Playing soccer
Read Playing soccer and check the IELTS Reading answers. Street soccer, as its name implies, is an informal variation of the sport, often played on the street, particularly in urban areas. There are many reasons for the widespread popularity of street soccer. Unlike youth soccer, its more formally…
Passage preview
Street soccer, as its name implies, is an informal variation of the sport, often played on the street, particularly in urban areas. There are many reasons for the widespread popularity of street soccer. Unlike youth soccer, its more formally organized counterpart, no large space is needed, and goal posts, corner markers, and marked lines, associated with the formal game, are typically absent, as are game officials or referees. Another attraction of street soccer is that it is played frequently and competitively, but does not necessarily require standard 11-a-side teams or fixed playing positions. Unlike in youth soccer, inexperienced street soccer players rarely learn from repetitive technical and tactical drills. Instead, they learn from their poor performance in competition, unconscious of the skills they are nonetheless developing, and without older adults or coaches present. Players learn without effort through playing the game, and soon attain an almost natural feeling for the sport.
Vocabulary from this passage
9 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- attain verb
To succeed in achieving something that one desires and has worked for
Students must study rigorously to attain the highest academic standards.
- congested adjective
So crowded with traffic or people as to hinder freedom of movement
Urban planners are seeking solutions for the heavily congested city centre.
- counterpart noun
A person or thing holding a position or performing a function that corresponds to another
The minister met with his foreign counterpart to discuss trade agreements.
- legitimate adjective
Conforming to the law or to rules; able to be defended with logic or justification
The committee raised legitimate concerns regarding the project's environmental impact.
- obstacle noun
A thing that blocks one's way or prevents or hinders progress
Lack of funding proved to be a major obstacle to the research project.
- prohibit verb
To formally forbid something by law, rule, or other authority
International treaties prohibit the use of chemical weapons in warfare.
- resilience noun
The capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness
Building economic resilience is crucial for surviving global financial crises.
- spontaneous adjective
Performed or occurring as a result of a sudden inner impulse without premeditation or external stimulus
The audience burst into spontaneous applause following the remarkable performance.
- tactical adjective
Relating to or constituting actions carefully planned to gain a specific end
The manager made a tactical decision to change the team's formation during the match.
Answers with explanations
- 14. E
The paragraph contrasts street soccer, where players stick to roles they are best at, with youth soccer's philosophy that **every child needs to learn every position**. This matches the description of a **contrast** between ways of gaining experience in **different positions**.
- 15. C
The text compares the safety focus in soccer to the **consumer movement** that introduced **seat belts and airbags**. These are **examples outside sport** that emphasize **individual safety**.
- 16. F
The paragraph discusses how **positions of responsibility** (leadership roles like **captain**) are obtained. It contrasts earning them in street soccer with the democratic turn-taking in youth soccer. This fits the description of **methods of selection for leadership**.
- 17. B
The paragraph details factors like **congested traffic** and **official permits** in cities that make spontaneous play difficult. These are **details of urban changes** that **discourage street soccer**.
- 18. G
The paragraph mentions that **losing** (failure) is common and that players **learn how to handle this**, acquiring **resilience**. This corresponds to the **lesson that failure teaches**.
- 19. D
The paragraph explains that the **fear of falling behind** drives the belief that **expert instruction** (coaches) is necessary to give children an advantage. This explains **why youth soccer emphasises the need for coaches**.
- 20-21: CE
20: The text states that **no large space is needed** and equipment like **goal posts** is absent. This supports the reason that **elaborate facilities** are not required. Answer: C.
21: The text states that street soccer **does not necessarily require standard 11-a-side teams**, implying flexibility in team size. This supports the reason regarding **varying numbers of players**. Answer: E.
- 22-23: BD
22: The text describes how the movement created **regulations** for protection, such as **prohibiting heading**. This matches the result that leagues **adopted more restrictive rules**. Answer: B.
23: The text mentions handing out **'participation' prizes** to **every player** regardless of winning. This matches the result that players were **rewarded for simply playing**. Answer: D.
- 24. principle
The summary mentions a **key [24]** about leaving with a positive attitude. The text identifies 'Everyone's a winner' as a **guiding principle** ensuring players feel positive. Answer: principle.
- 25. reward
The summary states players get some kind of **[25]** regardless of effort. The text argues that giving less effort receives the same **reward** as giving your best. Answer: reward.
- 26. record
The summary states no-one keeps a **[26]** of results. The text explicitly states that in street soccer a **formal record** is **not kept**. Answer: record.