Practice English Vocabulary B2 Exercises – Hobbies, sport and games

A. Complete using the correct form of the words in the box.

1   We used to go skating at the ice ……………… every Saturday.

2   Keith had never seen such a large golf ……………… until he went to Scotland.

3   We all met at the basketball ……………… at half past three.

4   It’s called a boxing ………………, but it’s actually square!

5   For the 800 metres race, you have to run round the ……………… twice.

6   The football match had to be called off because the ……………… was flooded.

7   Our team ……………… until half time, but in the second half the other team ……………… three goals, and so they ……………… us. But it was a great match!

8   Adrian got a new fishing ……………… for his birthday.

9   Can I borrow your tennis ………………?

10   Why are hockey ……………… such a strange shape?

11   I’d spend hours putting linseed oil on my cricket ……………… to keep the wood strong.

B. Circle the correct word or phrase.

1   The umpire / referee blew the whistle and the most important football match I’ve ever played began.

2   We used to play rugby in the winter term, football in the spring term, and we’d do athletics / sport and swimming in the summer term.

3   Do you fancy a game / play of cards?

4   I only do magic tricks for fun. I’ve never thought of becoming an amateur / a professional magician.

5   The play was so boring, we walked out during half time / the interval.

6   Coventry City equalled /drew 3-3 with Sunderland in the match last Saturday.

7   Spectators / Viewers who watched last week’s programme will remember we were looking at the history of baseball.

8   We got through to the final / finale, but then lost to Cirencester.

9   Most people prefer films which have a happy end / ending.

10   Would all opponents / competitors please make their way to the starting line?

C. Complete each second sentence using the word given, so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence. Write between two and five words in each gap.

1   I don’t know how you can stand getting up so early to go to the pool.   put

      I don’t know how you can …………………………………… up so early to go to the pool.

2   I’ve finally started sorting out my postcard collection.   round

      I’ve finally …………………………………… sorting out my postcard collection.

3   What did you do at the weekend?   get

      What did you …………………………………… at the weekend?

4   I’m not so keen on skiing now I’ve discovered snowboarding.   gone

      I’ve …………………………………… since I discovered snowboarding.

5   Why do you continue to have riding lessons if you can’t afford them?   on

      Why do you …………………………………… riding lessons if you can’t afford them?

6   We can’t delay the match any longer.   put

      We can’t …………………………………… any longer.

D. Write one word in each gap.

1   Tony never used to want to join ……………… with the other kids in the playground.

2   Look ………………! There’s a car coming!

3   Simone’s ……………… to wearing a helmet whenever she goes cycling.

4   I was thinking of taking ……………… scuba diving until I found out how expensive the equipment is.

5   They were knocked ……………… in the semi-final.

6   Maybe we should bring the meeting ……………… to this Tuesday instead of having it in two weeks’ time.

7   Becca had to pull ……………… of the race when she sprained her ankle.

8   Melissa doesn’t ……………… in for adventure sports.

E. Choose the correct answer.

1   Why don’t you …………… a go? It’s not difficult!

        A make         B have

        C do              D set

2   Carl wasn’t very good at mountain climbing as he’s afraid of …………… .

        A highs         B highness

        C heights      D height

3   There’s little …………… of our getting into the final.

        A opportunity

        B chance

        C luck            D fortune

4   Rachel is mad …………… the Eurovision Song Contest.

        A from          B against

        C for              D about

5   Just …………… your best – that’s all anyone can ask of you.

        A do              B make

        C be               D have

6   It’s …………… time you learned to swim.

        A big             B tall

        C high           D far

7   Grandma …………… a lot of pleasure from gardening.

        A does          B has

        C makes       D gets

8   …………… your time – don’t rush.

        A Tell            B Find

        C Spend        D Take

9   Each player takes it …………… turn to roll the dice.

        A on              B in

        C at               D to

10   Time …………… so quickly when you’re doing something enjoyable.

        A takes         B spends

        C passes       D finds

11   Our new coach is popular …………… the whole team.

        A for             B to

        C by               D with

12   She’d …………… hours lying on her bed, reading.

        A spend        B take

        C make         D pass

13   He’d been planning to leave the team the …………… time, and hadn’t told anyone.

        A complete  B whole

        C total          D full

14   I’m not siding …………… her because she’s my sister, but because she’s right.

        A from          B for

        C to               D with

F. Match to make sentences.

A   in playing for the school team.

B   to find enough time to have any hobbies.

C   to try to find the golf balls we’d lost.

D   of playing in goal.

E   from finishing the game.

F   to what the coach thinks first.

G   on getting fit.

G. Water has damaged part of this text about sport at school. Read it and decide what you think each of the original words was. Write the words in the blank spaces.

Sport at school

I used to wear glasses when I was at school, and so I (1) ……………… sport very difficult. I wanted to be involved (2) ……………… school sports competitions, and I loved the idea of teams competing (3) ……………… each other, but being on the rugby team, for example, (4) ……………… having to take off my glasses, and that meant (5) ……………… I couldn’t see! And it’s difficult (6) ……………… catch a ball when you can’t see it! So, I wasn’t very good and the captains always (7) ……………… sure that I wasn’t on their team. This meant I (8) ……………… free to do other activities, like being on the debating team, and actually I preferred to (9) ……………… things I was good at doing (10) ……………… than have everyone laugh at me.

H. Complete the sentences by changing the form of the word in capitals when this is necessary.

1   I need to buy a new pair of ……………………. (TRAIN).

2   Ellie used to ……………………. (PRACTICE) for hours to learn to juggle properly.

3   That was the most ……………………. (INTEREST) book I’ve ever read. I can’t wait for the sequel!

4   Would you describe yourself as a ……………………. (COMPETE) person?

5   Many professional basketball players earn a ……………………. (FORTUNE) these days.

6   F.A. stands for Football ……………………. (ASSOCIATE).

7   The gold, silver and bronze ……………………. (MEDAL) took their places on the podium for the presentation ceremony.

8   In Britain, the money parents give their children is often called pocket money. In America, it’s often called an ……………………. (ALLOW).

9   I’m afraid the swimming pool is closed at the moment as they’re carrying out some essential ……………………. (MAINTAIN).

I. Use the word given in capitals to form a word that fits in the gap.

A snooker player speaks

When I first started playing snooker, I had no real (1) ……………………. (KNOW) of the rules. I just thought it looked an (2) ……………………. (ENJOY) game. Also, I didn’t need to buy any expensive (3) ……………………. (EQUIP) because the snooker hall near my house had tables and cues. I spent (4) ……………………. (PRACTICAL) all the free time I had practising, and then decided to enter a (5) ……………………. (COMPETE). It was great fun! My (6) ……………………. (OPPOSE) was someone who’d been playing for years. Of course, he beat me, but the fact that I’d (7) ……………………. (LOSE) didn’t put me off at all. And, (8) ……………………. (FORTUNE), my game improved enough for me to become a professional snooker player three years ago.