Lesson 9
Why Play Games?

Guidance

Game ideas can help you in different ways. Do you like games? Why do you enjoy it? Think about what skills are needed, and whether these skills will help you in other parts of your life. 比賽理念能在很多方面對你有所幫助。你喜歡比賽嗎？為什么？考慮一下你需要什么技巧，這些技巧在生活的其他方面對你有幫助嗎？

1 Why play games? Because they are fun, and we can learn even more while playing. Following the rules, planning your next move, acting as a team member—these are all "game" ideas that you will come across all through your life. They can help you in different ways.

2 Think about some of the games you played as a young child, such as rope jumping and hide and seek . Such games are very interesting. But perhaps more importantly, they translate part of life into exciting games that teach children some of the basic rules they will be expected to follow the rest of their lives, such as taking turns and cooperating . ①

3 Many children's games have a practical side. Children around the world play games that prepare them for work they will do as grown-ups. ② For example, some Saudi Arabian children play a game called bones, which improves the hand-eye coordination needed in fishing.

4 The most famous games of all, the Olympic Games, bring athletes from around the world together to take part in friendly competitions . People who watch the event know that a gold medal is a win for the whole country, not just the athlete who gets it. ③ For countries experiencing natural disasters or wars, an Olympic win can mean so much.

5 Sports games are also an event that unites people. Football is the most popular sport in the world. People all over the world play it — some for fun and some for a living. Nicolette Iribarne, a Californian football player, has discovered a way to spread hope through football. He created a foundation to provide poor children with not only soccer balls but also a bright future.

6 Next time you play your favorite game or sport, think about why you enjoy it, what skills are needed, and whether these skills will help you in other parts of your life.

(315 words)

Word bank

Notes

① But perhaps more importantly, they translate part of life into exciting games that teach children some of the basic rules they will be expected to follow the rest of their lives, such as taking turns and cooperating. 但是也許更重要的是，它們把部分生活轉化成令人激動的比賽，這些比賽教給孩子們一些基本的規則，而這些規則是他們在人生中應該遵守的，比如輪流做事以及協同合作。

② Children around the world play games that prepare them for work they will do as grown-ups. 全世界的孩子們都在做游戲，這些游戲為他們長大成人后的工作做了準備。

③ People who watch the event know that a gold medal is a win for the whole country, not just the athlete who gets it. 觀看賽事的人都知道，金牌是整個國家的勝利，而不僅僅屬于取得它的運動員。

Practice

Ⅰ. Comprehension

1. According to the passage, which of the following game ideas is not mentioned?

A. Acting as a team member.

B. Trying to win the game.

C. Planning your next move.

D. Following the rules.

2. The game bones played by Sandi Arabian children can _____.

A. teach them swimming

B. help them hide themselves

C. improve the hand-eye coordination

D. improve their working abilities

3. The word "practical" in Paragraph 3 means ____.

A. 實用性的

B. 故事性的

C. 積極的

D. 健康的

4. The word "disaster" in Paragraph 4 means _____.

A. 疾病

B. 洪水

C. 戰爭

D. 災難

5. Nicolette Iribarne created a foundation so that he could _____.

A. be very famous around the world

B. provide poor children with soccer balls

C. provide poor children with soccer balls and bright future

D. give all the children bright future

6. List at least three kinds of games you played as a young child.

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Ⅱ. Writing practice

What is your favorite game or sport? Why do you enjoy it? Write down your reason.

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