Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. club (n.) [kluhb] – a building or facility where a group of people with a common interest meet
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. club (n.) [kluhb] – a building or facility where a group of people with a common interest meet
Example: The employees go to
sports clubs daily after work.
2. prowess (n.) [prou-is] – an amazing skill or ability
Example: Because of his
physical prowess, he wins in every
sports contest he joins.
3. administrative (adj.) [ad-min-uh-strey-tiv, -struh-] – relating to the management of an activity, organization or business
Example: The administrative office of the sports club
will provide players with proper equipment and uniforms.
4.
colleague (n.) [kol-eeg] – a co-worker;
a person who does similar work as the speaker or subject
Example: My
colleagues and I celebrated the company’s success through a karaoke
party.
5. entertainment (n.) [en-ter-teyn-muhnt] – something that amuses or pleases a person
Example: Magic shows provide
much entertainment to children.
Article
Read the text below.
Social sports clubs—clubs that combine physical activity with social interaction—are growing businesses in the US.
While physical
activity is known to be good for a person’s health, new research shows that
people who are also active socially are less likely to suffer from
depression, colds, heart disease and cancer compared to those who are not
socially active.
In the US, one way
to get the benefits of both social and physical activity is by joining a
social sports club.
Social sports clubs
offer a wide selection of sports including traditional sports like
basketball, football and softball.
Clubs also offer sports that do not require too much physical prowess, such as darts and arcade
games. The clubs even allow other social activities such as drinking beer
while playing games.
Moreover, a club
provides everything people would need to play a sport. This means a person
does not have to worry about administrative
tasks if he or she wants to organize a game with friends or colleagues.
One club, the DC
Social Sports Club, which was established by Jack Fan, organizes competitions
so participants can focus on entertainment
from games.
From having five
employees two years ago, DC Sports Club now has 20 employees. Currently, more
than 8,000 people are members.
Fan said the weak
US economy has made people more interested in joining clubs, because through
clubs people can gain new friend connections and job opportunities. Aside
from being fun, social sports are also cheap, with a program costing a member
around $25 to $65 for 2 months.
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
·
If you have the opportunity, would you go to a
social sports club? Why or why not?
·
Do you think social sports club will also be
popular in your country? Please explain your answer.
Discussion B
·
Aside from being good for one’s health, why are
social activities important?
·
Do you believe people who are not socially active
with others can still have a good life? Why or why not?