Class 10 English Unit 10: Games and Sports: Reading – I: The First Olympic Games

 

Unit 10: Games and Sports                  

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdHHus8IgYA 

Getting Started

Let the students guess the names and significance of the games mentioned in the pictures.

·        The first picture shows the game of volleyball which is important because it promotes teamwork, physical fitness, and social interaction among the players. This game enhances both physical and mental well-being.

·        The second picture represents a basketball game. It is an important game because it promotes also teamwork among multidisciplinary players and creates healthy competition among the players.

·        The third picture shows the game of chess which is an important game because it fosters critical thinking skills, strategic planning, and concentration. It also helps with mental quickness and problem-solving abilities.

·        The last picture indicates running as a sport that improves our cardiovascular health, endurance, and overall fitness levels. This game also enhances our mental well-being through stress reduction.

Reading – I: The First Olympic Games

Vocabulary

1.           Exquisite /ɪkˈskwɪzɪt/ adjective - extremely beautiful

2.           Inherited /ɪnˈherɪtɪd/ adjective - received from a predecessor

3.           Underworld /ˈʌndəwɜːld/ noun - the world of criminals or the dead

4.           Embroidered /ɪmˈbrɔɪdəd/ adjective - decorated with needlework

5.           Stew /stjuː/ noun - a dish of slow-cooked meat and vegetables

6.           Decreed /dɪˈkriːd/ verb - ordered officially

7.           Mounted /ˈmaʊntɪd/ adjective - seated on a horse

8.           Rejoicing /rɪˈʤɔɪsɪŋ/ noun - great joy

9.           Furious /ˈfjʊərɪəs/ adjective - extremely angry

10.       Lush /lʌʃ/ adjective - growing thickly

11.       Robes /rəʊbz/ noun - long outer garments

12.       Chariot /ˈʧærɪət/ noun - ancient two-wheeled vehicle

13.       Galloped /ˈɡæləpt/ verb - ran quickly like a horse

14.       Reined /reɪnd/ verb - controlled a horse

15.       Bowed /baʊd/ verb - bent forward in respect

16.       Countered /ˈkaʊntəd/ verb - responded with opposition

17.       Dreamily /ˈdriːmɪli/ adverb - lost in pleasant thoughts

18.       Snorting /ˈsnɔːtɪŋ/ verb - making a nasal sound

19.       Pawed /pɔːd/ verb - struck with a paw

20.       Steeds /stiːdz/ noun - horses for battle or competition

21.       Archaeologists /ˌɑːkɪˈɒlədʒɪsts/ noun - people who study ancient human history through physical remains

A.         Complete the sentences with the words given below.

exquisite         inherited     underworld           embroidered          furious

stew               decreed        mounted                rejoicing                lush

a.      We are having …stew.. for lunch today.

b.     The demon was sent to the …underworld… for his disobedience to the gods.

c.      The sleeves of his coat were …embroidered… in gold.

d.     Smita was absolutely …furious.. at having been cheated.

e.      Her wedding dress was absolutely …exquisite.

f.       The prince …inherited.. the kingship after his father's death.

g.     There was a great …rejoicing… when the Nepali Football Team won the SAFF U-19 championship.

h.     The king …mounted… his horse and rode away from the palace.

i.       The government …decreed… that the following day would be a holiday on the occasion of Eid.

j.       It was wonderful to spend a week in the …lush.. green countryside.

B.          Write if the following statements are true, false, or not given based on the information given in the text.

a.      Tantalus' father Zeus was also half god and half man. Not Given

b.     Tantalus wanted to take revenge on the gods. False

c.      The gods revived Pelops to rule in Elis. False

d.     Princess Hippodamia was impressed with Pelops at first sight. True

e.      Hippodamia wanted to kill the king so that she could inherit the kingdom. False

f.       The Olympic Games were not held for about 1,500 years due to the fear of the earthquake.  False

g.     In every Olympic Games, the torch is carried from Greece. True

C.          Answer these questions.

a.      Who was Tantalus?

Tantalus was a son of Zeus who was a half-god, half-man.

b.     Why were the gods angry with him?

The gods were angry with him because he chopped his son Pelops to serve them as a stew.

c.      What punishment did the gods give Tantalus?

The gods sent Tantalus to the underworld as a punishment where he had to stand water up to his neck forever.

d.     What special qualities did the horses of the king and Pelops have?

The horses of the king were magical and could run faster than lightning whereas the horses of Pelops could run faster than the wind.

e.      What are the risks of proposing Princess Hippodamia?

The risk of proposing to Princess Hippodamia was that the man who proposed to her could get his head chopped off if he lost the chariot race with the king.

f.       How did the stable boy help Pelops win the race?

The stable boy helped Pelops win the race by replacing the bronze pins holding the king's chariot wheels with wax ones, causing them to fail during the race.

g.     How did the king die?

The king died when his chariot's wheels fell off due to the wax pins melting in the heat causing him to be thrown to his death.

h.     Why did Pelops and Hippodamia organize a feast?

Pelops and Hippodamia organized a feast to honor the memory of the king who died in the chariot race.

i.       How did the events of the feast become the origin of the modern Olympic Games?

The events of the feast became the origin of modern Olympic Games as Pelops announced that such games should be held every four years in memory of the great chariot race.

j.       How is the Olympic torch lit?

The Olympic torch is lit by using the sun's rays at the Olympic fields in Greece and then transported to the host country of the Olympic Games.

D.         What is the significance of the Olympic Games in the world today? Develop a paragraph about it.

The Olympic Games are important today because they bring people from all over the world together, promoting peace and unity. Athletes from different countries compete in a spirit of friendship and respect, showing how we can work together despite our differences. The Olympics also encourage people to stay fit and work hard to achieve their goals, inspiring others to do their best in all areas of life. In a world where there can be conflict, the Olympic Games remind us that we can come together through sports and celebrate our shared humanity.

Pronunciation

Find the number of syllables and the stressed syllable in the following words.

Invitation              embroidered           exquisite          furious         inherit        Princess      beautiful          carefully            marriage       earthquake                stadium           Olympic                                                 archaeologists

1.           Invitation /ˌɪnvɪˈteɪʃən/, Syllables: 4, Stressed Syllable: 3rd (teɪ)

2.           Embroidered /ɪmˈbrɔɪdəd/, Syllables: 3, Stressed Syllable: 2nd (brɔɪ)

3.           Exquisite /ɪkˈskwɪzɪt/, Syllables: 3, Stressed Syllable: 2nd (skwɪz)

4.           Furious /ˈfjʊəriəs/, Syllables: 3, Stressed Syllable: 1st (fjʊər)

5.           Inherit /ɪnˈherɪt/, Syllables: 3, Stressed Syllable: 2nd (her)

6.           Princess /ˈprɪnses/, Syllables: 2, Stressed Syllable: 1st (prɪn)

7.           Beautiful /ˈbjuːtɪfəl/, Syllables: 3, Stressed Syllable: 1st (bjuː)

8.           Carefully /ˈkeəfəli/, Syllables: 3, Stressed Syllable: 1st (keə)

9.           Marriage /ˈmærɪdʒ/, Syllables: 2, Stressed Syllable: 1st (mær)

10.       Earthquake /ˈɜːθkweɪk/, Syllables: 2, Stressed Syllable: 1st (ɜːθ)

11.       Stadium /ˈsteɪdiəm/, Syllables: 3, Stressed Syllable: 1st (steɪ)

12.       Olympic /əˈlɪmpɪk/, Syllables: 3, Stressed Syllable: 2nd (lɪm)

13.       Archaeologists /ˌɑːkiˈɒlədʒɪsts/, Syllables: 5, Stressed Syllable: 3rd (ɒl)

Note: One vowel sound forms one syllable in the word. 

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu6UVwkUgzc&t=339s 

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