The Reading / Listening - Level 5

A study shows that sports men are better than sports women at making up after a fight. The research, from Harvard University, looked at the differences between how both sexes made up with each other after same-sex sporting events. Research leader, professor Joyce Benenson, concluded that men put more effort into making up with their male sporting foes than women did with their female opponents. The researchers analysed recordings of four sports involving men and women from 44 countries. Men spent considerably more time shaking hands and physically embracing.

Professor Benenson was surprised, especially at how women spent so little time making up with rivals. She said: "What you'll see is that many times, females brush their fingers against each other….You're expected by the sport to do something but [with women] it's so frosty." In great contrast, Benenson observed that: "With the males, even with a handshake, you can see the warmth." She added: "I expected this would be the least strong in boxing because you try to kill the other person, but it's the strongest in this sport. There really is this sense of love for your opponent."

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-36969103
  • http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/men-women-conflict-making-up-cooperation-gender-sex-fights-boxing-tennis-table-tennis-badminton-a7172331.html
  • https://www.inverse.com/article/19239-women-men-friendly


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Phrase Matching

Paragraph 1

  1. A study shows that sports men
  2. differences between how both
  3. same-sex sporting
  4. making up with their male sporting
  5. The researchers analysed recordings of
  6. involving men and women from
  7. Men spent considerably more time shaking
  8. physically
  1. hands
  2. 44 countries
  3. are better
  4. embracing
  5. sexes made up
  6. foes
  7. four sports
  8. events

Paragraph 2

  1. especially at how women spent
  2. making up with
  3. females brush their fingers
  4. You're expected by the sport
  5. with women,
  6. you can see the
  7. I expected this would be the least
  8. this sense of love
  1. against each other
  2. strong in boxing
  3. it's so frosty
  4. for your opponent
  5. so little time
  6. to do something
  7. rivals
  8. warmth

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A study (1) ___________________ men are better than sports women at making up after a fight. The research, from Harvard University, looked at (2) ___________________ how both sexes made up with (3) ___________________ sporting events. Research leader, professor Joyce Benenson, concluded that men put more effort into making up with their male (4) ___________________ women did with their female opponents. The researchers analysed (5) ___________________ sports involving men and women from 44 countries. Men spent considerably more time shaking hands and (6) ___________________.

Professor Benenson was surprised, (7) ___________________ women spent so little time making up with rivals. She said: "What you'll see is that many times, (8) ___________________ fingers against each other….You're expected by the sport to do something but [with women] (9) ___________________." In great contrast, Benenson observed that: "With the males, even with a handshake, you (10) ___________________." She added: "I expected this would (11) ___________________ in boxing because you try to kill the other person, but it's the strongest in this sport. There really is this (12) ___________________ your opponent."

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

Astudyshowsthatsportsmenarebetterthansportswomenatmakingu
pafterafight.Theresearch,fromHarvardUniversity,lookedatthediffer
encesbetweenhowbothsexesmadeupwitheachaftersame-sexsp
ortingevents.Researchleader,professorJoyceBenenson,concluded
hatmenputmoreeffortintomakingupwiththeirmalesportingfoesthan
womendidwiththeirfemaleopponents.Theresearchersanalysedrecor
dingsoffoursportsinvolvingmenandwomenfrom44countries.Menspe
ntconsiderablymoretimeshakinghandsandphysicallyembracing.Prof
essorBenensonwassurprised,especiallyathowwomenspentsolittleti
memakingupwithrivals.Shesaid:"Whatyou'llseeisthatmanytimes,fe
malesbrushtheirfingersagainsteachother….You'reexpectedbythesp
orttodosomethingbut[withwomen]it'ssofrosty."Ingreatcontrast,Be
nensonobservedthat:"Withthemales,evenwithahandshake,youcans
eethewarmth."Sheadded:"Iexpectedthiswouldbetheleaststronginb
oxingbecauseyoutrytokilltheotherperson,butit'sthestrongestinthiss
port.Therereallyisthissenseofloveforyouropponent."

Student survey

Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

(Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

Discussion — Write your own questions

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

(a) ________________

(b) ________________

(c) ________________

(d) ________________

(e) ________________

(f) ________________

(g) ________________

(h) ________________

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

(i) ________________

(j) ________________

(k) ________________

(l) ________________

(m) ________________

(n) ________________

(o) ________________

(p) ________________

Free writing

Write about this topic for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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