Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Alex Rodriguez. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Alexander Rodriguez, a.k.a. A-Rod, is one of the world’s greatest baseball players. He plays for the New York Yankees, after starting his career with Seattle and Texas. He holds a long list of baseball records. He is the youngest player ever to hit 500 home runs. He will get $30 million if he breaks the all-time home run record of 762.
Rodriguez was born in 1975 in New York City to Dominican parents. He loved baseball when he was growing up and was a star player at school. He was the USA Baseball Junior Player of the Year and the Gatorade national baseball student athlete of the year. In 1993, Alex was the first ever high school player to try out for Team USA.
Rodriguez was signed by the Seattle Mariners. He made his major league debut aged 18, becoming the youngest position player in Seattle history. He quickly set many Seattle club records and in 1996 was the Major League Player of the Year. In 2000, he signed with the Texas Rangers in what was the most lucrative contract in sports history.
Rodriguez joined the New York Yankees in 2004. In 2007, he became the first player in history to have at least 35 home runs, 100 runs, and 100 RBI in 10 consecutive seasons. His success has brought criticism from the press. He told a magazine: "When people write about me, I don't know if it's because I'm good-looking [or] I make the most money.”
247 words
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted biographies.
Mail this lesson to friends and teachers. Click the @ below.
SYNONYM MATCH
Match the words from the article on the left with their synonyms on the right. Are your answers the same as other students’?
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
a.k.a.
a.
in history
2
ever
b.
audition
3.
breaks
c.
sportsman
4.
star
d.
also known as
5.
athlete
e.
betters
6.
try out
f.
leading
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
set
g.
signed with
8.
debut
h.
successive
9.
lucrative
i.
established
10.
joined
j.
media
11
consecutive
k
premiere
12
press
l
moneymaking
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
one of the world’s
a.
was growing up
2
He holds a long list
b.
contract in sports history
3.
if he breaks the
c.
with the Texas Rangers
4.
He loved baseball when he
d.
greatest baseball players
5.
try out
e.
all-time home run record
6.
He made his major league
f.
criticism from the press
7.
In 2000, he signed
g.
seasons
8.
the most lucrative
h.
for Team USA
9.
10 consecutive
i.
debut aged 18
10.
His success has brought
j.
of baseball records
LISTENING GAP FILL
Alexander Rodriguez, a.k.a. A-Rod, ______________ world’s greatest baseball players. He plays for the New York Yankees, ______________ career with Seattle and Texas. He holds ______________ baseball records. He is the youngest player ever to hit 500 home runs. He will get $30 million ______________ all-time home run record of 762.
Rodriguez was born in 1975 in New York City to Dominican parents. He loved baseball when he was growing up and ______________ at school. He was the USA Baseball Junior Player of the Year and the Gatorade national baseball student ______________ year. In 1993, Alex ______________ high school player ______________ Team USA.
Rodriguez ______________ the Seattle Mariners. He made his major league ______________, becoming the youngest position player in Seattle history. He quickly set many Seattle club records and in 1996 was the Major League Player of the Year. In 2000, ______________ the Texas Rangers in ______________ most lucrative contract in sports history.
Rodriguez joined the New York Yankees in 2004. In 2007, he became the first player in history ______________ 35 home runs, 100 runs, and 100 RBI in ______________ seasons. His success has brought criticism ______________. He told a magazine: "When people write about me, I don't know if it's because I'm good-looking [or] I ______________ money.”
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Alexander Rodriguez, a.k.a. A-Rod, is one of the world’s greatest baseball player / players. He plays for the New York Yankees, before / after starting his career with Seattle and Texas. He holds a long / length / list of baseball records. He is the youngest player ever to hit 500 home runs. He will get $30 million if he broken / breaks the all-time home run record of 762.
Rodriguez was born in 1975 in New York City to / by Dominican parents. He loved baseball when he was growing up and was a sun / star player at school. He was the USA Baseball Junior Player of the Year and the Gatorade national baseball student athletics / athlete of the year. In 1993, Alex was the first ever high school player to try in / out for Team USA.
Rodriguez was signed by / with the Seattle Mariners. He made his major league debut aged / age 18, becoming the youngest position player in Seattle history. He quickly set much / many Seattle club records and in 1996 was the Major League Player of the Year. In 2000, he signed with the Texas Rangers in what was the most / mostly lucrative contract in sports history.
Rodriguez joined the New York Yankees in 2004. In 2007, he became the first player in history to have at most / least 35 home runs, 100 runs, and 100 RBI in 10 consecutively / consecutive seasons. His success has brought criticism from the iron / press. He told a magazine: "When people write about me, I don't know if it's because I'm good-looking [or] I print / make the most money.”
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
the world’s setrgeta baseball players
2.
starting his raecer with Seattle
3.
He will get $30 limlion
4.
the all-time home run docerr
Paragraph 2
5.
Dominican traespn
6.
when he was rggnwio up
7.
altanino baseball
8.
lhtaete of the year
Paragraph 3
9.
Rodriguez was gdseni by the Seattle Mariners
10.
his major league dtueb
11.
in Seattle toryhis
12.
the most lucrative tocrnatc in sports
Paragraph 4
13.
at atsle 35 home runs
14.
criticism from the rsspe
15.
He told a inamzega
16.
I'm good-olnkiog
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
Player of the Year and the Gatorade national baseball student athlete of the
( )
history to have at least 35 home runs, 100 runs, and 100 RBI in 10 consecutive seasons. His success has brought
( )
youngest position player in Seattle history. He quickly set many Seattle club
( )
growing up and was a star player at school. He was the USA Baseball Junior
( )
after starting his career with Seattle and Texas. He holds a long list of baseball records. He is the youngest player ever to hit
( )
Rodriguez joined the New York Yankees in 2004. In 2007, he became the first player in
( )
records and in 1996 was the Major League Player of the Year. In 2000, he signed with the Texas Rangers in what
( 1 )
Alexander Rodriguez, a.k.a. A-Rod, is one of the world’s greatest baseball players. He plays for the New York Yankees,
( )
criticism from the press. He told a magazine: "When people write about me, I don't know if it's
( )
because I'm good-looking [or] I make the most money.”
( )
Rodriguez was born in 1975 in New York City to Dominican parents. He loved baseball when he was
( )
was the most lucrative contract in sports history.
( )
Rodriguez was signed by the Seattle Mariners. He made his major league debut aged 18, becoming the
( )
500 home runs. He will get $30 million if he breaks the all-time home run record of 762.
( )
year. In 1993, Alex was the first ever high school player to try out for Team USA.
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
a holds He records baseball of list long
2.
- of time 762 home the run all record
3.
He up growing was he when baseball loved
4.
Year the Junior the was Baseball of He USA Player
5.
Alex first school try the high to was ever player
6.
his made He 18 aged debut league major
7.
Seattle records quickly many club He set
8.
history most contract sports the lucrative in
9.
at have to history in player first the runs home 35 least
10.
has success His press the from criticism brought
ALEX RODRIGUEZ DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Alex Rodriguez?
2.
Would you like to meet Alex Rodriguez?
3.
What would you like to know about Alex Rodriguez and why?
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about Alex Rodriguez. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. ALEX RODRIGUEZ POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Alex Rodriguez. Show your poster to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all find out similar things?
4. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Alex Rodriguez. Include an imaginary interview with him. Write about what he does every day and what he thinks about.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
5. LETTER: Write a letter to Alex Rodriguez. Ask him three questions about his life. Give him three suggestions on what he should do in his future. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your “Alex Rodriguez expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
a.k.a.
a.
also known as
2
ever
b.
in history
3.
breaks
c.
betters
4.
star
d.
leading
5.
athlete
e.
sportsman
6.
try out
f.
audition
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
set
g.
established
8.
debut
h.
premiere
9.
lucrative
i.
moneymaking
10.
joined
j.
signed with
11
consecutive
k
successive
12
press
l
media
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
one of the world’s
a.
greatest baseball players
2
He holds a long list
b.
of baseball records
3.
if he breaks the
c.
all-time home run record
4.
He loved baseball when he
d.
was growing up
5.
try out
e.
for Team USA
6.
He made his major league
f.
debut aged 18
7.
In 2000, he signed
g.
with the Texas Rangers
8.
the most lucrative
h.
contract in sports history
9.
10 consecutive
i.
seasons
10.
His success has brought
j.
criticism from the press
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
HELP SUPPORT THIS WEBSITE
Recommend the site on blogs,Twitter, Facebook, forums and other sites.
