General English Level 5 GELEV5 Unit 05 Topic 01.doc  READING 01d The way we were – sports and other pursuits How we kept fit Swimming Skating and skiing Swimming in the sea, rivers or lakes was popular, but it was a fun activity more than a sport. Bath houses were built at beaches for people to change into their swimsuits. Surfing also became common in the early 1900s with long surfboards made from wood. Skating and skiing have changed a lot since the 1900s. People wore snowshoes to get back up the hill in the days before ski-lifts. Skiers used long staffs (wooden poles) instead of today's short metal ski stocks to balance. Boxing and baseball Biking In America, boxing and baseball were popular sports. Golf Golf was played at the turn of the century, but really became popular in the early 1920s. Biking was all the rage around the turn of the century, due to a major change in bicycles. Large front wheels and tiny back wheels were replaced by two equal size wheels. This made biking safer, easier to learn, and better suited to the roads of the time. Fishing Tennis Another favourite outdoor activity in the 1900s was fishing. People fished to provide food for their families, as well as a way of having some fun. Hunting Hunting in the 1900s was also both a sport and a way to feed the family. Traps and guns were used with greater freedom than today. Tennis around the year 1900 was a sedate, civilised game. Women wore long dresses, and were not expected to run after the ball. It was good sportsmanship to hit the ball to your opponent. It was played on grass, so was called lawn tennis. 154 QUESTLANGUAGE