Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. conservative (adj.) [kuhn-sur-vuh-tiv] – very traditional
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. conservative (adj.) [kuhn-sur-vuh-tiv] – very traditional
Example: Some conservative communities do not use
electricity, telephones or cars because of religious beliefs.
2. up to par (idiom) [uhp][too, tuh][pahr] – on the same level with something
Example: Athletes who want to
compete in the Olympics must be up to par
with international standards.
3. small-scale (adj.) [smawl-skeyl] – something that is limited and not very well-developed
Example: Small-scale competitions usually have only few participating teams.
4. stepping stone (n.) [step-ping][stohn] – an event that helps someone or something be in a higher level Example: Education
is a person’s stepping stone to a
good career.
5. aspect (n.) [as-pekt] – a part or a feature
of something (used for non-objects)
Example: Sports involves both
the mental and physical aspects of athletes.
Article
Read the text below.
For the first time
in history, Saudi Arabia may be sending women athletes to participate in the
Olympic games.
Saudi Arabia, Qatar
and Brunei are the only countries that have never entered female athletes to the international competition.
But the case for
Saudi Arabia may soon change because of a recent meeting between the
International Olympic Committee (IOC) with Olympic officials from the Arab
kingdom. The IOC has asked Saudi
Arabia to allow women to join this year’s Olympic games in London, as part of
the international competition’s rules.
According to CNN
reporter Rima Maktabi, many people in Saudi Arabia believe the idea of women
playing sports goes against religion and tradition. She adds that some women even wear their
veils while playing sports, just to prove they are still very conservative.
Meanwhile, Saudi
Arabia’s professional female athletes say they are not qualified to join the
said event. Lina Al-Maeena, co-founder of Jeddah United Sports Company and
captain of the Saudi women’s basketball team, strongly believes they are not
yet up to par with other
countries’ competitors.
Al-Maeena suggests
that her country’s women players start with small-scale events first, such as regional and national games,
before thinking of taking part in international contests.
Nonetheless, Christoph
Wilcke, of Human Rights Watch says the IOC meeting with Saudi officials is a
good development. He believes allowing Arabian women to compete in the
Olympics is a stepping stone for gender
equality in Saudi Arabia, not only in sports but also in other aspects of society.
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
·
Which is more important: keeping cultural traditions
or adapting to the changing world?
·
What kinds of traditions or beliefs do you
think are no longer popular in your country? Why do you think people stopped
doing them?
Discussion B
·
Do you think some jobs or careers can be done
only by men or only by women? Please explain your answer.
Do
you believe in gender equality in the society? Please explain your answer.