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Sumo Champion Fired for Gambling (5th July, 2010)

Sumo authorities in Japan have fired a top wrestler for illegal gambling. The wrestler, Kotomitsuki, is an ozeki junior grand champion, which is sumo's second highest rank. He was one of the most popular fighters in the sport and the highest-ranked wrestler ever to be fired. The Japan Sumo Association (JSA) fired him for illegal betting on baseball games and for harming sumo’s image. Kotomitsuki said: “I have received my punishment from the JSA today and I have reflected once again on all the trouble I have caused.”

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Sumo has a very long history. Many people call it wrestling but it is a martial art. The JSA are very strict with the sumo fighters, known as rikishi, and want to keep the sport clean. Keeping with tradition is a key part of sumo. The sport is declining in popularity in Japan. In the past decade, there have been more non-Japanese than Japanese grand champions. Some people say they do not behave like sumo champions should behave. Earlier this year former grand champion Asashoryu quit after reports he attacked a man outside a nightclub.

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PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1


1.

authorities in Japan have

a.

highest rank

2

sumo's second

b.

image

3.

one of the most

c.

fired a top wrestler

4.

harming sumo’s

d.

punishment

5.

I have received my

e.

caused

6.

the trouble I have

f.

popular fighters

Paragraph 2


1.

Sumo has a very

a.

clean

2

The JSA are

b.

part of sumo

3.

keep the sport

c.

like sumo champions

4.

tradition is a key

d.

long history

5.

they do not behave

e.

outside a nightclub

6.

he attacked a man

f.

very strict


LISTENING GAP FILL


Sumo authorities in Japan _______________________ for illegal gambling. The wrestler, Kotomitsuki, is an ozeki junior grand champion, which is _______________________. He was one of the most _______________________ sport and the highest-ranked wrestler ever to be fired. The Japan Sumo Association (JSA) fired _______________________ baseball games and for harming sumo’s image. Kotomitsuki said: “I have received my punishment from the JSA today _______________________ again on _______________________ caused.”
Sumo _______________________. Many people call it wrestling but it is a martial art. The JSA are very strict with the sumo fighters, known as rikishi, and want _______________________. Keeping with tradition _______________________. The sport is _______________________ in Japan. In the past decade, there have been more non-Japanese than Japanese grand champions. Some people _______________________ like sumo champions should behave. Earlier this year former grand champion Asashoryu quit after reports he _______________________ a nightclub.


MULTIPLE CHOICE


Sumo authorities in Japan have (1) ____ a top wrestler for illegal gambling. The wrestler, Kotomitsuki, is an ozeki junior grand champion, which is sumo's second (2) ____ rank. He was one of the most popular fighters in the sport and the highest-ranked wrestler (3) ____ to be fired. The Japan Sumo Association (JSA) fired him for illegal betting on baseball games and for harming sumo’s (4) ____. Kotomitsuki said: “I have received my punishment from the JSA today and I have (5) ____ once again on all the trouble I have caused.”
Sumo has a very long history. Many people (6) ____ it wrestling but it is a martial art. The JSA are very strict with the sumo fighters, known as rikishi, and want to (7) ____ the sport clean. Keeping with tradition is a key part of sumo. The sport is declining in (8) ____ in Japan. In the past decade, there have been more non-Japanese than Japanese grand champions. Some people say they do not behave like sumo champions should (9) ____. Earlier this year former grand champion Asashoryu quit (10) ____ reports he attacked a man outside a nightclub.
Put the correct words from this table into the article.


1.

(a)

fired

(b)

fire

(c)

fires

2.

(a)

high

(b)

highly

(c)

highest

3.

(a)

never

(b)

ever

(c)

even

4.

(a)

image

(b)

imagine

(c)

images

5.

(a)

causes

(b)

cause

(c)

caused

6.

(a)

call

(b)

think

(c)

say

7.

(a)

do

(b)

be

(c)

keep

8.

(a)

popular

(b)

popularity

(c)

population

9.

(a)

behave

(b)

behavior

(c)

behaves

10.

(a)

next

(b)

after

(c)

finish


SPELLING


Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.


Paragraph 1

1.

Sumo thsueiitroa in Japan

2.

giallle gambling

3.

sumo's second tehigsh rank

4.

betting on baseball emgsa

5.

harming sumo’s miaeg

6.

the otulrbe I have caused

 

Paragraph 2

7.

a very long itrhoys

8.

a tamlari art

9.

Keeping with onttdraii

10.

clennigdi in popularity

11.

they do not beehav

12.

dosieut a nightclub


PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER


Number these lines in the correct order.


(    )

from the JSA today and I have reflected once again on all the trouble I have caused.”

(    )

part of sumo. The sport is declining in popularity in Japan. In the past decade, there have been more non-

1  )

Sumo authorities in Japan have fired a top wrestler for illegal gambling. The wrestler, Kotomitsuki, is an ozeki junior

(    )

the sport and the highest-ranked wrestler ever to be fired. The Japan Sumo Association (JSA) fired him for illegal

(    )

Japanese than Japanese grand champions. Some people say they do not behave like sumo champions should

(    )

grand champion, which is sumo's second highest rank. He was one of the most popular fighters in

(    )

Sumo has a very long history. Many people call it wrestling but it is a martial art. The JSA are very

(    )

strict with the sumo fighters, known as rikishi, and want to keep the sport clean. Keeping with tradition is a key

(    )

behave. Earlier this year former grand champion Asashoryu quit after reports he attacked a man outside a nightclub.

(    )

betting on baseball games and for harming sumo’s image. Kotomitsuki said: “I have received my punishment


THE READING / TAPESCRIPT


With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.


1.

illegal     for     wrestler     top     a     Fired     gambling.    

2.

the     fighters     sport     of     popular     the     One     most     in.    

3.

ever     fired     highest     wrestler     be     The     ranked     to     -.    

4.

JSA     my     punishment     I     from     have     the     received.    

5.

have     the     I     caused     All     trouble.    

6.

call     it     wrestling     but     it     is     a     martial     art     People.    

7.

sumo     The     very     the     are     with     fighters     JSA     strict.    

8.

a     of     Keeping     is     part     tradition     key     sumo     with.    

9.

not     do     They     champions     sumo     like     behave.    

10.

quit     Asashoryu     champion     grand     former     year     This.    


DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________


------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________


WRITING


Write about sumo for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________


HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. SUMO: Search the Internet and find more information about sumo. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about sumo. Include imaginary an interview with a top sumo fighter. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
4. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
5. LETTER: Write a letter to the head of the Japan Sumo Association. Ask him three questions about sumo. Give him three of your opinions on how to make sumo more popular. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Your partner will answer the questions you asked.

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