Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Margaret Thatcher. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Margaret Thatcher (nee Margaret Roberts) was born in 1925 in England. Her father owned two local grocery stores, which is where she first developed her business sense. The young Margaret had a strict religious upbringing. She studied chemistry and then law at university. She was Britain’s Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990. Her tough style earned her the nickname “The Iron Lady”.
Thatcher became a politician after winning an election in London in 1959. She served as Britain's Education Secretary from 1970 to 1974. Thatcher became Britain’s first female Prime Minister in 1979. She privatised many of Britain’s state-owned companies and had long battles with labour unions. She lowered taxes and inflation and greatly cut government spending.
She was very busy with her foreign policy. Britain fought and won the Falklands War against Argentina in 1982. She forged close ties with the USA and had a warm relationship with President Ronald Reagan. After the fall of the Iron Curtain, she became friends with ex-Soviet leader Mikael Gorbachev. She escaped assassination in 1984 when a bomb exploded at a hotel she was staying in.
In 1987, Thatcher won a third term in office. However, she was becoming unpopular. Unemployment was high and there were street riots after she announced a Community Tax. Her opposition to closer integration with Europe led to a leadership challenge and in 1990, she resigned. She retired from public speaking in 2002, aged 77. She died on April 8th 2013, aged 87. “Thatcherism” is still a word commonly used in Britain.
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted biographies.
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SYNONYM MATCH
Match the words on the left with their synonyms.
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
owned
a.
fights
2
upbringing
b.
worked
3.
style
c.
axed
4.
served
d.
had
5.
battles
e.
childhood
6.
cut
f.
manner
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
forged
g.
murder
8.
ties
h.
frequently
9.
assassination
i.
union
10.
unpopular
j.
links
11
integration
k
created
12
commonly
l
disliked
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
1.
where she first developed
a.
owned companies
2
Her tough style earned her
b.
assassination in 1984
3.
She served as
c.
spending
4.
state-
d.
policy
5.
greatly cut government
e.
the nickname
6.
foreign
f.
with Europe
7.
forged close
g.
her business sense
8.
She escaped
h.
term in office
9.
Thatcher won a third
i.
Britain's Education Secretary
10.
opposition to closer integration
j.
ties with the USA
LISTENING GAP FILL
Margaret Thatcher (nee Margaret Roberts) _________________ in England. Her father owned two local grocery stores, which is where she first developed her _________________. The young Margaret had a strict _________________. She studied chemistry and then law at university. She was Britain’s Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990. Her _________________ her the nickname “The Iron Lady”.
Thatcher became a politician after _________________ in London in 1959. _________________ Britain's Education Secretary from 1970 to 1974. Thatcher became Britain’s first female Prime Minister in 1979. She privatised many of Britain’s _________________ companies and had long battles with labour unions. She lowered taxes and inflation _________________ government spending.
She was very busy with _________________. Britain fought and won the Falklands War against Argentina in 1982. She _________________ with the USA and had a warm relationship with President Ronald Reagan. After _________________ Iron Curtain, she became friends with ex-Soviet leader Mikael Gorbachev. She ___________________ in 1984 when a bomb exploded at a hotel she was staying in.
In 1987, Thatcher won _________________ office. However, she was becoming unpopular. Unemployment was high and there were street _________________ announced a Community Tax. Her opposition to closer integration with Europe led to a _________________ and in 1990, she resigned. She retired from public speaking in 2002, aged 77. She died on April 8th 2013 aged 87. “Thatcherism” is still a word _________________ Britain.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
Margaret Thatcher (nee Margaret Roberts) was born in 1925 in England. Her father owning / owned two local grocery stores, which is where she first developed her business sense / sensible. The young Margaret had a strict religious downgrading / upbringing. She studied chemistry and then law at university. She was Britain’s Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990. Her trough / tough style earned her the nickname “The Iron Lady”.
Thatcher became a politician after winning / won an election in London in 1959. She served / savoured as Britain's Education Secretary from 1970 to 1974. Thatcher became Britain’s first female Prime Minister in 1979. She privatised many of Britain’s state- / stately- owned companies and had long battles with labour unions. She lowered taxes and inflation and greatly axe / cut government spending.
She was very busy with her foreigner / foreign policy. Britain fought and won the Falklands War against Argentina in 1982. She forged close ties / scarves with the USA and had a warm relationship with President Ronald Reagan. After the fall / fell of the Iron Curtain, she became friends with ex-Soviet leader Mikael Gorbachev. She escaped assassination in 1984 when a bomb explosion / exploded at a hotel she was staying in.
In 1987, Thatcher won a third term in / on office. However, she was becoming unpopular. Unemployment was high and there were street riot / riots after she announced a Community Tax. Her opposition to closer integration with Europe led to a leadership challenge and in 1990, she resigned. She retired / retried from public speaking in 2002, aged 77. She died on April 8th 2013, aged 87.. “Thatcherism” is still a word commons / commonly used in Britain.
SPELLING
These jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
grocery eosrst
2.
developed her business ssene
3.
a strict ueiorisgl upbringing
4.
the naimcekn “The Iron Lady”
Paragraph 2
5.
winning an eelnioct in London
6.
She dvrsee as Britain's Education Secretary
7.
state-oewnd companies
8.
greatly cut government sndgnpie
Paragraph 3
9.
foreign lcipyo
10.
She edrgfo close ties with the USA
11.
She eaecpsd assassination
12.
a bomb eodxledp
Paragraph 4
13.
Thatcher won a third term in fiocfe
14.
tseetr riots
15.
lsorec integration with Europe
16.
olnmocym used in Britain
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
relationship with President Ronald Reagan. After the fall of the Iron Curtain, she became friends
( )
against Argentina in 1982. She forged close ties with the USA and had a warm
( 1 )
Margaret Thatcher (nee Margaret Roberts) was born in 1925 in England. Her father
( )
Thatcher became a politician after winning an election in London in 1959. She served
( )
In 1987, Thatcher won a third term in office. However, she was becoming
( )
She was very busy with her foreign policy. Britain fought and won the Falklands War
( )
opposition to closer integration with Europe led to a leadership challenge and in 1990,
( )
Margaret had a strict religious upbringing. She studied chemistry and then law at university. She was Britain’s Prime Minister
( )
owned two local grocery stores, which is where she first developed her business sense. The young
( )
unpopular. Unemployment was high and there were street riots after she announced a Community Tax. Her
( )
she resigned. She retired from public speaking in 2002, aged 77. She died on April 8th 2013, aged 87. “Thatcherism” is still a word commonly used in Britain.
( )
battles with labour unions. She lowered taxes and inflation and greatly cut government spending.
( )
female Prime Minister in 1979. She privatised many of Britain’s state-owned companies and had long
( )
from 1979 to 1990. Her tough style earned her the nickname “The Iron Lady”.
( )
as Britain's Education Secretary from 1970 to 1974. Thatcher became Britain’s first
( )
with ex-Soviet leader Mikael Gorbachev. She escaped assassination in 1984 when a bomb exploded at a hotel she was staying in.
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
stores grocery local two owned father Her.
2.
young religious Margaret upbringing had a The strict.
3.
earned style tough Her nickname the her.
4.
became an a election politician after Thatcher winning.
5.
many state companies privatised Britain’s owned She of -.
6.
with ties close forged She USA the.
7.
staying bomb a was A at she in exploded hotel.
8.
Europe with integration closer to opposition Her.
9.
retired She 2002 in speaking public from.
10.
Britain in used commonly “Thatcherism” word a still is.
DISCUSSION (Write your questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Margaret Thatcher?
2.
Would you like to have met Margaret Thatcher?
3.
What would you like to know about Margaret Thatcher and why?
Write five questions about MARGARET THATCHER in the table. Do this in pairs/groups. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.
Without your partner, interview other students. Write down their answers.
STUDENT 1
_____________
STUDENT 2
_____________
STUDENT 3
_____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.
Return to your original partner(s) and share and talk about what you found out. Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.
WRITING
Write about Margaret Thatcher for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or other search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about Margaret Thatcher. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MARGARET THATCHER POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Margaret Thatcher. Why was she called the "Iron Lady"? Show your poster to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all find out similar things?
4. MAGAZINE ARTICLE:Write a magazine article Margaret Thatcher. Include an imaginary interview with someone who knew her well. Write about how she changed Britain.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
5. LETTER:Write a letter to an expert on Margaret Thatcher. Ask him/her three questions about her life. Give her three opinions on the "Iron Lady". Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your "Margaret Thatcher expert" partner(s) will answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
owned
a.
had
2
upbringing
b.
childhood
3.
style
c.
manner
4.
served
d.
worked
5.
battles
e.
fights
6.
cut
f.
axed
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
forged
g.
created
8.
ties
h.
links
9.
assassination
i.
murder
10.
unpopular
j.
disliked
11.
integration
k.
union
12.
commonly
l.
frequently
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
where she first developed
a.
her business sense
2
Her tough style earned her
b.
the nickname
3.
She served as
c.
Britain's Education Secretary
4.
state-
d.
owned companies
5.
greatly cut government
e.
spending
6.
foreign
f.
policy
7.
forged close
g.
ties with the USA
8.
She escaped
h.
assassination in 1984
9.
Thatcher won a third
i.
term in office
10.
opposition to closer integration
j.
with Europe
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text at the top of this page.
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