Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Venus Williams. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Venus Ebony Starr Williams is one of the most successful women ever to play tennis. She is a former World No. 1, and always a serious threat on court. She is likely to win a tournament even if her ranking is low. She has also met with success off the court as the CEO of two companies she started.
Williams was born in Los Angeles in 1980. She started playing tennis from a very young age with her four sisters. Her father recognized that both Venus and little sister Serena were outstanding players. She built up an amazing record of being unbeaten in 63 matches in girls’ tournaments, and aged ten, won the Southern California girls' under-12 title.
Venus moved with her family to Florida to train at a tennis academy. By the time she was thirteen, major sports companies were offering her sponsorship deals. She turned pro at 14 and nearly beat the world number 2 in her debut tournament. Venus made it to the final at her debut US Open in 1997 but lost in straight sets.
Venus won her first Grand Slam tournament at Wimbledon in 2000 and her 16th in 2008. This outstanding achievement makes her one of the all-time greats. In 2006, Williams led and won a campaign for women to receive the same prize money as men at Wimbledon and was backed by the British government. Her successful interior design company and fashion lines also show she is a winner.
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.
ever
a.
first-class
2
threat
b.
at any time
3.
likely
c.
understood
4.
young
d.
odds-on
5.
recognized
e.
early
6.
outstanding
f.
danger
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
train
g.
supported
8.
deals
h.
championship
9.
made it
i.
contracts
10.
tournament
j.
success
11
achievement
k
practice
12
backed
l
reached
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
one of the most successful women
a.
were outstanding players
2
She is likely to win a tournament
b.
in her debut tournament
3.
She has also met
c.
even if her ranking is low
4.
both Venus and little sister Serena
d.
ever to play tennis
5.
She built
e.
her one of the all-time greats
6.
sports companies were offering
f.
by the British government
7.
nearly beat the world number 2
g.
up an amazing record
8.
This outstanding achievement makes
h.
with success off the court
9.
a campaign for women to receive the
i.
her sponsorship deals
10.
backed
j.
same prize money as men
LISTENING GAP FILL
Venus Ebony Starr Williams is one of the most successful _____________ tennis. She is a former World No. 1, and always a _____________ court. She is likely to win a tournament even if _____________ low. She has also met with success _____________ the CEO of two companies she started.
Williams was born in Los Angeles in 1980. She started playing tennis from a _____________ with her four sisters. Her father ________________ Venus and little sister Serena were outstanding players. _____________ amazing record of ________________ 63 matches in girls’ tournaments, and aged ten, won the Southern California ________________.
Venus moved with her family to Florida _____________ tennis academy. By the time she was thirteen, major sports companies _______________ sponsorship deals. She _______________ and nearly beat the world number 2 in her debut tournament. Venus made it to the final at her debut US Open in 1997 but ________________.
Venus won her first Grand Slam tournament at Wimbledon in 2000 and her 16th in 2008. This outstanding achievement makes her one _______________ greats. In 2006, Williams _______________ campaign for women to receive the same prize money as men at Wimbledon and _______________ British government. Her successful interior design company and _______________ show she is a winner.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics:
Venus Ebony Starr Williams is one of the / a most successful women ever to play tennis. She is a former / ex-World No. 1, and always a serious treat / threat on court. She is likely to win a tournament even if her ranking is low. She has also meeting / met with success off the court as the CEO of two companies she started.
Williams was born in Los Angeles in 1980. She started playing tennis from a very younger / young age with her four sisters. Her father recognized that both Venus and little sister Serena were outstanding playing / players. She built down / up an amazing record of being unbeaten in 63 matches in girls’ tournaments, and aged ten, won the Southern California girls' over- / under-12 title.
Venus moved with her family to Florida to train at a tennis academy. By / Then the time she was thirteen, major sports companies were offering her sponsorship meals / deals. She turned pro at 14 and nearly beat / won the world number 2 in her debut tournament. Venus made it to the final at her debut US Open in 1997 but lost in curved / straight sets.
Venus won her first Grand Slam tournament at Wimbledon in 2000 and her 16th in 2008. This / These outstanding achievement makes her one of the all-time great / greats. In 2006, Williams led and won a campaign for women to receive the same / some prize money as men at Wimbledon and was backed with / by the British government. Her successful interior design company and fashion lines also show she is a winner.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
euslscusfc women
2.
She is a rofmre World No. 1
3.
a serious ttraeh on court
4.
She is ieklly to win
Paragraph 2
5.
She etsatrd playing tennis from a very young age
6.
Venus and little sister Serena were gtnoantduis players
7.
She built up an iamznga record
8.
beetnanu in 63 matches
Paragraph 3
9.
a tennis ayemcad
10.
major sports companies were offering her sponsorship lased
11.
her dubet tournament
12.
lost in irgatths sets
Paragraph 4
13.
one of the lalem-ti greats
14.
Williams led and won a igacpanm for women
15.
Her successful interior sgnedi company
16.
she is a nwerin
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
Venus moved with her family to Florida to train at a tennis academy. By the time she was thirteen, major sports
( )
achievement makes her one of the all-time greats. In 2006, Williams led and won a campaign for
( )
up an amazing record of being unbeaten in 63 matches in girls’ tournaments,
( )
companies were offering her sponsorship deals. She turned pro at 14 and nearly beat the world number 2 in her
( )
and aged ten, won the Southern California girls' under-12 title.
( )
debut tournament. Venus made it to the final at her debut US Open in 1997 but lost in straight sets.
( )
by the British government. Her successful interior design company and fashion lines also show she is a winner.
( )
Venus won her first Grand Slam tournament at Wimbledon in 2000 and her 16th in 2008. This outstanding
( )
women to receive the same prize money as men at Wimbledon and was backed
( 1 )
Venus Ebony Starr Williams is one of the most successful women ever to play tennis. She is a former
( )
Williams was born in Los Angeles in 1980. She started playing tennis from a very young age with her
( )
World No. 1, and always a serious threat on court. She is likely to win a tournament even if her ranking is
( )
low. She has also met with success off the court as the CEO of two companies she started.
( )
four sisters. Her father recognized that both Venus and little sister Serena were outstanding players. She built
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
women play of successful to one most ever tennis the
2.
serious a always court on threat
3.
success has off also the met court with She
4.
from She a started very playing young tennis age
5.
sister little and she both outstanding were Serena
6.
to Venus with family Florida moved her
7.
deals sponsorship her offering were companies sports major
8.
Venus made it to the final at her debut US Open
9.
her at first Wimbledon Grand Venus Slam won tournament
10.
campaign led In and 2006 won , a Williams
VENUS WILLIAMS DISCUSSION (Write your questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Venus Williams?
2.
Would you like to meet Venus Williams?
3.
What would you like to know about Venus Williams 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 Venus Williams. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. VENUS WILLIAMS POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Venus Williams. 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 Venus Williams. 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 Venus Williams. 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 “Venus Williams expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
ever
a.
at any time
2
threat
b.
danger
3.
likely
c.
odds-on
4.
young
d.
early
5.
recognized
e.
understood
6.
outstanding
f.
first-class
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
train
g.
practice
8.
deals
h.
contracts
9.
made it
i.
reached
10.
tournament
j.
championship
11
achievement
k
success
12
backed
l
supported
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
one of the most successful women
a.
ever to play tennis
2
She is likely to win a tournament
b.
even if her ranking is low
3.
She has also met
c.
with success off the court
4.
both Venus and little sister Serena
d.
were outstanding players
5.
She built
e.
up an amazing record
6.
sports companies were offering
f.
her sponsorship deals
7.
nearly beat the world number 2
g.
in her debut tournament
8.
This outstanding achievement makes
h.
her one of the all-time greats
9.
a campaign for women to receive the
i.
same prize money as men
10.
backed
j.
by the British government
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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