©Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What qualities or skills make a sports player stand out in their field?
- Which sports events or teams in your country attract the most attention?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- eager /EE-ger/
- fame /feym/
- stretch /strech/
- comment /KOM-ent/
- recovery /ri-KUHV-uh-ree/
[adjective] – strongly wanting to do or have something
The students were eager to start their summer vacation.
[noun] – the state of being known or recognized by many people because of your achievements, skills, etc.
Her fame grew rapidly after she won the international singing competition.
[verb] – to extend or spread out over a certain distance or area
The traffic jam stretched for miles along the highway, causing significant delays for commuters.
[verb] – to make a remark or express an opinion about something
She commented on the delicious food, praising the chef for the excellent flavors.
[noun] – the process of becoming well again after an illness or injury
His recovery from the surgery took several months.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
On August 28, 2024, baseball fans packed Dodger Stadium hours before the evening game, eager to get the special “Shohei & Decoy” bobblehead. This bobblehead features Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his dog, Decoy. The bobblehead shows Ohtani holding his one-year-old Dutch Kooikerhondje (pronounced KOY-ker-hond-yuh), Decoy. Decoy gained fame after being seen with Ohtani when he won his second MVP award last year. Fans started arriving as early as noon, enduring the hot weather to be among the first to get the bobblehead. Dressed in Dodgers blue and white, they formed a line that stretched far beyond the stadium gates. Even Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had trouble getting inside because of the large crowd. He commented on the surprising demand for the bobblehead, joking about how long it took him to get into the stadium.
Shohei Ohtani, who joined the Dodgers this offseason with a record-breaking 10-year, $700 million contract, has been impressive despite being unable to pitch this season due to elbow surgery recovery. As a designated hitter, he has hit 41 home runs and stolen 40 bases, joining Major League Baseball’s exclusive 40-40 club. With a .294 batting average, Ohtani has been key to the Dodgers’ dominance in the NL West this season. As a leading candidate for his third MVP award, Ohtani’s remarkable season has fueled fans’ hopes for a World Series win.
Shohei Ohtani, who joined the Dodgers this offseason with a record-breaking 10-year, $700 million contract, has been impressive despite being unable to pitch this season due to elbow surgery recovery. As a designated hitter, he has hit 41 home runs and stolen 40 bases, joining Major League Baseball’s exclusive 40-40 club. With a .294 batting average, Ohtani has been key to the Dodgers’ dominance in the NL West this season. As a leading candidate for his third MVP award, Ohtani’s remarkable season has fueled fans’ hopes for a World Series win.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- What is Shohei Ohtani’s batting average this season?
- What injury has kept Shohei Ohtani from pitching this season?
- What are fans hoping for because of Ohtani’s remarkable season?
- Who is featured on the special bobblehead given out at Dodger Stadium?
- Despite his injury, what achievements has Ohtani accomplished as a designated hitter this season?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- How would you feel if a famous athlete or celebrity visited your city and attracted a huge crowd?
- Have you ever waited in a long line for something you really wanted, like the fans who arrived early for the bobblehead? If so, what was it, and how long did you wait? If not, what would you be willing to wait for?
- Do you agree that Shohei Ohtani’s performance this season, despite his injury, makes him a strong candidate for another MVP award?
- Why do you think fans are so eager to get a bobblehead of Shohei Ohtani and his dog?
- Shohei Ohtani is successful as both a pitcher and a hitter. How do you think doing both jobs affects his career and what fans and his team expect from him?