1. Three skydivers jumped off the top of Mount Everest.

2. The decision to make the jumps was a sudden one taken recently.

3. The parachutes used in the jumps were half the usual size.

4. An onlooker said the skydivers flew with rare bluebirds in the sky.

5. The skydivers were over the moon about their jump.

6. The parachutists broke several skydiving records.

7. Mount Everest is 3,761 metres high.

8. There are nearly 30 jumpers waiting to make the jump above Everest. Key: 1 F; 2 F; 3 F; 4 F; 5 T; 6 T; 7 F; 8 T.

Match the following synonyms:

1)	mountaina	a)	number of
2)	leapt	b)	small
3)	chutes	c)	very happy
4)	glided	d)	jumped
5)	tiny	e)	excitement

6)	over the moon	f)	floated
7)	stunning	g)	peak
8)	several	h)	good
9)	favourable	i)	parachutes
10) thrill		j)	amazing

Key: 1 g; 2 d; 3 i; 4 f; 5 b; 6 c; 7 j; 8 a; 9 h; 10 e.

4. Speaking

• Work in pairs

SKYDIVING DISCUSSION Student A

1. What did you think when you read the headline?

2. What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘Everest’?

3. Would you like to skydive over Mount Everest?

4. What do you think of the tree skydivers in this story?

5. What do you think of skydiving as a hobby?

6. Why do you think skydivers like skydiving?

7. Would you like to be in freefall for 30 seconds?

8. What kinds of feelings do you think you’d have floating down to the ground from above Mount Everest?

9. What kind of training would the skydivers need to do this?

10. Would you like to fly like a bird?

Student B

1. Did you like reading this article?

2. When was the last time you were over the moon about something?

3. What would you do if you were on top of the world?

4. What is the most stunning or spectacular thing you’ve ever seen?

5. Would you rather dive in the sky or sea?

6. Have you ever done any daredevil things in your life?

7. Are you a thrill seeker?

8. Would you like to get into extreme sports?

9. What three adjectives describe skydiving or skydivers?

10. What questions would you like to ask the skydivers?

5. Reading

Read about unusual sports and say if we can call them real kinds of sport.

PANCAKE RACING — In which each participant carries a pancake in a frying pan. All the runners must toss their pancakes as they run and catch them in the frying pan.

WHEELBARROW AND STRAW BALE RACE — Each player in the team races over 50 yards with 4 straw bales on the barrow, then tosses the bales over a 6ft height bar. The quickest team wins.

WELLY / WELLIE WANGING OR THROWING — A freestyle sport that originated in Britain, most likely in the county of Yorkshire. Competi­tors are required to hurl a Wellington boot as far as possible within bound­ary lines, from a standing or running start. Each player has three throws, the longest distance thrown within the zone wins. Note that the word wellie is also often spelt as welly.

6. Summary

1. What is your country’s national sport? Do you like it?

2. What are blood sports and extreme sports? Do you like them?

7. Homework

Look for some information and write a short paragraph about an ex­treme or unusual sport.