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. 比赛理念能在很多方面对你有所帮助。你喜欢比赛吗？为什么？考虑一下你需要什么技巧，这些技巧在生活的其他方面对你有帮助吗？

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. 但是也许更重要的是，它们把部分生活转化成令人激动的比赛，这些比赛教给孩子们一些基本的规则，而这些规则是他们在人生中应该遵守的，比如轮流做事以及协同合作。

② Children around the world play games that prepare them for work they will do as grown-ups. 全世界的孩子们都在做游戏，这些游戏为他们长大成人后的工作做了准备。

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. 观看赛事的人都知道，金牌是整个国家的胜利，而不仅仅属于取得它的运动员。

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. 实用性的

B. 故事性的

C. 积极的

D. 健康的

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

A. 疾病

B. 洪水

C. 战争

D. 灾难

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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