Page 107 - 416_
P. 107

commonly played in the United States.
                                Skating  continues  to  be  very  popular,  especially  in-line
                            skating. It's not uncommon to see people skating down streets and
                            sidewalks, or on special paths in parks and along urban lakes and
                            waterfronts. In-line skating has largely replaced roller skating (on
                            four-wheeled skates), but there are still roller rinks where you can
                            skate indoors and listen to music. Ice rinks are widely available for
                            ice  skaters,  and  people  also  skate  on  frozen  lakes  and  ponds  in
                            winter.


                                                 FITNESS FREAKS

                                Although there are many severely overweight Americans, there
                            are just as many who regularly do some kind of exercise. In this
                            land where people will not walk to the store, walking as a form of
                            exercise is incredibly popular in all its forms, from casual strolling
                            to intense power walking. Jogging and running are other popular
                            and inexpensive forms of exercise.
                                Gyms  and  health  clubs  are  found  everywhere.  They  can  be
                            quite affordable; so many people have memberships, which they
                            probably  don't  use  as  often  as  they  intended  to  when  they  first
                            joined. However, the people who do go regularly tend to talk about
                            time they spend in the gym with an almost religious zeal.


                                            MOVIES AND THEATERS

                                Watching movies is another very popular leisure activity, both
                            at home on video and TV, and at movie theaters. Movie tickets are
                            not  very  expensive,  with  tickets  costing  between  $5  and  $10.
                            Movie  theaters  and  multiplexes  also  offer  a  variety  of  discount,
                            such as reduced prices before a certain time or on a particular day.
                            There are also discount theaters that show movies that have already
                            played  at  regular  theaters  (first-run  theaters)  for  a  while.
                            Admission  to  these  second-run  theatres  is  only  about  $1  to  $2.
                            Some  cities  also  have  revival  or  art  movie  theaters,  which
                            specialize in foreign and art films, as well as classic old movies.
                                Most Americans use the word  "movie" when talking about a
                            film, although "film" is also used, especially when referring to the
   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112