Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Ellen MacArthur. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Dame Ellen MacArthur (born in 1976) is a very brave and talented English yachtswoman. Her first name is Ellen; ‘Dame’ is a special title she received for her outstanding achievements from the British Queen. On 7 February 2005, she broke the world record for being the fastest person to sail around the world. Ellen now heads the crews of Britain’s top sailing teams.
She became interested in sailing after she read the ‘Swallows and Amazons’ books by Arthur Ransome. Her first experience of yachting was on her aunt’s boat on the east coast of England. She instantly fell in love with sailing and the sea. She decided to become a sailor and saved her school dinner money to buy her first boat.
In 1998, aged 22, she was named the Royal Yachting Association "Yachtsman of The Year" in the UK. This encouraged her to go for the big time. In 2001, she came second in the Vendée Globe solo round-the-world race. For this, she got her first honour from Britain’s Queen. She got her second award for breaking the solo circumnavigation of the world.
She has used her fame to start her own charity to help young people with cancer and other serious illnesses. Ellen has also made it to the heavens, as well as the seas; there is an asteroid named 20043 EllenMacarthur. In 2008, she was further honoured; French President Nicolas Sarkozy awarded her the French Legion of Honour.
241 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.
brave
a.
leads
2
outstanding
b.
ocean
3.
heads
c.
extraordinary
4.
experience
d.
courageous
5.
instantly
e.
contact with
6.
sea
f.
straightaway
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
encouraged
g.
single-handed
8.
solo
h.
additionally
9.
circumnavigation
i.
terrible
10.
serious
j.
inspired
11
the heavens
k
sailing around
12
further
l
the sky
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
‘Dame’ is a
a.
the world record
2
she broke
b.
20043 EllenMacarthur
3.
the crews of Britain’s
c.
dinner money
4.
She instantly fell in
d.
serious illnesses
5.
saved her school
e.
top sailing teams
6.
encouraged her to go
f.
of the world
7.
the solo circumnavigation
g.
special title
8.
cancer and other
h.
love with sailing
9.
made it to the heavens,
i.
for the big time
10.
an asteroid named
j.
as well as the seas
LISTENING GAP FILL
Dame Ellen MacArthur (born in 1976) _________________ talented English yachtswoman. Her first name is Ellen; ‘Dame’ is _________________ received for her outstanding _________________ the British Queen. On 7 February 2005, she broke the world record ____________________ person to sail around the world. Ellen now heads the crews of Britain’s top sailing teams.
She became interested in sailing _________________ ‘Swallows and Amazons’ books by Arthur Ransome. Her first experience of yachting was on her aunt’s boat on _________________ England. She _________________ with sailing and the sea. She _________________ a sailor and saved her school dinner money to buy her first boat.
In 1998, aged 22, _________________ the Royal Yachting Association "Yachtsman of The Year" in the UK. This encouraged her _________________ time. In 2001, she _________________ Vendée Globe solo round-the-world race. For this, she got her first honour from Britain’s Queen. She got her second award _________________ circumnavigation of the world.
She has used _________________ her own charity to help young people with cancer and other serious illnesses. Ellen has also _________________, as well as the seas; there is _________________ 20043 EllenMacarthur. In 2008, _________________ honoured; French President Nicolas Sarkozy awarded her the French Legion of Honour.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics:
Dame Ellen MacArthur (born in 1976) is a very brave / bravery and talented English yachtswoman. Her first name is Ellen; ‘Dame’ is a special titled / title she received for her outstanding achievements from the British Queen. On 7 February 2005, she broke / broken the world record for being the fastest person to / for sail around the world. Ellen now heads the crews of Britain’s top sailing teams.
She became interested on / in sailing after she read the ‘Swallows and Amazons’ books by Arthur Ransome. Her first experience of yachting was on her aunt’s boat on the east cost / coast of England. She instantly fell / fallen in love with sailing and the sea. She decided to become a sailor and savings / saved her school dinner money to buy her first boat.
In 1998, aged 22, she was named the Royal Yachting Association "Yachtsman of The Year" in the UK. This encouraged her to go / come for the big time / clock. In 2001, she came / went second in the Vendée Globe solo round-the-world race. For this, she got her first honour from Britain’s Queen. She got her second award for / with breaking the solo circumnavigation of the world.
She has used her fame to start her own / owner charity to help young people with cancer and other serious illnesses / illness. Ellen has also made it to the heavens, as well as the overseas / seas; there is an asteroid named 20043 EllenMacarthur. In 2008, she was farther / further honoured; French President Nicolas Sarkozy awarded her the French Legion of Honour.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
a very brave and ettelnda English yachtswoman
2.
‘Dame’ is a special itlte
3.
the atessft person to sail around the world
4.
the wrcse of Britain’s top sailing teams
Paragraph 2
5.
She became rteidsente in sailing
6.
on the east tacso of England
7.
She antniytsl fell in love with sailing
8.
esvad her school dinner money to buy her first boat
Paragraph 3
9.
This undrgecaoe her
10.
the Vendée Globe solo udrno-the-world race
11.
her first noourh
12.
her second adawr
Paragraph 4
13.
arccne and other serious illnesses
14.
the vnesaeh
15.
is an aoietdsr named 20043 EllenMacarthur
16.
she was efutrhr honoured
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
illnesses. Ellen has also made it to the heavens, as well as the seas; there is an asteroid named
( )
She became interested in sailing after she read the ‘Swallows and Amazons’ books by Arthur Ransome. Her first experience
( )
honour from Britain’s Queen. She got her second award for breaking the solo circumnavigation of the world.
( )
of yachting was on her aunt’s boat on the east coast of England. She instantly fell in love with sailing and the sea. She decided
( )
to become a sailor and saved her school dinner money to buy her first boat.
( )
‘Dame’ is a special title she received for her outstanding achievements from the British Queen. On 7 February 2005, she
( )
further honoured; French President Nicolas Sarkozy awarded her the French Legion of Honour.
( 1 )
Dame Ellen MacArthur (born in 1976) is a very brave and talented English yachtswoman. Her first name is Ellen;
( )
She has used her fame to start her own charity to help young people with cancer and other serious
( )
"Yachtsman of The Year" in the UK. This encouraged her to go for the big
( )
broke the world record for being the fastest person to sail around the world. Ellen now heads the
( )
time. In 2001, she came second in the Vendée Globe solo round-the-world race. For this, she got her first
( )
In 1998, aged 22, she was named the Royal Yachting Association
( )
crews of Britain’s top sailing teams.
( )
20043 EllenMacarthur. In 2008, she was
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
talented yachtswoman very and English a brave
2.
sail to person fastest the world the around
3.
of sailing now crews top Ellen the Britain’s teams heads
4.
She fell love sailing instantly in with
5.
her money her saved dinner buy boat school to first
6.
encouraged the her big to time go This for
7.
first her got she Queen Britain’s from honour
8.
her start charity used to own has fame her She
9.
to it made also has Ellen heavens the
10.
is asteroid 20043 there an named EllenMacarthur
DISCUSSION (Write your questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Ellen MacArthur?
2.
Would you like to meet Ellen MacArthur?
3.
What would you like to know about Ellen MacArthur 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 MacArthur. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. ELLEN MACARTHUR POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Ellen MacArthur. 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 Dame Ellen MacArthur. 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 Dame Ellen MacArthur. 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 “Dame Ellen MacArthur expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
brave
a.
courageous
2
outstanding
b.
extraordinary
3.
heads
c.
leads
4.
experience
d.
contact with
5.
instantly
e.
straightaway
6.
sea
f.
ocean
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
encouraged
g.
inspired
8.
solo
h.
single-handed
9.
circumnavigation
i.
sailing around
10.
serious
j.
terrible
11
the heavens
k
the sky
12
further
l
additionally
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
‘Dame’ is a
a.
special title
2
she broke
b.
the world record
3.
the crews of Britain’s
c.
top sailing teams
4.
She instantly fell in
d.
love with sailing
5.
saved her school
e.
dinner money
6.
encouraged her to go
f.
for the big time
7.
the solo circumnavigation
g.
of the world
8.
cancer and other
h.
serious illnesses
9.
made it to the heavens,
i.
as well as the seas
10.
an asteroid named
j.
20043 EllenMacarthur
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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