English Test 9th Grade-n6

Sporting Clube de Portugal

Sporting Clube de Portugal or simply Sporting was established in 1902 as Sport Club de Belas, which became Campo Grande Sporting Club in 1904, and it took its current name in 1906, Sporting Clube De Portugal and has done so for the past 100 years. The club foundation was instigated by Jos Holtreman Roquette (Jos de Alvalade), with the support in money and land of his grandfather, Alfredo Augusto das Neves Holtreman, Viscount of Alvalade. The Viscount of Alvalade was the first President of Sporting Clube de Portugal. It is an eclectic sports club based in Lisbon, Portugal, being notably renowned for its football branch, which is its most popular department. Along with Porto and Benfica, Sporting is one of the "Big Three" clubs in Portugal. Sporting is also one of the notable clubs in European football. Sporting Portugal boasts a new stadium, Estdio Jos Alvalade XXI, built for the 2004 European Football Championship, that hosted the 2005 UEFA Cup final in which Sporting lost to CSKA Moscow. The opening fixture stared a famous 3-1 win for the Portuguese side against giants Manchester United, with the first goal being scored by Luis Filipe. Sporting also has a world-class football training facility (Academia Sporting in Alcochete), which accommodated Portugal during the Euro 2004, and helps to produce some of the best Portuguese players, such as Luis Figo. The club's football team captured 18 championship titles, 13 cups and won the former Cup Winners' Cup in 1964, their only European title. Sporting is one of the biggest clubs in Europe having more than 90.000 club members since 1997. After a period of financial problems and internal conflicts, now with its new president and board of directors, the club is making a comeback. There were five games played in Estdio Jos Alvalade during the Euro 2004, one of them being the semi-final between Portugal and the Netherlands, which Portugal won 2-1. This match won the title of Best Organized in the whole competition. It was a great game for all Portuguese football fans. Famous for its football youth academy system, one of the most modern and renowned in the world, Sporting has continuously developed many world class footballers, many of them incidentally wingers. Some of its most notable home breed footballers include Joo Moutinho and Nani on the current squad, Paulo Futre (Retired), Lus Figo (Inter Milan), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) and Lus Boa Morte (Fulham). There are also other players that failed to make an impression outside Portugal, such as Dani (Retired) who played for Ajax Amsterdam, or former FC Barcelona player Ricardo Quaresma (who joined Porto in 2004) and Simo Sabrosa (joined SL Benfica in 2001). Hugo Viana, the only returning to Sporting, joined on loan from Newcastle United for the 2004/05 season. The Youth Academy was considered by Luiz Felipe Scolari (Portuguese national coach) and Jos Pekerman (Argentinian national coach) as one of the best sports academies in the world and a great number of European clubs choose it for training in the off-season. The Academy has been renamed Puma Academy (Academia Puma) in virtue of the sponsoring and naming contract signed by the club and the sports brand in 2006, which will last until 2012. Wikipedia (adapted)

I A (10%) Answer the following questions about the text in complete answers and by using your own words as much as possible.
1-Who contributed to the foundation of Sporting? 2-Why can we say Sporting is one of the notable clubs in Europe? 3-What has the youth academy mostly produced? 4-Explain the meaning of the following sentence: Along with Porto and Benfica, Sporting is one of the big three clubs in Portugal.

5-Write a comment for the following sentence: Sporting has continuously developed many world class footballers...

I B (10%) Find synonyms or explain the meaning of the following words/expressions taken from the text.
1-an eclectic sports club 2-renowned 3-produce 4-fans 5-squad

I C (15%) Rephrase starting as shown.

1-In 2027, Ill have visited all the continents. In 2027, all the continents... 2-Its more than proved that Sporting is the best Portuguese club. He pointed out... 3-He died at such a young age because he had a terrible accident. If he hadnt... 4-Sporting has already won 18 national titles. The biggest fan of Sporting is named Francisco. Sporting,... 5-I was offered a new computer. Someone...

I D (5%) Identify the preposition verbs, the phrasal verbs and the prepositional phrasal verbs whenever possible.
1-To think on 2-To approve of 3-To agree to 4-To catch up on 5-To ask out

I E (10%) In about 150 words write: a-imagining youre the president of Sporting and suggest ways to improve the club b-about the football match you most liked seeing c-your opinion about the Portuguese football d-the reasons why you are a fan of Sporting

First Group (

/50)

II

The Sporting Spirit

I am always amazed when I hear people saying that sport creates goodwill between the nations, and that if only the common peoples of the world could meet one another at football or cricket, they would have no inclination to meet on the battlefield. Even if one didn't know from concrete examples (the 1936 Olympic Games, for instance) that international sporting contests lead to orgies of hatred, one could deduce it from general principles. Nearly all the sports practised nowadays are competitive. You play to win, and the game has little meaning unless you do your best to win. On the village green, where you pick up sides and no feeling of local patriotism is involved, it is possible to play simply for the fun and exercise: but as soon as the question of prestige arises, as soon as you feel that you and some larger unit will be disgraced if you lose, the most savage combative instincts are aroused. Anyone who has played even in a school football match knows this. At the international level sport is frankly mimic warfare. But the significant thing is not the behaviour of the players but the attitude of the spectators: and, behind the spectators, of the nations who work themselves into furies over these absurd contests, and seriously believe--at any rate for short periods--that running, jumping and kicking a ball are tests of national virtue. Even a leisurely game like cricket, demanding grace rather than strength, can cause much ill-will, as we saw in the controversy over body-line bowling and over the rough tactics of the Australian team that visited England in 1921. Football, a game in which everyone gets hurt and every nation has its own style of play which seems unfair to foreigners, is far worse. Worst of all is boxing. One of the most horrible sights in the world is a fight between white and coloured boxers before a mixed audience. George Orwell

II A (18%) Answer the following questions about this part of George Orwells The Sporting Spirit in complete answers and by using your own words as much as possible.
1-In George Orwells opinion, why is sport such a bad thing? 2-And you, what do you think about sport? Do you agree with George Orwell? 3-Does George Orwell think its possible to practise sport just for fun and exercise? Account your answer. 4-Who else does George Orwell criticise besides the players? Why? 5-Does George Orwell compare sport to a war? Quote your answer. 6-Explain the meaning of the following sentence by means of your own words: ...but as soon as the question of prestige arises, as soon as you feel that you and some larger unit will be disgraced if you lose, the most savage combative instincts are aroused.

II B (10%) Find synonyms or explain the meaning of the following words/expressions taken from the text.
1-battlefield 2-contests 3-a leisurely game 4-gets hurt

5-foreigners

II C (6%) Rewrite the following sentence inserting the expressions below. George Orwell (not to like) (to practise) sport.
1-If it were too competitive 2-If somebody had warned him about the dangers 3-Because he reckons it is too violent

II D (16%) In about 150 words, write: a-a letter to George Orwell about The sporting spirit b-about the advantages and disadvantages of practising sport

Second Group ( /50)