Why do some people like danger?

Exercises of Student’s Book

Before you start

Listen to the words in context. Try to guess their meanings.

Audioscript

1. A policeman has a very dangerous job.
2. A fireman fights and puts out fires.
3. A miner digs up coal and gold from the ground.
4. A stuntman performs dangerous actions in a film.
5. An artist probably does not have to take physical risks.
6. This is my first rally driving experience.
7. Scuba diving is the sport of diving underwater.
8. Rock fishing is to try to catch fish on the rocks.
9. You can do different activities in the mountains, such as rock climbing and mountain biking.
10. I like horse riding competitions. They're very interesting!

2  In a group, discuss how dangerous these activities and jobs are. Tell the others which of these activities and jobs you prefer. Do you do any of them? Do you know people who do them?

Answers

Answers may include:

Policeman: gunshot wounds Fireman: getting burned

Miner: being trapped in the mine Stuntman: falling off from high places Artist: no or little danger

Scuba diving: lack of oxygen

Rock fishing: falling on rocks/slipping Rock climbing: falling

Mountain biking: falling off the bike Horse riding: falling off the horse.

READING

4  Read the interview again and answer these questions.

1. Why do people perform dangerous activities or have dangerous jobs?

People perform dangerous activities or have dangerous jobs to defeat fear.

2. What do a football player, a stuntman and a policeman have in common?

A football player, a stuntman and a policeman all feel the same physical enjoyment.

3. In your opinion, in what way is a fireman different from a mountain biker?

Suggested answer: A fireman does his activity as a part of his job, whereas a mountain biker does it to overcome fear.

5  Work in pairs. Choose one of the activities or jobs mentioned by Dr Fred. Prepare some notes explaining what you do and what you feel when you do it. Read the Speaking Strategies to exchange an interview with your friend.

Answers:

Answers may include adjectives such as:

happy - excited - fulfilled - thrilled - dangerous - safe -

creative - boring...

Vocabulary

6  What do we call the people who do these activities? Write the corresponding forms.

Answers

rock fisherman; b. rally driver; c. scuba diver; d. mountain biker

Rule:

We add -er to all verbs to form the noun for the "doer" of the action.

To fish is the exception as the person who fishes is a "fisherman", not a "fisher".

Listening

6  Follow the Listening Strategies and guess the answers to these

questions. Write down your guesses. Then listen to three people talk about their activity or job and check your answers.

1. What activities or jobs do these people do?
2. Do they have any experience in them?
3. What are these people's reasons for doing these activities?

Answers

1. Kazem Salameh is a rally driver; Musa Haidar is a stuntman; Salwa Mohsen is a mountain climber.
2. Kazem doesn't have any experience; Musa and Salwa do.
3. Kazem does it because he likes to go fast; Musa does it because it's exciting; Salwa does it to overcome danger and arrive at the summit.