Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. address
    • ex. The manager will address the issue of low sales during the meeting.
  2. safeguard
    • ex. The company uses passwords to safeguard important information.
  3. brutal
    • ex. The weather was brutal during the hike, which made the climb very difficult.
  4. a cramp
    • ex. I got cramps in my legs while running, so I had to stop.
  5. hydrate
    • ex. Drink water to hydrate your body after exercise.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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The ATP Tour will add a new rule next season to address extreme heat during men’s tennis matches. The rule allows a 10-minute break in best-of-three-set matches when conditions are very hot. The ATP said the change will safeguard player health and improve safety for everyone at the event.

Some players have spoken about how brutal the heat can be. At the Shanghai Masters in October, high humidity caused problems. Jannik Sinner stopped playing because of leg cramps, and Novak Djokovic said the heat made him feel sick. An analysis also showed that temperatures at major tennis events have risen in recent years because of climate change.

The new rule uses a heat measurement system called the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), which looks at heat, humidity, and other factors. If the heat level is very high, players can ask for a break to rest, hydrate, and reduce their body temperature. Medical staff will watch the breaks. Similar rules already exist in women’s tennis and at many major tournaments.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Extreme Heat and Sports

  • Tennis players sometimes feel sick, get cramps, or feel very tired when it is extremely hot during matches. Do you experience the same when you do sports or activities outside? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • The ATP added a rule to allow breaks during very hot conditions. What sport do you think needs this rule for extreme heat the most? Discuss.
  • Do you think all sports should always be played somewhere cooler instead of under the hot sun? Why or why not? Discuss.

Importance of Changing Rules

  • What do you think about the ATP’s new rule for extreme heat in tennis matches? Discuss.
  • In what situations do you think rules must be changed in sports, schools, workplaces, or your community? Discuss.
  • How do you think changing or adding rules in different situations affects the people involved? Discuss.