📝 Unit 14: Sports
Past perfect continuous · sports vocabulary · match report · 200-word speech
Task 1 — Past perfect continuous (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Complete the sentences using the past perfect continuous form.
(1) The boys were covered in mud. They (play) ........... in the field.
(2) He (work) ........... too hard before he fell ill.
(3) How long (you / play) ........... when it started to rain?
(4) I (watch) ........... TV for half an hour when the lights went out.
(5) I (read) ........... that newspaper every week since last January.
(1) The boys were covered in mud. They (play) ........... in the field.
(2) He (work) ........... too hard before he fell ill.
(3) How long (you / play) ........... when it started to rain?
(4) I (watch) ........... TV for half an hour when the lights went out.
(5) I (read) ........... that newspaper every week since last January.
(1) had been playing
(2) had been working
(3) had you been playing
(4) had been watching
(5) had been reading
5 marks.
(2) had been working
(3) had you been playing
(4) had been watching
(5) had been reading
5 marks.
Task 2 — Avoid repetition (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Rewrite each pair of sentences as a single shorter one, using a
helping verb or 'so do I / neither do I'.
(1) Nisal loves cricket. Binara loves cricket too.
→ Nisal loves cricket, and ........... .
(2) Methun scored 76 runs. Tharindu didn't score 76 runs.
→ Methun scored 76 runs, but ........... .
(3) I will go to the next match. My brother will go too.
→ I will go to the next match, and ........... .
(4) Sajini was excited. Nimal was excited too.
→ Sajini was excited, and ........... .
(5) Our team didn't win. Their team didn't win either.
→ Our team didn't win, and ........... .
helping verb or 'so do I / neither do I'.
(1) Nisal loves cricket. Binara loves cricket too.
→ Nisal loves cricket, and ........... .
(2) Methun scored 76 runs. Tharindu didn't score 76 runs.
→ Methun scored 76 runs, but ........... .
(3) I will go to the next match. My brother will go too.
→ I will go to the next match, and ........... .
(4) Sajini was excited. Nimal was excited too.
→ Sajini was excited, and ........... .
(5) Our team didn't win. Their team didn't win either.
→ Our team didn't win, and ........... .
(1) ... so does Binara.
(2) ... Tharindu didn't.
(3) ... so will my brother.
(4) ... so was Nimal.
(5) ... neither did their team.
5 marks.
(2) ... Tharindu didn't.
(3) ... so will my brother.
(4) ... so was Nimal.
(5) ... neither did their team.
5 marks.
Task 3 — Match sport to facts (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Match each sport with the correct fact. The first one is done for you.
Sports: A — Cricket · B — Netball · C — Basketball · D — Volleyball · E — Football (soccer) · F — Rugby
Facts:
(1) Eleven players a side, played with a leather ball and a willow bat. → A (example)
(2) Seven players a side, no dribbling, played on a rectangular court. → ...
(3) Five players a side, played on a hard court, ball shot through a netted hoop. → ...
(4) Six players a side, played over a net, ball must not touch the floor. → ...
(5) An oval ball, fifteen players a side, can be passed only backwards. → ...
(6) Eleven players a side, played mostly with the feet, World Cup every four years. → ...
Sports: A — Cricket · B — Netball · C — Basketball · D — Volleyball · E — Football (soccer) · F — Rugby
Facts:
(1) Eleven players a side, played with a leather ball and a willow bat. → A (example)
(2) Seven players a side, no dribbling, played on a rectangular court. → ...
(3) Five players a side, played on a hard court, ball shot through a netted hoop. → ...
(4) Six players a side, played over a net, ball must not touch the floor. → ...
(5) An oval ball, fifteen players a side, can be passed only backwards. → ...
(6) Eleven players a side, played mostly with the feet, World Cup every four years. → ...
(2) B — Netball
(3) C — Basketball
(4) D — Volleyball
(5) F — Rugby
(6) E — Football
5 marks.
(3) C — Basketball
(4) D — Volleyball
(5) F — Rugby
(6) E — Football
5 marks.
Task 4 — Comprehension: Olympic Dreams (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the passage and answer the questions.
In 1928, a small skinny boy approached Charles Paddock, the world\'s fastest
sprinter at the time. "Mr Paddock," he said, "I want to be an Olympic
champion just like you." Paddock, touched by the boy\'s sincerity, replied:
"If you work for it, train hard, and never give up, you can become an
Olympic champion."
The boy\'s name was Jesse Owens. His family was so poor that he had to pick
100 pounds of cotton a day from the age of seven. At nine, he worked at a
gas station. Yet every evening, before the sun set, he ran. He ran on dirt
roads, on stadium tracks, in cornfields when the rain came down.
Eight years later, in 1936 at the Berlin Olympics, Jesse Owens won four gold
medals.
(1) Who did Jesse Owens approach in 1928?
(2) What was Paddock\'s advice?
(3) Write the sentence which shows how poor Owens\' family was.
(4) Underline the correct answer. Jesse Owens started training because:
(a) his coach forced him.
(b) he was inspired by Charles Paddock\'s advice.
(c) he wanted to escape working.
(5) Find the word in the passage that means "giving up on a goal".
In 1928, a small skinny boy approached Charles Paddock, the world\'s fastest
sprinter at the time. "Mr Paddock," he said, "I want to be an Olympic
champion just like you." Paddock, touched by the boy\'s sincerity, replied:
"If you work for it, train hard, and never give up, you can become an
Olympic champion."
The boy\'s name was Jesse Owens. His family was so poor that he had to pick
100 pounds of cotton a day from the age of seven. At nine, he worked at a
gas station. Yet every evening, before the sun set, he ran. He ran on dirt
roads, on stadium tracks, in cornfields when the rain came down.
Eight years later, in 1936 at the Berlin Olympics, Jesse Owens won four gold
medals.
(1) Who did Jesse Owens approach in 1928?
(2) What was Paddock\'s advice?
(3) Write the sentence which shows how poor Owens\' family was.
(4) Underline the correct answer. Jesse Owens started training because:
(a) his coach forced him.
(b) he was inspired by Charles Paddock\'s advice.
(c) he wanted to escape working.
(5) Find the word in the passage that means "giving up on a goal".
(1) Charles Paddock, the world's fastest sprinter at the time.
(2) If you work for it, train hard, and never give up, you can become an Olympic champion.
(3) "His family was so poor that he had to pick 100 pounds of cotton a day from the age of seven."
(4) (b) he was inspired by Charles Paddock's advice.
(5) give up.
5 marks.
(2) If you work for it, train hard, and never give up, you can become an Olympic champion.
(3) "His family was so poor that he had to pick 100 pounds of cotton a day from the age of seven."
(4) (b) he was inspired by Charles Paddock's advice.
(5) give up.
5 marks.
Task 5 — Sports vocabulary (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Replace each underlined phrase with ONE word from the box.
Box: opponent · spectator · captain · forfeit · postpone
(1) The team that we play against in the next match has won 10 trophies.
(2) Each match has at least three people who pay to watch.
(3) The leader of the team decides who bats first.
(4) Because half our team was absent, we had to give up the match without playing.
(5) Heavy rain forced the umpires to delay the match to next Saturday.
Box: opponent · spectator · captain · forfeit · postpone
(1) The team that we play against in the next match has won 10 trophies.
(2) Each match has at least three people who pay to watch.
(3) The leader of the team decides who bats first.
(4) Because half our team was absent, we had to give up the match without playing.
(5) Heavy rain forced the umpires to delay the match to next Saturday.
(1) opponent
(2) spectator
(3) captain
(4) forfeit
(5) postpone
5 marks.
(2) spectator
(3) captain
(4) forfeit
(5) postpone
5 marks.
Task 6 — Notice: a sports meet (40–50 words)
(5 marks)
You are the secretary of the Sports Council. Write a notice
inviting students to register for the annual school sports meet. Use about
40–50 words.
Include:
• date and venue
• at least two events
• how to register
• closing date.
inviting students to register for the annual school sports meet. Use about
40–50 words.
Include:
• date and venue
• at least two events
• how to register
• closing date.
ANNUAL SCHOOL SPORTS MEET — REGISTER NOW!
The annual school sports meet will be held on Saturday, 5th March 2027 at
the school grounds. Events include 100 m, 400 m, high jump, long jump and the
relay. Register your house and event with Mr. Saliya Perera at the staff
room by Friday, 25th February.
— Sports Council.
50 words. 5 marks.
The annual school sports meet will be held on Saturday, 5th March 2027 at
the school grounds. Events include 100 m, 400 m, high jump, long jump and the
relay. Register your house and event with Mr. Saliya Perera at the staff
room by Friday, 25th February.
— Sports Council.
50 words. 5 marks.
Task 7 — Short paragraph (50–60 words)
(5 marks)
Write a paragraph on ONE of the following. Use about 50–60 words.
(a) My favourite sport
(b) The sports star I admire most
(c) A memorable inter-school match
(a) My favourite sport
(b) The sports star I admire most
(c) A memorable inter-school match
MODEL — My favourite sport (60 words)
My favourite sport is cricket. Nothing about it is fast at first glance — a
batsman can stand there for an hour with no run, and yet a quiet attacking
shot can travel a hundred metres in a second. Cricket teaches patience and
sudden courage in the same afternoon. That is why I will keep watching it
all my life.
5 marks.
My favourite sport is cricket. Nothing about it is fast at first glance — a
batsman can stand there for an hour with no run, and yet a quiet attacking
shot can travel a hundred metres in a second. Cricket teaches patience and
sudden courage in the same afternoon. That is why I will keep watching it
all my life.
5 marks.
Task 8 — Match report / data description (~100 words, 10 marks)
(10 marks)
Answer (a) OR (b). Use about 100 words.
(a) Write a report for the school magazine on the inter-house cricket final.
Include: date, teams, key innings, final score, outstanding player.
(b) The table shows the number of medals won by five schools at the inter-
school athletics meet. Write a description.
Table (Gold · Silver · Bronze · Total): Royal 12 · 8 · 6 = 26 / D.S. Senanayake
9 · 11 · 8 = 28 / Nalanda 7 · 9 · 11 = 27 / Ananda 5 · 6 · 7 = 18 / Wesley 3 · 4 · 5 = 12.
(a) Write a report for the school magazine on the inter-house cricket final.
Include: date, teams, key innings, final score, outstanding player.
(b) The table shows the number of medals won by five schools at the inter-
school athletics meet. Write a description.
Table (Gold · Silver · Bronze · Total): Royal 12 · 8 · 6 = 26 / D.S. Senanayake
9 · 11 · 8 = 28 / Nalanda 7 · 9 · 11 = 27 / Ananda 5 · 6 · 7 = 18 / Wesley 3 · 4 · 5 = 12.
(b) MODEL — Table description (108 words)
The table shows the medals won by five schools at the inter-school athletics
meet. D.S. Senanayake led the overall medal table with 28, just one ahead of
Nalanda at 27 and two ahead of Royal at 26. Ananda came fourth with 18
medals, while Wesley finished last with only 12.
Interestingly, Royal won the highest number of golds (12), but the more even
silver and bronze haul of D.S. Senanayake gave them the higher total. In
summary, the top three schools were separated by only two medals, while
Wesley needs to invest in track training.
10 marks.
The table shows the medals won by five schools at the inter-school athletics
meet. D.S. Senanayake led the overall medal table with 28, just one ahead of
Nalanda at 27 and two ahead of Royal at 26. Ananda came fourth with 18
medals, while Wesley finished last with only 12.
Interestingly, Royal won the highest number of golds (12), but the more even
silver and bronze haul of D.S. Senanayake gave them the higher total. In
summary, the top three schools were separated by only two medals, while
Wesley needs to invest in track training.
10 marks.
Task 9 — Speech / essay (~200 words, 15 marks)
(15 marks)
Write on ONE of the following. Use about 200 words.
(a) A speech on 'Sports as an important part of a student\'s life'.
(b) An essay on 'Why we should bring back traditional Sri Lankan games'.
(c) An article: 'The greatest match I have ever watched'.
(a) A speech on 'Sports as an important part of a student\'s life'.
(b) An essay on 'Why we should bring back traditional Sri Lankan games'.
(c) An article: 'The greatest match I have ever watched'.
(a) MODEL — Sports as an important part of a student's life (215 words)
Good morning, teachers and friends.
Walk past our school on any afternoon at four and you hear it before you see
it — the thud of a leather ball on willow, the squeak of trainers on the
netball court, the umpire's whistle. Sport is not a side dish in our school
calendar; it is the main course.
Firstly, sport teaches us things textbooks cannot. On the cricket field a
batsman learns patience: he can wait an hour for the right ball. On the
netball court a wing attack learns to think for the team, not for herself.
In a 1500-metre race, a runner learns that the last 200 metres are won in
the first 1300.
Secondly, sport keeps us healthy. Doctors say a student who plays 45 minutes
of sport four days a week sleeps better, eats better and concentrates better
in class. Daily PE is cheaper than any vitamin.
Thirdly, sport builds friendships across grades, religions and abilities. A
First-XV cricket team is the closest brotherhood many of us will ever know.
So step out of the air-conditioned classroom and join a team. Trophy or no
trophy, you will become a better student — and a better person.
Thank you.
15 marks.
Good morning, teachers and friends.
Walk past our school on any afternoon at four and you hear it before you see
it — the thud of a leather ball on willow, the squeak of trainers on the
netball court, the umpire's whistle. Sport is not a side dish in our school
calendar; it is the main course.
Firstly, sport teaches us things textbooks cannot. On the cricket field a
batsman learns patience: he can wait an hour for the right ball. On the
netball court a wing attack learns to think for the team, not for herself.
In a 1500-metre race, a runner learns that the last 200 metres are won in
the first 1300.
Secondly, sport keeps us healthy. Doctors say a student who plays 45 minutes
of sport four days a week sleeps better, eats better and concentrates better
in class. Daily PE is cheaper than any vitamin.
Thirdly, sport builds friendships across grades, religions and abilities. A
First-XV cricket team is the closest brotherhood many of us will ever know.
So step out of the air-conditioned classroom and join a team. Trophy or no
trophy, you will become a better student — and a better person.
Thank you.
15 marks.