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Topic Vocabulary & Exercises

7. Sport

  VOCABULARY  

IELTS sport topic title image containing text "Sport"

Audio File

Topic Vocabulary:

agility (noun [u])

Definition: Being able to move quickly and easily.

Example: The cat's agility allowed it to quickly climb up the tree and escape the dog.


athleticism (noun [u])

Definition: The physical abilities, fitness, strength, and skill required for sports and physical activities.

Example: Her natural athleticism made her excel in a variety of sports like volley ball, tennis, and swimming.


ball sport (noun [c])

Definition: Games where people use a ball to play, like football or basketball.

Example: Football is a popular ball sport that is played by millions around the world.


cheer (verb)

Definition: Showing support and happiness by clapping, shouting, or being excited.

Example: The crowd cheered loudly when their team scored a goal.


commentator (noun [c])

Definition: Someone who describes on TV or radio what is happening in a sporting event.

Example: The commentator explained the game's key moments to the viewers.


competitive (adjective)

Definition: Trying hard to win against others.

Example: The two friends are very competitive and always try to outdo each other in games.


contact sport (noun [c])

Definition: A sport in which there is physical contact between players, such as football or rugby.

Example: Boxing is a contact sport that involves physical contact and punches between opponents.


fast-paced (adjective)

Definition: Happening quickly and with a lot of energy.

Example: The football match's fast-paced action kept me on the edge of my seat.


hooligan (noun [c])

Definition: A person who behaves badly, often causing trouble or violence in public settings.

Example: The hooligans caused trouble after the football match, damaging property.


martial arts (noun [pl])

Definition: Various types of self-defence or combat techniques practised as a sport. 

Example: He's been studying martial arts for years to learn self-defence.


motorsport (noun [u])

Definition: Racing with fast cars or motorbikes.

Example: My dad loves watching motorsport on TV, especially Formula 1.


professional (noun [c])

Definition: An individual who is paid to play a particular sport or activity at a high level.

Example: She became a professional player after years of dedication and hard work.


racket sport (noun [c])

Definition: Games where people hit a ball with a racket, like tennis or badminton. 

Example: He was always good at racket sports because he had excellent hand to eye coordination.


spectator (noun [c])

Definition: A person who watches a sports or other event.

Example: The stadium was filled with spectators cheering for their favourite team.


sponsorship (noun [u])

Definition: When money is given to an event, team, or individual in exchange for advertising.

Example: The football player made a huge amount of money from a sponsorship deal with Reebok.


sports hall (noun [c])

Definition: A large indoor space for playing sports or exercising.

Example: The kids played basketball in the sports hall after school.


stand (noun [c])

Definition: Where people sit or stand to watch sports games or concerts.

Example: We cheered loudly from the stands as our team scored a goal.


televised (adjective)

Definition: Shown on television.

Example: The championship game will be televised on Saturday.


top-flight (adjective)

Definition: The highest level of quality or skill.

Example: She's a top-flight athlete and regularly competes in international competitions.


work off (phrasal verb)

Definition: To get rid of or reduce something, like stress or calories, through physical activity.

Example: I'm going for a run to work off the extra calories from dinner.

Exercise 1: Gap-fill Exercise

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate word or phrase from the list provided below.


1. The ___________ of the gymnasts at the Olympics was truly impressive.

2. Football is the most popular team __________ in the world.

3. The ___________ provided a lively explanation of what was happening during the football match.

4. Players can sometimes get injured by players from the other team when participating in ___________.

5. The match was so ___________, I could hardly keep up with the action!

6. He spent hours in the gym to ___________ the extra calories he consumed over the weekend.

7. Pupils played five-a-side football in the school  __________ during their free time.


commentator

ball sport

sports hall

burn off

agility

fast-paced

contact sports


Exercise 2: Matching Exercise

Fill in the missing words from the following article.


In a packed 1__________ last Saturday, 2__________  gathered to witness the highly-anticipated martial arts tournament. This 3__________ event featured impressive displays of 4__________ , as participants executed lightning-fast moves with precision and skill. The fast-paced action kept the audience on their feet, which erupted in 5__________ each time a competitor scored a point. Meanwhile, viewers at home could also enjoy the action as the competition was 6__________.


top-flight

televised

spectators

sports hall

cheers

athleticism


Exercise 3: Multiple-Choice Exercise

Choose the best word to complete each sentence.


1. The ___________ provided expert analysis and insights during the game.

a) commentator

b) coach

c) manager


2. The tournament was highly __________ so no one could predict who the winner would be.

a) competitive

b) top-flight

c) athleticism


3. The ___________ were filled with enthusiastic fans cheering for their favourite team.

a) hooligans

b) stands

c) pitch


4. The company decided to provide ___________ to the local football team.

a) spectators

b) advice

c) sponsorship


5. The sport of boxing is a classic example of a ___________.

a) motorsport

b) ball sport

c) contact sport


6. The game had to be stopped as fighting broke out among __________ in the stands.

a) spectators

b) hooligans

c) martial arts

Vocabulary Answer Key:

Exercise 1: 1. agility, 2. ball sport, 3. commentator, 4. contact sports, 5. fast-paced, 6. burn off, 7. sports hall

Exercise 2: 1. sports hall, 2. spectators, 3. top-flight, 4. athleticism, 5. cheers, 6. Televised.

Exercise 3: 1a, 2a, 3b, 4c, 5c, 6b

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