Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Oscar Pistorius. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Oscar Pistorius is the South African Paralympic runner famous for trying to compete at the Olympics. He is known as "Blade Runner" because of the artificial limbs he uses to sprint. He is also dubbed "the fastest man on no legs". Pistorius is the double amputee world record holder and in the 100, 200 and 400 metres. He won gold medals in these events at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics.
Pistorius was born in 1986 with the fibula bone missing in both of his legs. When he was 11 months old, doctors amputated his legs halfway between his knees and ankles. His disability did not stop him from enjoying sports. At school he was very keen on rugby, water polo and tennis. He started running in 2004 and says he has "never looked back".
He runs on a pair of specially-developed carbon-fibre blades. At the 2004 Summer Paralympics, he won the 200-metre final with a world record time. In 2005, he finished first in the able-bodied South African Championships over 400 metres and won the 400-metre gold at the Paralympic World Cup. He decided to compete at the Beijing Olympics.
Pistorius tried to prove he could compete with the best able-bodied runners in the world. His biggest obstacle was the international athletics federation who decided his blades were a “technological aid” and therefore illegal. He now has his sights set on the 2012 London Olympics. His motto is: "You're not disabled by the disabilities you have, you are able by the abilities you have."
255 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.
trying
a.
cut off
2
limbs
b.
called
3.
dubbed
c.
handicap
4.
amputated
d.
interested in
5.
disability
e.
attempting
6.
keen on
f.
legs
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
developed
g.
demonstrate
8.
championships
h.
invented
9.
compete
i.
ambitions
10.
prove
j.
participate
11
obstacle
k
tournament
12
sights
l
hurdle
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
the artificial limbs he
a.
bodied runners in the world
2
He is also dubbed
b.
him from enjoying sports
3.
doctors amputated his legs halfway
c.
2012 London Olympics
4.
His disability did not stop
d.
uses to sprint
5.
He started running in 2004 and says
e.
the abilities you have
6.
a pair of specially-developed
f.
"the fastest man on no legs"
7.
he won the 200-metre final with
g.
he has "never looked back”
8.
compete with the best able-
h.
carbon-fibre blades
9.
He now has his sights set on the
i.
between his knees and ankles
10.
you are able by
j.
a world record time
LISTENING GAP FILL
Oscar Pistorius is the South African Paralympic __________________ trying to compete at the Olympics. He is known as "Blade Runner" because of __________________ he uses to sprint. __________________ "the fastest man on no legs". Pistorius is the double amputee world record holder in the 100, 200 and __________________. He also won gold medals in these events at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics
Pistorius was born in 1986 with the fibula bone __________________ his legs. When he was 11 months old, __________________ legs halfway between his knees and ankles. His __________________ him from enjoying sports. At school he was very keen on rugby, water polo and tennis. He started running in 2004 and says he has "__________________ ".
He runs on a pair of specially-developed __________________. At the 2004 Summer Paralympics, he won the 200-metre final with a __________________. In 2005, he finished first __________________ South African Championships over 400 metres and won the 400-metre gold at the Paralympic World Cup. He decided __________________ Beijing Olympics.
Pistorius tried __________________ compete with the best able-bodied runners in the world. His __________________ the international athletics federation who decided his blades were a “technological aid” __________________. He now has his sights set on the 2012 London Olympics. His motto is: "You're not disabled by the disabilities you have, you are ____________________ you have."
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Oscar Pistorius is the South African Paralympic runner famous with / for trying to compete / complete at the Olympics. He is known as "Blade Runner" because of the artificial limbs he uses to splint / sprint. He is also dubbed "the fastest man on no legs". Pistorius is the double amputee world record holding / holder in the 100, 200 and 400 metres. He won gold medals in these events at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics
Pistorius was born in 1986 with / but the fibula bone missing in both of his legs. When he was 11 months old, doctors amputation / amputated his legs halfway between his knees and ankles. His disability / disabled did not stop him from enjoying sports. At school he was very keen on rugby, water polo and tennis. He started running in 2004 and says he has "never looked / looking back".
He runs on a pair / pear of specially-developed carbon-fibre blades. At the 2004 Summer Paralympics, he won / beat the 200-metre final with a world record time. In 2005, he finished first in the able-bodied South African Championships over / under 400 metres and won the 400-metre gold at the Paralympic World Cup. He decided to compete at / for the Beijing Olympics.
Pistorius tried to proof / prove he could compete with the best able-bodied runners in the world. His biggest obstacle was / has the international athletics federation who decided his blades were / was a “technological aid” and therefore illegal. He now has his sights set / setting on the 2012 London Olympics. His motto is: "You're not disabled by the disabilities you have, you are able by the abilities you have."
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
poecmte at the Olympics
2.
the artificial limbs he uses to sinrtp
3.
bodelu amputee
4.
He won gold medals in these tenves
Paragraph 2
5.
the fibula bone isigmns in both of his legs
6.
between his knees and esakln
7.
His tsbdiaiyil did not stop him
8.
he has "never dolkoe back"
Paragraph 3
9.
a pair of icapleyls-developed carbon-fibre blades
10.
a world rcoerd time
11.
he iihednfs first
12.
able-doedbi
Paragraph 4
13.
tried to orpev he could
14.
His biggest elboctsa
15.
has his thsigs set on the 2012 London Olympics
16.
His otmot
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
"the fastest man on no legs". Pistorius is the double amputee world record
( )
He runs on a pair of specially-developed carbon-fibre blades. At the 2004 Summer Paralympics, he won the 200-metre
( )
holder in the 100, 200 and 400 metres. He won gold medals in these events at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.
( )
he was very keen on rugby, water polo and tennis. He started running in 2004 and says he has "never looked back".
( 1 )
Oscar Pistorius is the South African Paralympic runner famous for trying to compete at the Olympics. He is known as "Blade
( )
set on the 2012 London Olympics. His motto is: "You're not disabled by
( )
Pistorius tried to prove he could compete with the best able-bodied
( )
Pistorius was born in 1986 with the fibula bone missing in both of his legs. When he was 11 months old, doctors
( )
Runner" because of the artificial limbs he uses to sprint. He is also dubbed
( )
runners in the world. His biggest obstacle was the international athletics federation who decided his
( )
final with a world record time. In 2005, he finished first in the able-bodied South African Championships over
( )
blades were a “technological aid” and therefore illegal. He now has his sights
( )
amputated his legs halfway between his knees and ankles. His disability did not stop him from enjoying sports. At school
( )
the disabilities you have, you are able by the abilities you have."
( )
400 metres and won the 400-metre gold at the Paralympic World Cup. He decided to compete at the Beijing Olympics.
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
He " legs no on man fastest the " dubbed also is
2.
double the is Pistorius holder record world amputee
3.
old , doctors months his legs When he was amputated 11
4.
sports stop His him disability from did enjoying not
5.
has he says back looked never
6.
of on blades carbon-fibre a He pair specially-developed runs
7.
decided He Olympics Beijing the at compete to
8.
able -bodied runners in the world compete with the best
9.
London Olympics He now has his sights set on the 2012
10.
abilities the by able are you have you
OSCAR PISTORIUS DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Oscar Pistorius?
2.
Would you like to meet Oscar Pistorius?
3.
What would you like to know about Oscar Pistorius 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 Oscar Pistorius. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. OSCAR PISTORIUS POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Oscar Pistorius. 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 Oscar Pistorius. 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 Oscar Pistorius. 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 “Oscar Pistorius expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
trying
a.
attempting
2
limbs
b.
legs
3.
dubbed
c.
called
4.
amputated
d.
cut off
5.
disability
e.
handicap
6.
keen on
f.
interested in
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
developed
g.
invented
8.
championships
h.
tournament
9.
compete
i.
participate
10.
prove
j.
demonstrate
11
obstacle
k
hurdle
12
sights
l
ambitions
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
the artificial limbs he
a.
uses to sprint
2
He is also dubbed
b.
"the fastest man on no legs"
3.
doctors amputated his legs halfway
c.
between his knees and ankles
4.
His disability did not stop
d.
him from enjoying sports
5.
He started running in 2004 and says
e.
he has "never looked back”
6.
a pair of specially-developed
f.
carbon-fibre blades
7.
he won the 200-metre final with
g.
a world record time
8.
compete with the best able-
h.
bodied runners in the world
9.
He now has his sights set on the
i.
2012 London Olympics
10.
you are able by
j.
the abilities you have
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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