Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Sarah Palin. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Sarah Palin (born 1964) is the first woman to be selected by America’s Republican Party as vice-presidential nominee. She is also governor of Alaska. Although she was little-known by most Americans, those in her party have taken her to their hearts. Her simple hockey mom image, humble background and Christian values are very popular with the Republican faithful.
Palin was born in Idaho to a school secretary mother and a science teacher father. Her family moved to Alaska when she was a baby. She loved the outdoor Alaskan life and got into moose hunting, fishing and long-distance running. She went to school in a small town called Wasilla, where she later became mayor. In 1984, she won her town’s beauty contest.
Palin graduated from university in 1987 with a degree in journalism and got a job as a sports reporter for an Alaskan TV channel. She entered politics as a member of the Wasilla city council in 1992 and became mayor in 1996. Her no-nonsense approach to politics saw her rise further. In 2006, she was elected the first ever female governor of Alaska.
In August 2008, Senator John McCain announced Palin as his running mate. She gave her 40-minute acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention. Republicans hope she will help win the votes of Christian conservatives, women and those in favour of firearms. Little is known of her views. The McCain team is restricting press access to Palin so she rarely gives interviews or engages in debates.
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.
selected
a.
simple
2
nominee
b.
relocated
3.
humble
c.
candidate
4.
moved
d.
chosen
5.
got into
e.
competition
6.
contest
f.
became interested in
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
channel
g.
style
8.
entered
h.
limiting
9.
approach
i.
station
10.
running mate
j.
guns
11
firearms
k
got into
12
restricting
l
partner
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
1.
she was little-
a.
faithful
2
… have taken her to
b.
of her views
3.
very popular with the Republican
c.
outdoor Alaskan life
4.
She loved the
d.
in journalism
5.
she won her town’s
e.
their hearts
6.
a degree
f.
interviews
7.
Her no-nonsense
g.
known by most Americans
8.
his running
h.
beauty contest
9.
Little is known
i.
approach to politics
10.
she rarely gives
j.
mate
LISTENING GAP FILL
Sarah Palin (born 1964) is the first woman to _________________ America’s Republican Party as vice-presidential nominee. She is also governor of Alaska. Although she was _________________ most Americans, those in her party have _________________ hearts. Her simple hockey mom image, humble background and Christian values _________________ the Republican faithful.
Palin was born _________________ school secretary mother and a science teacher father. Her family moved to Alaska when she was a baby. She loved the outdoor Alaskan _________________ moose hunting, fishing and long-distance running. She went to school in a small town called Wasilla, _________________ became mayor. In 1984, _________________ beauty contest.
Palin graduated from university in 1987 _________________ journalism and got a job as a sports reporter for an Alaskan TV channel. She entered _________________ of the Wasilla city council in 1992 and became mayor in 1996. Her _________________ to politics saw her rise further. In 2006, she was ___________________ female governor of Alaska.
In August 2008, Senator John McCain announced Palin _________________ mate. She gave her 40-minute _________________ the Republican National Convention. Republicans hope she _________________ votes of Christian conservatives, women and those in favour of firearms. Little is known of her views. The McCain team is restricting press access to Palin ___________________ interviews or engages in debates.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
Sarah Palin (born 1964) is the first woman to be selection / selected by America’s Republican Party as vice-presidential nominee. She is also governor of Alaska. Although she was little-knowing / known by most Americans, those in her party have taken / put her to their hearts. Her simple hockey mom image, humble background and Christian values are very popular / popularity with the Republican faithful.
Palin was born in Idaho to / for a school secretary mother and a science teacher father. Her family removed / moved to Alaska when she was a baby. She loved the outdoor Alaskan life and got into / onto moose hunting, fishing and long-distance running. She went to school in a small town called Wasilla, where she later became mayor. In 1984, she beat / won her town’s beauty contest.
Palin graduated at / from university in 1987 with a degree in journalism and got a job as a sports reporter for an Alaskan TV channel. She entered politics as / was a member of the Wasilla city council in 1992 and became mayor in 1996. Her no-nonsense approach to politics saw her rise future / further. In 2006, she was elected the first never / ever female governor of Alaska.
In August 2008, Senator John McCain announced Palin as his running mate / friend. She gave her 40-minute acceptance speaking / speech at the Republican National Convention. Republicans hope she will help win the votes of Christian conservatives, women and those in favour of firearms / fires. Little is known of her views. The McCain team is restricting press access to Palin so she really / rarely gives interviews or engages in debates.
SPELLING
These jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
the first woman to be etsedecl
2.
vice-presidential nemieon
3.
Christian uvesla
4.
popular with the Republican flutaifh
Paragraph 2
5.
school ayteerrcs
6.
She loved the ouodrot Alaskan life
7.
long-tenacsdi running
8.
betuya contest
Paragraph 3
9.
a degree in numjairlso
10.
an Alaskan TV nhlaenc
11.
Her no-nonsense parochap to politics
12.
… she was eetdcle the first ever female governor
Paragraph 4
13.
nuringn mate
14.
acceptance ehecsp
15.
those in favour of rerifmas
16.
she rarely gives sweeintivr
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
became mayor. In 1984, she won her town’s beauty contest.
( )
In August 2008, Senator John McCain announced Palin as his running mate. She gave her 40-minute acceptance
( )
Palin was born in Idaho to a school secretary mother and a science teacher
( )
hunting, fishing and long-distance running. She went to school in a small town called Wasilla, where she later
( )
party have taken her to their hearts. Her simple hockey mom image, humble
( )
press access to Palin so she rarely gives interviews or engages in debates.
( )
further. In 2006, she was elected the first ever female governor of Alaska.
( )
father. Her family moved to Alaska when she was a baby. She loved the outdoor Alaskan life and got into moose
( )
speech at the Republican National Convention. Republicans hope she will help win the votes of Christian
( )
background and Christian values are very popular with the Republican faithful.
( )
Palin graduated from university in 1987 with a degree in journalism and got a job as a sports
( )
mayor in 1996. Her no-nonsense approach to politics saw her rise
( )
presidential nominee. She is also governor of Alaska. Although she was little-known by most Americans, those in her
( )
conservatives, women and those in favour of firearms. Little is known of her views. The McCain team is restricting
( 1 )
Sarah Palin (born 1964) is the first woman to be selected by America’s Republican Party as vice-
( )
reporter for an Alaskan TV channel. She entered politics as a member of the Wasilla city council in 1992 and became
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
selected be to woman first the
2.
known most was - by Americans little
3.
very faithful Republican the with popular
4.
she baby moved when a family Alaska was Her to
5.
, beauty she contest won In her 1984 town’s
6.
reporter for an Alaskan TV channel a job as a sports
7.
- approach politics no nonsense to Her
8.
mate announced as running McCain Palin his
9.
acceptance gave 40 minute speech her -
10.
engages or interviews gives rarely she debates in
DISCUSSION (Write your questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Sarah Palin?
2.
Would you like to meet Sarah Palin?
3.
What would you like to know about Sarah Palin 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 Sarah Palin. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. SARAH PALIN POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Sarah Palin. 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 Sarah Palin. Include an imaginary interview with her. Write about what she does every day and what she 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 Sarah Palin. Ask her three questions about her life. Give her three suggestions on what she should do in her future. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your “Sarah Palin expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
selected
a.
chosen
2
nominee
b.
candidate
3.
humble
c.
simple
4.
moved
d.
relocated
5.
got into
e.
became interested in
6.
contest
f.
competition
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
channel
g.
station
8.
entered
h.
got into
9.
approach
i.
style
10.
running mate
j.
partner
11
firearms
k
guns
12
restricting
l
limiting
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
she was little-
a.
known by most Americans
2
… have taken her to
b.
their hearts
3.
very popular with the Republican
c.
faithful
4.
She loved the
d.
outdoor Alaskan life
5.
she won her town’s
e.
beauty contest
6.
a degree
f.
in journalism
7.
Her no-nonsense
g.
approach to politics
8.
his running
h.
mate
9.
Little is known
i.
of her views
10.
she rarely gives
j.
interviews
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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