Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on John McCain. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
John McCain is the United States Senator for Arizona and the Republican Party’s nominee for U.S. President in the 2008 election. He had a distinguished military career and won a Purple Heart medal in Vietnam. He entered politics in 1981 and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986. He is a conservative who has his own views on key issues.
McCain was born in 1936 in Panama to a U.S. naval officer. In 1951, his family returned to the USA and he attended a private school. Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, McCain entered the military. He loved boxing and showed many leadership skills during his training. He graduated from his naval academy in 1958.
McCain's combat duty began in 1967 when he was 30 years old. He was assigned to be a fighter pilot in the Vietnam War. His plane was shot down on his twenty-third bombing mission. Badly injured, he was taken to the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” prison and tortured. He spent almost six years there, two in solitary confinement. He returned to America as a hero.
McCain retired from the Navy in 1981 and set his sights on a political career. He spent four years in local politics in Arizona before becoming the state’s Senator in 1986. He won re-election by large majorities in 1992, 1998, and 2004. He has worked to restore relations with Vietnam during his time in office. Three of his sons have entered the military.
246 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.
nominee
a.
important
2
distinguished
b.
joined
3.
key
c.
went back
4.
returned
d.
talents
5.
entered
e.
great
6.
skills
f.
candidate
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
combat
g.
appointed
8.
assigned
h.
ambitions
9.
infamous
i.
margins
10.
sights
j.
repair
11
majorities
k
notorious
12
restore
l
fighting
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
the Republican Party’s
a.
issues
2
a distinguished
b.
on a political career
3.
his own views on key
c.
skills
4.
Following in the
d.
duty began in 1967
5.
leadership
e.
military career
6.
McCain's combat
f.
confinement
7.
He was assigned to be a fighter
g.
footsteps of his father
8.
solitary
h.
large majorities
9.
set his sights
i.
nominee for U.S. President
10.
He won re-election by
j.
pilot in the Vietnam War
LISTENING GAP FILL
John McCain is the United States Senator for Arizona and the Republican Party’s ______________ U.S. President in the 2008 election. He had a distinguished military ______________ won a Purple Heart medal in Vietnam. He entered ______________ and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986. He is a conservative who has his own views ____________.
McCain was born in 1936 in Panama ______________ officer. In 1951, his family returned to the USA and ______________ private school. Following in ______________ his father and grandfather, McCain entered the military. He loved boxing and showed many leadership skills during his training. He graduated from ________________ in 1958.
McCain's combat ______________ 1967 when he was 30 years old. He was assigned ______________ pilot in the Vietnam War. His plane was shot down on his twenty-third ______________. Badly injured, he was taken to the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” prison and tortured. He spent almost six years there, ______________ confinement. He returned to America as a hero.
McCain ______________ the Navy in 1981 and set his sights on a political career. He spent four years ______________ in Arizona before becoming the state’s Senator in 1986. He won re-election by ______________ in 1992, 1998, and 2004. He has worked to restore relations with Vietnam during ______________ office. Three of his sons have entered the military.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
John McCain is the United States Senator for Arizona and the Republican Party’s nominee from / for U.S. President in the 2008 election. He had a distinguished military / militia career and won a Purple Heart medal / medallion in Vietnam. He entered politics in 1981 and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986. He is a conservative who has his own views on key issue / issues.
McCain was born in 1936 in Panama at / to a U.S. naval officer. In 1951, his family returned to the USA and he attention / attended a private school. Following in the footsteps / footprints of his father and grandfather, McCain entered the military. He loved boxing and showed many leadership skills / skill during his training. He graduated from his naval academy in 1958.
McCain's combat duty began in 1967 when he was 30 years old. He was assigned to be a fighter / fighting pilot in the Vietnam War. His plane was shot down / under on his twenty-third bombing mission. Badly injured, he was taken to the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” prison and tortured / torturing. He spent almost six years there, two in solitary / alone confinement. He returned to America as a hero.
McCain retired / quit from the Navy in 1981 and set his sites / sights on a political career. He spent four years in local politics in Arizona before becoming the state’s Senator in 1986. He won re-election by large majority / majorities in 1992, 1998, and 2004. He has worked to restore relations with Vietnam during his time / timing in office. Three of his sons have entered the military.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
nneomei for U.S. President
2.
a distinguished tliirmay career
3.
eeecdlt to the U.S. Senate
4.
key sesusi
Paragraph 2
5.
he attended a vrtapie school
6.
Following in the ftssopeto of his father
7.
showed many leadership kissll
8.
aanvl academy
Paragraph 3
9.
McCain's tmboca duty began in 1967
10.
fighter ploit
11.
dbaly injured
12.
He ernruetd to America as a hero
Paragraph 4
13.
McCain dtriree from the Navy in 1981
14.
He spent four years in callo politics
15.
He won re-election by gerla majorities
16.
restore noeiatlrs with Vietnam
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
to be a fighter pilot in the Vietnam War. His plane was shot down on his twenty-third bombing mission. Badly
( )
McCain was born in 1936 in Panama to a U.S. naval officer. In 1951, his family returned to the USA and he attended a
( )
career. He spent four years in local politics in Arizona before becoming the state’s Senator in 1986. He won
( 1 )
John McCain is the United States Senator for Arizona and the Republican Party’s nominee for U.S. President in the
( )
almost six years there, two in solitary confinement. He returned to America as a hero.
( )
politics in 1981 and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986. He is a conservative who has his own views on key issues.
( )
injured, he was taken to the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” prison and tortured. He spent
( )
McCain's combat duty began in 1967 when he was 30 years old. He was assigned
( )
private school. Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, McCain entered the military. He loved
( )
2008 election. He had a distinguished military career and won a Purple Heart medal in Vietnam. He entered
( )
McCain retired from the Navy in 1981 and set his sights on a political
( )
boxing and showed many leadership skills during his training. He graduated from his naval academy in 1958.
( )
re-election by large majorities in 1992, 1998, and 2004. He has worked to restore
( )
relations with Vietnam during his time in office. Three of his sons have entered the military.
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
a had He career military distinguished
2.
his a own conservative views who He has is
3.
father the and footsteps grandfather of Following his in
4.
during training many skills his showed leadership
5.
in academy naval his from graduated He 1958
6.
assigned was He pilot fighter a be to
7.
returned America a He to as hero
8.
political set sights a career his on
9.
worked has He Vietnam with relations restore to
10.
have sons his of Three military the entered
JOHN MCCAIN DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about John McCain?
2.
Would you like to meet John McCain?
3.
What would you like to know about John McCain 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 John McCain. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. JOHN MCCAIN POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of John McCain. 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 John McCain. 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 John McCain. 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 “John McCain expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
nominee
a.
candidate
2
distinguished
b.
great
3.
key
c.
important
4.
returned
d.
went back
5.
entered
e.
joined
6.
skills
f.
talents
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
combat
g.
fighting
8.
assigned
h.
appointed
9.
infamous
i.
notorious
10.
sights
j.
ambitions
11
majorities
k
margins
12
restore
l
repair
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
the Republican Party’s
a.
nominee for U.S. President
2
a distinguished
b.
military career
3.
his own views on key
c.
issues
4.
Following in the
d.
footsteps of his father
5.
leadership
e.
skills
6.
McCain's combat
f.
duty began in 1967
7.
He was assigned to be a fighter
g.
pilot in the Vietnam War
8.
solitary
h.
confinement
9.
set his sights
i.
on a political career
10.
He won re-election by
j.
large majorities
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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