Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Sergey Brin. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Sergey Mikhailovich Brin is famous for revolutionizing the world of Internet search engines. He co-founded Google with his research partner Larry Page. The whole world knows about Google, but perhaps knows little about Sergey Brin. He is the President of Technology at Google and takes an active role in shaping the company’s future. He is the fourth youngest billionaire in the world.
Brin was born in Moscow in 1973. Both his mother and father were mathematicians, which might explain Sergey’s genius for numbers and formulae. Brin and his family emigrated to the United States when he was six. He attended a Montessori school and his father developed his interest in maths. He graduated from university in 1993 with a degree in maths and computer science.
Brin finished his master’s degree in computer science at America’s prestigious Stanford University. He started his Ph.D. on the processes and calculations that search engines use. He teamed up with Larry Page and they wrote a paper that became the blueprint for Google. He put his studies aside to focus on his new business project. It made him rich beyond his wildest dreams.
Although Brin’s ‘official’ salary is just over $43,000 a year, he has a personal fortune of $18.5 billion. He has expanded his business interests into other areas of technology and movie production. In 2008, he invested $5 million in a space tourism company. He is also an investor in Tesla Motors, which is developing a long-range electric car.
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.
famous
a.
established
2
partner
b.
brilliance
3.
shaping
c.
associate
4.
genius
d.
well-known
5.
attended
e.
forming
6.
developed
f.
went to
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
prestigious
g.
plan
8.
teamed up
h.
backer
9.
blueprint
i.
joined
10.
fortune
j.
fields
11
areas
k
elite
12
investor
l
wealth
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
revolutionizing the world of
a.
blueprint for Google
2
takes an active role in
b.
to the United States
3.
Sergey’s genius for
c.
$5 million in a space tourism
4.
Brin and his family emigrated
d.
that search engines use
5.
a degree in
e.
numbers and formulae
6.
the processes and calculations
f.
Internet search engines
7.
a paper that became the
g.
electric car
8.
It made him rich beyond
h.
maths and computer science
9.
he invested
i.
shaping the company’s future
10.
developing a long-range
j.
his wildest dreams
LISTENING GAP FILL
Sergey Mikhailovich Brin _______________ revolutionizing the world of Internet _______________. He co-founded Google with his research partner Larry Page. The _______________ about Google, but perhaps knows little about Sergey Brin. He is the President of Technology at Google and takes _______________ in shaping the company’s future. He is the fourth youngest billionaire in the world.
Brin was _________________ in 1973. Both his mother and father were mathematicians, which might explain Sergey’s _________________ and formulae. Brin and his family ____________ the United States when he was six. He attended a Montessori school and his father developed his interest in maths. He graduated from university in 1993 with ______________ maths and computer science.
Brin finished his master’s degree in computer science at America’s prestigious Stanford University. He started his Ph.D. on the processes and calculations that search engines use. He teamed up with Larry Page and they wrote a paper that became the blueprint for Google. He put his studies aside to focus on his new business project. It made him rich beyond his wildest dreams.
Although Brin’s ‘official’ salary is _______________ a year, he has a personal fortune of $18.5 billion. He _______________ his business interests into other areas of technology and movie production. In 2008, he invested $5 million __________________ company. He is also _______________ Tesla Motors, which is developing a long-range electric car.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Sergey Mikhailovich Brin is fame / famous for revolutionizing the world of Internet search engines. He co-founded Google with his research / researching partner Larry Page. The whole world knows about Google, but perhaps knows little about Sergey Brin. He is the President of Technology at Google and takes an activity / active role in shaping / shapes the company’s future. He is the fourth youngest billionaire in the world.
Brin was born in Moscow in 1973. Both / All his mother and father were mathematicians, which might explanation / explain Sergey’s genius for numbers / numerical and formulae. Brin and his family emigrated to the United States when he was six. He attended a Montessori school and his father developed his interest / interested in maths. He graduated from university in 1993 with a degree in maths and computer science.
Brin finished his master’s degree in computer science at America’s prestigious / prestige Stanford University. He started his Ph.D. at / on the processes and calculations that search engines use. He teamed down / up with Larry Page and they wrote a paper that became the blueprint for Google. He put his studies aside / side to focus on his new business project. It made him rich beyond his wildest dreams.
Although Brin’s ‘official’ / ‘office’ salary is just over $43,000 a year, he has a personality / personal fortune of $18.5 billion. He has expanded his business interests into other areas of technology and movie production. In 2008, he invested / investments $5 million in a space tourism company. He is also an investor in Tesla Motors, which is developed / developing a long-range electric car.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
Internet search snignee
2.
He co-dfudnoe Google
3.
takes an tcivae role
4.
the fourth unoseygt billionaire in the world
Paragraph 2
5.
Brin was born in coswMo
6.
Sergey’s sguein for numbers
7.
his family imgdtreae to the United States
8.
a degree in maths and computer iceencs
Paragraph 3
9.
master’s redeeg
10.
the ntirbeplu for Google
11.
focus on his new business etocjrp
12.
rich beyond his tediwsl dreams
Paragraph 4
13.
Brin’s ‘official’ yaslra is just over $43,000
14.
He has edxadenp his business interests
15.
space utrosmi
16.
a long-range ecrieltc car
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
Montessori school and his father developed his interest in maths. He graduated from
( 1 )
Sergey Mikhailovich Brin is famous for revolutionizing the world of Internet search engines. He co-founded Google
( )
in a space tourism company. He is also an investor in Tesla Motors, which is developing a long-range electric car.
( )
his business interests into other areas of technology and movie production. In 2008, he invested $5 million
( )
his Ph.D. on the processes and calculations that search engines use. He teamed up with Larry Page and they wrote
( )
Although Brin’s ‘official’ salary is just over $43,000 a year, he has a personal fortune of $18.5 billion. He has expanded
( )
a paper that became the blueprint for Google. He put his studies aside to focus on his new business
( )
genius for numbers and formulae. Brin and his family emigrated to the United States when he was six. He attended a
( )
project. It made him rich beyond his wildest dreams.
( )
the company’s future. He is the fourth youngest billionaire in the world.
( )
Sergey Brin. He is the President of Technology at Google and takes an active role in shaping
( )
with his research partner Larry Page. The whole world knows about Google, but perhaps knows little about
( )
Brin finished his master’s degree in computer science at America’s prestigious Stanford University. He started
( )
Brin was born in Moscow in 1973. Both his mother and father were mathematicians, which might explain Sergey’s
( )
university in 1993 with a degree in maths and computer science.
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
of search revolutionizing world Internet engines the
2.
company’s role future in takes shaping an the active
3.
world youngest He billionaire is in the the fourth
4.
mother father mathematicians his and were Both
5.
and the his United family States emigrated Brin to
6.
calculations and processes the use engines search that
7.
for blueprint the became that paper a Google
8.
beyond rich him made It dreams wildest his
9.
areas business He interests has into expanded other his
10.
car a - electric developing long range
SERGEY BRIN DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Sergey Brin?
2.
Would you like to meet Sergey Brin?
3.
What would you like to know about Sergey Brin 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 Sergey Brin. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. SERGEY BRIN POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Sergey Brin. 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 Sergey Brin. 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 Sergey Brin. 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 “Sergey Brin expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
famous
a.
well-known
2
partner
b.
associate
3.
shaping
c.
forming
4.
genius
d.
brilliance
5.
attended
e.
went to
6.
developed
f.
established
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
prestigious
g.
elite
8.
teamed up
h.
joined
9.
blueprint
i.
plan
10.
fortune
j.
wealth
11
areas
k
fields
12
investor
l
backer
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
revolutionizing the world of
a.
Internet search engines
2
takes an active role in
b.
shaping the company’s future
3.
Sergey’s genius for
c.
numbers and formulae
4.
Brin and his family emigrated
d.
to the United States
5.
a degree in
e.
maths and computer science
6.
the processes and calculations
f.
that search engines use
7.
a paper that became the
g.
blueprint for Google
8.
It made him rich beyond
h.
his wildest dreams
9.
he invested
i.
$5 million in a space tourism
10.
developing a long-range
j.
electric car
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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