The Reading / Listening - Level 2

A designer for a popular computer game has said video games should be an Olympics sport. Rob Pardo, chief creative designer for the World of Warcraft game, told the BBC that video games should be in the Olympic Games. He said the Olympics needed to be more modern. He said millions of people love playing and watching competitive gaming, which is also known as e-sports. Mr Pardo said e-sports needs "a very competitive skillset". He added that professional gamers have "lightning quick" reflexes and have to make hundreds of quick decisions at any time.

Pardo said it would be difficult to get e-sports into the Olympics. Many people do not see it as a real sport. He says it is a proper sport because it needs physical effort and skill. He believes it is better and more popular than many Olympics sports. He said people did not want gaming to be in the Olympics because it uses technology and not athleticism. PC Magazine said there could be a separate international competition for e-sports that could be like the Olympics. This would make gaming the main event. In the Olympics, gaming would be one of many sports.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0,  Level 1   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-30597623
  • http://www.pcgamer.com/esports-should-be-an-olympic-event-wow-creator/
  • http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2474193,00.asp


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

A designer for a popular

a.

skillset"

2.

chief creative

b.

reflexes

3.

the Olympics needed to

c.

and watching

4.

people love playing

d.

computer game

5.

e-sports needs "a very competitive

e.

designer

6.

professional

f.

decisions

7.

have "lightning quick"

g.

gamers

8.

make hundreds of quick

h.

be more modern


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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

difficult to get e-sports

a.

many Olympics sports

2.

people do not see it

b.

sport

3.

it is a proper

c.

athleticism

4.

it needs physical

d.

into the Olympics

5.

better and more popular than

e.

for e-sports

6.

it uses technology and not

f.

as a real sport

7.

a separate international competition

g.

of many sports

8.

gaming would be one

h.

effort

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

A designer (1) ___________________ computer game has said video games should be an Olympics sport. Rob Pardo, (2) ___________________ for the World of Warcraft game, told the BBC that video games should be in the Olympic Games. He said the Olympics needed (3) ___________________. He said millions of people love playing and watching (4) ___________________, which is also known as e-sports. Mr Pardo said e-sports needs "a very (5) ___________________". He added that professional gamers have "lightning quick" reflexes and have to make hundreds (6) ___________________ at any time.

Pardo said it would be difficult (7) ___________________ the Olympics. Many people do not see (8) ___________________. He says it is a proper sport because it (9) ___________________ and skill. He believes it is better and more popular than many Olympics sports. He said people did not (10) ___________________ be in the Olympics because it uses technology and not athleticism. PC Magazine said there (11) ___________________ international competition for e-sports that could be like the Olympics. This would make gaming (12) ___________________. In the Olympics, gaming would be one of many sports.

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Adesignerforapopularcomputergamehassaidvideogamesshouldbea
nOlympicssport.RobPardo,chiefcreativedesignerfortheWorldofWarc
raftgame,toldtheBBCthatvideogamesshouldbeintheOlympicGames
.HesaidtheOlympicsneededtobemoremodern.Hesaidmillionsofpeop
leloveplayingandwatchingcompetitivegaming,whichisalsoknownas
e-sports.MrPardosaide-sportsneeds"averycompetitiveskillset".He
addedthatprofessionalgamershave"lightningquick"reflexesandhav
etomakehundredsofquickdecisionsatanytime.Pardosaiditwouldbedi
fficulttogete-sportsintotheOlympics.Manypeopledonotseeitasare
alsport.Hesaysitisapropersportbecauseitneedsphysicaleffortandskil
l.HebelievesitisbetterandmorepopularthanmanyOlympicssports.He
saidpeopledidnotwantgamingtobeintheOlympicsbecauseitusestech
nologyandnotathleticism.PCMagazinesaidtherecouldbeaseparatein
ternationalcompetitionfore-sportsthatcouldbeliketheOlympics.Thi
swouldmakegamingthemainevent.IntheOlympics,gamingwouldbeo
neofmanysports.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

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c)

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d)

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e)

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f)

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g)

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h)

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Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

 

WRITING

Write about gaming for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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