Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Ratan Tata. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Ratan Tata is the chairman of the Tata Group, India's largest corporation. He is the latest in a long line of Tatas to head the family-owned company. Ratan has revolutionized the company by focusing on high-tech products. He increased the international profile of the company by buying recognized brands. Tata is single and leads a modest lifestyle in his bachelor apartment.
Tata was born in Bombay in 1937. He received a Bachelor’s degree in architecture from America’s Cornell University in 1962 and briefly worked as an architect in California. He returned to India and joined the Tata Group. In 1971 he was appointed director of the radio and electronics division. Tata worked his way up to become chairman of Tata Industries in 1981.
Tata spent the 1980s transforming and modernizing the company. He branched out into business consultancy and high technology enterprises. His success elevated him to overall chairman of the Tata group. He did away with the old styles of management and recruited an army of eager, technology-savvy managers. The Tata Group is now the biggest on the Indian Stock Market.
Ratan Tata is now setting about making Tata an internationally recognized brand. Tata Motors is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and bought the luxury brands Jaguar and Land Rover. He stunned the world by creating the Tata Nano – a car selling for less than $2,500. In 2007, he was listed among the 25 most powerful people in world business by ‘Fortune’ magazine.
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.
corporation
a.
momentarily
2
head
b.
simple
3.
modest
c.
lead
4.
briefly
d.
section
5.
appointed
e.
company
6.
division
f.
named
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
transforming
g.
identified
8.
did away with
h.
wise
9.
savvy
i.
changing
10.
recognized
j.
important
11
stunned
k
got rid of
12
powerful
l
amazed
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
He is the latest in a long
a.
into business consultancy
2
increased the international
b.
creating the Tata Nano
3.
leads a modest
c.
up to become chairman
4.
briefly worked
d.
recognized brand
5.
Tata worked his way
e.
technology-savvy managers
6.
He branched out
f.
lifestyle
7.
He did away with the old
g.
as an architect
8.
recruited an army of eager,
h.
line of Tatas
9.
an internationally
i.
profile of the company
10.
He stunned the world by
j.
styles of management
LISTENING GAP FILL
Ratan Tata is the chairman of the Tata Group, India's largest corporation. He is the latest ______________ of Tatas to head the family-owned company. Ratan has revolutionized the company by ______________ high-tech products. He increased the international ______________ company by buying recognized brands. Tata is single and ______________ lifestyle in his bachelor apartment.
Tata was born in Bombay in 1937. He received a Bachelor’s degree ______________ from America’s Cornell University in 1962 and ______________ an architect in California. He returned to India and joined the Tata Group. In 1971 he was appointed ______________ radio and electronics division. Tata worked ______________ become chairman of Tata Industries in 1981.
Tata ______________ transforming and modernizing the company. He ______________ into business consultancy and high technology enterprises. His success elevated ______________ chairman of the Tata group. He did away with the old styles of management and recruited an ______________, technology-savvy managers. The Tata Group is now the biggest on the Indian Stock Market.
Ratan Tata is now ______________ making Tata an internationally recognized brand. Tata Motors is ______________ New York Stock Exchange and bought ______________ Jaguar and Land Rover. He ________________ by creating the Tata Nano – a car selling for less than $2,500. In 2007, he was listed among the 25 most powerful people in world business by ‘Fortune’ magazine.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Ratan Tata is the chairman of the Tata Group, India's largest corporation. He is the late / latest in a long line of Tatas to head / heading the family-owned company. Ratan has revolutionized the company by focusing into / on high-tech products. He increased the international profile of the company by buying recognized brands. Tata is single and leads a modestly / modest lifestyle in his bachelor apartment.
Tata was born in Bombay in 1937. He received a Bachelor’s degree on / in architecture from America’s Cornell University in 1962 and brief / briefly worked as an architect in California. He returned to India and joined the Tata Group. In 1971 he was appointment / appointed director of the radio and electronics division. Tata worked his way / weigh up to become chairman of Tata Industries in 1981.
Tata spent the 1980s transforming and modernization / modernizing the company. He branched out into business consultancy and high technology enterprises. His success elevated / elevation him to overall chairman of the Tata group. He did away / off with the old styles of management and recruited an armed / army of eager, technology-savvy managers. The Tata Group is now the biggest on the Indian Stock Market.
Ratan Tata is now setting / seating about making Tata an internationally recognized brand. Tata Motors is listed / lasted on the New York Stock Exchange and brought / bought the luxury brands Jaguar and Land Rover. He stunned / stunning the world by creating the Tata Nano – a car selling for less than $2,500. In 2007, he was listed among the 25 most powerful people in world business by ‘Fortune’ magazine.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
the lsaett in a long line of Tatas
2.
He increased the international iepoflr of the company
3.
Tata is nlesgi
4.
leads a tomsde lifestyle
Paragraph 2
5.
a Bachelor’s dreeeg in architecture
6.
lfibyer worked as an architect
7.
he was npeoaidpt director
8.
the radio and electronics soiividn
Paragraph 3
9.
He hdbaecnr out into business consultancy
10.
His success elevated him to overall rhncamia
11.
He did away with the old lsetsy of management
12.
technology-vavsy managers
Paragraph 4
13.
negistt about making Tata…
14.
Tata Motors is stdeil on the New York Stock Exchange
15.
ulrxuy brands
16.
oanmg the 25 most powerful people
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
high technology enterprises. His success elevated him to overall chairman of the Tata group. He did away with the old
( )
Tata was born in Bombay in 1937. He received a Bachelor’s degree in architecture from America’s Cornell University in
( )
1962 and briefly worked as an architect in California. He returned to India and joined the Tata Group. In 1971
( )
savvy managers. The Tata Group is now the biggest on the Indian Stock Market.
( )
line of Tatas to head the family-owned company. Ratan has revolutionized the company by focusing
( 1 )
Ratan Tata is the chairman of the Tata Group, India's largest corporation. He is the latest in a long
( )
among the 25 most powerful people in world business by ‘Fortune’ magazine.
( )
on high-tech products. He increased the international profile of the company by buying recognized
( )
brands. Tata is single and leads a modest lifestyle in his bachelor apartment.
( )
on the New York Stock Exchange and bought the luxury brands Jaguar and Land Rover. He stunned the world by
( )
styles of management and recruited an army of eager, technology-
( )
creating the Tata Nano – a car selling for less than $2,500. In 2007, he was listed
( )
Ratan Tata is now setting about making Tata an internationally recognized brand. Tata Motors is listed
( )
up to become chairman of Tata Industries in 1981.
( )
he was appointed director of the radio and electronics division. Tata worked his way
( )
Tata spent the 1980s transforming and modernizing the company. He branched out into business consultancy and
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
the a of is in line He latest long Tatas
2.
the of profile international the increased He company
3.
his in lifestyle modest a leads apartment bachelor
4.
briefly as architect California worked an in
5.
become to up way his worked Tata chairman
6.
branched He consultancy business into out
7.
did styles away of with management the He old
8.
recruited of managers army , technology-savvy an eager
9.
stunned the the Tata world Nano by He creating
10.
in people powerful most 25 the business world
RATAN TATA DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Ratan Tata?
2.
Would you like to meet Ratan Tata?
3.
What would you like to know about Ratan Tata 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 Ratan Tata. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. RATAN TATA POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Ratan Tata. 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 Ratan Tata. 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 Ratan Tata. 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 “Ratan Tata expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
corporation
a.
company
2
head
b.
lead
3.
modest
c.
simple
4.
briefly
d.
momentarily
5.
appointed
e.
named
6.
division
f.
section
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
transforming
g.
changing
8.
did away with
h.
got rid of
9.
savvy
i.
wise
10.
recognized
j.
identified
11
stunned
k
amazed
12
powerful
l
important
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
He is the latest in a long
a.
line of Tatas
2
increased the international
b.
profile of the company
3.
leads a modest
c.
lifestyle
4.
briefly worked
d.
as an architect
5.
Tata worked his way
e.
up to become chairman
6.
He branched out
f.
into business consultancy
7.
He did away with the old
g.
styles of management
8.
recruited an army of eager,
h.
technology-savvy managers
9.
an internationally
i.
recognized brand
10.
He stunned the world by
j.
creating the Tata Nano
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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