World News for Students of English

14-07-2026 07:00

Scientists are checking if short water breaks during football matches really protect players in extreme heat.

Researchers tested the official rules during hot weather. They looked at what happens to the bodies of male and female players during a three-minute break in each half of the game. They found that these breaks only help if players use active cooling. This means that players must drink very cold drinks and put wet, icy towels around their necks. The test showed that this special cooling quickly lowers the body temperature and helps the heart rate go down. It also makes the athletes feel much better.

The next step for scientists is to study players’ clothes and how much they run. This will help them find a safe limit for playing sports in hot weather.

Difficult words: extreme (very great or more dangerous than what is normal or usual), towel (a piece of soft cloth that you use for drying your body after a shower), limit (the furthest point or highest amount which is allowed, safe, or possible).

You can watch the original video in the Level 3 section.