Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Tim Berners-Lee. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Sir Timothy Berners-Lee is a British computer scientist who invented the World Wide Web. He received a knighthood from the British Queen for his efforts (so he is called ‘Sir’). He is director of W3C, which looks after the Web’s development. A leading British newspaper ranked him as the world’s greatest living genius. Today’s world would be very different without his discovery.
Berners-Lee was born in 1955 to parents who were mathematicians and computer scientists. He grew up with numbers and electronics and managed to build his own computer. He went to Oxford University and was banned from using the computers for hacking. Berners-Lee graduated with a degree in physics. His first jobs after graduating were as a computer programmer and software developer.
Berners-Lee spent the 1980s on a project based on sharing and updating information online. In 1991, he put the first website online. It explained what the World Wide Web was and how it was used. He gave his idea to the world for free. In 1994, Berners-Lee founded W3C to set standards and improve the quality of the Web.
Berners-Lee now spends his time between W3C and as a professor of computer science in England. He also writes about the future of the Web. In 2004, he was named as the first ever winner of the Millennium Technology Prize. He has a string of other awards and is listed as one of ‘Time’ magazine’s 100 most important people of the 20th Century.
245 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.
received
a.
invention
2
leading
b.
attended
3.
discovery
c.
top
4.
build
d.
stopped
5.
went to
e.
got
6.
banned
f.
make
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
based on
g.
Internet
8.
set
h.
presently
9.
improve
i.
put down
10.
now
j.
centred around
11
Web
k
series
12
string
l
upgrade
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
the world’s greatest
a.
world for free
2
Today’s world would be very different
b.
a degree in physics
3.
He grew up with
c.
the future of the Web
4.
banned from using the computers
d.
living genius
5.
Berners-Lee graduated with
e.
of other awards
6.
a project based on sharing
f.
numbers and electronics
7.
He gave his idea to the
g.
for hacking
8.
set standards and improve
h.
and updating information
9.
He also writes about
i.
without his discovery
10.
He has a string
j.
the quality of the Web
LISTENING GAP FILL
Sir Timothy Berners-Lee is a British computer scientist ____________ the World Wide Web. He ____________ knighthood from the British Queen for his efforts (so he is called ‘Sir’). He is director of W3C, which ______________ Web’s development. A leading British newspaper ranked him as the world’s greatest ____________. Today’s world would be very different without his discovery.
Berners-Lee was born in 1955 to _________________ mathematicians and computer scientists. He grew ______________ and electronics and managed _______________ computer. He went to Oxford University and was banned from using the computers for hacking. Berners-Lee graduated ______________ physics. His first jobs after graduating were as a computer programmer and software developer.
Berners-Lee spent the 1980s on a _________________ sharing and updating information online. In 1991, ______________ website online. It explained what the World Wide Web was and how it was used. He gave his idea to the ______________. In 1994, Berners-Lee founded W3C _______________ and improve the quality of the Web.
Berners-Lee now ______________ between W3C and as a professor of computer science in England. He also writes about ______________ Web. In 2004, ______________ the first ever winner of the Millennium Technology Prize. He ______________ other awards and is listed as one of ‘Time’ magazine’s 100 most important people of the 20th Century.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Sir Timothy Berners-Lee is a British / Briton computer scientist who invented the World Wide Web. He received a nightcap / knighthood from the British Queen for his efforts (so he is called ‘Sir’). He is director of W3C, which looks up / after the Web’s development. A leading British newspaper ranked him as the world’s greatest living genius. Today’s world would be very different without his discovered / discovery.
Berners-Lee was born in 1955 to parents who were mathematics / mathematicians and computer scientists. He grown / grew up with numbers and electronics and managed to build his own computer. He went to Oxford University and was banned / binned from using the computers for hacking. Berners-Lee graduated with a degree in physics. His first jobs after graduating were as a computer programmer and software development / developer.
Berners-Lee spent the 1980s as / on a project based on sharing and updating information online. In 1991, he put / took the first website online. It explained what the World Wide Web was and how it was using / used. He gave his idea to the world for free. In 1994, Berners-Lee founded W3C to / by set standards and improve the quality of the Web.
Berners-Lee now spending / spends his time between W3C and as / was a professor of computer science in England. He also wrote / writes about the future of the Web. In 2004, he was named as the first ever winner of the Millennium Technology Prize. He has a string / rope of other awards and is listed as one of ‘Time’ magazine’s 100 most important people of the 20th Century.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
computer sectstiin
2.
eenitndv the World Wide Web
3.
the world’s greatest living gnesui
4.
very different without his svyoedirc
Paragraph 2
5.
He grew up with rumenbs and electronics
6.
anbedn from using the computers
7.
graduated with a regede in physics
8.
teorwsfa developer
Paragraph 3
9.
a toejprc based on sharing and updating information
10.
he put the first website lenoin
11.
Berners-Lee oedfndu W3C
12.
improve the liaytuq of the Web
Paragraph 4
13.
a prsefsoor of computer science
14.
He also writes about the futeru
15.
the first ever wiennr
16.
He has a rnigts of other awards
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
numbers and electronics and managed to build his own computer. He went to Oxford University and was banned
( )
physics. His first jobs after graduating were as a computer programmer and software developer.
( )
from using the computers for hacking. Berners-Lee graduated with a degree in
( )
Berners-Lee spent the 1980s on a project based on sharing and updating information online. In 1991, he put the first
( )
Web’s development. A leading British newspaper ranked him as the world’s greatest living
( )
genius. Today’s world would be very different without his discovery.
( )
Berners-Lee was born in 1955 to parents who were mathematicians and computer scientists. He grew up with
( )
Berners-Lee now spends his time between W3C and as a professor of computer science in England. He also writes
( 1 )
Sir Timothy Berners-Lee is a British computer scientist who invented the World Wide Web. He received
( )
website online. It explained what the World Wide Web was and how it was used. He gave his idea to the world
( )
one of ‘Time’ magazine’s 100 most important people of the 20th Century.
( )
a knighthood from the British Queen for his efforts (so he is called ‘Sir’). He is director of W3C, which looks after the
( )
winner of the Millennium Technology Prize. He has a string of other awards and is listed as
( )
for free. In 1994, Berners-Lee founded W3C to set standards and improve the quality of the Web.
( )
about the future of the Web. In 2004, he was named as the first ever
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
is computer Timothy British Sir a scientist Berners-Lee
2.
greatest the living world’s genius
3.
his be discovery very Today’s different world without would
4.
electronics grew with and He up numbers
5.
using computers hacking from the for banned
6.
a information updating and sharing on based project
7.
for idea free to He the gave world his
8.
Web the set quality standards of and the improve
9.
writes the about Web the He future also of
10.
of awards has string other He a
TIM BERNERS-LEE DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Tim Berners-Lee?
2.
Would you like to meet Tim Berners-Lee?
3.
What would you like to know about Tim Berners-Lee 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 Tim Berners-Lee. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. TIM BERNERS-LEE POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Tim Berners-Lee. 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 Tim Berners-Lee. 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 Tim Berners-Lee. 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 “Tim Berners-Lee expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
received
a.
got
2
leading
b.
top
3.
discovery
c.
invention
4.
build
d.
make
5.
went to
e.
attended
6.
banned
f.
stopped
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
based on
g.
centred around
8.
set
h.
put down
9.
improve
i.
upgrade
10.
now
j.
presently
11
Web
k
Internet
12
string
l
series
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
the world’s greatest
a.
living genius
2
Today’s world would be very different
b.
without his discovery
3.
He grew up with
c.
numbers and electronics
4.
banned from using the computers
d.
for hacking
5.
Berners-Lee graduated with
e.
a degree in physics
6.
a project based on sharing
f.
and updating information
7.
He gave his idea to the
g.
world for free
8.
set standards and improve
h.
the quality of the Web
9.
He also writes about
i.
the future of the Web
10.
He has a string
j.
of other awards
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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