Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Fidel Castro. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Fidel Castro is a Cuban revolutionary leader who became one of the highest profile figures of the twentieth century. He was Cuba's leader from 1959 until his retirement in 2008. For most of his life he has fought the political and commercial influence of the United States in Cuba. He governed his country throughout decades of a US trade embargo.
Castro was born on a sugar plantation in 1926. He had a very poor upbringing. He was an extremely bright student at school and decided to study law. In 1945, Castro entered law school at the University of Havana. He became politically active and wanted to bring social justice to his country. He thought the poverty in Cuba was wholly unnecessary.
Castro graduated from law school in 1950 and began practicing as a lawyer. He became well known for despising American influence in Cuban affairs. He decided revolution was the only way to advance Cuban nationalism. He went to Mexico to plan a guerilla invasion of Cuba. There he met Che Guevara, who helped shape his political beliefs and military plans.
Castro’s rebel forces started the revolution in December 1958. They quickly seized power of the whole of Cuba and sent President Batista fleeing. The 32-year-old Castro became prime minister in February 1959. He went to the USA but was denied a meeting with President Eisenhower. He then went to the Soviet Union and became a Soviet ally. He stood firm against the USA for four decades.
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.
figures
a.
totally
2
influence
b.
people
3.
embargo
c.
intelligent
4.
upbringing
d.
ban
5.
bright
e.
childhood
6.
wholly
f.
control
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
practicing
g.
took over
8.
despising
h.
friend
9.
shape
i.
hating
10.
seized
j.
running away
11
fleeing
k
form
12
ally
l
working
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
a Cuban revolutionary
a.
active
2
the political and commercial influence
b.
power
3.
a US trade
c.
to his country
4.
He became politically
d.
against the USA
5.
bring social justice
e.
of the United States
6.
practicing
f.
the only way
7.
revolution was
g.
embargo
8.
shape his
h.
leader
9.
They quickly seized
i.
as a lawyer
10.
He stood firm
j.
political beliefs
LISTENING GAP FILL
Fidel Castro is a Cuban revolutionary leader ________________ of the highest ________________ the twentieth century. He was Cuba's leader from 1959 until his retirement in 2008. For most of his life he has fought the political and commercial ________________ United States in Cuba. He governed his country throughout decades of a US ________________.
Castro was born on a sugar plantation in 1926. He had a very ________________. He was an extremely ________________ at school and decided to study law. In 1945, Castro entered law school at the University of Havana. He became ________________ and wanted to bring social justice to his country. He thought ________________ Cuba was wholly unnecessary.
Castro graduated from law school in 1950 and began _____________ lawyer. He became ________________ despising American influence in Cuban affairs. He decided revolution was the only way to advance Cuban nationalism. He went to Mexico to plan ________________ of Cuba. There he met Che Guevara, who helped shape his political beliefs ________________.
Castro’s ________________ started the revolution in December 1958. They quickly ________________ the whole of Cuba and sent President Batista fleeing. The 32-year-old Castro became prime minister in February 1959. He went to the USA but ________________ with President Eisenhower. He then went to the Soviet Union and became ________________. He stood firm against the USA for four decades.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Fidel Castro is a Cuban revolting / revolutionary leader who became one of the highest profile figure / figures of the twentieth century. He was Cuba's leader from 1959 until his retirement / retired in 2008. For most of his life he has fought the political and commercial influence for / of the United States in Cuba. He governed his country throughout decades of a US trade embargo.
Castro was born on / at a sugar plantation in 1926. He had a very poor upbringing. He was an extremely / extreme bright student at school and decided to study law. In 1945, Castro entered law school at the University of Havana. He became politically active / activity and wanted to bring social justice to his country. He thought the poor / poverty in Cuba was wholly unnecessary.
Castro graduated from law school in 1950 and begun / began practicing as a lawyer. He became well known for despising American influence at / in Cuban affairs. He decided revolution was the only way to advance Cuban nationalism. He went to Mexico to plan a gorilla / guerilla invasion of Cuba. There he met Che Guevara, who helped shape his political beliefs and military plants / plans.
Castro’s rebel farces / forces started the revolution in December 1958. They quickly seizure / seized power of the whole of Cuba and sent President Batista flee / fleeing. The 32-year-old Castro became prime minister in February 1959. He went to the USA but was denied a meeting with President Eisenhower. He then went to the Soviet Union and became a Soviet ally / rally. He stood firm against the USA for four decades.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
revolutionary edlear
2.
gfresui of the twentieth century
3.
He rvneegdo his country
4.
ceedads of a US trade embargo
Paragraph 2
5.
He had a very poor ngniuirpgb
6.
an extremely igtrhb student
7.
He became politically vetaci
8.
bring social sjecitu to his country
Paragraph 3
9.
practicing as a wyaelr
10.
He decided ntouvreoli was the only way
11.
plan a rllaugei invasion of Cuba
12.
atyimilr plans
Paragraph 4
13.
rebel cfoesr
14.
They quickly dzeise power
15.
dindee a meeting with President Eisenhower
16.
He stood firm ganitas the USA
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
politically active and wanted to bring social justice to his country. He thought the poverty in Cuba was wholly unnecessary.
( )
figures of the twentieth century. He was Cuba's leader from 1959 until his retirement in 2008. For most of his
( )
Castro graduated from law school in 1950 and began practicing as a lawyer. He became well known for despising
( )
life he has fought the political and commercial influence of the United States in Cuba. He governed
( )
power of the whole of Cuba and sent President Batista fleeing. The 32-year-old Castro became prime
( )
the Soviet Union and became a Soviet ally. He stood firm against the USA for four decades.
( 1 )
Fidel Castro is a Cuban revolutionary leader who became one of the highest profile
( )
student at school and decided to study law. In 1945, Castro entered law school at the University of Havana. He became
( )
minister in February 1959. He went to the USA but was denied a meeting with President Eisenhower. He then went to
( )
Che Guevara, who helped shape his political beliefs and military plans.
( )
nationalism. He went to Mexico to plan a guerilla invasion of Cuba. There he met
( )
his country throughout decades of a US trade embargo.
( )
Castro’s rebel forces started the revolution in December 1958. They quickly seized
( )
Castro was born on a sugar plantation in 1926. He had a very poor upbringing. He was an extremely bright
( )
American influence in Cuban affairs. He decided revolution was the only way to advance Cuban
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
of century the figures twentieth of profile the one highest
2.
political the and United commercial States influence the of
3.
school at student bright extremely an was He
4.
country his to justice social bring
5.
Cuba thought was the wholly poverty unnecessary in He
6.
the way decided was only He revolution
7.
a plan Cuba of invasion guerilla
8.
and beliefs political his shape helped plans military
9.
seized of power Cuba of They the quickly whole
10.
the He USA stood for firm four against decades
FIDEL CASTRO DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Fidel Castro?
2.
Would you like to meet Fidel Castro?
3.
What would you like to know about Fidel Castro 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 Fidel Castro. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. FIDEL CASTRO POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Fidel Castro. 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 Fidel Castro. 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 Fidel Castro. 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 “Fidel Castro expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
figures
a.
people
2
influence
b.
control
3.
embargo
c.
ban
4.
upbringing
d.
childhood
5.
bright
e.
intelligent
6.
wholly
f.
totally
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
practicing
g.
working
8.
despising
h.
hating
9.
shape
i.
form
10.
seized
j.
took over
11
fleeing
k
running away
12
ally
l
friend
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
a Cuban revolutionary
a.
leader
2
the political and commercial influence
b.
of the United States
3.
a US trade
c.
embargo
4.
He became politically
d.
active
5.
bring social justice
e.
to his country
6.
practicing
f.
as a lawyer
7.
revolution was
g.
the only way
8.
shape his
h.
political beliefs
9.
They quickly seized
i.
power
10.
He stood firm
j.
against the USA
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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