Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (born 1938) became President of Liberia in 2005. She was Africa's first ever elected female head of state. She has the nickname “Iron Lady” because of her iron will and determination. She also actively campaigns for women’s rights. Before taking office as president, she worked for the World Bank and was vice president of Citibank Africa.
Johnson Sirleaf went to the top schools in the Liberian capital Monrovia. She was a very bright and diligent student. Her family moved to the USA, where she got her Bachelor’s degree in accounting. She had a head for figures. In 1971, she graduated from Harvard University with a Master’s in Public Administration. She was now equipped to help her poor country.
Ellen returned to Liberia and worked hard in several government positions and soon became Assistant Minister of Finance. In 1980, a coup forced Johnson Sirleaf into exile in Kenya. She returned home to run for the Senate in 1985. However, when she spoke out against the military regime, she was put in prison. After her release, she fled to America.
She returned to Liberia in 1997 to run in the presidential election. She got only 10% of the votes. She continued to play an active role in politics. She contested the 2005 elections and beat her rival, the soccer player George Weah. She wants Liberia to “become a brilliant beacon, an example to Africa and the world of what love of liberty can achieve”.
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.
head of state
a.
numbers
2
will
b.
fights
3.
campaigns
c.
hard-working
4.
diligent
d.
leader
5.
figures
e.
prepared
6.
equipped
f.
strength of character
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
several
g.
escaped
8.
regime
h.
freedom
9.
fled
i.
opponent
10.
contested
j.
government
11
rival
k
numerous
12
liberty
l
fought for
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
She was Africa's first ever
a.
for figures
2
She has the nickname “Iron Lady”
b.
and beat her rival
3.
She was a very bright and
c.
to help her poor country
4.
She had a head
d.
out against the military
5.
She was now equipped
e.
because of her iron will
6.
worked hard in several
f.
into exile in Kenya
7.
a coup forced Johnson Sirleaf
g.
elected female head of state
8.
she spoke
h.
what love of liberty can achieve
9.
She contested the 2005 elections
i.
government positions
10.
an example to Africa and the world of
j.
diligent student
LISTENING GAP FILL
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (born 1938) became President of Liberia in 2005. She was Africa's _______________ female head of state. She has the nickname “Iron Lady” because of _______________ determination. She also actively campaigns _______________. Before _______________ president, she worked for the World Bank and was vice president of Citibank Africa.
Johnson Sirleaf _______________ schools in the Liberian capital Monrovia. She was a very _______________ student. Her family moved to the USA, where she got her Bachelor’s degree in accounting. She _______________ figures. In 1971, she graduated from Harvard University with a Master’s in Public Administration. She _______________ to help her poor country.
Ellen returned to Liberia and worked _______________ government positions and soon became Assistant Minister of Finance. In 1980, _______________ Johnson Sirleaf into exile in Kenya. She returned home to run for the Senate in 1985. However, _______________ against the military regime, _______________ prison. After her release, she fled to America.
She returned to Liberia in 1997 to run in the presidential election. She _______________ of the votes. She continued to play _______________ politics. She contested the 2005 elections and _______________, the soccer player George Weah. She wants Liberia to “become a brilliant beacon, an example to Africa and _______________ love of liberty can achieve”.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics:
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (born 1938) became President of Liberia in 2005. She was Africa's first ever / even elected female leader / head of state. She has the nickname “Iron Lady” because of her iron will / shall and determination. She also actively campaigns for women’s rights. Before taking office as president, she worked for the World Bank and was vice / nice president of Citibank Africa.
Johnson Sirleaf went to the top schools in the Liberian capital Monrovia. She was a very right / bright and diligent student. Her family moved to the USA, where she got her Bachelor’s degree in accounting. She had a head of / for figures. In 1971, she graduated from Harvard University with a Master’s in Public Administration. She was now equipped / equipment to help her poor / poverty country.
Ellen returned to Liberia and worked hardly / hard in several government positions and soon became Assistant Minister of Finance. In 1980, a coup forced Johnson Sirleaf into / out exile in Kenya. She returned home to run / jog for the Senate in 1985. However, when she spoke out against the military regime, she was put in prison. After her release, she fled / flee to America.
She returned to Liberia in 1997 to run in the presidential election. She got only 10% of the votes. She continued to playing / play an active role in politics. She contested the 2005 elections and won / beat her rival, the soccer player George Weah. She wants Liberia to “become a brilliant bacon / beacon, an example to Africa and the world of what love of liberty can achieve / achievement”.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
Africa's first ever deltece female head of state
2.
She has the mkcnaein “Iron Lady”
3.
She also yelvctai campaigns for women’s rights
4.
vice eedsntpir of Citibank Africa
Paragraph 2
5.
the Liberian ltiacap Monrovia
6.
She was a very bright and igntdile student
7.
She had a head for rugeisf
8.
She was now eppeiqdu to help her poor country
Paragraph 3
9.
worked hard in verlesa government positions
10.
In 1980, a coup defcor Johnson Sirleaf into exile in Kenya
11.
she spoke out against the military egimer
12.
After her eealrse, she fled to America
Paragraph 4
13.
She got only 10% of the tesvo
14.
She tscneoetd the 2005 elections
15.
She wants Liberia to become a itlnrliab beacon
16.
what love of trbeyli can achieve
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
She returned to Liberia in 1997 to run in the presidential election. She got only 10% of the
( )
rival, the soccer player George Weah. She wants Liberia to “become a brilliant
( )
diligent student. Her family moved to the USA, where she got her Bachelor’s degree in accounting. She had a head
( )
votes. She continued to play an active role in politics. She contested the 2005 elections and beat her
( 1 )
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (born 1938) became President of Liberia in 2005. She was Africa's first ever elected
( )
Administration. She was now equipped to help her poor country.
( )
female head of state. She has the nickname “Iron Lady” because of her iron will
( )
as president, she worked for the World Bank and was vice president of Citibank Africa.
( )
Ellen returned to Liberia and worked hard in several government positions and soon became Assistant Minister
( )
Johnson Sirleaf went to the top schools in the Liberian capital Monrovia. She was a very bright and
( )
and determination. She also actively campaigns for women’s rights. Before taking office
( )
1985. However, when she spoke out against the military regime, she was put in prison. After her release, she fled to America.
( )
beacon, an example to Africa and the world of what love of liberty can achieve.”
( )
for figures. In 1971, she graduated from Harvard University with a Master’s in Public
( )
of Finance. In 1980, a coup forced Johnson Sirleaf into exile in Kenya. She returned home to run for the Senate in
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
state Africa's elected of was ever head first female.
2.
actively for rights also campaigns women’s She
3.
diligent and bright very a was She student
4.
had She figures for head a
5.
her now poor equipped country to She help was
6.
a , 1980 In Kenya in exile into Sirleaf Johnson forced coup
7.
release her After America to fled she ,
8.
the of % 10 only got She votes
9.
role to in play politics an She active continued
10.
to Liberia wants She beacon brilliant a become
DISCUSSION (Write your questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Ellen Johnson Sirleaf?
2.
Would you like to meet Ellen Johnson Sirleaf?
3.
What would you like to know about Ellen Johnson Sirleaf 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 Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. 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 Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. 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 Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. 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 “Ellen Johnson Sirleaf expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
head of state
a.
leader
2
will
b.
strength of character
3.
campaigns
c.
fights
4.
diligent
d.
hard-working
5.
figures
e.
numbers
6.
equipped
f.
prepared
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
several
g.
numerous
8.
regime
h.
government
9.
fled
i.
escaped
10.
contested
j.
fought for
11
rival
k
opponent
12
liberty
l
freedom
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
She was Africa's first ever
a.
elected female head of state
2
She has the nickname “Iron Lady”
b.
because of her iron will
3.
She was a very bright and
c.
diligent student
4.
She had a head
d.
for figures
5.
She was now equipped
e.
to help her poor country
6.
worked hard in several
f.
government positions
7.
a coup forced Johnson Sirleaf
g.
into exile in Kenya
8.
she spoke
h.
out against the military
9.
She contested the 2005 elections
i.
and beat her rival
10.
an example to Africa and the world of
j.
what love of liberty can achieve
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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