Cool Sports!

Capoeira

Capoeira is a very popular sport in Brazil. It's a combination of dance, acrobatics and martial arts. In capoeira, everyone sings or plays music in a big circle. Then people take turns dancing together in pairs.

 

Ultimate

Ultimate is a team sport from the USA. It's similar to football, but you play it with a plastic disc. It's a fast sport because the players have only got ten seconds to throw the disc. People sometimes play this sport indoors.

 

Sepak takraw

Sepak takraw is a popular team sport in many parts of Asia. It's a combination of volleyball and football. The players hit a small ball over a net. They can use their heads, legs and feet, but they can't use their hands.

It's important to be safe when you do sport:

1. Protect yourself. Wear the right protective equipment.
2. Warm up first. Do some easy exercises to get started.
3. Drink water. Your body needs water. It keeps you cool.
4. Be careful. Play in safe areas. Don't play in the street.

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

How to have a good time in... Sydney

Sydney has everything you want in a city. It's beautiful, it has old and new buildings, there are fantastic beaches, and the food is delicious.

The best times to visit are spring and autumn. In summer it is very hot. 

There are cheap hotels in King's Cross. A room is about $50 a night. There are internacional hotels in the centre. Here a room is about $150 a night.

Sydney has theatres and cinemas, and of course, the Opera House. The best shops are in Pitt Street.

Go to the harbour. There are beaches, walks, parks, and cafés and, of course, the wonderful bridge.

Sydney has the famous Bondi Beach. People go swimming, surfing, windsurfing, and sailing.

For night-life, there are clubs and bars in Oxford Street.

There are restaurants from every country — Italian, Turkish, Lebanese, Japanese, Thai, Chinese, and Vietnamese. Australians eat a lot of seafood — it's very fresh!

There are fast trains and slow buses. The best way to see Sydney is by ferry.

Level: Beginner

Book: New Headway

Year: 2000