What happens when a barrier is broken?

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

1. Do you do any sport?
2. Have you ever broken a personal record?
3. What sports do you watch?
4. Who is your favourite athlete?
5. What is the hardest thing that you have done?
6. Have you ever believed that something was impossible, and then you did it?

Read each word and the example. Then say a sentence about sport.

Choose the word that fits.

1. The best result ever achieved in a sport is a .
2. A is something that stops people from going forward.
3. A person who competes in sports is an .
4. A measures time very exactly.
5. A person who trains athletes is a .
6. The highest point beyond which you cannot go is a .
7. The ability to continue a long effort is called .
8. Runners run round an oval in a stadium.

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

1. a record is the
   first lessonworst result everbest result ever
2. a barrier = something that
   sells ticketsstops progresshelps progress
3. a coach
   sells shoescleans trackstrains athletes
4. endurance = the ability to
   shout loudlycontinue a long effortjump high
5. psychological = connected with the
   legmindshoe
6. to achieve = to
   give upwaitsucceed after effort

Use these phrases to tell a story and talk about time.

• While he was running,...Поки він біг,...While he was running, the crowd was silent.
• When he crossed the line,...Коли він перетнув лінію,...When he crossed the line, the crowd roared.
• He had trained...Він тренувався (раніше)...He had trained for years before the race.
• I have been training for...Я тренуюся вже...I have been training for two months.
• She has been running since...Вона бігає з...She has been running since she was twelve.
• Within weeks,...Протягом кількох тижнів,...Within weeks, someone else had done it too.
• It turned out that...Виявилося, що...It turned out that the limit was in the mind.
• Nobody had ever...Ніхто ніколи не...Nobody had ever run a mile so fast.

Read the text. Hover over the dotted words for help.

1. Bannister ran the mile in under four minutes in 1954.
   TrueFalse
2. He had never trained before the race.
   TrueFalse
3. Another runner repeated the achievement within weeks.
   TrueFalse
4. The text says the barrier was entirely physical.
   TrueFalse
5. Kipchoge's marathon in Vienna was counted as an official record.
   TrueFalse

1. Why do some barriers seem to disappear after they are broken?
2. What helps people to believe in themselves?
3. Is it right to change conditions to help a record?
4. What is your own mental barrier?

Common mistakes: past simple for the main events, past continuous for the background, past perfect for earlier events, and have been + -ing with for / since. ✗ He was running when he has fallen → He was running when he fell. ✗ I am training since March → I have been training since March.

1. While he
   ranwas running
   , the crowd was silent.
2. When he crossed the line, the crowd
   roaredwas roaring
   .
3. He
   trainedhad trained
   for years before the race.
4. I
   am traininghave been training
   for two months.
5. She
   runshas been running
   since she was twelve.
6. It was windy, and rain
   fellwas falling
   when the race began.
7. I'm tired because I
   have been workingam working
   all day.
8. They
   never sawhad never seen
   anything like that before.

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

1. He was running when he has fallen. →
2. I am training since March. →
3. When we arrived, the race already started. →
4. She runs since she was twelve. →
5. He didn't win because he didn't train enough before. →
6. I am waiting here for an hour. →

Answer in detail. Use narrative tenses and the present perfect continuous.

1. What were you doing at this time yesterday?
2. What had you done before you came to this lesson?
3. How long have you been learning English?
4. What have you been doing this week?
5. Tell me about a time when you achieved something that was difficult.
6. What did you think was impossible, and then you did it?

Three people talk about breaking a barrier. Compare their views. Who believes most in the power of the mind? Who is the most practical? What barrier have you broken?

Your teacher will time you.

1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
2. Part 1: tell a short story about a difficult goal that you achieved (narrative tenses).
3. Part 2: say what you had done before and what was happening around you.
4. Part 3: say what you have been doing recently and how long.

1. What sport did you do as a child?
2. How long have you been learning English?
3. What have you been doing this week?
4. What had you done before you started work or school today?
5. What were you doing last night at 9?
6. What was the hardest thing you did last year?
7. Have you ever broken a record?
8. What goal have you been working towards?

1. Who inspired you when you were young?
2. Who has been helping you with your goals?
3. Who had you met before you started this course?
4. Who was your best coach or teacher?
5. Who has been training with you?
6. Who in your family loves sport?

1. Should athletes use the latest technology?
2. Is a world record always a good thing?
3. Do you think there are limits to what people can do?
4. Is sport more about body or mind?
5. Are sports stars good role models?