Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Cristina Kirchner. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Cristina Kirchner (born February 19, 1953) is an Argentine lawyer and the current President of Argentina. She is the wife of former President Nestor Kirchner. Before she became president, she was a Senator for Buenos Aires and First Lady during her husband's term. She swept to power in October 2007. She crushed the other candidates, with a 22% lead over her nearest rival.
Kirchner briefly started out in politics in the 1970s. However, due to the authoritarian rule in her country, she dropped out to practice law. She re-entered politics in the late 1980s and in 1995, she became a senator. She was a guiding light behind her husband’s successful presidential campaign in 2003. She gained a reputation for being a strong speaker and won many admirers.
Kirchner is Argentina's second female president. She is the first wife in any country’s history to be elected to succeed her husband as leader. She is often compared to Eva ‘Evita’ Peron but always rejects the comparisons. She once said the only similarity is "the hair in a bun and the clenched fist before a microphone".
Kirchner immediately faced some mighty challenges upon taking power. She had to tackle high inflation, unions demanding higher salaries, corruption, and a credit crisis. She introduced some very unpopular taxes and her popularity nosedived. A poll taken in April 2008 showed her disapproval rating was at 61.8%. She needs to dig deep to turn around her country’s economy and her own political fortunes.
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.
lawyer
a.
dictatorial
2
former
b.
opponent
3.
rival
c.
name
4.
authoritarian
d.
attorney
5.
reputation
e.
fans
6.
admirers
f.
ex-
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
succeed
g.
similarities
8.
comparisons
h.
dropped
9.
clenched
i.
position
10.
mighty
j.
follow
11
nosedived
k
closed tightly
12
fortunes
l
huge
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
She swept to
a.
light
2
a 22% lead over
b.
power in October 2007
3.
Kirchner briefly started
c.
her nearest rival
4.
a guiding
d.
inflation
5.
won many
e.
husband as leader
6.
succeed her
f.
mighty challenges
7.
She is often compared
g.
out in politics in the 1970s
8.
faced some
h.
her country’s economy
9.
She had to tackle high
i.
admirers
10.
She needs to dig deep to turn around
j.
to Eva ‘Evita’ Peron
LISTENING GAP FILL
Cristina Kirchner (born February 19, 1953) is an Argentine lawyer ______________ President of Argentina. She is the ___________ President Nestor Kirchner. Before she became president, she was a Senator for Buenos Aires and First Lady during her ______________. She swept to power in October 2007. She crushed the other candidates, with a 22% ______________ nearest rival.
Kirchner briefly started ______________ the 1970s. However, due to the authoritarian rule in her country, she ______________ practice law. She re-entered politics in the late 1980s and in 1995, she became a senator. She was a guiding ______________ husband’s successful presidential campaign in 2003. She gained a reputation for being a strong speaker and ______________.
Kirchner is Argentina's second female president. She ______________ any country’s history to be elected to succeed her ______________. She is often compared to Eva ‘Evita’ Peron but _________________ comparisons. She once said __________________ is "the hair in a bun and the clenched fist before a microphone".
Kirchner immediately _________________ challenges upon taking power. She ______________ high inflation, unions demanding higher salaries, corruption, and a credit crisis. She introduced some very unpopular taxes and her __________________. A poll taken in April 2008 showed her disapproval rating was at 61.8%. She needs to _________________ around her country’s economy and her own political fortunes.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics:
Cristina Kirchner (born February 19, 1953) is an Argentine lawyer and the currant / current President of Argentina. She is the wife of former / firmer President Nestor Kirchner. Before she became president, she was a Senator for Buenos Aires and First Lady during her husband's team / term. She swept to power in October 2007. She crushed the other candidates, with a 22% lead under / over her nearest rival.
Kirchner briefly / briefs started out in politics in the 1970s. However, because / due to the authoritarian rule in her country, she dropped out / in to practice law. She re-entered politics in the late 1980s and in 1995, she became a senator. She was a guiding light behind her husband’s successful presidential campaign in 2003. She gained a reputation for being a strong speaker and won much / many admirers.
Kirchner is Argentina's second female president. She is the first wife in / on any country’s history to be elected to succeed her wife / husband as leader. She is often compared / comparison to Eva ‘Evita’ Peron but always rejects the comparisons. She once said the only similarity / similar is "the hair in a bun and the clenched fist before a microphone".
Kirchner immediately faced some mighty / might challenges upon taking power. She had to tackle / trickle high inflation, unions demanding higher salaries, corruption, and a credit crisis. She introduced some very unpopular taxis / taxes and her popularity nosedived. A poll / pole taken in April 2008 showed her disapproval rating was at 61.8%. She needs to dig deep to turn around her country’s economy and her own political fortunes.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
the nrrutce President of Argentina
2.
the wife of rrefmo President Nestor Kirchner
3.
She tepws to power in October 2007
4.
a 22% lead over her staenre rival
Paragraph 2
5.
Kirchner elirfyb started out in politics in the 1970s
6.
she dorpepd out to practice law
7.
a iigundg light
8.
won many radmsier
Paragraph 3
9.
Kirchner is Argentina's second felame president
10.
cdsueec her husband as leader
11.
She is often apedcrom to Eva ‘Evita’ Peron
12.
the only iayrmitils
Paragraph 4
13.
Kirchner immediately cfdae some mighty challenges
14.
She had to tlacek high inflation
15.
a credit isrisc
16.
her disapproval tgnrai was at 61.8%
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
Kirchner immediately faced some mighty challenges upon taking power. She had to tackle high inflation, unions
( 1 )
Cristina Kirchner (born February 19, 1953) is an Argentine lawyer and the current President of Argentina. She is the
( )
Kirchner briefly started out in politics in the 1970s. However, due to the authoritarian rule in her country, she dropped
( )
out to practice law. She re-entered politics in the late 1980s and in1995, she became a senator. She was a guiding
( )
demanding higher salaries, corruption, and a credit crisis. She introduced some very unpopular taxes and her popularity
( )
wife of former President Nestor Kirchner. Before she became president, she was a Senator for Buenos Aires and First
( )
her husband as leader. She is often compared to Eva ‘Evita’ Peron but always rejects the comparisons. She once said the
( )
the other candidates, with a 22% lead over her nearest rival.
( )
only similarity is "the hair in a bun and the clenched fist before a microphone".
( )
light behind her husband’s successful presidential campaign in 2003. She gained a
( )
reputation for being a strong speaker and won many admirers.
( )
deep to turn around her country’s economy and her own political fortunes.
( )
Lady during her husband's term. She swept to power in October 2007. She crushed
( )
Kirchner is Argentina's second female president. She is the first wife in any country’s history to be elected to succeed
( )
nosedived. A poll taken in April 2008 showed her disapproval rating was at 61.8%. She needs to dig
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
the Nestor wife Kirchner of She former is President
2.
She to in 2007 swept power October
3.
% a rival nearest her over lead 22
4.
to out dropped she law practice
5.
being gained a a strong reputation speaker for She
6.
often ‘Evita’ compared Peron to She Eva is
7.
fist clenched the microphone a before
8.
immediately Kirchner challenges mighty some faced
9.
inflation high tackle to had She
10.
turn around her country’s economy She needs to dig deep to
DISCUSSION (Write your questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Cristina Kirchner?
2.
Would you like to meet Cristina Kirchner?
3.
What would you like to know about Cristina Kirchner 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 Cristina Kirchner. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. CRISTINA KIRCHNER POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Cristina Kirchner. 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 Cristina Kirchner. 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 Cristina Kirchner. 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 “Cristina Kirchner expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
lawyer
a.
attorney
2
former
b.
ex-
3.
rival
c.
opponent
4.
authoritarian
d.
dictatorial
5.
reputation
e.
name
6.
admirers
f.
fans
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
succeed
g.
follow
8.
comparisons
h.
similarities
9.
clenched
i.
closed tightly
10.
mighty
j.
huge
11
nosedived
k
dropped
12
fortunes
l
position
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
She swept to
a.
power in October 2007
2
a 22% lead over
b.
her nearest rival
3.
Kirchner briefly started
c.
out in politics in the 1970s
4.
a guiding
d.
light
5.
won many
e.
admirers
6.
succeed her
f.
husband as leader
7.
She is often compared
g.
to Eva ‘Evita’ Peron
8.
faced some
h.
mighty challenges
9.
She had to tackle high
i.
inflation
10.
She needs to dig deep to turn around
j.
her country’s economy
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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