READING
Reference - Approaching IGCSE Reading
1. One afternoon in the last week of term, I saw three children from my son's school in tears being comforted by teachers. That morning, my 11-year-old had stomach pains and had been retching into a bowl. Talking to other mothers, I heard about other children with stomach-ache or difficulty sleeping the night before.
2. What caused so much distress? Sports day - not sports day at a highly-competitive independent school, but at a large village primary. For the children that can fly like the wind, it causes no problem. For those who are poorly coordinated, overweight, or just not good at sport, it is a nightmare. Even for those who enjoy running, but who fall half way down the track in front of the entire school and their parents, it can prove a disaster.
3. Why do we put our children through this annual torment? Some may say competition is character building, or it's taking part that's important - not the winning; or that it's a tradition of school life. I just felt immense pity for those children in tears or in pain.
4. Team games at the end of the "sports" produced some close races, enormous enthusiasm, lots of shouting and were fun to watch. More importantly, the children who were not so fast or so nimble at passing the ball were hidden a little from everyone's gaze. Some of them also had the thrill of being on the winning side.
5. I wish sports day could be abandoned and replaced with some other summer event. Perhaps an afternoon of team games, with a few races for those who want them, would be less stressful for the children and a lot more fun to watch.
Now try to answer these questions without looking back at the text if possible. Remember that complete sentences are not necessary but your answers must be accurate.
1. What symptoms do children who are afraid of sports day show?
Stomach pains, being sick, difficulty in sleeping
2. Where was the sports day held?
At a large village primary school
3. Why do some of the children who like running still find sports day traumatic?
Because they fall half way down the track in front of the whole school and their parents.
4. What does the writer feel for young children who are upset by sports day?
Immense pity
5. How did the children feel about the team games played after the race?
Very enthusiastic
6. What alternative to sports day does the writer suggest?
An afternoon of team games and a few races for those who want them.
Finding the main ideas
Match the following main ideas to the relevant paragraphs (1-5) of the article.
A. How team games produced a positive atmosphere on sports day. (Par. 4)
B. The reasons why sports days are still a part of school life. (Par. 3)
C. An alternative to the traditional sports day. (Par. 5)
D. The explanation for the children's illnesses and fears. (Par. 2)
E. The physical symptoms that fear of sports day produces. (Par 1)
SOURCE : Success International by Marian Barry - Georgian Press
