Sport and fitness · B1. Distinguish these meanings in context: referee = an official who enforces rules in a sporting match; goalkeeper = a player whose job is to stop the other team scoring goals; opponent = a person or team competing against you; teammate = a member of the same team as you.
Learn twelve useful words in this topic. Study independent examples, then practise them in new situations. The level is an editorial guide, not a certification.
The referee stopped the match.
The referee stopped the match.
These match this sense. Word families can change meaning; near meanings are not always interchangeable.
Practise “a football referee” as a word partnership. In this unit “referee” means an official who enforces rules in a sporting match.
Distinguish these meanings in context: referee = an official who enforces rules in a sporting match; goalkeeper = a player whose job is to stop the other team scoring goals; opponent = a person or team competing against you; teammate = a member of the same team as you.
The referee stopped the match.
Distinguish these meanings in context: tournament = a competition in which players or teams play a series of games; league = a group of sports teams that compete regularly against each other; fixture = a sporting match arranged for a particular date; scoreboard = a display showing the score in a game.
Sixty players entered the tournament.
Distinguish these meanings in context: stamina = the ability to continue physical activity for a long time; strength = the physical power of the muscles; flexibility = the ability to bend and move your body easily; balance = the ability to stay steady without falling.
Long walks help build my stamina.
The ___ blew the whistle and gave the player a yellow card.
Distinguish these meanings in context: referee = an official who enforces rules in a sporting match; goalkeeper = a player whose job is to stop the other team scoring goals; opponent = a person or team competing against you; teammate = a member of the same team as you.
The referee stopped the match.Distinguish these meanings in context: tournament = a competition in which players or teams play a series of games; league = a group of sports teams that compete regularly against each other; fixture = a sporting match arranged for a particular date; scoreboard = a display showing the score in a game.
Sixty players entered the tournament.Distinguish these meanings in context: stamina = the ability to continue physical activity for a long time; strength = the physical power of the muscles; flexibility = the ability to bend and move your body easily; balance = the ability to stay steady without falling.
Long walks help build my stamina.Keep the first try. Understand the change. Check it in a fresh situation.
No practice notes yet. Try a short warm-up.
an official who enforces rules in a sporting match
a player whose job is to stop the other team scoring goals
a person or team competing against you
a member of the same team as you
a competition in which players or teams play a series of games
a group of sports teams that compete regularly against each other
a sporting match arranged for a particular date
a display showing the score in a game
the ability to continue physical activity for a long time
the physical power of the muscles
the ability to bend and move your body easily
the ability to stay steady without falling
Opening an answer records help for that question.
The ___ blew the whistle and gave the player a yellow card.
Look at “gave the player a yellow card”. Here we need “an official who enforces rules in a sporting match”: “referee”. Use the requested role: official, goal position, rival or fellow player. A goalkeeper can also be a teammate; a position and a team relationship are different questions. Completed sentence: “The referee blew the whistle and gave the player a yellow card.”.
This knockout ___ ends with a final between the last two players.
Look at “knockout”. Here we need “a competition in which players or teams play a series of games”: “tournament”. Separate a competition series, a season-based group, one scheduled match and the display of points. Completed sentence: “This knockout tournament ends with a final between the last two players.”.
The ability to keep running for several hours without becoming exhausted is called ___.
Look at “several hours”. Here we need “the ability to continue physical activity for a long time”: “stamina”. Long-lasting effort, maximum muscle force, range of movement and staying steady are different fitness abilities. Completed sentence: “The ability to keep running for several hours without becoming exhausted is called stamina.”.
The name of the playing position responsible for guarding the goal and stopping goals is ___.
Look at “playing position”. Here we need “a player whose job is to stop the other team scoring goals”: “goalkeeper”. Use the requested role: official, goal position, rival or fellow player. A goalkeeper can also be a teammate; a position and a team relationship are different questions. Completed sentence: “The name of the playing position responsible for guarding the goal and stopping goals is goalkeeper.”.
In the tennis final, what do I call the player competing against me on the other side of the net? My ___.
Look at “player competing against me”. Here we need “a person or team competing against you”: “opponent”. Use the requested role: official, goal position, rival or fellow player. A goalkeeper can also be a teammate; a position and a team relationship are different questions. Completed sentence: “In the tennis final, what do I call the player competing against me on the other side of the net? My opponent.” / “In the tennis final, my opponent stood on the other side of the net.”.
The general term for any player on your own team, regardless of position, is ___.
Look at “general term”. Here we need “a member of the same team as you”: “teammate”. Use the requested role: official, goal position, rival or fellow player. A goalkeeper can also be a teammate; a position and a team relationship are different questions. Completed sentence: “The general term for any player on your own team, regardless of position, is teammate.”.
Our club belongs to a ___: a group of teams that compete regularly through a season and earn points in a table.
Look at “season and earn points”. Here we need “a group of sports teams that compete regularly against each other”: “league”. Separate a competition series, a season-based group, one scheduled match and the display of points. Completed sentence: “Our club belongs to a league: a group of teams that compete regularly through a season and earn points in a table.”.
Saturday’s ___ against City United has been postponed until Tuesday.
Look at “postponed”. Here we need “a sporting match arranged for a particular date”: “fixture”. Separate a competition series, a season-based group, one scheduled match and the display of points. Completed sentence: “Saturday’s fixture against City United has been postponed until Tuesday.”.
Look at the electronic ___ above the court: we are winning 21–18.
Look at “21–18”. Here we need “a display showing the score in a game”: “scoreboard”. Separate a competition series, a season-based group, one scheduled match and the display of points. Completed sentence: “Look at the electronic scoreboard above the court: we are winning 21–18.”.
The amount of force your muscles can produce is called muscle ___.
Look at “force your muscles”. Here we need “the physical power of the muscles”: “strength”. Long-lasting effort, maximum muscle force, range of movement and staying steady are different fitness abilities. Completed sentence: “The amount of force your muscles can produce is called muscle strength.”.
A gymnast needs ___ to bend her body into a wide range of positions.
Look at “bend her body”. Here we need “the ability to bend and move your body easily”: “flexibility”. Long-lasting effort, maximum muscle force, range of movement and staying steady are different fitness abilities. Completed sentence: “A gymnast needs flexibility to bend her body into a wide range of positions.”.
The ability to remain steady on one leg without falling is called ___.
Look at “without falling”. Here we need “the ability to stay steady without falling”: “balance”. Long-lasting effort, maximum muscle force, range of movement and staying steady are different fitness abilities. Completed sentence: “The ability to remain steady on one leg without falling is called balance.”.
A neutral ___ checks that both teams follow the rules.
Look at “follow the rules”. Here we need “an official who enforces rules in a sporting match”: “referee”. Use the requested role: official, goal position, rival or fellow player. A goalkeeper can also be a teammate; a position and a team relationship are different questions. Completed sentence: “A neutral referee checks that both teams follow the rules.”.
What is the specific playing-position name for the player who guards our football goal, even though that person is also a teammate? ___.
Look at “specific playing-position”. Here we need “a player whose job is to stop the other team scoring goals”: “goalkeeper”. Use the requested role: official, goal position, rival or fellow player. A goalkeeper can also be a teammate; a position and a team relationship are different questions. Completed sentence: “What is the specific playing-position name for the player who guards our football goal, even though that person is also a teammate? goalkeeper.” / “Only the goalkeeper in our football team wears gloves and guards the goal.”.
Eight teams entered a knockout ___ held over one weekend, ending in a final on Sunday.
Look at “knockout”. Here we need “a competition in which players or teams play a series of games”: “tournament”. Separate a competition series, a season-based group, one scheduled match and the display of points. Completed sentence: “Eight teams entered a knockout tournament held over one weekend, ending in a final on Sunday.”.
The club hopes to move to a higher ___ after finishing top of the table.
Look at “higher”. Here we need “a group of sports teams that compete regularly against each other”: “league”. Separate a competition series, a season-based group, one scheduled match and the display of points. Completed sentence: “The club hopes to move to a higher league after finishing top of the table.”.
He can cycle all afternoon without tiring; this ability to keep going for a long time is called ___.
Look at “all afternoon”. Here we need “the ability to continue physical activity for a long time”: “stamina”. Long-lasting effort, maximum muscle force, range of movement and staying steady are different fitness abilities. Completed sentence: “He can cycle all afternoon without tiring; this ability to keep going for a long time is called stamina.”.
She increased the maximum force her arms could produce in one short lift; this means greater arm ___.
Look at “maximum force”. Here we need “the physical power of the muscles”: “strength”. Long-lasting effort, maximum muscle force, range of movement and staying steady are different fitness abilities. Completed sentence: “She increased the maximum force her arms could produce in one short lift; this means greater arm strength.”.
What is the general name for the player or team competing against us, whose points count against ours? Our ___.
Look at “player or team competing against us”. Here we need “a person or team competing against you”: “opponent”. Use the requested role: official, goal position, rival or fellow player. A goalkeeper can also be a teammate; a position and a team relationship are different questions. Completed sentence: “What is the general name for the player or team competing against us, whose points count against ours? Our opponent.” / “We lost because our opponent scored more points than we did.”.
A fellow player on the same team is called a ___, whether they play in goal or elsewhere.
Look at “whether they play in goal or elsewhere”. Here we need “a member of the same team as you”: “teammate”. Use the requested role: official, goal position, rival or fellow player. A goalkeeper can also be a teammate; a position and a team relationship are different questions. Completed sentence: “A fellow player on the same team is called a teammate, whether they play in goal or elsewhere.”.
The club’s list of arranged individual matches is its ___ list.
Look at “arranged individual matches”. Here we need “a sporting match arranged for a particular date”: “fixture”. Separate a competition series, a season-based group, one scheduled match and the display of points. Completed sentence: “The club’s list of arranged individual matches is its fixture list.”.
The ___ stopped working, so nobody could see the score from the seats.
Look at “see the score”. Here we need “a display showing the score in a game”: “scoreboard”. Separate a competition series, a season-based group, one scheduled match and the display of points. Completed sentence: “The scoreboard stopped working, so nobody could see the score from the seats.”.
He stretches his tight muscles to improve his range of movement and ___.
Look at “range of movement”. Here we need “the ability to bend and move your body easily”: “flexibility”. Long-lasting effort, maximum muscle force, range of movement and staying steady are different fitness abilities. Completed sentence: “He stretches his tight muscles to improve his range of movement and flexibility.”.
The surfer kept his ___ and stayed upright on the moving board.
Look at “stayed upright”. Here we need “the ability to stay steady without falling”: “balance”. Long-lasting effort, maximum muscle force, range of movement and staying steady are different fitness abilities. Completed sentence: “The surfer kept his balance and stayed upright on the moving board.”.