Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Zzzzz. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Ban Ki-moon became the eighth UN General Secretary in 2006. Before then, he was a diplomat in South Korea, where he served as Foreign Minister. His diplomatic service started after graduating from college. His first post was at his nation’s embassy in India. He quickly earned a reputation for his clever diplomatic skills.
Ban was born in a small farming village and grew up in the town of Chungju. His destiny was to become a diplomat. He was a star pupil at school and was chosen to send a message to the United Nations. In 1962, he won an essay competition. His prize was a trip to America, where he met President John F. Kennedy. He told him his ambition was to be a diplomat.
Ban studied International Relations and got a Master’s degree from Harvard University. He speaks English, French, German and Japanese. He has a very disciplined work ethic and splits his schedule into five-minute blocks. The Korean press calls him the ‘slippery eel’ because of his ability to evade tricky questions.
In his time as UN boss, he has dealt with many difficult issues. He has very strong views on global warming and has tried repeatedly to persuade President Bush to cut the USA’s carbon emissions. He has taken an active role in Iran’s and North Korea’s nuclear intentions. Ban has also tried to negotiate a deal to solve the Darfur crisis. He seems well equipped to deal with future global problems.
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.
Minister
a.
good name
2
post
b.
fate
3.
reputation
c.
selected
4.
destiny
d.
Secretary
5.
chosen
e.
aim
6.
ambition
f.
job
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
got
g.
divides
8.
splits
h.
handled
9.
evade
i.
qualified
10.
dealt with
j.
earned
11
persuade
k
dodge
12
equipped
l
influence
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
Ban Ki-moon became the eighth
a.
graduating from college
2
His diplomatic service started after
b.
with future global problems
3.
He quickly earned a reputation for his
c.
work ethic
4.
His destiny
d.
clever diplomatic skills
5.
His prize was a
e.
questions
6.
He has a very disciplined
f.
UN General Secretary
7.
his ability to evade tricky
g.
the Darfur crisis
8.
he has dealt with
h.
was to become a diplomat
9.
negotiate a deal to solve
i.
many difficult issues
10.
He seems well equipped to deal
j.
trip to America
LISTENING GAP FILL
Ban Ki-moon __________________ UN General Secretary in 2006. Before then, he was a diplomat in South Korea, __________________ as Foreign Minister. His diplomatic service started after graduating from college. His first __________________ nation’s embassy in India. He quickly earned a __________________ clever diplomatic skills.
Ban was born in a small farming village and grew up in the town of Chungju. __________________ become a diplomat. He was a star pupil at school __________________ send a message to the United Nations. In 1962, __________________ competition. His prize was a trip to America, where he met President John F. Kennedy. __________________ ambition was to be a diplomat.
Ban studied International Relations __________________ degree from Harvard University. He speaks English, French, German and Japanese. He has a very disciplined work __________________ schedule into five-minute blocks. The Korean press calls him the ‘slippery eel’ because of his ability to __________________.
In his time as UN boss, he __________________ difficult issues. He has very strong views on global warming and has tried repeatedly to persuade President Bush to cut the USA’s __________________. He has taken __________________ Iran’s and North Korea’s nuclear intentions. Ban has also tried to negotiate a deal to solve the Darfur crisis. He seems ______________________ with future global problems.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Ban Ki-moon became the eight / eighth UN General Secretary in 2006. Before then, he was a diplomat in South Korea, where he served / serving as Foreign Minister. His diplomatic service started after graduating from college. His first past / post was at his nation’s embassy in India. He quickly earned a reputation of / for his clever diplomatic skills.
Ban was born in a small farming village and grown / grew up in the town of Chungju. His destiny was to become a diplomat. He was a sun / star pupil at school and was chose / chosen to send a message to the United Nations. In 1962, he won an essay competition. His prize was a trip to America, where he met President John F. Kennedy. He told him his ambition were / was to be a diplomat.
Ban studied International Relations and got / get a Master’s degree from Harvard University. He spoken / speaks English, French, German and Japanese. He has a very disciplined work ethic / ethnic and splits his schedule into five-minute blocks. The Korean press calls him the ‘slippery eel’ because of his ability for / to evade tricky questions.
In his timing / time as UN boss, he has dealt with many difficult issues. He has very strong views / view on global warming and has tried repeatedly to persuade President Bush to cut the USA’s carbon emissions. He has taken an active roll / role in Iran’s and North Korea’s nuclear intentions. Ban has also tried to negotiate a deal to solve / solution the Darfur crisis. He seems well equipped to deal with future global problems.
SPELLING
The jumbled words (underlined) are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
the hhteig UN General Secretary
2.
he dersev as Foreign Minister
3.
His first post was at his nation’s esabysm
4.
He quickly earned a reputation for his lvrcee diplomatic skills
Paragraph 2
5.
His ydnties was to become a diplomat
6.
chosen to send a gsesaem to the United Nations
7.
His izerp was a trip to America
8.
his inmaibto was to be a diplomat
Paragraph 3
9.
got a Master’s deegre from Harvard University
10.
disciplined work hciet
11.
five-minute klosbc
12.
his ability to evade rkicyt questions
Paragraph 4
13.
he has dealt with many difficult ussise
14.
He has very strong siwve on global warming
15.
taken an etivca role
16.
He seems well equipped to deal with ueftru global problems
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
the ‘slippery eel’ because of his ability to evade tricky questions.
( )
pupil at school and was chosen to send a message to the United Nations. In 1962, he won an essay competition. His prize was a
( )
trip to America, where he met President John F. Kennedy. He told him his ambition was to be a diplomat.
( )
Ban was born in a small farming village and grew up in the town of Chungju. His destiny was to become a diplomat. He was a star
( )
equipped to deal with future global problems.
( )
role in Iran’s and North Korea’s nuclear intentions. Ban has also tried to negotiate a deal to solve the Darfur crisis. He seems well
( )
on global warming and has tried repeatedly to persuade President Bush to cut the USA’s carbon emissions. He has taken an active
( )
degree from Harvard University. He speaks English, French, German and Japanese. He has
( )
as Foreign Minister. His diplomatic service started after graduating from college. His first post was at his nation’s
( )
issues. He has very strong views
( )
In his time as UN boss, he has dealt with many difficult
( 1 )
Ban Ki-moon became the eighth UN General Secretary in 2006. Before then, he was a diplomat in South Korea, where he served
( )
embassy in India. He quickly earned a reputation for his clever diplomatic skills.
( )
Ban studied International Relations and got a Master’s
( )
a very disciplined work ethic and splits his schedule into five-minute blocks. The Korean press calls him
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
graduating after started service diplomatic His college from
2.
for clever skills reputation his diplomatic a
3.
to a His was become diplomat destiny
4.
message chosen to to the send United a Nations
5.
to His was trip America prize a
6.
got Harvard from degree Master’s a
7.
ethic has very work He a disciplined
8.
questions tricky evade to ability his
9.
issues has with difficult he dealt many
10.
to deal a negotiate crisis Darfur the solve
BAN KI-MOON DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Ban Ki-moon?
2.
Would you like to meet Ban Ki-moon?
3.
What would you like to know about Ban Ki-moon 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 Ban Ki-moon. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. BAN KI-MOON POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Ban Ki-moon. 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 Ban Ki-moon. 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 Ban Ki-moon. 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 “Ban Ki-moon expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
Minister
a.
Secretary
2
post
b.
job
3.
reputation
c.
good name
4.
destiny
d.
fate
5.
chosen
e.
selected
6.
ambition
f.
aim
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
got
g.
earned
8.
splits
h.
divides
9.
evade
i.
dodge
10.
dealt with
j.
handled
11
persuade
k
influence
12
equipped
l
qualified
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
Ban Ki-moon became the eighth
a.
UN General Secretary
2
His diplomatic service started after
b.
graduating from college
3.
He quickly earned a reputation for his
c.
clever diplomatic skills
4.
His destiny
d.
was to become a diplomat
5.
His prize was a
e.
trip to America
6.
He has a very disciplined
f.
work ethic
7.
his ability to evade tricky
g.
questions
8.
he has dealt with
h.
many difficult issues
9.
negotiate a deal to solve
i.
the Darfur crisis
10.
He seems well equipped to deal
j.
with future global problems
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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