Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Robert Mugabe. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Robert Mugabe has served as Zimbabwe’s leader since 1980. He was Prime Minister from 1980 to 1987 and has been President since 1987. He became a hero across Africa after leading rebel forces to victory against white minority rule in the 1970s. In recent years, many have accused him of ruling with an iron fist and destroying his country’s economy and democracy.
Mugabe was born in 1924 in what was then the British colony Rhodesia. He was described as a loner at school who preferred his own company. Mugabe left Rhodesia to continue his education. On his travels, he met many influential African leaders and politicians. He earned a total of five Bachelor’s and two Master’s degrees from different universities around the world.
Mugabe joined the Zimbabwe African National Union in 1963. A year later he was arrested for making a “subversive speech” in which he called for greater equality for blacks. He spent the next ten years in prison. From 1975, Mugabe led the resistance against white rule. He won the general election in 1980 and changed his country’s colonial name.
Mugabe spent his first seven years in power trying to control bitter fighting between rival groups. He crushed opposition forces in 1987. Zimbabwe under Mugabe has slipped from being the breadbasket of Africa to one of the world’s poorest countries. Mugabe blames his country’s woes on the actions of its former colonizers. Many in Zimbabwe and around the world accuse him of being a dictator.
247 words
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted biographies.
Mail this lesson to friends and teachers. Click the @ below.
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.
leader
a.
triumph
2
victory
b.
territory
3.
destroying
c.
important
4.
colony
d.
ruler
5.
loner
e.
lone wolf
6.
influential
f.
ruining
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
subversive
g.
problems
8.
equality
h.
opposition
9.
resistance
i.
tyrant
10.
bitter
j.
rebellious
11
woes
k
hate-filled
12
dictator
l
fairness
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
He became a
a.
for blacks
2
leading rebel forces
b.
hero across Africa
3.
ruling with
c.
of Africa
4.
in what was then the British
d.
speech
5.
a loner at school who preferred
e.
colony Rhodesia
6.
arrested for making a subversive
f.
a dictator
7.
he called for greater equality
g.
to victory
8.
bitter fighting
h.
his own company
9.
the breadbasket
i.
between rival groups
10.
accuse him of being
j.
an iron fist
LISTENING GAP FILL
Robert Mugabe _______________ Zimbabwe’s leader since 1980. He was Prime Minister from 1980 to 1987 _______________ President since 1987. He became a hero across Africa after leading rebel forces _______________ white minority rule in the 1970s. In recent years, many have accused him of ruling with _______________ destroying his country’s economy and democracy.
Mugabe was born in 1924 in _______________ the British colony Rhodesia. He was described as a loner at school who preferred _______________. Mugabe left Rhodesia to continue his education. _______________, he met many influential African leaders and politicians. He earned _______________ Bachelor’s and two Master’s degrees from different universities around the world.
Mugabe joined the Zimbabwe African National Union in 1963. A year later _______________ for making a “subversive speech” in which he called _______________ for blacks. He spent the next ten years in prison. From 1975, Mugabe led the resistance _______________. He won the general election in 1980 and changed his country’s _______________.
Mugabe spent his first seven years _______________ to control bitter fighting between rival groups. He crushed opposition forces in 1987. Zimbabwe under Mugabe _______________ being the breadbasket of Africa to one of the world’s poorest countries. Mugabe blames his country’s _______________ actions of its former colonizers. Many in Zimbabwe and around the world _______________ being a dictator.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Robert Mugabe has serviced / served as Zimbabwe’s leader since 1980. He was Prime Minister from 1980 to / and 1987 and has been President since 1987. He became a hero across Africa after leading rebellion / rebel forces to victory against white minority rule in the 1970s. In recent years, many have accused him of ruling with an iron fist / palm and destroying his country’s economy and democracy.
Mugabe was born in 1924 in what was then the British colony Rhodesia. He was described as a loner / lonely at school who preferred his own firm / company. Mugabe left Rhodesia to continue his education. On his travels / travelling, he met many influential African leaders and politicians. He earned a total with / of five Bachelor’s and two Master’s degrees from different universities around the world.
Mugabe joined the Zimbabwe African National Union in 1963. A year later he was / has arrested for making a “subversive speech / speeches” in which he called for greater equality for / with blacks. He spent the next ten years in prison. From 1975, Mugabe led the resistance against white rule / ruler. He won the general election in 1980 and changed his country’s colonial name.
Mugabe spent his first seven years in / on power trying to control bitter / bitterness fighting between rival groups. He crushed opposition forces in 1987. Zimbabwe under Mugabe has slipping / slipped from being the breadbasket of Africa to one of the world’s poorest countries. Mugabe blames his country’s woes / foes on the actions of its former colonizers. Many in Zimbabwe and around the world accuse him of being a dictator.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
edrevs as Zimbabwe’s leader
2.
leading rebel forces to coivytr
3.
uinlrg with an iron fist
4.
his country’s ymconoe
Paragraph 2
5.
British olcnoy
6.
described as a reoln at school
7.
refrederp his own company
8.
Master’s gdreees
Paragraph 3
9.
he was saetderr
10.
he called for greater iutaqyle
11.
He spent the next ten years in snirpo
12.
the resistance itasgna white rule
Paragraph 4
13.
rtetib fighting
14.
one of the world’s trespoo countries
15.
his country’s owse
16.
eacscu him of being a dictator
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
President since 1987. He became a hero across Africa after leading rebel forces to victory against white minority
( )
the resistance against white rule. He won the general election in 1980 and changed his country’s colonial name.
( )
influential African leaders and politicians. He earned a total of five Bachelor’s and
( )
Mugabe spent his first seven years in power trying to control bitter fighting between rival
( )
groups. He crushed opposition forces in 1987. Zimbabwe under Mugabe has slipped from being the breadbasket
( )
Mugabe joined the Zimbabwe African National Union in 1963. A year later he was arrested for making a “subversive
( )
speech” in which he called for greater equality for blacks. He spent the next ten years in prison. From 1975, Mugabe led
( )
preferred his own company. Mugabe left Rhodesia to continue his education. On his travels, he met many
( )
of Africa to one of the world’s poorest countries. Mugabe blames his country’s woes on the actions of its former
( )
Mugabe was born in 1924 in what was then the British colony Rhodesia. He was described as a loner at school who
( )
two Master’s degrees from different universities around the world.
( )
rule in the 1970s. In recent years, many have accused him of ruling with an iron
( )
colonizers. Many in Zimbabwe and around the world accuse him of being a dictator.
( 1 )
Robert Mugabe has served as Zimbabwe’s leader since 1980. He was Prime Minister from 1980 to 1987 and has been
( )
fist and destroying his country’s economy and democracy.
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
became He Africa across hero a
2.
him with fist accused ruling iron have of an many
3.
a as described was He school at loner
4.
he leaders African influential many met
5.
around universities different from degrees Master’s world the
6.
he for equality blacks called greater for
7.
prison in years ten next the spent He
8.
changed colonial his name country’s
9.
bitter control groups rival between fighting
10.
of one countries poorest world’s the
ROBERT MUGABE DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Robert Mugabe?
2.
Would you like to meet Robert Mugabe?
3.
What would you like to know about Robert Mugabe 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 Robert Mugabe. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. ROBERT MUGABE POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Robert Mugabe. 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 Robert Mugabe. 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 Robert Mugabe. 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 “Robert Mugabe expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
leader
a.
ruler
2
victory
b.
triumph
3.
destroying
c.
ruining
4.
colony
d.
territory
5.
loner
e.
lone wolf
6.
influential
f.
important
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
subversive
g.
rebellious
8.
equality
h.
fairness
9.
resistance
i.
opposition
10.
bitter
j.
hate-filled
11
woes
k
problems
12
dictator
l
tyrant
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
He became a
a.
hero across Africa
2
leading rebel forces
b.
to victory
3.
ruling with
c.
an iron fist
4.
in what was then the British
d.
colony Rhodesia
5.
a loner at school who preferred
e.
his own company
6.
arrested for making a subversive
f.
speech
7.
he called for greater equality
g.
for blacks
8.
bitter fighting
h.
between rival groups
9.
the breadbasket
i.
of Africa
10.
accuse him of being
j.
a dictator
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
HELP SUPPORT THIS WEBSITE
Recommend the site on blogs,Twitter, Facebook, forums and other sites.
