Pre-Reading Questions Think about following questions

Reading Comprehension
A. Mark each statement as either True (T)or false (F) according to the reading
1. Extreme sports have not always been considered part of counter-culture.
2. Extreme sports have experienced a great rise in popularity.
3. Extreme sports are big business which grabs attention of investors.
4. There are regulated uniforms in extreme sports.
5. American football in favor of sports like baseball, soccer.
6. Extreme sports depend on simplicity.
7. Extreme the sport gave people the opportunity to do what they wanted.
8. X games, Extreme sports olympiads held every winter.
9. Extreme sports allow you to make big money.
10. Although extreme sports are still unknown to many, they will soon become a part of our entire lives.

B. Choose the best answer according to the reading
1. Extreme sports have always been considered part of….
a. football player
b. Americans
c. counter-culture

2. Extreme sports gave people

a. the opportunity to deal with their problems
b. the opportunity to do what they wanted, how they wanted
c. the opportunity to become a rich person

3. What is The X Games?

a. type of sport
b. the Olympics of extreme sports
c. combination of many sports.
C. For the next two questions, look for the answers in the book and write them on the lines provided.

1.Why are people less involved in extreme sports?

________________

2. What experiences does extreme sports awoke? ________________

The virtues of extreme sports have been much extolled, but the downside has also been discussed at length. Extreme sports have been credited for encouraging participants to set goals and work hard to achieve them. While this may be true, critics of extreme sports claim it is irresponsible to advocate that young people---the majority of extreme sport participants---participate in something that is inherently dangerous.
Young people tend to believe that they are invincible. Injury and death seem like things that could never touch them, when in fact, they might be staring them right in the face. But it can be argued that sports in and of themselves are dangerous endeavors. Injuries suffered from playing sports such as ice hockey, rugby, and American football are common and well-documented. The benefit that sports of any kind bring to individuals outweighs the risk, which is why sports have always been a part of our lives and always will be.
Critics also argue that because extreme sports are usually individual, rather than team sports, young people no longer acquire the valuable lessons that conventional team sports can teach. For example, bungee jumping is a solitary activity. One does not learn how to work as part of a team, which is a skill that is invaluable to all areas of civic and professional life.
In addition, many believe that since the boundaries and rules in extreme sports are always shifting, young people do not learn to play by the rules in life. Extreme sports proponents, however, argue that in the real world, nothing advances or changes for the better unless someone “pushes the envelope.”
For better or for worse, extreme sports are here to stay. They will continue to evolve and change, and they will continue to be the focus of lively debate.