Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Angela Merkel. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Angela Merkel was born in Hamburg in 1954. She became Germany’s first female Chancellor and the first from communist East Germany in 2005. ‘Forbes’ magazine listed her as the most powerful woman in the world in 2006 and 2007. Western media often dub her the “Iron Lady” because of her no-nonsense approach to her work and reputation as a tough negotiator.
Merkel grew up in the former German Democratic Republic. She was a member of the socialist youth movement and participated in many communist-led activities. She speaks Russian fluently. She studied physics at the University of Leipzig in the 1970s and physical chemistry in Berlin in the 1980s. She earned a Ph.D. based on her research on quantum chemistry.
After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Merkel became involved in the growing democracy movement. She won a seat in the unified German parliament in 1990 and was appointed Minister for Women and Youth. In 1994, she was made Minister for the Environment. This was her springboard to rise to the top. She was elected Chancellor in November 2005.
In 2007, Merkel took on the six-month rotating position of President of the European Council and chair of the G8. That same year, she met the Dalai Lama in Berlin, thus angering the Chinese. In 2008, she spoke of Germany’s “Holocaust Shame” in Israel’s Knesset. She also received the Charlemagne Prize "for her work to reform the European Union".
239 words
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted biographies.
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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.
female
a.
image
2
dub
b.
woman
3.
reputation
c.
ex-
4.
former
d.
got
5.
participated
e.
nickname
6.
earned
f.
joined
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
fall
g.
disgrace
8.
appointed
h.
revolving
9.
rise
i.
chosen
10.
rotating
j.
collapse
11
angering
k
climb
12
shame
l
annoying
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
She became Germany’s first
a.
youth movement
2
Western media often dub her
b.
democracy movement
3.
her no-nonsense
c.
the “Iron Lady”
4.
She was a member of the socialist
d.
female Chancellor
5.
She earned a Ph.D. based
e.
position of President
6.
Merkel became involved in the growing
f.
in Israel’s Knesset
7.
This was her springboard
g.
thus angering the Chinese
8.
Merkel took on the six-month rotating
h.
approach to her work
9.
she met the Dalai Lama in Berlin,
i.
on her research
10.
she spoke of Germany’s “Holocaust Shame”
j.
to rise to the top
LISTENING GAP FILL
Angela Merkel was born in Hamburg in 1954. She became Germany’s first female Chancellor __________________ communist East Germany in 2005. ‘Forbes’ magazine __________________ most powerful woman in the world in 2006 and 2007. Western media __________________ “Iron Lady” because of her no-nonsense approach __________________ reputation as a tough negotiator.
Merkel grew __________________ German Democratic Republic. She was a member of the socialist __________________ and participated in many communist-led activities. She __________________. She studied physics at the University of Leipzig in the 1970s and physical chemistry in Berlin in the 1980s. She earned a Ph.D. __________________ on quantum chemistry.
__________________ the Berlin Wall in 1989, Merkel became involved in the growing democracy movement. __________________ the unified German parliament in 1990 __________________ Minister for Women and Youth. In 1994, she was made Minister for the Environment. This was her springboard __________________. She was elected Chancellor in November 2005.
In 2007, Merkel __________________ rotating position of President of the European Council and __________________. That same year, she met the Dalai Lama in Berlin, __________________ Chinese. In 2008, she spoke of Germany’s “Holocaust Shame” in Israel’s Knesset. She also received the Charlemagne Prize "for her __________________ European Union".
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics:
Angela Merkel was born in Hamburg in 1954. She became Germany’s first female Chancellor and the first from communist East Germany in 2005. ‘Forbes’ magazine listed her was / as the most powerful woman in the world in 2006 and 2007. Western media often dub / dab her the “Iron Lady” because of her no-nonsense approach to / for her work and reputation as a tough negotiation / negotiator.
Merkel grew / grown up in the former German Democratic Republic. She was a member of the socialist youth / youths movement and participated in many communist-led activities. She speaks Russian fluently. She studied physics / physical at the University of Leipzig in the 1970s and physical chemistry in Berlin in the 1980s. She earned a Ph.D. based on her research by / on quantum chemistry.
After the fall / fallen of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Merkel became involved in the growing democracy movement / moving. She won a seat in the untied / unified German parliament in 1990 and was appointed Minister for Women and Youth. In 1994, she was made Minister for the Environment. This was her springboard to rise / raise to the top. She was elected Chancellor in November 2005.
In 2007, Merkel took on / off the six-month rotating position of President of the European Council and seat / chair of the G8. That same year, she met the Dalai Lama in Berlin, thus angry / angering the Chinese. In 2008, she spoke of Germany’s “Holocaust Shame” in Israel’s Knesset. She also received the Charlemagne Prize "for her work to deform / reform the European Union".
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
She became Germany’s first emlefa Chancellor
2.
the most loupwerf woman in the world
3.
her no-nnenoses approach to her work
4.
a utgho negotiator
Paragraph 2
5.
Merkel grew up in the mrfoer German Democratic Republic
6.
She was a member of the socialist uoyth movement
7.
She speaks Russian uyntllef
8.
her ahceserr on quantum chemistry
Paragraph 3
9.
the ingorgw democracy movement
10.
She won a seat in the feiudni German parliament
11.
her asibdgornpr to rise to the top
12.
She was deetelc Chancellor in November 2005
Paragraph 4
13.
the six-month rotating ntpoisio of President
14.
annergig the Chinese
15.
she spoke of Germany’s “Holocaust ehSam”
16.
her work to eofrrm the European Union
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
Minister for Women and Youth. In 1994, she was made Minister for the Environment. This was her springboard
( )
nonsense approach to her work and reputation as a tough negotiator.
( )
Merkel grew up in the former German Democratic Republic. She was a member of the socialist youth movement and
( )
physics at the University of Leipzig in the 1970s and physical chemistry in Berlin in the
( )
After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Merkel became involved in the growing democracy
( )
position of President of the European Council and chair of the G8. That same year, she met the Dalai Lama in
( )
also received the Charlemagne Prize "for her work to reform the European Union".
( 1 )
Angela Merkel was born in Hamburg in 1954. She became Germany’s first
( )
to rise to the top. She was elected Chancellor in November 2005. In 2007, Merkel took on the six-month rotating
( )
female Chancellor and the first from communist East Germany in 2005. ‘Forbes’ magazine listed her as the most powerful
( )
Berlin, thus angering the Chinese. In 2008, she spoke of Germany’s “Holocaust Shame” in Israel’s Knesset. She
( )
participated in many communist-led activities. She speaks Russian fluently. She studied
( )
1980s. She earned a Ph.D. based on her research on quantum chemistry.
( )
woman in the world in 2006 and 2007. Western media often dub her the “Iron Lady” because of her no-
( )
movement. She won a seat in the unified German parliament in 1990 and was appointed
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
Germany’s became She Chancellor female first
2.
” often the Lady media her Iron Western dub “
3.
nonsense - no her work her to approach
4.
of She the was socialist a youth member movement
5.
a Ph.D. her earned on She based research
6.
in involved became Merkel movement democracy growing the
7.
the springboard top to This rise was to her
8.
the President of position rotating month - six
9.
in Berlin That same year , she met the Dalai Lama
10.
Holocaust ” In “ 2008 , she Shame spoke of Germany’s
DISCUSSION (Write your questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Angela Merkel?
2.
Would you like to meet Angela Merkel?
3.
What would you like to know about Angela Merkel 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 Angela Merkel. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. ANGELA MERKEL POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Angela Merkel. 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 Angela Merkel. Include an imaginary interview with her. Write about what she does every day and what she 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 Angela Merkel. Ask her three questions about her life. Give her three suggestions on what she should do in her future. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your “Angela Merkel expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
female
a.
woman
2
dub
b.
nickname
3.
reputation
c.
image
4.
former
d.
ex-
5.
participated
e.
joined
6.
earned
f.
got
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
fall
g.
collapse
8.
appointed
h.
chosen
9.
rise
i.
climb
10.
rotating
j.
revolving
11
angering
k
annoying
12
shame
l
disgrace
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
She became Germany’s first
a.
female Chancellor
2
Western media often dub her
b.
the “Iron Lady”
3.
her no-nonsense
c.
approach to her work
4.
She was a member of the socialist
d.
youth movement
5.
She earned a Ph.D. based
e.
on her research
6.
Merkel became involved in the growing
f.
democracy movement
7.
This was her springboard
g.
to rise to the top
8.
Merkel took on the six-month rotating
h.
position of President
9.
she met the Dalai Lama in Berlin,
i.
thus angering the Chinese
10.
she spoke of Germany’s “Holocaust Shame”
j.
in Israel’s Knesset
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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