Ice Hockey

Some describe hockey as the fastest game in the world

It can travel at speeds up to 160.9 kilometers per hour. Men, women and children wear skates and chase it around the ice. They try to hit it with sticks. What is it? A hockey puck! The puck is made of rubber and isn't very big. It takes a lot of skill to move it around the ice. But that's what the game of ice hockey is all about. Players hit the puck and try to get it into the other team's goal.

Many people play hockey just for fun. But each year, professional teams play for the Stanley Cup. That is hockey's most cherished prize. One would think people would be careful with such an important prize, but no. It was once left by the side of the road by accident!

Hockey's popularity is especially high in Russia and Canada. In fact, it's Canada's national sport. Both Canada and Russia have won eight Olympic gold medals in men's hockey. That's more than any other country. Both hope to bring home the gold at next month's Winter Olympics.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Tropical Nations at Winter Games?
冬季奧運也有熱帶國家(the tropics)參與,
最出名的就是 1988年參加冬奧 Jamaican bobsled team 牙買加國家雪車隊


Grammar Gym
One would think people would be careful with such an important prize, but no.
One would think ... , but no.
- One would think that a GPS would give me clear directions, but no. I actually got lost.
- One would think that a hotel package deal would include a free breakfast, but no.
- We had to pay for breakfast.


Language Lab
skate n. 溜冰鞋;
- Rita got a pair of white ice skates for her birthday.
roller-skate n. 四輪溜冰鞋
skate v. 溜冰
- The kids skated on the frozen lake.

goal n. 目標, 球門, 進球得分
- The placekicker successfully kicked the ball into the goal.
- The quarterback scored the goal with ease.

cherish v. 愛護, 珍惜
- Mom cherished all the love letters Dad wrote to her when he was working abroad.
- We only have three days here in Paris. Let's cherish every moment.

popularity n. 流行, 普及, 名氣
- The popularity of the band increased tremendously after they released their latest album.
popular adj. 受歡迎的, 流行的
- This popular cellphone is out of stock right now.



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