) stop v торможение боковым соскальзыванием

26. ski jumping n прыжки на лыжах с трамплина

27. glide [] v скользить

28. terrain [] n местность

29. diagonal stride [] n попеременный двушажный ход

30. shift [] v сдвигать, перемещать

31. kick [] n выпад

32. propel [] v продвигаться вперед

33. sideways [] adv боком, в сторону

34. skate [] n коньковый ход

35. thrust [] n толчок, надавливание

36. herringbone [] n "елочка"

37. choppy [] а часто меняющийся

38. steep track t [] а крутой: спуск

39. ski flying hill n трамплин

40. stunt [] n остановка, задержка

41. aerial [] n акробатика

42. mogul (bump) [] n могул

43. ballet [] n балет (фигурное катание на склоне)

44. spin [] n вращение (вокруг вертикальной оси)

45. flip [] n переворот назад, фляк

46. pirouette [] n пирует

47. roll [] n вращение вперед

48. somersault [] n сальто

IV. There are three types of skiing. Read the text about them

TYPES OF SKIING

Skiing is the act of gliding over snow on long, narrow runners called skis. It is an extremely popular form of enter-tainment in many countries. Skiing is also a major competitive sport.

There are three types of skiing: (1) Alpine skiing, (2) Nordic skiing, and (3) freestyle skiing. The two most popular and basic forms of skiing are Alpine skiing and cross-country skiing, a form of Nordic skiing.

Alpine skiing refers to skiing downhill. It is popular as a form of recreation and as a competitive sport. The term Alpine "comes from Alps, the name of the mountain system in Europe where downhill skiing originated.

Alpine skiing involves many techniques and manoeuvres. However, the three basic manoeuvres of downhill skiing are (1) schussing, (2) traversing, and (3) turning. Skiers carry a ski pole in each hand to help them keep their balance while these manoeuvres. The poles also aid skiers in walking and climbing.

Schussing is skiing straight down a slope without turning or stopping. It is the fastest form of skiing because skiers follow the fall line - that is, the most direct route to the bottom of the slope.

Traversing is skiing at an angle to the fall line. Skiers use this manoeuvre to reduce their speed. They edge their skis while traversing to avoid slipping downhill sideways. Edging is done by tilting the skis at ал angle to the slope so the metal edges of the skis bite into the snow.

Turning is the most difficult part of downhill skiing. Turning enables skiers to change direction, control their speed, and avoid obstacles. The most elementary turn is the wedge, or snowplough, in which the skis are placed in a V position with tips nearly touching and edged slightly inward. The wedge turn is also used to stop. A more complex turn is the stem. In this turn, the skis are first placed in a modified У position and are later brought to a parallel position. The carved parallel is the most advanced and difficult turn. In the carved parallel turn, the skier quickly turns both skis at virtually the same moment.

To half their downhill progress, skiers make a sharp turn perpendicular to the hill and let the edges of the skis chatter across the snow. This manoeuvre is called hockey, or skate, stop because it is similar to the way as skaters stop.

Nordic skiing consists of (1) cross-country skiing and (2) ski jumping» The term Nordic refers to northern. Europe-especially Norway, Sweden, and Finland - where cross-country skiing has long been a practical means of travel in winter.

Cross-country skiing is the most popular form of Nordic skiing, both as recreation and as a competitive sport. Cross-country skiers glide across snow-covered terrain that is flat or slightly hilly. The basic movement is the diagonal stride. This movement resembles jogging on skis. The skier leans slightly over the front of the skis and moves one ski forward, putting pressure on it to provide a platform for shifting weight onto the others as it comes forward. The manoeuvre with the first ski is called the kick, and that with the other one is called the glide. The pole in the hand opposite the kick ski is set in the show and pushed backward to further propel the skier forward.

The skate is another movement in cross-country skiing. In the skate, one ski glides forward in a straight line, while the other is kicked out sideways and back in a skating motion to provide greater forward thrust.

To climb extremely steep hills, cross-country skiers often use a movement called a herringbone, the reverse of an Alpin skier's wedge. In a herringbone, the cross-country skier spreads the tips of the skis far apart and takes choppy little steps.

Ski jumping is a highly specialized form of skiing in which a skier slides down a steep track and flies off a platform at the end. Jumpers are evaluated on the distance of their leap and on the poise and grace they exhibit during the leap. Most ski Jumping is performed on 70- or 90-metre hills. The measurements refer to the typical distance of a jump from the specialy constructed hills. Any hill that permits jumps of longer than 90 metres is called a ski flying hill.

Freestyle skiing, also called hot dog skiing, is a form of skiing in which skiers perform stunts. There are three types of freestyle skiing: (1) aerial, (2) mogul or bump, and (3) ballet.

Aerial, the most dramatic type of freestyle skiing, resembles diving performed on skis. Aerial skiers ski down a steep hill and leap off a sharp platform, performing spins, flips, and other manoeuvres before landing. They are judged both on the difficulty of the stunt performed and on how well they execute it.

Mogul or bump freestyle skiing takes place on a steep slope with many moguls (moundlike elevations). Skiers try to ski quickly down a course while performing small jumps and acrobatic manoeuvres.

Ballet freestyle skiing combines m6vements used in figure and gymnastics. Skiing to music they select, competitors perform spins, pirouettes, rolls, somersaults, and other manoeuvres.

Vocabulary and Grammar exercises

1. Give the nouns corresponding to these verbs:

to ski, to turn, to travers, to walk, to climb, to stop, to lift, to slip, to shift, to propel, to leap, to dive, to perform.

2. Form abverbs from these adjectives:

quick, sharp, practical, steep, good, bad.

3. Form the comparative and superlative from these adjectives.

4. Use the conjunction both ... and in these sentences.

Model: 1. Manoeuvres are judged on the difficulty and how well they execute it.

2. Manoeuvres are judged both on the difficulty and how will they execute it.

1. The poles aid skiers in walking and climbing. 2. The carved parallel is the most advanced and difficult turn. 3. Cross-country skiing is recreation and a competitive sport. 4. Aerial skiers ski down a steep hill and leap off a sharp platform. 5. Skiers try to ski quickly down a course while performing small jumps and acro-batic manoeuvres. 6. Ballet freestyle skiing combines movements used in figure skating and gymnastics.

5. Continue the lists:

Types of skiing: Alpine skiing, ...

Basic manoeuvres of downhill skiing: schussing, ...

Basic manoeuvres of cross-country skiing: skate, ...

Types of freestyle skiing: aerial, ...

Ballet manoeuvres: spins, ...

6. What are the English equivalents for (see the text and voca-bulary).

1. Горнолыжный спорт. 2. Лыжное двоеборье. 3. Фристайл. 4. Лыжные гонки. 5. Скоростной спуск. 6. Горнолыжный спорт вклю-чает. 7. Основные движения. 8. Повороты вынуждают лыжника изменять направление. 9. Самый элементарный поворот. 10. Наиболее эффектив-ный и трудный поворот. 11. Резкий поворот. 12. Средство передви-жения зимой. 13. Попеременный двушажный ход. 14. Коньковый ход. 15. "Елочка". 16. Прыжки на лыжах. 17. Трамплин. 18. Могул. 19. Движения в гимнастике и фигурном катании.

7. Insert prepositions (see the Text)

1. There are three types ... skiing. Alpine skiing refers ... skiing downhill. 2. The term Alpine comes ... Alps. 3. The poles aid skiers … walking and climbing. 4. Shussing is skiing straight down a slope ... turning or stopping. 5. ... this turn, the skis are first placed ... a modified V position and are later brought ... a parallel position. 6. The term Nordic refers ... northern Europe. 7. The movement resembles jogging ... skis. 8. The skate is another movement ... cross-country skiing. 9. Most ski jumping is performed ... 70- or 90-metre hills. 10. The measurements refer ... the typical distance … a jump ... the specially constructed hills.

Speech Exercises

8. Explain the terms used in skiing:

Fall line

Mogul

Parallel turn

Schussing

Stem

Traversing

Snowplough

9. Say:

1. What Alpine skiing refers to ..?

2. What three basic manoeuvres of downhill you know?

3. What schusaing is?

4. What traversing is?

5. What turning is?

6. What Nordic skiing consists of?

7. What cross-country skiing is?

8. What you know about the skate?

9. What you know about ski jumping?

10. What freestyle skiing is?

11. What tree types of freestyle skiing you know?

12. What you know about aerial, mogul and ballet?

10. Draw up a plan of the text.

11. Retell the text: a) as it is; b) without details.

Ski Equipment and Clothing

Study the Ski equipment

1. Learn these words and word combinations:

equipment [] n инвентарь, снаряжение

boots [] n ботинки

bindings [] n крепления

wear [] v носить

injury [] n травма v повредить, ушибить с нанесением травмы

tip [] n носок

curved tip [] а загнутый носок

midbody [] n грузовая часть, колодка

tail [] n пяточная часть

fibreglass [] n стекловолокно

plastic [] n пластик

metal [] n металл

foam [] n паралон, губка

polyurethane foam [] n губчатый полиуретан

manufacture [] изготовлять

aluminium alloy [] алюминиевый сплав

taper [] v суживаться

basket []n чашка (лыжной палки)

grip [] n рукоятка

handle [] n ручка

sward [] n мяч

strap [] петля

point [] n наконечник

shaft [] n трубка

boron [] n бор

graphite [] n графит

provide [] v обеспечивать

overlap [] v вставлять, n накладка

overlap boot n горнолыжный ботинок

rear entry boot [] n внутренний ботинок

cable [] n трос

plate [] n передняя часть крепления, пластина

buckle [] n пряжка

device [] приспособление, устройство

spring [] n пружина

cam roller [] n валик, роликовый цилиндр

lever [] n рычаг

occur [] v случаться, происходить

ridge plate [] n носковый упор

groove [] n желобок, паз

waterproof [] непромокаемый, водонепроницаемый

snug [] а удобный, уютный

restricting [] а сковывающий, ограничивающий

cuff [] n манжета

band [] n тесемка

snap [] застетаа

hook [] n крючок

fastener [] n застежка

layer [] n слой

thermal [] а тепловой, термический

underwear [] n нижнее белье

turtleneck [] n высокий ворот

parka [] n парка (одежда эскимосов)

insulate [] v изолировать

goggle [] n темные очки

aunglasses [] солнцезащитные очки

2. Read the text about the ski equipment and clothing.

Ski equipment and clothing

Standard ski equipment consists of (1) skis, (2) ski poles, (3) ski boots, and (4) ski bindings. Skiers also wear certain clothing for warmth and comfort.

The equipment differs somewhat for Alpine and Nordic skiing and for recreational and competitive skiing. Using the proper equipment and maintaining it in top condition helps skiers per-form better and also reduces the chance of injury.

Skis are narrow runners that curve up at the tip (front end). The centre part of the ski is called the midbody. The back end is called the tail. The midbody is raised above the tip and tail to make turning easier.

Skis can be made of a variety of materials, including fibreglass, plastic, metal, polyurethane foam, and wood. Alpine and freestyle skis are constructed in a similar way and have metal edges along both sides to make turning easier. Gross-country skis are narrower and lighter than Alpine skis and have no metal edges. Jumping skis are the longest and heaviest skia, usually measuring 240 centimetres in length.

In most cases, the taller, heavier, and more Skilful a skier is, the longer the skis should be. Most Alpine skis are manufac-tured in France, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy Cross-country skis are made in these countries, as well as in Norway, Sweden, and Finland.

Ski poles. All Alpine and most cross-country ski poles are made of aluminium alloys. They taper from the top to a point at the bottom. A ring or star-shaped piece of plastic called a basket is located about 8 centimetres from the point and prevents the pole from sinking too deeply into soft snow. Skiers hold each pole at the grip, a rubber or plastic handle at the top of the pole. The grip can be shaped like a aword handle or have a strap that fits around the skier's hand to prevent it from sliding down the pole. Poles for Alpine skiing should reach slightly above the skier's waist. Freestyle skiers use longer, thicker, and stronger poles because the pole must support the skier's weight during somersaults.

Cross-country poles resemble Alpine poles, but their point is set at an angle to the shaft. The point grips the snow when the pole is swung forward and slips out of the snow easily when the skier glides beyond the pole. Cross-country poles may be made of aluminium alloys, fibreglass, or such lightweight materials as boron or graphite.

Ski boots provide support and Warmth for the skier's feet. Alpine boots consist of an outer shell made of rigid plastic and an inner boot made of a combination of foam, leather, or some other material.

Alpine boots come in two designs. Overlap boots are fastened by buckles across the instep and ankle. Rear entry boots have cables end plates, or air-filled bags inside the boot to secure the foot. These boots close with buckles around the rear of the calf- Freestyle skiers use Alpine boots.

Ski, bindings are devices attached to skis to hold the boots firmly to the skis. If a skier falls, the bindings release the boot from the ski and thus help prevent injuries.

Alpine bindings secure the boot at both the toe and heel. They use a complex system of springs, cam rollers, and levers to ensure that skiers do not separate from their skis, except when injury might occur. Ski bindings also include ski brakes, which act by forcing two prongs into the snow when a skier releases a binding. The brake prevents a released ski from speeding down the slope and hitting other skiers.

Bindings on cross-country skis secure the boot only at the toe keeping the heel free to lift during the kick phase of the diagonal stride. Many cross-country bindings also have a ridge plate behind the toe piece. The ridge plate fits into a groove in the sole of the boot to keep the skier's foot from slipping off the ski.

Ski clothing is specially constructed to be extremely warm and waterproof. It should also fit snugly without restricting movement. Elasticized waist and cuff bands, snaps, and hook fasteners help keep snow from getting inside clothing. Most skiers dress in layers to create air pockets that trap heat. Alpine skiers generally wear warmer, heavier clothing than cross-country skiers because they produce less body heat while skiing. Alpine skiers normally wear thermal underwear, a turtleneck sweater, a parka, insulated ski pants, waterproof gloves, a hat, and one pair of medium weight socks. Cross-country skiers dress in similar clothing, but wear looser pants that allow greater movement. They also wear clothes that can be removed easily. Both Alpine and cross-country skiers wear goggles or sunglasses to protect their eyes from the sun's rays and to allow them to see better in stormy weather.

Vocabulary and Speech Exercises

1. Put these words in the correct box:

boots, poles, skis, underwear, ring, basket, turtleneck-sweater, bindings, pants, gloves, point, hat, socks, goggles, shaft, grip, spring.

Equipment	Clothing

2. Say:

a) What skis can be made of

b) What poles can be made of

c) What bindings can be used

d) What Alpine skiers normaly wear

e) What cross-country skiers wear

3. Name:

a) the parts of a cross-country ski

b) the parts of a pole

4. Describe ski boots:

a) alpine boots

b) cross-country boots

5. Say what you know:

a) about skis

b) ski poles

c) ski boots

d) ski bindings

e) ski clothing

6. Say what advice would you give to a cross-country skier and an alpine skier. Use the model:

Model: You should use the skis made of plastic.

I . _____________________________ skis

2. _____________________________ poles

3. _____________________________ bindings

4. _____________________________ clothes

7. Retell the text. Use the following plan:

1. Ski equipment

2. Ski clothing

SKIING AS A SPORT

I. Learn the following words and word-combinations.

1. Race [] n гонка, v стартовать

2. Hemisphere [] n полушарие

3. odd-number [] n нечетное число

4. cross-country relay [] эстафета

5. Nordic combined [] n северное двоеборье

6. conduct [] v проводить

7. uphill [] n подъем

8. flat [] adj. ровный

9. outdistance [] v обгонять

10. lose [] v проигрывать

11. shaky []а шаткий, неустойчивый

12. flaw [] v ниспадать

13. slalom [] n слалом

14. giant slalom [] n слалом-гигант

15. super giant [] n супергигант

16. parallel slalom n параллельный слалом

17. vertical drop [] полет

18. control gate [] n контрольные ворота

19. proper [] а определенный

20. apart [] adv отдельно

21. resemble [] быть похожим

22. biathlon [] n биатлон

23. rifle-shooting [] n стрельба из винтовки

24. tar get [] n мишень

25. prone [] adv лежа

II. Read the text about skiing as a sport

The World Cup is the most Important amateur skiing champion-ship. World Cup titles are awarded each year to the man and woman who-have won the most points in a series of races. The races are held in various Northern Hemisphere countries from December to March. Skiers earn points depending on where they finish in each race. The skier who accumulates the most points is declared the World Cup champion.

Other major amateur competitions include the Alpine and Nordic events of the World Ski Championships and the Winter Olympic Games. The World Ski Championships are held every odd-numbered year. The Olympics are held every fourth year. The Federation international de Ski (FIS) governs all international amateur skiing competitions and also sponsors the World Ski Cham-pionships.

Most professional skiing competitions take place in Europe, Japan, or the United States. Professional skiers earn prize money for their finishes.

Nordic competitions consist of five events. They are (1) cross-country races, (2) crosa-country relays, (3) jumping compe-titions, (4) the Nordic combined, and (5) the biathlon.

Cross-country races are conducted on courses that are about one-third uphill, one-third downhill, and one-third flat. In major meets, the men's courses are 15, 30, and 50 kilometres long. The women's courses are 5, 10, and 20 kilometres. In most races, skiers begin to race at 30-second intervals. But if a large number of skiers are participating in a race, they may start two at a time on parallel tracks. The skier with the fastest time wins.

Gross-country relays are team competitions in which each member of the team races an equal distance. For example, teams of four compete in the 40-kilometre men's relay in the Winter Olympics, and each member skis 10 kilometres. The first skiers from each team start at the same time.

Jumping competitions are popular spectator events in compe-titive skiing. Competitors receive points for both the length of their jump and their jumping style. The skier with the most points wins. A jumper may outdistance the other competitors but lose the event because of a shaky landing or some other flaw in style. Skilled jumpers often leap more than 90 metres.

The Nordic combined consists of both cross-country skiing and ski jumping. Competitors race over a 15-kilometre course and make three ski jumps. They receive points for each activity, and the skier with the most points wins the event.

Alpine competitions. Most Alpine competitions are made up of one or more of five kinds of races: (1) the downhill; (2) the slalom; (3) the giant slalom; (4) the super giant slalom; and (5) the parallel slalom. In the downhill slalom, giant slalom, and super giant slalom, skiers race one at a time. In the parallel slalom, two skiers race at the same time on identical courses side-by-side. Skiers make two runs down similar courses in the slalom, giant slalom, and parallel slalom. In the downhill and super giant slalom, skiers make only one run.

The downhill race is a test of high-speed skiing. It is run on a course with a vertical drop of 800 to 1,000 metres for men's events and 400 to 700 metres for women's. As a safety measure, control gates are placed along the course. They direct skiers away from dangerous areas and force them to reduce their speed. Each gate consists of two flags that the competitors must ski between. Skilled downhill racers average 95 to 105 kilometres per hour and can complete the course in 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.

The slalom challenges skill in high-speed turning. The course is marked by numbered gates that each competitor must pass through in proper order. The gates are set so that the races must make many turns, skiing in a zigzag fashion. The men's course has a vertical drop of 140 to 220 metres and 55 to 75 gates. The women's course drops 120 to 180 metres and has 45 to 60 gates. The gates are at intervals of 0,75 to 15 metres.

The giant slalom is a test of high-speed traversing. It combines elements of both the downhill race end the slalom. The men's course has a vertical drop of 250 to 400 metres. The women's course drops 250 to 350 metres. Both courses must have 30 or more gates set at least 5 metres apart.

The super giant slalom is a cross between the downhill race and the giant slalom. The men's course has a vertical drop of 500 to 650 metres and 35 to 65 gates. The women's course drops 350 to 500 metres and has 30 to 50 gates. The gates are placed at intervals of 15 to 25 metres.

The parallel slalom has two or more courses that resemble a small slalom course. The courses are from 6 to 7 metres apart. Both men's and women's courses have a vertical drop of 80 to 100 metres and 20 to 30 gates.

Combined competitions consist of a downhill race and a slalom. The two events are always held in the same location, but often take place on different days.

The biathlon combines cross-country racing and rifle-shooting. In most individual competitions, participants ski over a course 10 or 20 kilometres long on which targets are set at different points. The skiers must shoot at the targets from the standing and prone (lying down) positions and are penalized for every miss. The skier who completes the course in the shortest time wins. In the biathlon relay, four skiers each race 7.5 kilometres.

Vocabulary and Speach Exercises

1. Find Russian equivalents for the following English words and word combinationst

1. Hemisphere 1. эстафета

2. odd-number 2. северное двоеборие

3. relay 3. слалом

4. nordic combined 4. полушарие

5. slalom 5. нечетное число

6. vertical drop 6. биатлон

7. biathlon 7. стрельба из винтовки

8. rifle-ahooting 8. полет

9. target 9. контрольные ворота

10. control gate 10. мишень

2. Find English equivalents for the following Russian words?

1. лыжные гонки 1. jumping competitions

2. прыжки на лыжах 2. parallel slalom

З. параллельный слалом 3. cross-country races

4. слалом гигант 4. the downhill race

5. скоростной спуск 5. the giant slalom

6. участник 6. speed

7. скорость 7. participant

8. штрафовать 8. miss

9. промах 9. penalize

10. очко 10. point

3. Read and translate in Russian the following word combinations:

amateur skiing championship, World Cup titles, series of races, from December to lurch, to earn points, to accumulate the most points, World Cup champion, odd-numbered year, to govern competitions, to sponsor the competition, prize money, to race at 30-aecond intervals, to outdistance the other competitors, a shaky landing, a flaw in style, a dangerous area, to reduce the speed.

4. Say what you know about:

a) Nordic competitions

b) Skiing as в sport

c) Alpine competitions

d) The biathlon

5. Speak on the topic:

a) Skiing competitions

b) The World Cup as the most important amateur skiing championship

c) Winter Olympic Games

SKIING AS RECREATIOH

1. Learn the following words and word-combinations:

1. ski area n лыжная база

2. lodging [] n жилье

3. rent [] v давать на прокат

4. snowmaking machines машины, изготавливающие снег

5. skiable [] а пригодный для катания на лыжах

6. altitude [] n высота, высота над уровнем моря

7. ski patroller [] n патруль на лыжной трассе

8. motor-driven pulley [] n лебёдка

9. corn snow - зернистый снег

10. pebblelike snow - кристаллический снег

11. packed powder - укатанный снег

12. grooming machine n снегоочистительная машина

Skiing is an extremely popular form of recreation in many countries, especially in Europe end North America. It has also become an established. sport in Argentina and Chile in South America, and in Japan, Hew Zealand, and Australia.

There are thousands of Alpine ski areas in the world. Most of these areas are in Europe, the United. States, and Canada. Europe has some of the world's most luxurious and famous ski areas, including St. Moritz, Switzerland; Innsbruck, Austria; and Val d'Isere, France.

Most ski areas provide ski-instruction and food and. lodging services, and have shops that rent and sell ski equipment. Ski areas are usually located in hilly or mountainous regions with heavy snow-fall. However, snow making machines make skiing possible in areas with light snow fall.

Many people enjoy cross-country skiing in parks, open fields, and other flat or somewhat hilly areas. In addition, many Alpine ski areas have paths for cross-country skiing called touring centres.

Ski trails range from smooth, wide, gentle slopes for beginners, to steep, narrow hills that challenge experts. Some trails, especially those in the United State, wander through wooded hillsides that re-quire clearing before they become skiable. In Europe, many trails are located above the altitude at which trees stop growing. Using these trails, skiers are able to wander across vast areas.

Skiers should choose trails suited to their ability and. should not ski alone. Many major ski areas hire professional ski patrollers to aid injured skiers and enforce ski safety rules.

All ski areas have ski lifts. These devices transport skiers to the top of a slope. They use a rope or braided metal cable attached to a motor-driven pulley to carry skiers uphill.

Snow conditions on trails vary greatly, depending on the weather, the ski area's location, end the time of year. Some areas generally receive light, dry snow called powder, which is ideal for skiing. Corn snow is tiny pebblelike snow that occurs moat often in spring. Packed powder is the most common snow condition. It results from skiers repeatedly passing over freshly fallen snow, or from snow being compressed by tanklike grooming machines.

Ski instruction shortens the learning period for beginners end adds to the safety end enjoyment of skiing. Experienced skiers often take lessons to improve their skills. All major ski areas have ski schools.

Beginners generally, start on skis 135 to 150 centimetres long. They first learn how to walk on skis and then how to get up from a fall. Then they learn sidestepping uphill, traversing across a hill, achussing a short slope, arid simple turns, such as the wedge. Later, they learn more difficult turns.

Vocabulary and Speech Exercises

1. Which of the adjectives in box A can combine with a noun in box B? Sometimes several combinations are possible.

A	В
1. famous	1. region
2. luxurious	2. ski area
3. hilly	3. trail
4. smooth	4. slope
5. heavy	5. hill
6. gentle	6. ski petroller
7. steep	7. snow
8. professional	8. anowfall
9. dry	9. lift
10. mountainous	10. path

2. Continue the lists:

Region: mountanious, …

Slope: gentle, …

Snow: light, ...

Area: flat, ...

3. Say what you know about:

a) Skiing as a form of recreation.

b) Ski area facilities.

c) Ski trails.

d) Ski lifts.

e) Snow conditions on trails.

f) Ski instruction.

4. Speak on the topic:

a) Skiing as recreation.

b) Ski areas.

c) Ski schools in ski areas.

BIATHLON

I. Learn the following words and word-combinations:

1. bore calibre [] a мелкокалиберный

2. approximately (aprox.) [] adv. приблизительно

3. height - высшая степень чего-либо

4. compromise [] совмещать

5. section of length - цикл

6. firing session - огневой рубеж

7. to hit [] v - поразить (цель)

8. round [] n этап

9. at least - по крайней мере

10. firing lane - огневая позиция

11. to fire over a distance (of) - стрелять о расстояния

12. to fire at electronic target - стрелять по электронной установке

13. to be penelized - быть оштрафованным

14. missed target - промах

15. unsupported [] неподдерживаемый

16. handicap loop [] штрафной круг

17. catching up - наверстывание

18. firing, bout - стрельба

19. ammunition [] n боеприпасы

20. reserve ammunition - запасной патрон

21. to hit target - поразить мишень

22. handover zone - зона передачи эстафеты

23. pat [] n оружие

24. cohesive [] а монолитный

25. start number bib [] n стартовый номер

26. anticipation [] n ожидание

27. to take up the race - продолжать гонку

28. to make up v - пополнять, возмещать

II. Read the text about the biathlon competions:

DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPETITIONS

Individual competition

The 20 km Individual Race is the oldest competition, discipline in Biathlon. The competitors, who start at 30 sec. or at 1 min. intervals, have to master a total heigh difference between 600-750 meters over the 20 km course carrying their small bore calibre rifle (appox. 3,5 kg) and ammunition (20 rounds).

The course compromises five sections of lengths, some of which must be covered more than once. The competitor must complete 4 firing sessions each of 5 rounds in the sequence prone/standing/prone/stan-ding with no support for the rifle.

These individual firing sessions must take place between km 3 and 17,5 with at least 3 km between them.

The competitor can choose his own firing lane. He fires over a distance of 50 m at electronic fargets. If he hits the black target it is covered by a white disc. The target diameter is 45 mm in the prone position, and 115 mm in the standing position. In the 20 km individual race the competitor is penalized with one minute for each missed target.

Thus, if a competitor fails to hit any targets, he can suffer a 20 minute time penalty. The time required on the range for firing is added to the cross-country skiing time' The very best biathletes hit their targets in 15 seconhds, or even less. For the 20 km cir-cuit a top athlete requires about 53 to 55 minutes. These top athle-tes finish the race with 0 or only 1 minute penalty from shooting.

The individual competition for women covers a distance of 15 km. The women utilize partial sections also covered by the men; between km 3 and km 12 the women each fire 5 rounds four times in the sequence prone/standing/prone/standing; the rifle is unsupported.

The women use the some targets as the men do and all other conditions are the same for both. The fastest women biathletes require about 46 minutes for the 15 km individual race.

Sprint competition

Biathlon Sprint is over a distance of 10 km with a total height difference of 300-450 m. Competitors in this sprint competition are started at 30 second or one minute intervals. The first firing session in 5 rounds prone with on unsupported rifle after approx. 3 km of cross-country. The second session is after about 7 km when 5 rounds are fired from standing position, again with the rifle unsupported. Competitors fire over a range of 50 m at the same targets as in the individual competition. Each shot must be fed into the chamber from a magazine by a manual action. In contrast to the individual compe-tition for each target they miss the competitors must cover a 150 m handicap loop taking approximately 23 seconds.

In the sprint race firing is faster and more risky, because the biathletes believe to have a chance of "catching up" the missed shot in the handicap loop. In addition to the time required by an athlete for each handicap loop he must, however, ski a furher 150 m or more than competitors able to shoot without missing any the targets. This race is very lively and exciting.

The competitor's time is taken between crossing the starting and finishing lines. Top athletes finish the competition in approx. 24 minutes without having to ski a handicap loop. The women's sprint competition covers a distance of 7,5 km with firing sessions between km 2,5 and km 5,0 in the sequence prone/standing. In both cases they fire 5 rounds with their unsupported rifles.

All other sprint conditions for women are the same as those for men.

The best women sprinters take about 23 minutes to complete the 7,5 km race.

Relay competition

The most exciting discipline is the Relay competition» Each team comprises 4 Biathletes each of whom has to ski 7,5 km with two firing bouts, one prone and one standing, both with unsupported rifle.

The teams cover a total distance of 30 km. There is an impressive mass start by all the first skiers in the respective teams.

Up to the first firing bout after 2,5 km, skiing is done under a tactical aspect. The field usually arrives "en masse" at the firing range, where the competitors fire on the lane corresponding to their starting number. Unlike the individual competition, each Biathlete has 8 rounds of ammunitions for 5 targets. The first 5 of these rounds are loaded from the magazine. The 3 reserve rounds, when needed, must be loaded single after having been placed at the firing point. If all the targets are hit with the first 5 rounds, the athlete can immediately continue to ski without using his reserve ammunition, and without covering a handicap loop. If not, he must continue firing until he has either hit all 5 targets or fired all 8 rounds. If he still has not hit all 5 targets he must then cover one 150 m handicap loop for each missed target. In the handover zone, the next racer is sent on his way with a pat on the back. The best teams need about 1 hour 20 minutes to cover the 30 km course.

A women's relay team comprises 4 competitors, each of whom skis 7,5 km to fire once prone and once standing. Each team covers a total distance of 30 km.

Team competition

The Team Competition is the most recent discipline in Biathlon. Each team comprises 4 Biathletes who must ski 10 km. as a cohesive group under similar conditions to those of the Sprint Race.

The team must complete 2 firing bouts. 2 biathletes must fire prone 5 rounds each, 2 biathletea must fire standing 5 rounds each.

On the evening before the race the team must announce which members have to fire in the prone and which members have to fire in the standing, position. The Biathletea who have to fire prone have to view the red end green start number bib, the athletes who have to fire gtanding have to wear, the yellow and blue start number bib.

The teams start at 1 minute intervals. The skiing order within the team is on internal decision. One team may only be overtaken by another as a closed-up formation. Similarly, after each lap the team must reach the shooting place as a cohesive group.

The two Biathletes to fire ski to free lanes while the other two continue past the range, and enter a special area ahead of the handicap loop. There they wait in anticipation of the firing results of their team members. If they hit all 5 targets, each the team can take up the race again without skiing handicap loops. But if one or more targets are miseed both athletes must run в handicap loop of 150 in for each Bliss.

Because of the 2 firing bouts and the consequent risk of handi-cap loops, the team placings change very often troughout the race.

On the final after the second firing bout the team must make any effort to make up any loaf ground.

The team must cross the finishing line as a group within 15 seconds, or suffer a penalty of 1 minute.

The team race stands or falls on team work and team spirit, and has its own. laws. Skiing speed depends upon the "weakest" team member.

Nevertheless, every effort must go Into the skiing. Women race over a distance of 7,5 km under the same condi-tions as the men.

Vocabulary end Speech Exercises

1. Find Russian equivalents for the following English words and word combinations:

1. rifle 1. боеприпасы

2. round 2. штрафной круг

3. handicap loop 3. ружье

4. ammunition 4. этап

5. start number bib 5. ожидание

6. anticipation 6. запасной патрон

7. reserve ammunition 7. стартовый номер

8. magazine 8. промах

9. missed target 9. огневая позиция

10. firing lane 10. магазин

2. Find English equivalents for the following Russian words:

1. продолжать гонку 1. handicap loop

2. штрафной круг 2. to take up the race

З. этап 3. round firing lane

4. нагрудный номер 4. firing lane

5. огневая позиция 5. bib

6. огневой рубеж 6. reserve ammunition

7. запасной патрон 7. firing session

8. ружье 8. anticipation

9. ожидание 9. magazine

10. магазинная коробка 10. rifle

3. Read and translate in Russian the following word-combinations:

individual competition, firing session, the prone position, the standing position, firing lane, electronic target, target diameter, to be penalized, to hit a target, the cross-country skiing time, sprint competition, to cover a distance, the starting line, approximately 23 seconds, the handicap loop, to shoot without missing any the targets, the relay competition, unsupported rifle, the respective time, a red start number bib, a green start number bib.

4. Say what you know about:

a) The biathlon competitions

b) The individual competition

c) The sprint competition

d) The relay competition

e) The team competition.

5. Speak on the topic:

a) The sport of Biathlon

b) Sporting competitions in Biathlon.

HISTORY

1. Read and learn the following words and word-combinations:

Stone Age [] n каменный век

peat bog [] n торфяное болото

Sub-Arctic [] а предполярный, субарктический

device [] v придумывать

similar [] а подобный, схожий

pelt [] n шкура, кожа

clogging [] n трудность (затруднение) передвижения

elk [] n лось

precede [] v предшествовать

subsequent [] a последующий

brag [] тащить, тянуть

load [] n груз

persist [] продолжать существовать

persistent [] устойчивый, постоянный

snow-shoes [] n снегоступы

enable [] а давать возможность

undulating [] холмистый, волнистый

practicable [] а удобный, практичный

romance [] n рыцарский роман

evolve [] v развиваться, эволюционировать

contrivance [] n приспособление (металлическое)

penetrate [] v проникать

isolated [] обособленный

fanciful [] a фантастический

destine [] v предназначать

formative [] а созидательный

standstill [] n застой

gourd [] n бутылка из тыквы

spill [] v расплёскивать, разбрызгивать

3. Read the text "History" as fluently ай you can and try to grasp its main idea:

HISTORY

Skiing began, thousands of years ago in northern Europe and Asia. Organized competitive skiing began in the nineteenth century, but skiing as a means of getting from place to place on snow began before the third millennium B.C. as crude rock engravings in Norway and Russia testify. A dozen skis of the Stone Age have been found in the peat bogs of Scandinavia and Finland. The oldest, 1?10 m. long and 20 cm. broad was found at Holing, Sweden, and is dated by pollen analysis at 2500 B.C. But early man had arrived in sub-Arctic regions long before this and devised snow-boards to help him in hunting game. The Holing ski is of this type, short and broad, and similar boards are still used in Siberia. The underside is sometimes covered with animal pelt, which reduces clogging and prevents back-slipping.

In northern Europe longer and narrower skis were developed for faster sliding over all types of snow, whether soft, hard, or icy. Rock drawings at R6d6y, Tjotta, in northern Norway, show long skis on two men hunting elks. A pair of skis found at Kalvtrask, Finland, dated at 2000 B.C., are over 2 m. long. The people who used them preceded the main migrations into. Scandinavia and Finland from the south and east, but through subsequent population changes these two main types of ski persisted. Frequently the long ski would be used on one foot and the short broad one on the other, demanding a quite different technique. The broad Arctic type was the most useful for dragging loads, resembling the Eskimo snow-shoes used in Canada (the Eskimo had no wood and therefore did not invent a ski). The eastern, or 0sterdal skis, one long and one short, enabled the skier to move over undulating ground with a kind of skating motion with the help of a single long pole. On mountainous ground the long, narrow Nordic skis were more practicable, and from these the modern downhill skis have evolved.

The first recorded written references to skiing are by Chinese historians of the T'ang Dynasty from the seventh to the tenth centuries A.D., who refer to their northen neighbours as "Turks who ride horses of wood". Herodotus, the Greek historian, writes of Abaris the Hyperborean "who is said to have gone on his arrow all round the world without once easing". The legend of men with "horses feet" is the most persistent. The term hippopodes (horse-footed) is used by the Romans, who also talk of skridfinns or skrikfinns, names used by Germanic tribes to describe the non-Germanic peoples of the north, both Lapps and Finns. Paulus Diaconus, a Lombard writing in Latin in the eighth century, explained the word as skrika, to leap: "They hunt wild animals by leaping forward using contrivances of wood curved like a bow".

An English map of 1280 in Hereford Cathedral shows a man on skis or skates in Norway and a horse-footed man in China. The Norse sagas contain a number of references to skiing, and the Norsemen who penetrated the British Isles brought their skis and techniques with them. Skiing was well known in northern Scotland and in use in Devonshire in the sixtieth century. Weardate miners went to work on "skees" in the seventeenth century and were doing so until the Industrial Revolution brought roads and railways to isolated areas of Britain.

The first printed books with illustrations of skiing were pub-lished in the sixtieth century. The records and drawings were often fanciful, but two of the best-documented relate to turning-points in Norwegian and Swedish history where skiers played an important role. In 1205 the two-year-old Haakon, who was destined to be Nor-way's greatest formative leader, was rescued by skiers of the Birken-beiner group. Another romance surrounded the founding of the present kingdom of Sweden by Gustav Vasa, and this, too, is celebrated by a race, the VASALOP, a 90-km. (56 mile) mass--start event which has been run since 1922, commemorating an incident which took place in 1520.

In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries there are numerous re-ferences to military campaigns by Finns, Norwegians, Swedes, and Russians involving ski troops. In this period very long skis, some up to 12 ft. (3.66 m), were used, but more commonly a short fur-soled ski was used for pushing and a longer bare-soled ski on the other foot for sliding. There is no reference to skiing in Central Europe, other than a description by Francesco Megro, of Ravenna, in 1663-5, of an attempt to ski in the course of a northern journey. He is the first to describe in print a swing to a standstill. Otherwise there is no whisper of skiing in Switzerland, Austria, France, or Italy until it was introduced by the British middle class, expanding their opportunities for leisure and travel after the Industrial Revolution, and by Scandinavian visitors.

The steeper, more broken Alpine mountains were unsuited to the type of ski evolved in Russia and Scandinavia, nor did tribes who used these skis penetrate Central Europe. The inhabitants of the Alps thus grew up to accept immobility during the winter month. In Britain, where there was far less snow, Viking influences had created a mild tradition of snowcraft, and this was to be of considerable signifi-cance in the establishment of skiing as a sport and recreation during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

After 1800 there were increasing references to skiing as ал enjoyment rather than a means of locomotion, especially in southern Norway. The people of sterdal, north of Christiania (Oslo), produced a local hero, Trysil Knud, who in the course of a schuss, a straight downhill run, would pick up pieces of clothing, change his clothes, or carry a gourd of beer without spilling it. Norwegians introduced skiing to the United States. Gullik Knedsen and the brothers Ole and Ansten Nattestad from Numedal emigrated to Illinois, and used skis on the Rock Prairie at Beloit, near Chicago, in 1841. Their letters home encouraged THORENSE1T to emigrate and the legend of "Snowshoe Thompson" was born.

Hotes:

before the third millennium B.C. до 3-го тысячелетия до нашей эры

as crude rock engravings in Norway and Russia testify как свидетельствуют наскальные изображения в Норвегии и России

Vocabulary (and Grammar) Exercises

I. Reread paragraph I end say what it is about. 'Entitle the paragraph. Prom the list below choose the heading which suits its theme beat: 1. The Stone Age skis. 2. Snow-boards. 3. The Holing ski. 4. The origin of skiing.

II. Which la the most important sentence expressing the main idea in paragraph 1. It may be called "the key sentence" (summarizing the information contained in the whole paragraph). Find the "key" of paragraph 1.

III. Reread paragraph 2. What heading can you give to paragraph 2? Which suits best, in your opinion: a) Dowhill skis. b) Ancient skis. c) Snow-shoes. d) Arctic skis. e) Osterdal skis.

IV. Reread paragraphs 4 and 5. What word (or word-combination) is repeated in both paragraphs? It may be called the key word as the most important one for the cements. We may use it as the heading of the paragraphs.

V. Reread paragraph 6. It is about the significance of skiers in Norwegian, and Swidish history. Find the word which explains the significance.

VI. Give some information; a) about the origin of skiing; b) ancient skis; c) the first recorded written references to skiing; d) references to skiing as an enjoyment.

VII. Read and retel this story. Answer the questions given below.

Birkenbeinerlauf

Birkenbeinerlauf is a ski race instituted in 1932 by the Norwegian Ski Association to celebrate the rescue in 1205 of the two-year-old Haakon by the Birkenbeiner, a group who remained loyal to the king and hie child.

Two men rescued the child from the revel Baglern and brought him across the deep snow of the Dovre mountains. Haakon grew up to become one of the Norway's great leaders. The race starts at Lillehammer and ends at Rena, or vise versa, and is 57 km. (35 miles) long. It is run annually in February or March, depending on conditions.

to institute вводить, устанавливать; reeoue спасение; loyal преданный;

rebel восставший; vise versa наоборот; depend зависеть

Questions:

1. What race was instituted by the Norwegian Ski Association in 1932?

2. Whose memory was the Birkenbeinerlauf instituted in?

3. What body was the Birkenbeinerlauf instituted by?

4. Who rescued Haaken?

5. How old was Haaken in the day of hie rescue?

6. How was Haaken rescued?

7. Who did Haaken become when he grew up?

8. Where do the Birkenbelnerlauf start?

9. When is it annually run?

10. What does the time of the race conducting depend on?

IX. Read the text. Summarize the contents of the text in two or three sentences.

Use the expressions: the author deals with ..., some paragraphs are devoted to, the author emphasizes …

DO YOU KNOW THAT ...

At the foot of the Holmenkollen hill in the Norwegian capi-tal Oslo there is a unique museum of skis. The museum boasts the most ancient ski in the world, which was founded in the South of Norway in 1923. Specialists believe that it is 25 centures old. Among the exhibits there are ten centures old skis; wide, covered with fell Siberian skis and .short hunters' skis used in America and Canada; last century Norwegian and the world longest 3,76 m skis.