Sports around the world

UK

Football is the most popular spectator sport in the UK. The best English teams play in the Premier League. Some teams from Wales can also compete in the English leagues, but teams from Scotland and Northern Ireland play in separate leagues. Teams in the English leagues can also compete for the FA Cup. It's the oldest football competition in the world.

Teams that often win the Premier League are Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.

USA

The most popular spectator sport in the USA is American football. The most important match is the Superbowl. About 90 million Americans watch it on TV on Superbowl Sunday. Famous stars like Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake sing at the Superbowl.

People in the USA eat about 5 millon kilos of crisps and 3.6 million kilos of guacamole on Superbowl Sunday!

Canada

Ice hockey is Canada's most popular spectator sport. It's a national passion! The most important competition is the Stanley Cup. Hockey teams from the USA can also compete. Lots of Canadians play hockey or go ice skating in their free time too. There are about 100 ice rinks in the city of Toronto!

About 500,000 Canadians are in hockey teams.

Level: Beginner

Book: Switch 1

Year: 2010

Take it away!

When people don't want to cook a meal, they often order takeaway food. There are lots of options, like hamburgers, pizza or Chinese food. In the UK, Indian curry is very popular. But the most traditional British takeaway meal is fried fish and potatoes, the famous 'fish and chips'.

There are about 11,000 fish and chip shops, or 'chippies', in the UK. The shops serve about 250 million portions of fish and chips every year. And to make those meals they use 60,000 tonnes of fish and 500,000 tonnes of potatoes. Many fish and chip shops serve other types of fast food too, like chicken, sausages or hot dogs. There's something for everyone!

Traditionally, British people put salt and vinegar on their chips. But these days, some people prefer other toppings, like ketchup, mayonnaise or curry sauce. Lots of people also eat fish and chips with soft peas, called 'mushy peas'.

Fast food is often fatty food. How much fat is there in these takeaway meals?

• A serving of fish and chips: 20.6 grams
• Two slices of pizza: 23 grams
• A cheeseburger and chips: 40 grams
• A doner kebab: 42.4 grams

Level: Beginner

Book: Switch 1

Year: 2010