Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Asashoryu. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Asashoryu is a sumo grand champion and one of the most successful sumo fighters in history. His real name is Dolgorsurengiin Dagvadorj; Asashoryu is his fighting name. He was born in Mongolia in 1980 and is the first Mongolian to reach sumo’s top position of yokozuna, which means grand champion. He is also the most successful non-Japanese ever to enter the sumo ring.
Asashoryu grew up with wrestling in his blood. His father and brothers are all fighters. He moved to Japan as an exchange student to study Japanese and quickly developed a passion and great talent for sumo. In 1999, he joined a leading sumo stable (team) and fought his way up through the ranks.
Asashoryu could well become the greatest sumo fighter ever. He is closing in on the all-time greats for the number of championships won. He holds the record for winning the most fights in one year. In 2005 he won an impressive 84 out of 90 fights and all six championships. Victory in the final tournament of 2004 meant he won seven in a row – another record.
Asashoryu has a huge following, but he has also upset sumo’s traditionalists. Many people love him because he goes against the grain, but others say he’s bad for sumo. In 2007, he became the first yokozuna in history to be suspended from competition. He has a history of bad and unsportsmanlike behaviour. Regardless, he continues to create a lot of interest in the sport.
246 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.
in history
a.
step onto
2
position
b.
battled
3.
enter
c.
rank
4.
moved
d.
top
5.
leading
e.
ever
6.
fought
f.
relocated
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
ever
g.
breathtaking
8.
impressive
h.
enormous
9.
in a row
i.
in history
10.
huge
j.
generate
11
history
k
consecutively
12
create
l
record
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
Asashoryu is his
a.
an exchange student
2
the first Mongolian to reach sumo’s
b.
the grain
3.
Asashoryu grew up with wrestling
c.
top position of yokozuna
4.
He moved to Japan as
d.
84 out of 90 fights
5.
fought his way up
e.
fighting name
6.
He is closing in
f.
following
7.
In 2005 he won an impressive
g.
on the all-time greats
8.
Asashoryu has a huge
h.
through the ranks
9.
he goes against
i.
behaviour
10.
bad and unsportsmanlike
j.
in his blood
LISTENING GAP FILL
Asashoryu is a sumo grand champion ________________ most successful sumo fighters in history. His real name is Dolgorsurengiin Dagvadorj; Asashoryu ________________. He was born in Mongolia in 1980 and is the first Mongolian ________________ position of yokozuna, which means grand champion. He is also the most successful non-Japanese ________________ sumo ring.
Asashoryu grew up with wrestling ________________. His father and brothers are all fighters. He moved to Japan as ________________ to study Japanese and quickly developed a passion and great talent for sumo. In 1999, he joined a ________________ (team) and fought his way up ________________.
Asashoryu ________________ the greatest sumo fighter ever. He is closing in on the all-time greats for the number of championships won. He ________________ winning the most fights in one year. In 2005 he ________________ 84 out of 90 fights and all six championships. Victory in the final tournament of 2004 meant he ________________ – another record.
Asashoryu has ________________, but he has also upset sumo’s traditionalists. Many people love him because he goes ________________, but others say he’s bad for sumo. In 2007, he became the first yokozuna in history ________________ from competition. He has a history of bad and unsportsmanlike behaviour. Regardless, he ________________ a lot of interest in the sport.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Asashoryu is a sumo grand champion and one of the best / most successful sumo fighters in history. His real / really name is Dolgorsurengiin Dagvadorj; Asashoryu is his fighting name. He was born in Mongolia in 1980 and is the first Mongolian to reach sumo’s stop / top position of yokozuna, which means grand champion. He is also the most successful non- / none- Japanese ever to enter the sumo ring.
Asashoryu grew up / down with wrestling in his blood. His father and brothers are all fighters. He moved to Japan as an extra / exchange student to study Japanese and quickly developed a passion / poison and great talent for sumo. In 1999, he joined a leading sumo stable (team) and fought his way up through / threw the ranks.
Asashoryu could well become / became the greatest sumo fighter ever. He is closing in / up on the all-time greats for the number of championships won. He holds the record / recording for winning the most fights in one year. In 2005 he won an impressive 84 out of 90 fights and all six championships. Victory in the final tournament of 2004 meant he won seven in a column / row – another record.
Asashoryu has a huge / hug following, but he has also upset sumo’s traditionalists. Many people love him because he goes against the brain / grain, but others say he’s bad for sumo. In 2007, he became the first yokozuna in history to be hung / suspended from competition. He has a history of bad and unsportsmanlike behaviour. Regardless, he continues to create a much / lot of interest in the sport.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
Asashoryu is a sumo grand pmhcnaio
2.
Asashoryu is his igfhgint name
3.
the first Mongolian to reach sumo’s top tonpsiio of yokozuna
4.
the most ssfcuulces non-Japanese
Paragraph 2
5.
Asashoryu grew up with stnrlwieg in his blood
6.
He moved to Japan as an aehgncxe student
7.
quickly developed a niopass and great talent for sumo
8.
uofght his way up through the ranks
Paragraph 3
9.
He is ocsgiln in on the all-time greats
10.
the record for nwnnigi the most fights
11.
he won an eiisemvprs 84 out of 90 fights
12.
yorictV in the final tournament of 2004
Paragraph 4
13.
Asashoryu has a huge lliwnogof
14.
he goes aangtsi the grain
15.
the first yokozuna in history to be dpsedusen from competition
16.
He has a hyrsoti of bad and unsportsmanlike behaviour
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
Asashoryu has a huge following, but he has also upset sumo’s traditionalists. Many people
( )
Asashoryu could well become the greatest sumo fighter ever. He is closing in on the all-time
( )
won an impressive 84 out of 90 fights and all six championships. Victory in the final tournament
( )
greats for the number of championships won. He holds the record for winning the most fights in one year. In 2005 he
( )
history to be suspended from competition. He has a history of bad and unsportsmanlike
( )
Asashoryu grew up with wrestling in his blood. His father and brothers are all fighters. He moved to Japan
( )
love him because he goes against the grain, but others say he’s bad for sumo. In 2007, he became the first yokozuna in
( )
Japanese ever to enter the sumo ring.
( )
sumo’s top position of yokozuna, which means grand champion. He is also the most successful non-
( )
Dolgorsurengiin Dagvadorj; Asashoryu is his fighting name. He was born in Mongolia in 1980 and is the first Mongolian to reach
( )
a leading sumo stable (team) and fought his way up through the ranks.
( )
as an exchange student to study Japanese and quickly developed a passion and great talent for sumo. In 1999, he joined
( 1 )
Asashoryu is a sumo grand champion and one of the most successful sumo fighters in history. His real name is
( )
behaviour. Regardless, he continues to create a lot of interest in the sport.
( )
of 2004 meant he won seven in a row – another record.
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
most history successful one sumo of fighters the in
2.
sumo’s first reach position the to top Mongolian
3.
grew Asashoryu blood his in wrestling with up
4.
Japan to moved He student exchange an as
5.
ranks his up the fought way through
6.
is on - He in all greats closing the time
7.
the winning for record the year one in fights most
8.
he traditionalists sumo’s upset also has
9.
the because grain he people goes love against him
10.
of lot a create sport the in interest
ASASHORYU DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Asashoryu?
2.
Would you like to meet Asashoryu?
3.
What would you like to know about Asashoryu 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 Asashoryu. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. ASASHORYU POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Asashoryu. 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 Asashoryu. 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 Asashoryu. 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 “Asashoryu expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
in history
a.
ever
2
position
b.
rank
3.
enter
c.
step onto
4.
moved
d.
relocated
5.
leading
e.
top
6.
fought
f.
battled
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
ever
g.
in history
8.
impressive
h.
breathtaking
9.
in a row
i.
consecutively
10.
huge
j.
enormous
11
history
k
record
12
create
l
generate
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
Asashoryu is his
a.
fighting name
2
the first Mongolian to reach sumo’s
b.
top position of yokozuna
3.
Asashoryu grew up with wrestling
c.
in his blood
4.
He moved to Japan as
d.
an exchange student
5.
fought his way up
e.
through the ranks
6.
He is closing in
f.
on the all-time greats
7.
In 2005 he won an impressive
g.
84 out of 90 fights
8.
Asashoryu has a huge
h.
following
9.
he goes against
i.
the grain
10.
bad and unsportsmanlike
j.
behaviour
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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