Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Helen Keller. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Helen Adams Keller was an American author, activist and lecturer. She was the first American deaf and blind person to graduate from college. From an early age she decided to communicate with the world, despite her barriers to communication. She became a prolific author, anti-war campaigner and spokeswoman for women’s and worker’s rights. She is also an inspiration to millions.
Helen Keller was born in Alabama in 1880. When she was nineteen months old, she contracted a mysterious illness that left her deaf and blind. She developed a friendship with the daughter of her family’s cook, who created a sign language with her. By the age of seven, Helen was using over 60 signs with her family. She knew she could communicate.
In 1886, her mother read Charles Dickens' book ‘American Notes’ about the successful education of a deaf and blind child. She decided to seek help for Helen and was put in touch with 20-year-old teacher Anne Sullivan. She became Helen’s instructor and friend for the next 49 years. Helen learnt Braille and used it to learn French, German and Greek.
Keller had great ambitions and went on to become a world-famous speaker and author. She campaigned for people with disabilities, among many other causes. She travelled to 39 countries and was friends with US presidents and famous figures, including Charlie Chaplin, and Mark Twain. Keller also wrote twelve books and many articles on social issues. Keller died in her sleep in 1968, aged 87.
247 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.
author
a.
got
2
barriers
b.
guiding light
3.
inspiration
c.
get her message across
4.
contracted
d.
formed
5.
developed
e.
writer
6.
communicate
f.
obstacles
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
successful
g.
in contact
8.
seek
h.
fought
9.
in touch
i.
effective
10.
campaigned
j.
people
11
figures
k
passed away
12
died
l
look for
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
barriers
a.
with disabilities
2
She is also an inspiration
b.
illness
3.
she contracted a mysterious
c.
a friendship
4.
She developed
d.
to learn French
5.
Helen was using over 60
e.
in her sleep
6.
She decided to seek
f.
signs with her family
7.
Helen learnt Braille and used it
g.
to communication
8.
She campaigned for people
h.
to millions
9.
famous
i.
help for Helen
10.
Keller died
j.
figures
LISTENING GAP FILL
Helen Adams Keller was an American author, _________________. She was the first American deaf and blind person to graduate from college. From _________________ she decided to communicate with the world, despite her barriers to communication. She became a prolific _________________ campaigner and spokeswoman for women’s and worker’s rights. She is also _________________ millions.
Helen Keller was born in Alabama in 1880. When she was nineteen months old, _________________ mysterious illness ______________ deaf and blind. She developed a friendship with the daughter of her family’s cook, who _________________ language with her. By the age of seven, Helen was _________________ signs with her family. She knew she could communicate.
In 1886, _________________ Charles Dickens' book ‘American Notes’ about the successful education of a deaf and blind child. She decided _________________ Helen and was _________________ teacher Anne Sullivan. She became Helen’s instructor and friend for the next 49 years. Helen learnt Braille _________________ French, German and Greek.
Keller _________________ and went on to become a world-famous speaker and author. She campaigned for people _________________ many other causes. She travelled to 39 countries and was friends with US presidents _________________, including Charlie Chaplin, and Mark Twain. Keller also wrote twelve books and many articles on social issues. Keller _________________ 1968, aged 87.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Helen Adams Keller was an American author, activism / activist and lecturer. She was the first American deaf and blind person / people to graduate from college. From an early era / age she decided to communicate with the world, despite her barriers to communication. She became a prolific author, anti-war campaigner and spokeswoman for women’s and worker’s rights. She is also an inspiring / inspiration to millions.
Helen Keller was born in Alabama in 1880. When she was nineteen months old, she contacted / contracted a mysterious illness that left / right her deaf and blind. She developed a friendship for / with the daughter of her family’s cook, who created a sign language with her. By the age of seven, Helen was used / using over 60 signs with her family. She knew she could communicate.
In 1886, her mother reading / read Charles Dickens' book ‘American Notes’ about the successful education of a deaf and blind child. She decided to hide / seek help for Helen and was put in / on touch with 20-year-old teacher Anne Sullivan. She became Helen’s instructor and friend for the next 49 years. Helen learnt Braille and used to / used it to learn French, German and Greek.
Keller had great ambitions / ambitious and went on to become a world-famous speaker and author. She campaigned for people by / with disabilities, among many other caused / causes. She travelled to 39 countries and was friends with US presidents and famous figures, including Charlie Chaplin, and Mark Twain. Keller also wrote twelve books and many articles on social issues. Keller died in her sleeping / sleep in 1968, aged 87.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
deaf and lbndi person
2.
her earrirbs to communication
3.
She became a fciploir author
4.
an inspiration to smoilnil
Paragraph 2
5.
she contracted a mysterious nlilsse
6.
She eedolvdpe a friendship
7.
created a sign uglngeaa
8.
Helen was gisun over 60 signs with her family
Paragraph 3
9.
the successful identouac of a deaf and blind child
10.
She ediecdd to seek help
11.
She became Helen’s tuitrsrcno and friend
12.
Helen learnt laeilBr
Paragraph 4
13.
Keller had great omitibnas
14.
people with ileaistidibs
15.
friends with US nitseprdes
16.
articles on social sussei
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
Keller had great ambitions and went on to become a world-famous speaker and author. She campaigned
( )
person to graduate from college. From an early age she decided to communicate with the world, despite her barriers
( )
a sign language with her. By the age of seven, Helen was using over 60 signs with her family. She knew she could communicate.
( )
blind child. She decided to seek help for Helen and was put in touch with 20-year-old teacher Anne Sullivan. She
( )
illness that left her deaf and blind. She developed a friendship with the daughter of her family’s cook, who created
( )
became Helen’s instructor and friend for the next 49 years. Helen learnt Braille and used
( )
it to learn French, German and Greek.
( 1 )
Helen Adams Keller was an American author, activist and lecturer. She was the first American deaf and blind
( )
In 1886, her mother read Charles Dickens' book ‘American Notes’ about the successful education of a deaf and
( )
presidents and famous figures, including Charlie Chaplin, and Mark Twain. Keller also wrote twelve books and
( )
to communication. She became a prolific author, anti-war campaigner and spokeswoman for
( )
many articles on social issues. Keller died in her sleep in 1968, aged 87.
( )
Helen Keller was born in Alabama in 1880. When she was nineteen months old, she contracted a mysterious
( )
women’s and worker’s rights. She is also an inspiration to millions.
( )
for people with disabilities, among many other causes. She travelled to 39 countries and was friends with US
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
American to deaf graduate and the blind first person
2.
a She prolific became author
3.
an to She also inspiration millions is
4.
illness and that blind left a her mysterious deaf
5.
over family 60 Helen signs was with using her
6.
education blind of child a the deaf successful and
7.
instructor Helen’s became She friend and
8.
Helen it learnt to Braille learn and French used
9.
campaigned She disabilities with people for
10.
in in aged died sleep , Keller her 1968 87
HELEN KELLER DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Helen Keller?
2.
Would you like to have met Helen Keller?
3.
What would you like to know about Helen Keller 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 Helen Keller. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. HELEN KELLER POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Helen Keller. 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 Helen Keller. Include an imaginary interview with her. Write about what she did every day and what she thought 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 Helen Keller. Ask her three questions about her life. Tell her how important she is in today’s world. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your “Helen Keller expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
author
a.
writer
2
barriers
b.
obstacles
3.
inspiration
c.
guiding light
4.
contracted
d.
got
5.
developed
e.
formed
6.
communicate
f.
get her message across
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
successful
g.
effective
8.
seek
h.
look for
9.
in touch
i.
in contact
10.
campaigned
j.
fought
11
figures
k
people
12
died
l
passed away
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
barriers
a.
to communication
2
She is also an inspiration
b.
to millions
3.
she contracted a mysterious
c.
illness
4.
She developed
d.
a friendship
5.
Helen was using over 60
e.
signs with her family
6.
She decided to seek
f.
help for Helen
7.
Helen learnt Braille and used it
g.
to learn French
8.
She campaigned for people
h.
with disabilities
9.
famous
i.
figures
10.
Keller died
j.
in her sleep
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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