Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Dmitry Medvedev. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Dmitry Medvedev is the third and current President of Russia. He took office in May 2008 after winning the presidential election with 70% of the vote. He was formerly Deputy Prime Minister and Vladimir Putin’s chief of staff and right-hand man. Medvedev has a business background, serving as chairman of Russia’s energy giant Gazprom. Many believe his youthfulness will energize Russia’s role in the world.
Medvedev was born in 1965 to university professor parents. He was brought up in Saint Petersburg (formerly Leningrad) in the former Soviet Union. He was a grade-A student throughout school and went on to study law at Leningrad State University. In 1990, he received his Ph.D. in private law. His first job was in Leningrad’s government. His supervisor was Vladimir Putin.
Between 1991 and 1996 Medvedev was a lawyer for the Saint Petersburg mayor. He specialized in international relations and once again, his boss was Vladimir Putin. While working for the mayor, Medvedev was also the legal affairs director of a timber company. He was a shrewd businessman and ended up owning fifty per cent of the company’s shares.
In 1999, Medvedev’s connection with Vladimir Putin continued. Putin invited Medvedev to take up a top government position in Moscow as deputy head of the presidential staff. Medvedev became one of President Putin’s closest advisors. In November 2005, he was appointed as First Deputy Prime Minister. After becoming President, he promised the Russian people he would “protect civil and economic freedoms”.
245 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.
current
a.
previously
2
formerly
b.
think
3.
believe
c.
boss
4.
brought up
d.
for the whole of
5.
throughout
e.
present
6.
supervisor
f.
raised
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
lawyer
g.
possessing
8.
shrewd
h.
coonsultants
9.
owning
i.
safeguard
10.
connection
j.
attorney
11
advisors
k
smart
12
protect
l
link
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
right-hand
a.
owning fifty per cent
2
Russia’s energy
b.
university professor parents
3.
his youthfulness will
c.
closest advisors
4.
born in 1965 to
d.
man
5.
went on
e.
freedoms
6.
He specialized in
f.
energize Russia’s role
7.
ended up
g.
international relations
8.
take up a
h.
to study law
9.
became one of President Putin’s
i.
giant Gazprom
10.
protect civil and economic
j.
top government position
LISTENING GAP FILL
Dmitry Medvedev is the ______________ President of Russia. He took office in May 2008 after winning the presidential ______________ __of the vote. He was formerly Deputy Prime Minister and Vladimir Putin’s chief of staff and ______________. Medvedev has a business background, serving as chairman of Russia’s energy giant Gazprom. Many believe his youthfulness ______________ Russia’s role in the world.
Medvedev was born in 1965 to university professor parents. He was ______________ Saint Petersburg (formerly Leningrad) in the former Soviet Union. He was a grade-A student throughout school and went ______________ at Leningrad State University. In 1990, he received his _________________. His first job was in Leningrad’s government. His ______________ Vladimir Putin.
Between 1991 and 1996 Medvedev was a ______________ Saint Petersburg mayor. He specialized in international relations ______________, his boss was Vladimir Putin. While working for the mayor, Medvedev was also ______________ director of a timber company. He was a shrewd businessman and _________________ fifty per cent of the company’s shares.
In 1999, Medvedev’s ______________ Vladimir Putin continued. Putin invited Medvedev ______________ top government position in Moscow as deputy head of the presidential staff. Medvedev became one of President Putin’s ______________. In November 2005, he was appointed as First Deputy Prime Minister. After becoming President, he promised the Russian people he would “______________ and economic freedoms”.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Dmitry Medvedev is the third and currant / current President of Russia. He took taken / office in May 2008 after winning the presidential election with 70% of the vote. He was formerly Deputy Prime Minister and Vladimir Putin’s chief of staff and right-hand / left-hand man. Medvedev has a business background, serving as chairman of Russia’s energy giant Gazprom. Many believe his youthfulness will energy / energize Russia’s role in the world.
Medvedev was born in 1965 to / at university professor parents. He was brought up in Saint Petersburg (formerly Leningrad) in the firmer / former Soviet Union. He was a grade-A student throughout school and went on / onto to study law at Leningrad State University. In 1990, he received / receiving his Ph.D. in private law. His first job was in Leningrad’s government. His supervisor was Vladimir Putin.
Between 1991 and 1996 Medvedev was a lawyer / legal for the Saint Petersburg mayor. He specialist / specialized in international relations and once again, his boss was Vladimir Putin. While working for the major / mayor, Medvedev was also the legal affairs director of a timber company. He was a shrewd / shrew businessman and ended up owning fifty per cent of the company’s shares.
In 1999, Medvedev’s connect / connection with Vladimir Putin continued. Putin invited Medvedev to take down / up a top government position in Moscow as deputy head of the presidential staff. Medvedev became one of President Putin’s closet / closest advisors. In November 2005, he was appointed as First Deputy Prime Minister. After becoming President, he promised the Russian people he will / would “protect civil and economic freedoms”.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
rtcnrue President of Russia
2.
He was rfrmloey Deputy Prime Minister
3.
Russia’s energy nigat Gazprom
4.
gnrzeeie Russia’s role in the world
Paragraph 2
5.
He was boturgh up in Saint Petersburg
6.
itovSe Union
7.
he eediervc his Ph.D. in private law
8.
His ivrusorsep was Vladimir Putin
Paragraph 3
9.
Medvedev was a ryelwa
10.
international lairosetn
11.
the legal affairs ritdcore
12.
ended up ngwino fifty per cent
Paragraph 4
13.
take up a top government psniotio
14.
Putin’s closest roidvass
15.
he was paoepndit as First Deputy Prime Minister
16.
protect civil and economic emsroefd
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
relations and once again, his boss was Vladimir Putin. While working for the
( )
hand man. Medvedev has a business background, serving as chairman of Russia’s energy
( )
election with 70% of the vote. He was formerly Deputy Prime Minister and Vladimir Putin’s chief of staff and right-
( )
Medvedev was born in 1965 to university professor parents. He was brought up in Saint Petersburg (formerly Leningrad) in
( )
In 1999, Medvedev’s connection with Vladimir Putin continued. Putin invited Medvedev to take up a top
( )
government position in Moscow as deputy head of the presidential staff. Medvedev became one of President
( 1 )
Dmitry Medvedev is the third and current President of Russia. He took office in May 2008 after winning the presidential
( )
mayor, Medvedev was also the legal affairs director of a timber company. He was a shrewd
( )
Between 1991 and 1996 Medvedev was a lawyer for the Saint Petersburg mayor. He specialized in international
( )
businessman and ended up owning fifty per cent of the company’s shares.
( )
Putin’s closest advisors. In November 2005, he was appointed as First Deputy Prime Minister. After
( )
becoming President, he promised the Russian people he would “protect civil and economic freedoms”.
( )
In 1990, he received his Ph.D. in private law. His first job was in Leningrad’s government. His supervisor was Vladimir Putin.
( )
the former Soviet Union. He was a grade-A student throughout school and went on to study law at Leningrad State University.
( )
giant Gazprom. Many believe his youthfulness will energize Russia’s role in the world.
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
third Russia and Medvedev current is President the of
2.
chief - of hand staff man and Putin’s right
3.
the in role Russia’s energize world
4.
in parents 1965 Medvedev to was university born professor
5.
first was Leningrad’s His job in government
6.
specialized relations in He international
7.
a of director affairs legal the company timber
8.
the ended fifty of shares owning percent company’s up
9.
the of head deputy staff presidential
10.
freedoms and protect economic civil
DMITRY MEDVEDEV DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Dmitry Medvedev?
2.
Would you like to meet Dmitry Medvedev?
3.
What would you like to know about Dmitry Medvedev 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 Dmitry Medvedev. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. DMITRY MEDVEDEV POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Dmitry Medvedev. 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 Dmitry Medvedev. 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 Dmitry Medvedev. 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 “Dmitry Medvedev expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
current
a.
present
2
formerly
b.
previously
3.
believe
c.
think
4.
brought up
d.
raised
5.
throughout
e.
for the whole of
6.
supervisor
f.
boss
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
lawyer
g.
attorney
8.
shrewd
h.
smart
9.
owning
i.
possessing
10.
connection
j.
link
11
advisors
k
consultants
12
protect
l
safeguard
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
right-hand
a.
man
2
Russia’s energy
b.
giant Gazprom
3.
his youthfulness will
c.
energize Russia’s role
4.
born in 1965 to
d.
university professor parents
5.
went on
e.
to study law
6.
He specialized in
f.
international relations
7.
ended up
g.
owning fifty per cent
8.
take up a
h.
top government position
9.
became one of President Putin’s
i.
closest advisors
10.
protect civil and economic
j.
freedoms
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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