50

Central Board of Secondary Education

Class - 6
Unit - IV

The World of Sports

Central Board of Secondary Education

Sport, at its best, at its most human, is able to inspire an innocence and joy that is unique to
each of us.
-Richard Corman

The CBSE-International is grateful for permission to reproduce and/or translate copyright

material used in this publication. The acknowledgements have been included wherever
appropriate and sources from where the material has been taken duly mentioned. In case
anything has been missed out, the Board will be pleased to rectify the error at the earliest
possible opportunity.
All Rights of these documents are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
printed or transmitted in any form without the prior permission of the CBSE-i. This material
is meant for the use of schools who are a part of the CBSE-International only.

Preface
The Curriculum initiated by Central Board of Secondary Education International (CBSE-i) is a progressive step in making the
educational content and methodology more sensitive and responsive to the global needs. It signifies the emergence of a fresh thought
process in imparting a curriculum which would restore the independence of the learner to pursue the learning process in harmony with
the existing personal, social and cultural ethos.
The Central Board of Secondary Education has been providing support to the academic needs of the learners worldwide. It has about
11500 schools affiliated to it and over 158 schools situated in more than 23 countries. The Board has always been conscious of the
varying needs of the learners in countries abroad and has been working towards contextualizing certain elements of the learning
process to the physical, geographical, social and cultural environment in which they are engaged. The International Curriculum being
designed by CBSE-i, has been visualized and developed with these requirements in view.
The nucleus of the entire process of constructing the curricular structure is the learner. The objective of the curriculum is to nurture the
independence of the learner, given the fact that every learner is unique. The learner has to understand, appreciate, protect and build
on values, beliefs and traditional wisdom, make the necessary modifications, improvisations and additions wherever and whenever
necessary.
The recent scientific and technological advances have thrown open the gateways of knowledge at an astonishing pace. The speed
and methods of assimilating knowledge have put forth many challenges to the educators, forcing them to rethink their approaches
for knowledge processing by their learners. In this context, it has become imperative for them to incorporate those skills which will
enable the young learners to become life long learners. The ability to stay current, to upgrade skills with emerging technologies, to
understand the nuances involved in change management and the relevant life skills have to be a part of the learning domains of the
global learners. The CBSE-i curriculum has taken cognizance of these requirements.
The CBSE-i aims to carry forward the basic strength of the Indian system of education while promoting critical and creative thinking
skills, effective communication skills, interpersonal and collaborative skills along with information and media skills. There is an inbuilt
flexibility in the curriculum, as it provides a foundation and an extension curriculum, in all subject areas to cater to the different pace
of learners.
The CBSE has introduced the CBSE-i curriculum in schools affiliated to CBSE at the international level in 2010 and is now introducing
it to other affiliated schools who meet the requirements for introducing this curriculum. The focus of CBSE-i is to ensure that the learner
is stress-free and committed to active learning. The learner would be evaluated on a continuous and comprehensive basis consequent
to the mutual interactions between the teacher and the learner. There are some non-evaluative components in the curriculum which
would be commented upon by the teachers and the school. The objective of this part or the core of the curriculum is to scaffold the
learning experiences and to relate tacit knowledge with formal knowledge. This would involve trans-disciplinary linkages that would
form the core of the learning process. Perspectives, SEWA (Social Empowerment through Work and Action), Life Skills and Research
would be the constituents of this Core. The Core skills are the most significant aspects of a learners holistic growth and learning
curve.
The International Curriculum has been designed keeping in view the foundations of the National Curriculum Framework (NCF 2005)
and the experience gathered by the Board over the last seven decades in imparting effective learning to millions of learners, many of
whom are now global citizens.
The Board does not interpret this development as an alternative to other curricula existing at the international level, but as an exercise
in providing the much needed Indian leadership for global education at the school level. The International Curriculum would evolve
on its own, building on learning experiences inside the classroom over a period of time. The Board while addressing the issues of
empowerment with the help of the schools administering this system strongly recommends that practicing teachers become skillful
learners on their own and also transfer their learning experiences to their peers through the interactive platforms provided by the
Board.
I profusely thank Shri G. Balasubramanian, former Director (Academics), CBSE, Ms. Abha Adams and her team and Dr. Sadhana
Parashar, Head (Innovations and Research) CBSE along with other Education Officers involved in the development and implementation
of this material.
The CBSE-i website has already started enabling all stakeholders to participate in this initiative through the discussion forums provided
on the portal. Any further suggestions are welcome.
Vineet Joshi
Chairman

Acknowledgements
Advisory

Conceptual Framework

Shri Vineet Joshi, Chairman,

CBSE

Shri G. Balasubramanian, Former Director (Acad), CBSE

Ms. Abha Adams, Consultant, Step-by-Step School, Noida
Dr. Sadhana Parashar, Head (I & R),CBSE
Ideators

Ms. Aditi Misra

Ms. Amita Mishra
Ms. Anita Sharma
Ms. Anita Makkar
Dr. Anju Srivastava

Ms. Anuradha Sen

Ms. Archana Sagar
Ms. Geeta Varshney
Ms. Guneet Ohri
Dr. Indu Khetrapal

English :

Material Production Groups: Classes VI-VIII

Science :
Mathematics :

Ms. Rachna Pandit

Ms. Neha Sharma
Ms. Sonia Jain
Ms. Dipinder Kaur
Ms. Sarita Ahuja

Dr. Indu Khetarpal

Ms. Vandana Kumar
Ms. Anju Chauhan
Ms. Deepti Verma
Ms. Ritu Batra

English :

Dr. Meena Dhami

Mr. Saroj Kumar
Ms. Rashmi Ramsinghaney
Ms. Seema kapoor
Ms. Priyanka Sen
Dr. Kavita Khanna
Ms. Keya Gupta

Ms. Jaishree Srivastava

Dr. Kamla Menon
Dr. Meena Dhami
Ms. Neelima Sharma
Dr. N. K. Sehgal

Ms. Seema Rawat

Ms. N. Vidya
Ms. Mamta Goyal
Ms. Chhavi Raheja
Political Science:

Dr. Rajesh Hassija

Ms. Rupa Chakravarty
Ms. Sarita Manuja
Ms. Seema Rawat
Dr. Uma Chaudhry

Geography:
Ms. Suparna Sharma
Ms. Leela Grewal
History :
Ms. Leeza Dutta
Ms. Kalpana Pant

Ms. Kanu Chopra

Ms. Shilpi Anand

Material Production Group: Classes I-V

Ms. Rupa Chakravarty
Ms. Anita Makkar
Ms. Anuradha Mathur
Ms. Kalpana Mattoo
Ms. Savinder Kaur Rooprai
Ms. Monika Thakur
Ms. Seema Choudhary
Mr. Bijo Thomas
Ms. Kalyani Voleti
Material Production Groups: Classes IX - X
Mathematics :
Science :

Ms. Renu Anand

Ms. Gayatri Khanna
Ms. P. Rajeshwary
Ms. Neha Sharma
Ms. Sarabjit Kaur
Ms. Ruchika Sachdev

Dr. K.P. Chinda

Mr. J.C. Nijhawan
Ms. Rashmi Kathuria
Ms. Reemu Verma

Ms. Charu Maini

Ms. S. Anjum
Ms. Meenambika Menon
Ms. Novita Chopra
Ms. Neeta Rastogi
Ms. Pooja Sareen

Geography:
Ms. Deepa Kapoor
Ms. Bharti Dave
Ms. Bhagirathi
Ms. Archana Sagar
Ms. Manjari Rattan

Political Science:

Economics:

Ms Sharmila Bakshi
Ms. Archana Soni
Ms. Srilekha

Ms. Mridula Pant

Mr. Pankaj Bhanwani
Ms. Ambica Gulati

Ms. Nandita Mathur

Ms. Seema Chowdhary
Ms. Ruba Chakarvarty
Ms. Mahua Bhattacharya

History :
Ms. Jayshree Srivastava
Ms. M. Bose
Ms. A. Venkatachalam
Ms. Smita Bhattacharya

Coordinators:
Dr. Sadhana Parashar, Head (I and R) Ms. Sugandh Sharma, E O (Com) Dr. Srijata Das, E O (Maths)
Dr. Rashmi Sethi, E O (Science)
Shri R. P. Sharma, Consultant
Ms. Ritu Narang, R O (Innovation) Ms. Sindhu Saxena, R O (Tech) Shri Al Hilal Ahmed, AEO
Ms. Seema Lakra, S O
Ms. Preeti Hans, Proof Reader

Why should we do this unit?

Sports foster values like discipline, team work, dedicaon, determinaon, handling failures
etc. Through a series of acvies given in this unit, students will learn about sports and
sportspersons. They will discuss the qualies in various sports personalies and would
try to imbibe some of these qualies in themselves. This would help in the all round
development of students.

General Learning Objecves of the Unit:

The purpose of the unit is to:

give a general overview of sports

encourage the students to take part in sports

help the students to understand the personality traits of a sportsperson

instill values like discipline, team work, handling failures etc.

help them learn the importance of staying t and healthy

sensitize them to differently abled sportspersons

familiarize the students with sportswomen.

Specic Learning Objecves of the Unit:

At the end of this unit, students will be able to:

develop interest in sports

appreciate and understand a short story, a song, an interview and a descriptive

account

familiarise themselves with the elements of a song, a short story, an interview and a
descriptive account

write a speech, a report, a poem, a letter and a story

articulate their views on various topics related to sports

learn various concepts of functional grammar

enhance their vocabulary

transcode information from one text type to another.

The World of Sports

Section

Section - A
Introduction
(Warm up
activities )

Listening

Speaking

Reading

Writing

Skills

Skills

Skills

Skills

Expressing
and
discussing
views

Reference
work - library
and internet
resources

Completing
tables

Identifying main
points
of the song

Making a
greeting card

Grammar

Describing a
sporting event
Giving a
two-minute
presentation
Section - B
Thats How
You Play the
Game (Song)

Listening for
Giving a
comprehension
powerpoint
presentation
Expressing
and
discussing
views

Drawing
inferences
Comparing
and contrasting
information

Interpreting
ideas given in
the interview by
relating it to own
experience and
knowledge

Section - C
Talking to
Sunil Gavaskar
(Interview)

Composing a
poem

Bio-sketch
Letter

Phrasal
verb

Paragraph
writing

Comprehending
the interview

Section - D
Justin and his
Fight (Story)

Listening for
Giving a
comprehension
speech
Discussing
and
expressing
views

Interpreting
ideas in a story
by relating it to
other material on
the same theme
and to own
experience and
knowledge

Writing a
story
Drafting a
poster
Writing an
email
Writing a
diary entry

Correct
form of
verb

Section

Section - E
Lifes a
Challenge
(Descriptive
account)

Listening

Speaking

Reading

Writing

Skills

Skills

Skills

Skills

Welcoming
the guest
Debate

Identifying
main points of
the passage

Writing a
newspaper
report

Drawing
inferences

Drafting a
notice
Paragraph
writing based
on a graph

Grammar

Degrees of
adjectives

The World of Sports

Contents
I.

Section - A

Introduction (Warm up activities)

II.

Section - B

Thats How You Play the Game (Song)

III.

Section - C

12

Talking to Sunil Gavaskar (Interview)

IV.

Section - D

26

Justin and his Fight by Caileb Feik (Story)

V.

Section - E
Lifes a Challenge (Descriptive account)

35

Section-A

Introduction
1.

In pairs, encircle the names of sports/games given in the crossword:

W

Names of sports:

2.

__________

__________

__________

__________

__________

__________

__________

__________

__________

__________

__________

__________

__________

__________

__________

__________

Read the difference between a game and a sport.

Sport
An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a
set of rules and is often undertaken competitively.

Game
An activity providing entertainment or amusement, like party games,
word games etc.
3.

Now, look at the pictures given below and complete the following table:

Name of the game/sport Played by teams/ individuals

Indoor/ Outdoor

4.

Names of some famous sports personalities are given below. Mention

the sport they are associated with. In groups of four, collect the pictures
of these sports personalities and display in your class.
Name

Sport

Sachin Tendulkar
Michael Phelps
Tiger Woods
Henry Wanyoike
Maria Sharapova
Roger Federer
Michael Jordan
Tom Daley
Rafael Nadal
Usain Bolt
5 a.

Given below is a list of some the national sports and the countries in
which they are played. Match the national sport with the country
National Sports

Country

Kabbadi

Argentia

Charreria

Bahawas

Pato

Bangladesh

Tae kwon do

Canada

Ice hockey (winter)

Mexico

Golf

Korea (Republic)

Sloop Sailing

Sri Lanka

Wrestling

India

Volleyball

Scotland

Field Hockey

Turkey

b.

Now, mark these countries in the map given below:

6.

Describe a sporting event that you watched recently. Make it as

interesting as possible.

7.

Give a two-minute presentation on the topic: Importance of Sports

Section-B

Sportsmanship
Warm up:
1.

2.

Your school election, for the post of Sports Captain, are to be held
shortly. List the qualities that you would look for in your Sports
Captain.
a.

Good orator

b.

Friendly

c.

Plays well

d.

Encourages

e.

Good leader

f.

Patient listener

g.

Knows the rules of the game

h.

Studies hard

i.

Fights to win

j.

Competitive

Following are the lyrics of a famous song: Thats How You Play the
Game by Jan Nigro. Listen to the song played by your teacher and
complete it by filling in the missing words:

Thats How You Play the Game

Jan Nigro
Tommy really has a gift for playing basketball.
Problem is he __________to have much fun at all.
He trash talks everyone, complains at every call.
He __________his teammates if he__________,
You wonder why he even __________at all.

Now Andy has a __________when he plays the sport,

Although he isnt all that great when he__________on the court.
He always has a__________; he just loves to play,
And people like him on their team,
__________his easy going way.
Everybody now!

CHORUS
Come to jump, (come to jump), come to run, (come to run),
Come to play, (come to play), and__________, (and have some fun).
Hey lose or win, (lose or win),
__________your grin, (dont lose your grin).
Enjoy it just the same. Thats how you__________.
Thats how you play the game!
My sister had a baseball coach who __________a lot.
Although the team was __________his temper got__________.
He wanted to win so bad whenever they would play.
He ____________________and put them down,
If only he had looked at it this way.
Everybody now!

CHORUS
You __________to be good at sports
To be a __________-.
You may have other talents,
and be good at other things.
You may not be the playing sort,
Its____________________.
But if you __________a sport, have fun!
Theres football and theres baseball
And theres soccer and theres hoop.
So find a __________thats good for you and find a__________-.
A group that has a__________, that makes you glad you came.
And lets not get too serious, remember after all its just a game.
Everybody now!
CHORUS

Comprehension
3.

Now, read the song and discuss the questions given below:
a)

What is the theme of this song?

b)

And lets not get too serious remember after all its just a game.
Comment.

c)

List any four qualities of a true sportsperson.

d)

What are the similarities between Tommy & baseball coach?

e)

If Tommy really has a gift for playing basketball. Then, why is he

not liked by his teammates?

f)

Compare and contrast the qualities of Andy and Tommy. Who is

more popular ? Why?

4.

Based on your listening and reading task, write the personality types of
various characters. Also, quote suitable lines to support your answer:
S.No.

Name of the
character

a.

Tommy

b.

Andy

c.

Baseball coach

Personality type

Evidence from the

song

Writing
5.

Imagine that you are Tommy. One day, after coming back home, you
realized that you were very rude to your teammates after losing a match.
Make a greeting card to say sorry to your teammates promising that
henceforth you would never behave rudely with them.

6.

In pairs, compose a poem on Sportsmanship. You may use the guidelines

given below:

Think of an interesting title

Write down some rhyming words related to the title

Pen down a few ideas related to the theme of the poem

Now, start composing your poem

7.

Your school elections for the post of Sports Captain, are to be held shortly.
Complete the form given below as one of the contestant:
Name: ___________________________________________________________
Class: ____________________________________________________________
Hobbies: _________________________________________________________
What do you think is the role of a Sports Captain ?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
List your achievements:
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Write a short description of yourself stating why you think you are suitable
for the post of Sports Captain:
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

10

Speaking
8.

9.

In groups, make a powerpoint presentation on the topic Sports. You may

include the following in your presentation:

What is a sport?

Various traditional and modern sports

Traits of a sportsperson

Description of your national sport

Favourite sport

Description of your favourite sporting event

A true player takes failure and success in his/her stride. Share your
experiences with your classmates about how you felt after winning or
losing a game. Also, describe the game, in detail.

11

Section-C

Three Ds
Warm up
1.

Read the following poem:

Anything Is Possible
Anything is possible, if you think it is worthwhile
If youre willing to go the distance, to go the extra mile.
With determination and effort, you can often achieve more
Because you dont always get what you wish, but what you work for.
Dreams can become challenging, but no matter what the cost
Strive to complete the task before you, and youll never end up lost.
So bring with you your goals, and leave your doubts behind
Whether you think you can or cant, you certainly will find
Youll be right either wayso never quit, and this is why:
Youll never become a failure, until you fail to try.
By: Melissa Underwood
2.

12

Fill in the blanks on the basis of your reading of the poem:

a.

We can achieve anything in life if we think it is

it.

b.

and . are needed to accomplish anything in

life.

c.

We should be sure of our .. to make them come true.

d.

In order to avoid being a loser, one should work hard to...

e.

To become successful, one should never ......

3.

According to Sunil Gavaskar, former cricket captain for Team India,

success in any vocation requires three Ds: discipline, dedication and
determination. Now, read an interview with Sunil Gavaskar that was
published on April 23, 2009.
India Knowledge@Wharton: In India and in
many cricket-playing nations, your track record
is well known, but in the U.S. and some other
places, people are not as familiar with the kind of
achievements you have had. Could you just take us
through some of the records that you set over the
years?
Gavaskar: I do not look back at all; it is gone. As far
as I am concerned, that was a part of my life where
I was fortunate to be able to represent India for 1617 years and to be part of some great experiences,
great moments in the history of Indian cricket.
India Knowledge@Wharton: Well, that is a very nice and very modest
answer. I do remember one of your records was that you scored 34 centuries
in test cricket, and that record was not broken for more than 20 years, if I
remember right. The question I would like to ask is, in order to have those
kinds of achievements, what kind of qualities and attributes do you need to
cultivate within yourself?
Gavaskar: I think focus, determination and a fair amount of discipline
- which is not the kind of discipline that is normally associated with
having an early night, going to sleep at 10 oclock and waking up at six.
That kind of discipline is important as well, but the discipline to mould
your game according to the needs of the situation - you need that kind of
discipline. So, these are the elements that are necessary. I would imagine
that any vocation, any profession [involves] the three Ds that I believed in discipline, dedication and determination - and I think those have to be part
of you to be able to [go] further.
India Knowledge@Wharton: So, explain how you did that in the case of
developing your own ability in cricket?
Gavaskar: Well, for example, as far as dedication was concerned, I would
say that I would practise a lot. I would practise in the morning. I would
practise in the afternoon - say, three hours in the morning, then go to school,
then after school again practise for another two and a half, three hours.

13

So, you had to balance your studies as well as your cricket, your love for the
game, which meant that you had to show dedication to practice [and] the
discipline to be able to go back to your books and to study. And I suppose
that to be able to do that at an early age, to be able to balance it out, certainly
went a long way in helping me in my cricketing career.
India Knowledge@Wharton: And how do those attributes translate over
from cricket to, say, business life?
Gavaskar: It is pretty much the same, in the sense that in business, you
have to try and study what the situation is, study the opponent.... I would
imagine that there has to be a bit of study, there has to be a lot of hard work
involved, and you have to do a lot of [preparation].
In cricket, for example, when you are batting and you know what the
opposition bowling is going to be like, and you know what the pitch is
likely to be, then you want to say to yourself [that] maybe you do not play
this shot earlier on, maybe you do not play that shot earlier on; maybe you
just try and play in a certain manner until the bowler is tired or until the
new ball becomes old, until the shine wears off the ball, and then you can
expand the range of your shots.
And I would imagine that is the same thing that you would want to [do
in] business: have ambitions - definitely have ambitions - start slowly, and
as you settle in, as you start to get the hang of business, then you try and
expand....
India Knowledge@Wharton: The other thing that fascinates me about
cricket is the fact that its a team sport. What kind of lessons in teamwork
did your years in cricket teach you?
Gavaskar: Well, first and foremost, as a batsman you cannot score runs, or
cannot score a century, unless you have somebody batting at the other end
for you, unless you have somebody who is taking the runs for you. Unless
you have the confidence of somebody staying with you at the other end,
you cannot get to a century. So, that is number one.

14

The other thing is that there will come a time, even during that innings
when you are batting well, when the bowler is bowling so well that you
might actually be better off being at the non-strikers end; and if you have
a striker who is good enough to take on the load at that stage, then it helps
you to tire that bowler out and maybe go on to get a 100. So, you need
somebody at the other end to be able to [do that], whether it is the number

two batsman, number three, number 11 - you need somebody to stay with
you so that you get a 100.
Also, if you are a bowler, then you need the fielders to be able to take the
catches, to be able to stop the runs being taken for you to take the wickets.
So, it is in a sense a lot of teamwork. It also, in a way, reflects on how [well]
you can possibly do in society, in the sense that the more talented batsman
always looks after the lesser talented batsman in terms of trying to take
more of the strike from a dangerous bowler. He is trying to take more of the
strike, and maybe he will bat five balls out of the six and maybe just give
one ball to the lesser talented batsman.
So, you are looking after somebody slightly less talented, and I think that is
probably what you want to do in society - that if you are [doing] well enough,
you are trying to look after the less fortunate. It is a bit of teamwork.
India Knowledge@Wharton: As a result of your success as a player, you
also became the captain of the team. What kind of leadership lessons did
that teach you?
Gavaskar: Well, I was fortunate to have been playing under some very fine
captains from the Ranji Trophy level - the state level to the international
level - and you tended to sort of observe them, to pick [up] points from
them.
During the time that you are just a player on the team and looking at the
various captains, there are aspects of their captaincy that you like, there are
aspects of their captaincy that you do not like, and so you try and keep that
in mind when eventually the captaincy comes your way. [For example:] this
guy brought the best out of the team doing it this way - while when he said
this or when he did that, the team was not very happy, so you try to avoid
that. So learning from your seniors was a big lesson. It taught you how to
get the best out of juniors, and maybe how not to treat certain players.
India Knowledge@Wharton: Have you used any of these leadership
attributes in a business context?
Gavaskar: Yes, plenty of times. I think there are people who need a bit of
guidance, in which case you call them in and you tell them, Look, this is
maybe the way to do it rather than that way. And there are guys who are

15

better left alone, because they might stumble a little here and there, but at
the end of the day they have the ability to get up and to do what you want
them to do.
India Knowledge@Wharton: Last year at the Wharton India Economic
Forum, we were fortunate to interview President APJ Abdul Kalam, and
he mentioned that one of the most important qualities of a leader is to learn
how to manage failure. But managing failure is very, very hard. I remember
there was a time when under your captaincy, there was a series of test
matches where India lost, and I was wondering whether you learned any
lessons from that time period which have stayed with you over the years?
Gavaskar: Yes, I think the main thing that you learn is never to lose heart that it is a cycle. Sometimes, the opposition is simply better than you, and
you have to give credit to the fact that they might have just played better
than you. Then you try and analyze how you could have improved or better
your performance, [how] you could have been more competitive, and when
you do that, you tend to be able to find out where you went wrong.
One of the best [pieces of] advice that I ever received was from a former
captain, who said to me that you must keep a diary of the days when you
do well, when you bat well. His reasoning was very simple.... He said if you
scored a 100 that day, then when you go back to your room, try and think
of what you did right from the time you woke up in the morning - how
you felt in the morning, what breakfast you had, where you sat on the team
bus.... Then, when you went to the ground, into the dressing room, what
happened? Did you have coffee? Did you have tea? When you went in for
your warm ups, what did you do? When you went into the nets, when you
played, when you walked out to bat,...Little, little things [like that], he said,
but write down that diary.
When you, for example, took stance to bat, how did you feel? Obviously,
it was not always easy to remember every little thing or every single thing,
but the fact that he made you want to write that was terrific. He said when
you are going through a bad patch, when the ball is not hitting the middle
of your bat, when you are being bowled, or whatever, that is the time, read
back on the day when you had scored well, and on the day that you had
batted well, because that will then give you a fair comparison as to what
you had been doing then, and maybe you should try and replicate that.

16

[Also,] when you are reading [about] when you have batted well, you start
believing in yourself. You might not be getting any runs at all, but just
reading about the good days when you did that will boost your confidence,
and I thought that was fantastic advice.... It absolutely works.
India Knowledge@Wharton: Do you think India is doing enough to
promote cricket in the rural areas?
Gavaskar: Yes. I think India perhaps has got the best junior system in
the entire cricketing world. The [number of] opportunities that the junior
cricketers get to showcase their talent, because of the various tournaments
that [exist], is absolutely incredible.
We also have a talent research development scheme, whereby we are
sending scouts into various cities and, therefore, trying to see if there
is talent there. The primary aim of these talent scouts is not to state the
obvious, in the sense that if a junior cricketer has scored a 100 or he has
taken five wickets -- well, it is obvious he has got ability, but there could
come a situation in the same match where somebody has scored a very
good 30 or somebody has come in and taken two wickets at a crucial
time.... We wanted to make sure that these guys were not lost simply
because they didnt have the numbers to show; we knew that they
had the ability and the temperament, and that is what the talent scouts
were supposed to look at, and I think it has worked very well.
[On] the Indian team today, look at the number of guys from the non-metros,
and that actually tells you how cricket has spread throughout the country:
Maybe 10 or 15 years ago, most of the players were from the metros. Today,
I think from the metros you get maybe a handful.
India Knowledge@Wharton: One last question. How do you define
success?
Gavaskar: I wish I could define it. I would imagine that it is a feeling of
satisfaction when you have done your job and the feeling of giving it your
best, giving it everything, and to be able to put your head on the pillow and
sleep peacefully, knowing that you have given it everything. At the end of
the day, then, success and failure - as the world terms it - is in the hands of
God, but the effort is in your hands
(Slightly edited)

17

Comprehension
4.

Now, discuss the following questions:

a)

What qualities, according to you, are required to be successful in any

vocation? Discuss and complete the web chart given below:

Success

18

b)

When do you get a feeling of satisfaction in your life? What efforts

should one make in order to achieve success?

c)

How did Gavaskar handle failures ? Do you agree with his ways of
managing failures?

d)

Which traits of his personality according to you, helped Gavaskar in

becoming a successful player?

e)

How will you differentiate between determination and dedication?

What do you think is more important to achieve success? Give
reasons.

f)

Do you think Gavaskar is a good human being apart from being a

good player? Give reasons for your answer.

g)

What lessons did you learn from this interview?

h)

What would you like to achieve in the next five year? How will you
set your goals in order to achieve them?

Speaking
5.

The Head Boy of your school represented India in U-17 Cricket for Boys,
held in Australia. As Sports Secretary of your school, interview him for
your school magazine. You could use the following hints:

Could you map your journey to U-17 cricket?

How does it feel to play on a foreign soil?

What were your fears and apprehensions before playing for U-17
team?

Who/what inspired you to play cricket?

What has been your most enjoyable moment?

Frame more questions and conduct the interview in class

6.

Sports personalities are in demand to endorse various products. Organize

yourselves in groups of four and enact an advertisement. The students
may use props to make it interesting.

19

Writing
7.

8.

20

Write the bio-sketch of Sunil Gavaskar on the basis of the notes given
below:
1949

born on July 10 in Mumbai

1966

was named Indias Best Schoolboy Cricketer of the

Year

1966/67

made his first-class debut for Vazir Sultan Colts XI

from Dungarpur

1968/69

made his debut against Karnataka, but made a duck

1971

scored 61 and 67 not out in the second Test in Portof-Spain, Trinidad, which gave India its first ever win
over the West Indies

1971

became the first Indian to make four centuries in one

Test series, the second Indian to score two centuries
in the same Test. He was the first Indian to aggregate
more than 700 runs in a series, and this 774 runs at
154.80 remains the most runs scored in a debut series
by any batsman

197576

led India in a Test for the first time in January

1976 against New Zealand during the First Test in
Auckland when regular captain Bishen Singh Bedi
was suffering from a leg injury. Gavaskar totalled 390
runs at 55.71 for the series.

1987

played his last test against England

During his career

held the record of 34 Test centuries for almost two

decades

Over the past few years, a few sports have become really popular due to
media attention while others have been pushed to the background. Write
a letter to the editor voicing your concern over this issue and suggesting
ways to inspire youngsters to take part in sports as a career option.

Follow the format given below:

Your address
Address of the addressees
Date
Salutation
Subject:
Matter
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

Complimentary close
Subscription

21

9.

Write a paragraph on the topic Everyone can succeed if

Grammar
10.

Read the information given below in the form of notes and complete the
profile of Rahul Dravid by filling in the blanks:

One of the main pillars of Indian batting

Anchor role

Batting once regarded as too slow for the one day game

Aggregate score during 1999 world cup- commendable

Dubbed- The Wall

Ever since he burst upon the scene at Lords in 1996, Rahul Dravid
(a). because of his blend of technical
proficiency and stylish strokes. In a side brimming with batsmen, he
has frequently (b) . to perfection.
Though his style of batting (c) ..
but through practice he has transferred himself into an integral part of
the team. His highest aggregate score during the 1999 world cup (d)
. one of the few Indians to
receive this special accolade. For sheer consistency, Dravid has few equals
and (e)... dubbed as The
Wall for obvious reasons. Dravid is one of the most popular players in
India.

22

11.

Based on your reading of the interview and the information given in the
previous question, complete the table given below:
Sunil Gavaskar

Rahul Dravid
Similarities

Dissimilarities

12.

Following are some headlines from a newspaper. Use the information

given in the headlines to complete the sentences.
a.

Koushik Leads World Junior Chess

The dream run of Girish Koushik continued as he _________________
defeating Swedish Grandmaster Grandelins Hills.

b.

Cricketers Steer India To Victory

Top cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid________________
against Australia in the Bangalore Cricket Test Match.

c.

Delhi Shuts Down

All markets, Government offices and grocery shops______________
on October 14, the last day of Common Wealth Games.

d.

Indian Eves Excel

In the recently concluded Common Wealth Games,______________
_________________________________________________________
bagging the top three positions.

e.

Suranjoy Thanks Crowd

Boxing champion ___________________ after winning the gold in the
75kg boxing bout.

23

13.

Match the meanings given below with the phrasal verb given in the box
and write the answers in the corresponding boxes:

summon
support

S.No.

discuss

execute

distribute

appear

Phrasal verb

call in

put out

stand by

talk over

turn out

turn up

cut down

give away

go through

10

carry out

prove

examine

reduce

extinguish

Meaning

Class Activity
14.

In groups of four, make a collage on National/International sports with

the help of newspaper cuttings. Bring news-items/illustrations to the
class in order to carry out this activity.

24

15.

In pairs, look at the pictures of Sunil Gavaskar given below and observe
his expressions. Imagine a situation and write what he must have been
thinking at that point of time:

a.

b.

c.

d.

e.

f.

g.

h.

i.

25

Section-D

Fighting back
Warm up
1.

Listen to the poem read by your teacher. As you listen, answer the
following questions by ticking the correct option:
a.

Where did the young man live?

(i)

above the snow covered mountain

(ii) below a snow covered mountain

(iii) on the snow covered mountain
b.

What did he want to do?

(i)

climb the highest hill

(ii) climb the huge tree in front of his house

(iii) climb Mt. Everest
c.

How many attempts did he make?

(i)

two

(ii) three
(iii) four
d.

Who gives company to the mountain?

(i)

eagles and rain

(ii) snow and ice

(iii) eagles and clouds
e.

What does the poet want to convey through this poem?

(i)

Where there is a will, there is a way

(ii) Life is full of ups and downs

(iii) Do or Die

26

2.

Now, look at the picture carefully and answer the questions given
below:

3.

a.

What do you feel after looking at this picture ?

b.

Have you ever been involved in such a brawl?

c.

How did you resolve it ?

d.

What lessons did you learn?

Now, read the story of a boy who resolves to fight back in the boxing ring.
Find out the way he fights and how his fight is different from the fight
shown in this picture.

Jusn and his ght

by Caileb Feik
I.

As Justin walked back to the side of the cold, black, steel cage, he
wondered just what he had gotten himself into. He had taken a beating
for the last 10 minutes straight and like everybody else in the crowd;
he was completely surprised that he was still able to stand up.

II.

He leaned up against the cage in exhaustion. Ok kid, this is the last

round. Youre down 20-18 on the card so you know what youve got
to do. Keep circling and throwing that jab and as soon as you see an

27

opening, come hard with the right. You can do this kid. I have faith in
you.
III.

Justin stood up and took a

couple of steps toward the
center of the octagon shaped
cage while wiping the cool
sweat from his bloody,
swollen eyebrow. Win, Justin
thought to himself. Im just
trying to survive this last
round.

IV. The bell rung and Justin started circling to his opponents left side.
He had been nailing him with right hooks and the last thing Justin
wanted to do was walk into another one.
V.

As the mammoth known as Big John closed the distance between

the two of them, Justin began to dread taking another painful blow to
the head.

VI.

Before Big John could get close enough, Justin threw a weak jab in an
attempt to keep his distance from the dangerous fighter.

VII. The jab missed but was effective in the sense that Big John took a
couple of step backward. Big John began to advance on Justins
position again and like last time, Justins feral jab made him think
twice about it.
VIII. After taking a couple of steps back, Big John came right at Justin
throwing a fury of punches and delivering a sharp sting to Justins
face each time.

28

IX.

Justin knew there was no scaring him away this time, so he just covered
up like a coward and took it, hoping to weather the storm enough to
make it through the round.

X.

Just as he thought Big John was getting tired and letting up, he was
struck with another devastating right hook that sent him to the floor.
The floor seemed to get harder and less kind every time Justin hit it.

XI.

Big John jumped on top of Justin and started throwing hard

punches to the body and overwhelming elbows to his already
dismantled face.

XII. With the fear of the referee stopping the fight, Justin managed to
use his quickness to wiggle out of Big Johns mount and get back
on his feet.
XIII. After spending the next 25 seconds running from Big John, a light
bulb popped on, in Justins head. What am I doing, he thought to
himself. I am a fighter. Why am I running from this man? He has been
beating me the whole fight. The worst thing that could happen now
is he continues to beat me.
XIV. At that moment, with only 1:56 left to go in the fight, Justin stepped
up and finally connected on a hard jab. In shock that Justin actually
connected, Big John took a step back and blinked a few times which
was a mistake.
XV. Justin saw the confusion in Big Johns eyes and took advantage of it.
He proceeded to attack the giant with a wrath of hard, breathtaking
blows.
XVI. The man that seemed invincible all fight now seemed much more
human as Justins hard uppercut drove the man back into the flexible
steel cage and onto the ground. It took less than a second for Justin to
capitalize and mount the beast, reigning down ferocious elbows.
XVII. As Justin continued to make solid connection, he felt Big Johns body
go limp. The referee stepped in and shoved Justin off of him as the
satisfied crowd erupted into applause and howls that sounded like a
wolf pack had just hunted down a helpless rabbit.
XVIII. After a few minutes of much deserved celebration, the announcer
grabbed Justin for a quick interview. Wow, what a fight, said the
man in his best imitation of Joe Rogan. Coming into this final round,
I dont think anybody gave you a chance. How did you overcome that
to win the fight?
XIX. Every puncher has a chance to win at anytime, said Justin. Fighting
is a lot like life. The key is to never give up. When you give up, you
forfeit absolutely any chance you had at winning. But when you stay
in the fight, you always have a chance to win as long as you keep
throwing punches.

29

Comprehension
4.

Now, answer the questions given below:

(a)

Why, do you think, Justin kept standing inspite of being beaten for ten
minutes?

(b)

Who do you think said Ok kid, this is . You. Give reasons for
your answer.

(c)

Did Justins weak jab frighten Big John. Give reasons.

(d)

The floor seemed to get harder and less kind everytime Justin hit it.
Explain the statement.

(e)

How did Justin overcome difficult situations to win the fight?

(f)

What is the message of the story?

Writing
5.

Imagine that you are Justin. You have won a fight from Big John. Write
your experience of winning a tough fight. You may follow the following
steps for the activity.

Prewriting: List specific details that describe the turning point of the
fight. Include explanations of how events and people made you feel.
Then, organise the details into a sequence.

Drafting: Use the organized list as the

basis for writing your experiences. As
you write, include phrases like, after that
and to my surprise to make connections
between the ideas.

30

Revising: Revise your piece of writing and

add personal details to help you reveal
your feelings and emotions at the time of
the event.

6.

After reading the story, think of a similar situation wherein a sportsperson

of some other sport tried hard to win a game. Now, write your story after
discussing the flow chart given below:

Plot

Suitable title

Outline of the
story

Characters

Connecting
points

Where possible,
introduce
dialogues

Suitable
conclusion

7.

Your school is going to celebrate Sports Day. Make a poster to inform the
students about it. You may use the following guidelines:

8.

Give a bold heading

Mention day, date, time and venue

Think of attractive slogans

Make it visually appealing

Write the name of issuing authority

Imagine you are Justin. Complete the web chart given below:

When I won, I felt..

Now, write a diary entry expressing how you felt after winning the match.

31

9.

As Justin, write an e-mail to your friend sharing your experiences about

your fight with Big John in about 100 words. The format for the e-mail
is given below:
Date : __________________________________________________________
From : (email id) _________________________________________________
To: (email id) _____________________________________________________
Subject:

_______________________________________________________

Dear
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Justin

Speaking
10.

As Justin, give an inspirational speech on

the topic Never give up. Make your speech
interesting by using sayings and illustrations.
Use the pitch, tone and style of your favourite
orator for delivering the speech.

32

Vocabulary
11.

In pairs, find and read the sentences where these words are given in the
story. Puzzle out their meanings and write them in the space given in the
table. Using a dictionary or a thesaurus, write the meanings that you find
and compare the two meanings.
S.No.

Words

jab

mammoth

feral

dismantled

wiggle

wrath

invincible

shove

erupt

10.

forfeit

Meanings you
puzzled out

Meanings in the
Dictionary /Thesaurus

Grammar
12.

Strike out the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics:

Muhammad Ali was born as Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., on January 17, 1942. He
began/begin boxing at the age of 12. A trainer name/named Fred Stoner taught
Ali the science of boxing. While a teenager, Alis exceptional skills quickly
become/became evident. By/Buy 1959, he had won a national Golden Gloves
championship. It is said that he had/have more than a hundred amateur boxing

33

sessions when he was under training. During 1960s, Ali seemed unstoppable,
winning/won all of his bouts with majority of them being by knockouts. He won/one
the fight with Sonny Liston to become heavyweight champion of the world.
Ali employed a knew/new style of boxing, one that he called his rope-a-dope.
He would let/hit his opponents wear/wore themselves down while he rested, often
against the ropes; then he would lash out in the later/recent rounds. During his
ensuing reign Ali successfully defended/offended his title ten more times. Ali held
the championship until/till he was defeated by Leon Spinks on February 16, 1978,
in a bout held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Seven months later/ago, on September 15,
1978, Ali regained the heavyweight title by defeating/defending Spinks in a bout
held at New Orleans. Ali, thus, became the first/fast boxer in history to win the
heavyweight championship three times.

Class activity
13.

Today, there are a number of women sports unlike in the history. In

groups make a scrap file on the topic Women in Sports. You may use
the following hints:

34

What are women sports?

Names of some popular women sports

History of women sports

Challenges faced by women to take up sports as a career

Some popular sports women

Biographical sketch of your favourite sports woman

Section-E

Paralympics
Warm Up
1.

Do you know about differently abled people who overcame difficulties

and emerged victorious? Discuss.

2.

Read about paralympic games:

The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event where
athletes with a physical disability compete; this includes athletes with
mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. There
are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately
following their respective Olympic Games. All Paralympic Games are
governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

3.

Now, read the following descriptive account:

Lifes a Challenge
Some people face difficulties due to physical handicaps but they
overcome these odds with great courage and determination.
I.

In the course of our own existence, each of us encounter devastating losses,

heartbreaking experiences and tumultuous issues. In those moments
facing challenge, when our concentration is focused on overcoming
obstacles or coping with loss, we may be distracted from recognizing
what we can achieve.

II.

We cannot lose what we never had. Understanding what we can attain may
cause frustration when encountering delay, but we should not allow the
temporary interruptions to distract us from our personal goals for too long.
Small setbacks are insignificant in comparison to what we can accomplish.

III.

Most of our disappointments are merely the result of discovering or

confirming that expectations or assumptions were incorrect. Occasionally,
the realization may have life changing consequences. It is common
to encounter such challenges in relationships, career and personal
development. We should study the obstacles that are presented to us and
adjust our course accordingly.

35

IV.

Temporary setbacks and challenges should not stop us from achieving our
goals. We should use them to make us stronger.
Here is a story about a famous athlete - Henry Wanyoike

36

V.

Henry Wanyoike, an accomplished athlete started his training as an athlete

at the age of 12, when he had regular vision. In 1995, Wanyoike suffered a
minor stroke that damaged his optic nerve and led to loss of sight.

VI.

A German counsellor advised him that he could still run with a guide.
Then, he started his career as an athlete, by first representing his school
in 1999 and then, running in marathons and international championships.

VII.

In 2005, Kenyas Henry Wanyoike broke the visually impaired marathon

world record twice in the gap of a week during an amazing April. First he
set a mark of 2 hours 32.51 minutes in the London Marathon on April 17,
then he knocked 80 seconds off that time in Hamburg seven days later. In
an excellent year for Wanyoike, he also won half-marathons in Wetzlar and
Singapore and was named Kenyan Sports Person of the Year.

VIII.

While still a child, he was already being groomed to join an elite corps
of athletes in a country that is known for its production of many worldclass middle-distance runners over the last twenty years than any country
on the earth. He excelled at the 5,000 and 10,000-meter distances.

IX.

Wanyoike won his first gold medal in the

5,000 metres at the Sydney Paralympics in
2000. Thereafter, his athletic career scaled
great heights. Some of his other major
accomplishments include: breaking the
world record and winning gold medal
at a blind marathon in Japan in 2002,
winning gold medals for the 5,000 metres
and 10,000 metres races at the World
Blind Championship, Quebec, Canada
in August 2003 and victory in the Boston
Marathon, 2003. Wanyoike also finished
fourth overall in the Mumbai Marathon in
February 2004.

An excerpt from his biography: One of the most glorious moments in

his life:
X.

It was the happiest moment of his life, one he had dreamed of, ever since
he was a young boy. The Olympic gold medal glittered around his neck
but Henry Wanyoike of Kenya could not see it. Nor could he see the world
around him. He could just hear the cheers. This was at the 2000 Sydney
Paralympics, where Henry won the 5000-metre race.

XI.

Henry had a stroke when he was 25 years old. He didnt run for 4 years
but started running again in 1999. He competed at the Olympic Day Run in
his country, Kenya. With good performances, he made it to the Paralympic
National Team.

XII.

Henry gradually moved from 5,000 metres to 10,000 metres and then to halfmarathons. Then in Boston, he ran the full marathon in 2 hours 49 minutes.
But I want to break the world record, he says with firmness.

XIII.

This talented and dedicated athletes mantra in life is simple, You are fine,
be happy.

Comprehension
4.

Answer the following questions:

a.

How do you deal with challenges in your life ?

b.

What are the qualities that you admire the most about Henry
Wanyoike?

c.

Which was the happiest moment of Henry Wanyoikes life ? Why?

d.

Who/What, according to you, inspired Henry to overcome obstacles

in his life?

e.

How did the advice given by German Counsellor change Henry

Wanyoikes life ?

f.

What, according to you, was the turning point in Henry Wanyoikes

life?

g.

What kind of hardships, according to you, Henry Wanyoike must

have encountered on his path to break various world records ?

37

Writing
5.

As a newspaper reporter, write a report on Sydney Paralympics 2000.

Give an attractive headline to your report.

6.

You are the Sports Captain of your school. Henry Wanyoike is going to
visit your school after Sydney paralympic 2000. Draft a notice informing
the students about the same. Add relevant details. You may use the
format given below:
Name of the school
Date
NOTICE
Heading
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Name and designation of the person issuing the notice

7.

Study the information given in the graph. On the basis of the information,
write a paragraph expressing your observation. Also, mention why you
think certain sports are more popular than the others.

38

Speaking
8.

As the Sports Captain, welcome Henry Wanyoike on his arrival to your

school using a welcome note and a brief life sketch of Henry.

9.

In class, organise a debate competition on the topic Sports vs.

Academics. You may use the following phrases to express your point of
view.

Agreeing/expressing opinion
I think ; In my opinion..; Id like to.; Id rather .Id
prefer;As far as Im concerned;If it were up to me..; I
suppose; Im certain that.;It is fairly certain that;
Im convinced that.; I honestly feel that..; I strongly
believe that..; without a doubt.

Disagreeing
I dont believe that..; Dont you think it would be better; I
dont agree, Id prefer .; Lets face it ; the truth of the matter is

39

Grammar
10.

Pick out ten adjectives from the text and write their positive, comparative
and superlative degrees. For example,

11.

Positive

Comparative

Superlative

short

shorter

shortest

Look at the pictures given below and compare them.

_________________________ is better than __________________________
because__________________________________________________________

40

12.

Now, answer this quiz to help you determine how much you know about
sports. Good luck and have fun!
i.

ii.

iii.

In which game are the words - ace, deuce, service, game and set
used?
a.

Lawn Tennis

b.

Table Tennis

c.

Badminton

d.

Chess

With which sport are the terms birdie and eagle associated?
a.

Polo

b.

Chess

c.

Golf

d.

Basketball

Which tree is usually associated with the making of cricket bats?

a.

Maple

b.

Willow

c.

Banyan

d.

Pine tree

41

iv.

v.

vi.

For which sport is the Davis Cup awarded?

a.

Football

b.

Hockey

c.

Lawn Tennis

d.

Tennis

Which sport is Martina Navratilova known for?

a.

Lawn Tennis

b.

Table Tennis

c.

Squash

d.

Athletics

How many players are there in a basketball team?

a.

b.

c.

d.

11

vii. How many squares are there in a chess board?

a.

81

b.

64

c.

49

d.

56

viii. What is the shape of a baseball ground?

ix.

42

a.

Circular

b.

Rectangular

c.

Diamond

d.

Square

Who coined the slogan, Play the game in the spirit of the games?
a.

Baron de Couberin

b.

Martina Navratilova

x.

c.

Maharaja Yadavendra Singh

d.

Jawaharlal Nehru

With which sport is the term bishop connected?

a.

Chess

b.

Golf

c.

Bridge

d.

Hockey

43

Project Work
Creating a Wall of Fame

Divide the class in groups of four.

For 15-20 minutes, each group discusses what it means to be a

sportsperson and create a list of qualities of an ideal sportsperson.
1.

Who is your favourite sportsperson?

2.

In what way is the sportspersons achievement exceptional?

3.

What is the prominence of the sportsperson in his/her field?

4.

In what way, can the sportsperson be considered an inspiration for

the students?

5.

Write an account about him/her and paste his/her picture on the

top of the sheet.

Create a wall of fame in your class and display your accounts on this wall.

44

50