VOCABULARY SET 29: BANNING DANGEROUS
SPORTS
Vocabulary:
1. a barrage of (collocation): m t tràng, m tộ ộ lo tạ
2. abdominal (adj): ph n b ng, thu c vở ầ ụ ộ ề b ngụ
3. acute (adj): đau đnớ
4. be fraught with (collocation) = be full of (collocation): đy r y nh ng đi uầ ẫ ữ ề gì
5. be out of all proportion to (collocation): quá m nh m t cách không c n thi t đ x lý m tạ ộ ầ ế ể ử ộ
vi cệ
6. ethical (adj): có đo đc, mang tính đoạ ứ ạ đcứ
7. ever-present (adj): luôn hi nệ di nệ
8. fatal (adj): gây ch tế ng iườ
9. legislation (n): l p pháp, phápậ chế
10. make for (phr.v): t oạ thành
11. malfunction (v/n): g p tr c tr c khi ho t đng / l i khi ho tặ ụ ặ ạ ộ ỗ ạ đngộ
12. mental scars (collocation): nh h ng lâu dài v tâmả ưở ề lý
13. rigour (n): tính nghiêm kh c, tính kh cắ ắ nghi tệ
14. spectacular (adj): ngo n m c, nạ ụ ấ t ngượ
15. strenuous (adj): t n r t nhi u công s c và s cố ấ ề ứ ự ố g ngắ
16. to be a springboard for something (collocation): đo đi u ki n cho cái gì đó di nạ ề ệ ễ ra
17. tragic outcome (collocation): h u qu t iậ ả ồ tệ
Exercises:
Task 1: Write sentences from given cues. Make changes to the cues when needed.
1. student / not / apply / oneself / will not / able / handle / rigour / medical school.
2. since / 2001 / American / always / feel / ever-present / danger / terrorist / attack.
3. lawyer / politician / often / insult / their / apparent / lack / ethical / value.
4. everyone / agree / film / inside / chocolate factory / make for / good television.
5. shortly / before / crash / pilot / report / malfunction / aircraft / navigation system.
Task 2: Translate from Vietnamese to English
1. Màn trình di n pháo hoa ngo n m c đã thu hút nh ng tràng pháo tay nh s m t khánễ ạ ụ ữ ư ấ ừ gi .ả
2. Tinh th n chăm ch và đoàn k t c a ng i Nh t t o đi u ki n cho s h i sinh kì di u sau nh ng ầ ỉ ế ủ ườ ậ ạ ề ệ ự ồ ệ ữ
thi t h i mà c n sóng th n gâyệ ạ ơ ầ ra.
3. C nh sát đang đi u tra m t v tai n n xe h i gây ch t ng i x y ra đêmả ề ộ ụ ạ ơ ế ườ ả qua.
4. Cu c s ng c a m t đi p viên đy r y nh ng khó khăn và nguy hi m mà ng i bình th ng không ộ ố ủ ộ ệ ầ ẫ ữ ể ườ ườ
th hi u đc.ể ể ượ
5. Anh y l i đn m c hi m khi làm vi c gì t n nhi u công s c h n vi c chuy n kênhấ ườ ế ứ ế ệ ố ề ứ ơ ệ ể tivi.
Task 3: Fill in the blanks with suitable words/phrases
Some people think that governments should ban dangerous sports, while others think people should
have freedom to do any sports or activity. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
The media commonly provide 1 news about dangerous sports, because the deaths and
2 associated with them often 3 headlines. As a result, some people have
claimed that all extreme sports should be banned, although I would argue that such a policy would
4 the real risks involved.
Those in favour of prohibiting people from taking part in dangerous sports tend to focus on the risk
element. Even when individuals may be physically and mentally prepared to participate in extreme sports
activities, and even when they have all the right equipment, the dangers are 5 . For example,
few sports are as challenging and 6 as BASE jumping. Participants hurl themselves off cliffs
or tall buildings, and few escape without suffering severe bruising or 7 pains which normally
last for several days. In addition, although sports equipment rarely 8 , this may still happen,
and the consequences may be 9 - such as a BASE jumper's parachute failing to deploy. The
supporters of 10 to ban dangerous sports argue that such 11 not only affect the
individual victims, but also leave 12 which their families then have to live with for the rest
of their lives.
However, I support the view of those who contend that participation in extreme sports must be a matter
of personal choice. Firstly, overcoming physical challenges may 13 positive personal
transformation. It may make a person stronger and more determined, and the experience may be a life-
changing one. Secondly, the 14 of preparation in order to take part in mountain-climbing,
white-water rafting or other such extremely 15 activities demonstrate that an individual is in
peak health and physical condition. Finally, there is an 16 aspect which dictates that a person
should have the freedom to pursue the challenges which they set themselves, even though this may
involve a level of risk that others might find unacceptable.
In conclusion, while acknowledging the real risks, I would defend the right of any individual to take
part in the extreme sport of their choice.
351 words, first draft by Tien Nguyen, final draft by Tu Pham
Key:
Task 1:
1. Students who do not apply themselves will not be able to handle the rigour of medical school.
2. Since 2001, Americans have always felt the ever-present danger of a terrorist attack.
3. Lawyers and politicians are often insulted for their apparent lack of ethical values.
4. Everyone agreed that filming inside a chocolate factory would make for good television.
5. Shortly before the crash the pilot had reported a malfunction of the aircraft's navigation system.
Task 2: Answers may vary
1. The spectacular fireworks display drew thunderous applause from the audience.
2. Japanese diligence and solidarity were a springboard for their miracle recovery from the damages the
tsunami had caused.
3. The police are investigating a fatal car crash that occurred last night.
4. Life of a spy is fraught with difficulties and danger that normal people cannot understand.
5. He is so lazy that he rarely does anything more strenuous than changing the channels on the television.
Task 3
The media commonly provide (1) a barrage of news about dangerous sports, because the deaths and
(2) injuries associated with them often (3) make for spectacular headlines. As a result, some people
have claimed that all extreme sports should be banned, although I would argue that such a policy would
(4) be out of all proportion to the real risks involved.
Those in favour of prohibiting people from taking part in dangerous sports tend to focus on the risk
element. Even when individuals may be physically and mentally prepared to participate in extreme sports
activities, and even when they have all the right equipment, the dangers are (5) ever-present. For
example, few sports are as challenging and (6) fraught with danger as BASE jumping. Participants hurl
themselves off cliffs or tall buildings, and few escape without suffering severe bruising or (7) acute
abdominal pains which normally last for several days. In addition, although sports equipment rarely (8)
malfunctions, this may still happen, and the consequences may be (9) fatal - such as a BASE jumper's
parachute failing to deploy. The supporters of (10) legislation to ban dangerous sports argue that such
(11) tragic outcomes not only affect the individual victims, but also leave (12) mental scars which their
families then have to live with for the rest of their lives.
However, I support the view of those who contend that participation in extreme sports must be a matter
of personal choice. Firstly, overcoming physical challenges may (13) be a springboard for positive
personal transformation. It may make a person stronger and more determined, and the experience may be
a life-changing one. Secondly, the (14) rigours of preparation in order to take part in mountain-climbing,
white-water rafting or other such extremely (15) strenuous activities demonstrate that an individual is in
peak health and physical condition. Finally, there is an (16) ethical aspect which dictates that a person
should have the freedom to pursue the challenges which they set themselves, even though this may
involve a level of risk that others might find unacceptable.
In conclusion, while acknowledging the real risks, I would defend the right of any individual to take
part in the extreme sport of their choice.
351 words, first draft by Tien Nguyen, final draft by Tu Pham