Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Paulo Coelho. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Paulo Coelho is a Brazilian novelist and songwriter. He was born in 1947 in Rio de Janeiro. In 1970, he quit law school to go travelling around South America, Africa, and Europe. He learnt much about the supernatural on his travels, which would become themes of his books. He returned to Brazil and wrote song lyrics for famous Brazilian singers.
In 1986, Coelho went on a walk that would change his life. He walked the 800-kilometre Road of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, an ancient highway used for centuries by pilgrims. He said he experienced a self-awareness and spiritual awakening, which he wrote about in his novel ‘The Pilgrimage’. It opened up a new way of writing for him.
A year later, Coelho wrote his most famous book, ‘The Alchemist’. The book sold very slowly at first and his publisher dropped it. He found another publisher who had more faith in his writing and the book became one of the best-selling books of all time. It reached number one in 18 countries, and so far has sold 30 million copies.
Coelho is the best-selling Portuguese language author in history. His books have been translated in 67 languages. To date, Coelho has sold over 100 million novels. He was the world’s best-selling author in 2003. He spends his time writing novels and a newspaper column. He is also a Messenger of Peace for the United Nations and raises awareness of the UN’s ideals.
243 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.
novelist
a.
transform
2
supernatural
b.
words
3.
lyrics
c.
very old
4.
change
d.
worshipers
5.
ancient
e.
author
6.
pilgrims
f.
paranormal
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
dropped
g.
belief
8.
faith
h.
until now
9.
of all time
i.
understanding
10.
to date
j.
beliefs
11
awareness
k
abandoned
12
ideals
l
ever
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
he quit law school
a.
slowly at first
2
He learnt much about the
b.
and spiritual awakening
3.
an ancient highway used for
c.
in 67 languages
4.
he experienced a self-awareness
d.
to go travelling
5.
It opened up a new way
e.
and a newspaper column
6.
The book sold very
f.
of writing for him
7.
another publisher who had more
g.
ideals
8.
His books have been translated
h.
centuries by pilgrims
9.
He spends his time writing novels
i.
supernatural on his travels
10.
raises awareness of the UN’s
j.
faith in his writing
LISTENING GAP FILL
Paulo Coelho is a Brazilian novelist and songwriter. He was born in 1947 in Rio de Janeiro. In 1970, _________________ to go travelling around South America, Africa, and Europe. He learnt much about the supernatural _________________, which would become _________________. He returned to Brazil and wrote _________________ famous Brazilian singers.
In 1986, Coelho went on a walk that _________________. He walked the 800-kilometre Road of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, an ancient highway _________________ by pilgrims. He said he experienced a self-awareness and _________________, which he wrote about in his novel ‘The Pilgrimage’. It _________________ way of writing for him.
A year later, Coelho wrote his most famous book, ‘The Alchemist’. The book sold _________________ and his publisher dropped it. He found another publisher who _________________ his writing and the book became one of the best-selling _________________. It reached number _________________, and so far has sold 30 million copies.
Coelho is the best-selling Portuguese language _________________. His books have _________________ languages. To date, Coelho has sold over 100 million novels. He was the world’s best-selling author in 2003. He spends his time writing novels and _________________. He is also a Messenger of Peace for the United Nations and _________________ the UN’s ideals.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Paulo Coelho is a Brazilian / Brazil novelist and songwriter. He was born in 1947 in Rio de Janeiro. In 1970, he quit / quite law school to go travelling around South America, Africa, and Europe. He learnt much / many about the supernatural on his travels, which would become themes of his books. He returned to Brazil and wrote song lyric / lyrics for famous Brazilian singers.
In 1986, Coelho went on a walk that will / would change his life. He walked the 800-kilometre Road of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, an ancient highway using / used for centuries by pilgrims. He said he experienced a self-awareness and spiritual / spirits awakening, which he wrote about in his novel ‘The Pilgrimage’. It opened up / down a new way of writing for him.
A year later, Coelho wrote his most famous book, ‘The Alchemist’. The book sold very slowly at / by first and his publisher dropped / drooped it. He found another publisher who had more faith / faithful in his writing and the book became one of the best-selling books of all / every time. It reached number one in 18 countries, and so far has sold 30 million copies.
Coelho is the best-selling Portuguese language authority / author in history. His books have been translated / translation in 67 languages. To date, Coelho has sold over 100 million novels. He was the world’s best-selling author in 2003. He spends his time writing novels and a newspaper columnist / column. He is also a Messenger of Peace for the United Nations and raises / risen awareness of the UN’s ideals.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
Paulo Coelho is a Brazilian solvetni
2.
on his rlsaetv
3.
etsmhe of his books
4.
song irslcy
Paragraph 2
5.
a walk that would ecnhag his life
6.
an ancient highway used for etcsuenri
7.
plsraitui awakening
8.
a new way of rtngiwi
Paragraph 3
9.
his most mfsuao book
10.
He found another ipsbreuhl
11.
It erhacde number one in 18 countries
12.
30 million csepio
Paragraph 4
13.
the best-selling Portuguese language uthora in history
14.
srtneatadl in 67 languages
15.
newspaper noclum
16.
raises awareness of the UN’s aelsid
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
writing and the book became one of the best-selling books of all time. It reached
( )
travels, which would become themes of his books. He returned to Brazil and wrote song lyrics for famous Brazilian singers.
( )
awakening, which he wrote about in his novel ‘The Pilgrimage’. It opened up a new way of writing for him.
( )
in 67 languages. To date, Coelho has sold over 100 million novels. He was the world’s best-selling
( )
Coelho is the best-selling Portuguese language author in history. His books have been translated
( )
slowly at first and his publisher dropped it. He found another publisher who had more faith in his
( )
in Spain, an ancient highway used for centuries by pilgrims. He said he experienced a self-awareness and spiritual
( )
author in 2003. He spends his time writing novels and a newspaper column. He is also a
( 1 )
Paulo Coelho is a Brazilian novelist and songwriter. He was born in 1947 in Rio de Janeiro. In 1970, he quit law school
( )
number one in 18 countries, and so far has sold 30 million copies.
( )
Messenger of Peace for the United Nations and raises awareness of the UN’s ideals.
( )
A year later, Coelho wrote his most famous book, ‘The Alchemist’. The book sold very
( )
In 1986, Coelho went on a walk that would change his life. He walked the 800-kilometre Road of Santiago de Compostela
( )
to go travelling around South America, Africa, and Europe. He learnt much about the supernatural on his
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
law to travelling quit school go he
2.
his about travels the He supernatural learnt on much
3.
on that his went walk change Coelho a would life
4.
by centuries for used highway ancient an pilgrims
5.
of him up way for opened new writing It a
6.
first book very at The sold slowly
7.
more another faith publisher in who his had writing
8.
selling 2003 the - in was best author He world’s
9.
his spends He novels writing time
10.
is Peace also a Nations He the Messenger of for United
PAULO COELHO DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Paulo Coelho?
2.
Would you like to meet Paulo Coelho?
3.
What would you like to know about Paulo Coelho 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 Paulo Coelho. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. PAULO COELHO POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Paulo Coelho. 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 Paulo Coelho. 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 Paulo Coelho. 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 “Paulo Coelho expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
novelist
a.
author
2
supernatural
b.
paranormal
3.
lyrics
c.
words
4.
change
d.
transform
5.
ancient
e.
very old
6.
pilgrims
f.
worshipers
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
dropped
g.
abandoned
8.
faith
h.
belief
9.
of all time
i.
ever
10.
to date
j.
until now
11
awareness
k
understanding
12
ideals
l
beliefs
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
he quit law school
a.
to go travelling
2
He learnt much about the
b.
supernatural on his travels
3.
an ancient highway used for
c.
centuries by pilgrims
4.
he experienced a self-awareness
d.
and spiritual awakening
5.
It opened up a new way
e.
of writing for him
6.
The book sold very
f.
slowly at first
7.
another publisher who had more
g.
faith in his writing
8.
His books have been translated
h.
in 67 languages
9.
He spends his time writing novels
i.
and a newspaper column
10.
raises awareness of the UN’s
j.
ideals
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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