Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Bill Gates. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
William Henry Gates III was born on October 28, 1955. He is one of the world's richest people and perhaps the most successful businessman ever. He co-founded the software giant Microsoft and turned it into the world’s largest software company. He is the best-known entrepreneur of the PC revolution. He has also written two best-selling books and started his own charity with his wife.
Gates was fascinated with electronics from a young age. In 1975 he read about a small technology company. He contacted them to see if they were interested in a computer programme he had written. This led to the creation of Microsoft. Gates later struck a deal with IBM that put Microsoft's Windows on IBM computers. This deal made Microsoft a major player in the IT industry.
Gates was in charge at Microsoft from 1975 until 2006. He was an active software developer at the beginning. He had a vision that computers could change everyone’s life. He helped make this vision come true and developed many products that are now part of modern life. His management style has been studied and copied around the world.
Gates stepped down as Microsoft CEO in June 2008. He now spends his time with his wife, Melinda, focusing on their charitable foundation. They provide funds for global problems that are ignored by governments and other organizations. ‘Time’ magazine voted Gates as one of the biggest influences of the 20th Century. Scientists named the Bill Gates flower fly after him.
248 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.
richest
a.
formation
2
giant
b.
interested
3.
entrepreneur
c.
agreement
4.
fascinated
d.
monster
5.
creation
e.
wealthiest
6.
deal
f.
businessman
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
beginning
g.
quit
8.
vision
h.
passed over
9.
style
i.
dream
10.
stepped down
j.
give
11
provide
k
start
12
ignored
l
approach
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
He co-founded the software
a.
player in the IT industry
2
He is the best-known entrepreneur
b.
down as Microsoft CEO
3.
Gates was fascinated with
c.
of the PC revolution
4.
a computer programme he
d.
charge at Microsoft
5.
a major
e.
by governments
6.
Gates was in
f.
electronics
7.
He had a vision that computers could
g.
flower fly after him
8.
Gates stepped
h.
giant Microsoft
9.
global problems that are ignored
i.
had written
10.
Scientists named the Bill Gates
j.
change everyone’s life
LISTENING GAP FILL
William Henry Gates III was born on October 28, 1955. _____________ world's richest people and perhaps the most successful businessman ever. He co-founded the software giant Microsoft _____________ the world’s largest software company. He is the best-known entrepreneur of the PC revolution. He has also written two best-selling books ________________ charity with his wife.
Gates was fascinated with electronics ________________. In 1975 he read about a small technology company. He contacted them ________________ interested in a computer programme he had written. This led to the creation of Microsoft. Gates later struck ____________________ Microsoft's Windows on IBM computers. This deal made Microsoft a major player in the IT industry.
Gates ________________ Microsoft from 1975 until 2006. He was an active software developer at the beginning. ___________________ computers could change everyone’s life. He helped make this vision come true and developed many products ___________________ modern life. His management style has been studied and copied around the world.
Gates stepped down as Microsoft CEO in June 2008. __________________ his wife, Melinda, focusing on their charitable foundation. They provide funds for global problems _______________ governments and other organizations. ‘Time’ magazine voted Gates as one of the biggest influences of the 20th Century. Scientists named the Bill Gates ________________.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
William Henry Gates III was born on October 28, 1955. He is one of the world's richest people and perhaps the most / best successful businessman ever. He co-founded the software giant / gigantic Microsoft and turned it into the world’s largest software company. He is the best-known entrepreneur of / for the PC revolution. He has also written two best-selling books and started his owner / own charity with his wife.
Gates was fascinated with electronics from a young era / age. In 1975 he read about a small technology company. He contracted / contacted them to see if they were interested in a computer programme he had written. This led to the creation / creator of Microsoft. Gates later struck a dealt / deal with IBM that put Microsoft's Windows on IBM computers. This deal made Microsoft a major player in the IT industry.
Gates was in change / charge at Microsoft from 1975 until 2006. He was an active software developer at / on the beginning. He had a vision that computers could change everyone’s life. He helped make this vision come / go true and developed many products that are now part of modern life. His management style / stylish has been studied and copied around the world.
Gates stepped down / under as Microsoft CEO in June 2008. He now spends / spent his time with his wife, Melinda, focusing on their charitable foundation. They provide finds / funds for global problems that are ignored by governments and other organizations. ‘Time’ magazine voted Gates as one of the biggest influences of the 20th Century. Scientists named / naming the Bill Gates flower fly after him.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
haerpsp the most successful businessman ever
2.
the software tgani Microsoft
3.
the world’s largest warosfte company
4.
started his own carthyi with his wife
Paragraph 2
5.
Gates was ntadisefca with electronics
6.
He oantcetcd them
7.
This led to the icaoenrt of Microsoft
8.
a major player in the IT nurydits
Paragraph 3
9.
He was an active software lvderopee
10.
He had a siovni
11.
products that are now part of roednm life
12.
management lsyet
Paragraph 4
13.
Gates ppdeset down as Microsoft CEO
14.
They pdreivo funds for global problems
15.
the biggest csiueelnfn of the 20th Century
16.
the Bill Gates oflewr fly
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
successful businessman ever. He co-founded the software giant Microsoft and turned it into the world’s largest
( )
ignored by governments and other organizations. ‘Time’ magazine voted Gates as one of the biggest influences
( )
Gates was in charge at Microsoft from 1975 until 2006. He was an active software developer
( )
Gates stepped down as Microsoft CEO in June 2008. He now spends his time with his wife, Melinda, focusing on
( )
true and developed many products that are now part of modern life. His management
( )
best-selling books and started his own charity with his wife.
( )
software company. He is the best-known entrepreneur of the PC revolution. He has also written two
( )
their charitable foundation. They provide funds for global problems that are
( )
them to see if they were interested in a computer programme he had written. This led to the creation of Microsoft. Gates
( 1 )
William Henry Gates III was born on October 28, 1955. He is one of the world's richest people and perhaps the most
( )
later struck a deal with IBM that put Microsoft's Windows on IBM computers. This deal made Microsoft a major player in the IT industry.
( )
at the beginning. He had a vision that computers could change everyone’s life. He helped make this vision come
( )
style has been studied and copied around the world.
( )
of the 20th Century. Scientists named the Bill Gates flower fly after him.
( )
Gates was fascinated with electronics from a young age. In 1975 he read about a small technology company. He contacted
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
giant software the co-founded He Microsoft
2.
He best-selling has also written books two
3.
from was a fascinated young with age electronics Gates
4.
deal IBM later a with Gates struck
5.
made Microsoft a major player in the IT industry This deal
6.
active beginning software He developer was at an the
7.
change He vision could life a computers everyone’s had that
8.
stepped in down June as 2008 Microsoft Gates CEO
9.
for funds provide They problems global
10.
him Gates Scientists flower named fly the after Bill
BILL GATES DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Bill Gates?
2.
Would you like to meet Bill Gates?
3.
What would you like to know about Bill Gates 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 Bill Gates. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. BILL GATES POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Bill Gates. 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 Bill Gates. 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 Bill Gates. 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 “Bill Gates expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
richest
a.
wealthiest
2
giant
b.
monster
3.
entrepreneur
c.
businessman
4.
fascinated
d.
interested
5.
creation
e.
formation
6.
deal
f.
agreement
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
beginning
g.
start
8.
vision
h.
dream
9.
style
i.
approach
10.
stepped down
j.
quit
11
provide
k
give
12
ignored
l
passed over
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
He co-founded the software
a.
giant Microsoft
2
He is the best-known entrepreneur
b.
of the PC revolution
3.
Gates was fascinated with
c.
electronics
4.
a computer programme he
d.
had written
5.
a major
e.
player in the IT industry
6.
Gates was in
f.
charge at Microsoft
7.
He had a vision that computers could
g.
change everyone’s life
8.
Gates stepped
h.
down as Microsoft CEO
9.
global problems that are ignored
i.
by governments
10.
Scientists named the Bill Gates
j.
flower fly after him
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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