Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Kobe Bryant. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Kobe Bryant is an American All-Star basketball player who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant became famous in 1996 as the first shooting guard in basketball history to be drafted out of high school. He has helped the Lakers win three back-to-back championships and has twice been the NBA’s leading scorer. He was the season's MVP in 2007-08.
Bryant was born in 1978 in Philadelphia. He was named after the beef famous in Kobe, Japan. His father was a Philadelphia 76ers player. When Bryant was six, his family moved to Italy. He learned to play soccer and once considered becoming a professional soccer player. Back in the USA, he excelled in high school basketball and joined the NBA, aged 17.
Bryant joined the Lakers in 1996. His first three seasons were spent coming off the bench but he still managed to become a favourite with fans. From 2000, Bryant was one of the top shooting guards in the league. He helped the Lakers win NBA championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002 and entered basketball’s elite. He has become a cornerstone of the Lakers team.
The Lakers did not reach the NBA Finals again until 2008, when they finished runner-up. Bryant continued his high scoring but had trouble on and off the court. His coach called him ‘uncoachable’ and he hit the headlines after being accused of rape. In 2007, Bryant became the youngest player to reach 20,000 points. He remains one of basketball’s true greats.
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.
famous
a.
relocated
2
drafted
b.
consecutive
3.
back-to-back
c.
thought about
4.
moved
d.
well known
5.
considered
e.
shone
6.
excelled
f.
picked
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
managed
g.
best
8.
elite
h.
charged with
9.
cornerstone
i.
get to
10.
reach
j.
succeeded
11
runner-up
k
heart
12
accused
l
second place
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
drafted
a.
becoming a professional
2
win three back-to-back
b.
to become a favourite
3.
He was named after the beef
c.
true greats
4.
once considered
d.
out of high school
5.
he excelled
e.
being accused of rape
6.
he still managed
f.
championships
7.
a cornerstone
g.
20,000 points
8.
hit the headlines after
h.
famous in Kobe, Japan
9.
the youngest player to reach
i.
of the Lakers team
10.
He remains one of basketball’s
j.
in high school
LISTENING GAP FILL
Kobe Bryant is an American All-Star basketball player ____________ the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant became famous in 1996 as the first shooting guard in basketball history to be ______________ high school. He has helped the Lakers win three ____________ championships and has twice been the NBA’s leading scorer. He was the ____________ 2007-08.
Bryant was born in 1978 in Philadelphia. He was ______________ beef famous in Kobe, Japan. His father was a Philadelphia 76ers player. When Bryant was six, ______________ to Italy. He learned to play soccer and ______________ becoming a professional soccer player. Back in the USA, ______________ high school basketball and joined the NBA, aged 17.
Bryant joined the Lakers in 1996. His first three seasons were spent ______________ bench but he still managed to become a favourite with fans. From 2000, Bryant was ______________ shooting guards in the league. He helped the Lakers win NBA championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002 and entered _________________. He has become a ______________ the Lakers team.
The Lakers ______________ the NBA Finals again until 2008, when they finished runner-up. Bryant continued ______________ but had trouble on and off the court. His coach called ______________ and he hit the headlines after being accused of rape. In 2007, Bryant became the youngest player to reach 20,000 points. He ______________ basketball’s true greats.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Kobe Bryant is an American All-Star basketball player who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant became famous in 1996 as the first shooting guard in basketball history / historical to be drafted / drifted out of high school. He has helped the Lakers win three back-to-back / back-to-front championships and has twice been the NBA’s leading scorer. He was the season's VIP / MVP in 2007-08.
Bryant was born in 1978 in Philadelphia. He was named before / after the beef famous in Kobe, Japan. His father was a Philadelphia 76ers player. When Bryant was six, his family moving / moved to Italy. He learned to play soccer and once / one considered becoming a professional soccer player. Back in the USA, he excelled / expelled in high school basketball and joined the NBA, aged 17.
Bryant joined the Lakers in 1996. His first three seasons were bought / spent coming off the bench but he still / yet managed to become a favourite with fans. From 2000, Bryant was one of the top shooting guards in the league. He helpful / helped the Lakers win NBA championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002 and entered basketball’s elite. He has become a cornerstone / tombstone of the Lakers team.
The Lakers did not teach / reach the NBA Finals again until 2008, when they finished runner-up. Bryant continued his high scoring but had trouble on / in and off the court. His coach called him ‘uncoachable’ and he hit / smacked the headlines after being accused of rape. In 2007, Bryant became the youngest player to reach 20,000 points. He remains one of basketball’s true greets / greats.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
Bryant became mfsuoa in 1996
2.
terfadd out of high school
3.
He has hlpeed the Lakers win
4.
the NBA’s dgeailn scorer
Paragraph 2
5.
He was dmean after the beef
6.
his family emdvo to Italy
7.
he lxeeeldc in high school
8.
ndoije the NBA, aged 17
Paragraph 3
9.
His first three osenssa
10.
coming off the cnebh
11.
a ueovrifta with fans
12.
basketball’s teeil
Paragraph 4
13.
had utloreb on and off the court
14.
hit the ehnaseidl
15.
the youngest player to rcahe 20,000 points
16.
He ainmesr one of basketball’s true greats
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( 1 )
Kobe Bryant is an American All-Star basketball player who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant became
( )
player. When Bryant was six, his family moved to Italy. He learned to play soccer and once considered
( )
leading scorer. He was the season's MVP in 2007-08.
( )
basketball’s elite. He has become a cornerstone of the Lakers team.
( )
becoming a professional soccer player. Back in the USA, he excelled in high school basketball and joined the NBA, aged 17.
( )
scoring but had trouble on and off the court. His coach called him ‘uncoachable’ and he hit the headlines
( )
Bryant was born in 1978 in Philadelphia. He was named after the beef famous in Kobe, Japan. His father was a Philadelphia 76ers
( )
guards in the league. He helped the Lakers win NBA championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002 and entered
( )
Lakers win three back-to-back championships and has twice been the NBA’s
( )
Bryant joined the Lakers in 1996. His first three seasons were spent coming off the
( )
after being accused of rape. In 2007, Bryant became the youngest player to reach 20,000
( )
famous in 1996 as the first shooting guard in basketball history to be drafted out of high school. He has helped the
( )
points. He remains one of basketball’s true greats.
( )
bench but he still managed to become a favourite with fans. From 2000, Bryant was one of the top shooting
( )
The Lakers did not reach the NBA Finals again until 2008, when they finished runner-up. Bryant continued his high
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
back championships helped the Lakers win three back - to -
2.
MVP He in was 2007 the - season's 08
3.
famous in Kobe , Japan He was named after the beef
4.
a soccer once becoming professional player considered
5.
in high school basketball Back in the USA , he excelled
6.
with to fans become e a still favourite managed
7.
Bryant guards shooting top the of one was
8.
cornerstone He of has the become Lakers a team
9.
accused the of headlines rape after he being hit
10.
, player 000 to points reach the 20 youngest
KOBE BRYANT DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Kobe Bryant?
2.
Would you like to meet Kobe Bryant?
3.
What would you like to know about Kobe Bryant 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 Kobe Bryant. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. KOBE BRYANT POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Kobe Bryant. 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 Kobe Bryant. 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 Kobe Bryant. 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 “Kobe Bryant expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
famous
a.
well known
2
drafted
b.
picked
3.
back-to-back
c.
consecutive
4.
moved
d.
relocated
5.
considered
e.
thought about
6.
excelled
f.
shone
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
managed
g.
succeeded
8.
elite
h.
best
9.
cornerstone
i.
heart
10.
reach
j.
get to
11
runner-up
k
second place
12
accused
l
charged with
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
drafted
a.
out of high school
2
win three back-to-back
b.
championships
3.
He was named after the beef
c.
famous in Kobe, Japan
4.
once considered
d.
becoming a professional
5.
he excelled
e.
in high school
6.
he still managed
f.
to become a favourite
7.
a cornerstone
g.
of the Lakers team
8.
hit the headlines after
h.
being accused of rape
9.
the youngest player to reach
i.
20,000 points
10.
He remains one of basketball’s
j.
true greats
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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