Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Yao Ming. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Yao Ming is probably China’s most famous sports star. He plays basketball for the China national team and for the Houston Rockets in America. He is currently the tallest player in the NBA, measuring 2.29 metres. His mother and father stand at 1.90 and 2.01 metres. Yao has been China’s richest celebrity for over five years and has helped Chinese-US relations.
Yao started playing basketball when he was nine and joined the Shanghai Sharks at 13. He played on their senior team for five years and won the Chinese championship. In 2002, he became the first international player ever to be selected as the number one pick of rookies. China gave permission for Yao to play in the USA on the morning of the draft.
He is a huge success in America and has signed many major sponsorship deals. He has played in the NBA All-Star Game in all of his seasons with Houston. In 2007, Yao played against his fellow Chinese player Yi Jianlian for the first time. Over 200 million people in China tuned in, making it one of the most-watched basketball games ever.
Yao is married to Ye Li, a former player for China's national team. In 2004, he carried the Chinese flag during the opening ceremony of the Olympics, which he said was a “long dream come true”. He also does a great deal for charity. After the 2008 China earthquake, he donated $2 million dollars and created a foundation to help rebuild schools.
248 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.
probably
a.
presently
2
currently
b.
began
3.
celebrity
c.
choice
4.
started
d.
personality
5.
selected
e.
most likely
6.
pick
f.
chosen
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
huge
g.
charity
8.
deals
h.
ex
9.
tuned in
i.
lots
10.
former
j.
enormous
11
a great deal
k
watched
12
foundation
l
agreements
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
Yao Ming is probably China’s
a.
permission for Yao to play
2
His mother and father stand
b.
team for five years
3.
He played on their senior
c.
tuned in
4.
selected as the
d.
sponsorship deals
5.
China gave
e.
Chinese player Yi Jianlian
6.
signed many major
f.
at 1.90 and 2.01 metres
7.
Yao played against his fellow
g.
to help rebuild schools
8.
Over 200 million people in China
h.
most famous sports star
9.
He also does a great
i.
number one pick
10.
created a foundation
j.
deal for charity
LISTENING GAP FILL
Yao Ming ____________________ most famous sports star. He plays basketball for the China national team and for the Houston Rockets in America. He ____________________ player in the NBA, measuring 2.29 metres. His mother and father stand at 1.90 and 2.01 metres. Yao has been China’s ____________________ over five years and has helped Chinese-US relations.
Yao started playing basketball ____________________ and joined the Shanghai Sharks at 13. He played on their senior team for five years and won the Chinese championship. In 2002, he became the first international player ____________________ as the number one pick of rookies. China ____________________ Yao to play in the USA on the morning of the draft.
He ____________________ in America and has signed many major sponsorship deals. He has played in the NBA All-Star Game in all of his seasons with Houston. In 2007, Yao ____________________ Chinese player Yi Jianlian for the first time. Over 200 million people in China ____________________ one of the most-watched basketball games ever.
Yao is married to Ye Li, ____________________ China's national team. In 2004, he carried the Chinese flag during ____________________ of the Olympics, which he said was a “long dream come true”. He ______________________ for charity. After the 2008 China earthquake, he donated $2 million dollars and created a foundation to help rebuild schools.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Yao Ming is probably / probable China’s most famous sports star. He plays basketball for the China nation / national team and for the Houston Rockets in America. He is currently the tallest player in the NBA, measuring 2.29 metres. His mother and father stand by / at 1.90 and 2.01 metres. Yao has been China’s richest celebrity for over five years and has helped Chinese-US relation / relations.
Yao started playing basketball when he was nine and joining / joined the Shanghai Sharks for / at 13. He played on their senior team for five years and won the Chinese championship. In 2002, he became the first international player never / ever to be selected as the number one pick of rookies. China gave permission for / to Yao to play in the USA on the morning of the draft.
He is a huge / hug success in America and has signed many major sponsorship deals / deal. He has played in the NBA All-Star Game in all of his seasons with Houston. In 2007, Yao played against his fellows / fellow Chinese player Yi Jianlian for the first time. Over 200 million people in China tuned in / up, making it one of the most-watched basketball games ever.
Yao is married to Ye Li, a former / firmer player for China's national team. In 2004, he carried the Chinese flag while / during the opening ceremony of the Olympics, which he said was a “long dream come false / true”. He also does a great deal / deals for charity. After the 2008 China earthquake, he donated $2 million dollars and created a foundation to help rebuild schools.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
balopbyr China’s most famous sports star
2.
He is nerulytcr the tallest player in the NBA
3.
His mother and father atdns at 1.90 and 2.01 metres
4.
Chinese-US otisaenrl
Paragraph 2
5.
ioejnd the Shanghai Sharks at 13
6.
He played on their soiren team
7.
the first international player ever to be tcdlseee
8.
China gave mnrpsisoei for Yao to play
Paragraph 3
9.
He is a huge eusscsc in America
10.
his snssaoe with Houston
11.
Yao played against welfol Chinese player Yi Jianlian his
12.
Over 200 million people in China tdenu in
Paragraph 4
13.
a rfomre player for China's national team
14.
he carried the Chinese flag during the opening yeconrem
15.
He also does a great elad for charity
16.
help udibelr schools
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
and created a foundation to help rebuild schools.
( )
his fellow Chinese player Yi Jianlian for the first time. Over 200 million people in China tuned in, making
( )
flag during the opening ceremony of the Olympics, which he said was a “long dream come
( )
true”. He also does a great deal for charity. After the 2008 China earthquake, he donated $2 million dollars
( )
it one of the most-watched basketball games ever.
( )
measuring 2.29 metres. His mother and father
( )
He is a huge success in America and has signed many major sponsorship
( 1 )
Yao Ming is probably China’s most famous sports star. He plays basketball for the China national team and
( )
stand at 1.90 and 2.01 metres. Yao has been China’s richest celebrity for over five years and has helped Chinese-US relations.
( )
for the Houston Rockets in America. He is currently the tallest player in the NBA,
( )
be selected as the number one pick of rookies. China gave permission for Yao to play in the USA on the morning of the draft.
( )
deals. He has played in the NBA All-Star Game in all of his seasons with Houston. In 2007, Yao played against
( )
Yao started playing basketball when he was nine and joined the Shanghai Sharks at 13. He played on their
( )
senior team for five years and won the Chinese championship. In 2002, he became the first international player ever to
( )
Yao is married to Ye Li, a former player for China's national team. In 2004, he carried the Chinese
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
probably star sports famous most China’s
2.
is tallest the He the in currently player NBA
3.
their years senior He team played for on five
4.
be to ever player international first the selected
5.
China for play USA permission to the gave Yao in
6.
success America is huge in He a
7.
player Chinese fellow against his played Yao Yi-Jianlian
8.
in tuned China in people million 200 Over
9.
player China's team former for national a
10.
created foundation help schools a to rebuild
YAO MING DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Yao Ming?
2.
Would you like to meet Yao Ming?
3.
What would you like to know about Yao Ming 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 Yao Ming. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. YAO MING POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Yao Ming. 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 Yao Ming. 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 Yao Ming. 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 “Yao Ming expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
probably
a.
most likely
2
currently
b.
presently
3.
celebrity
c.
personality
4.
started
d.
began
5.
selected
e.
chosen
6.
pick
f.
choice
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
huge
g.
enormous
8.
deals
h.
agreements
9.
tuned in
i.
watched
10.
former
j.
ex
11
a great deal
k
lots
12
foundation
l
charity
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
Yao Ming is probably China’s
a.
most famous sports star
2
His mother and father stand
b.
at 1.90 and 2.01 metres
3.
He played on their senior
c.
team for five years
4.
selected as the
d.
number one pick
5.
China gave
e.
permission for Yao to play
6.
signed many major
f.
sponsorship deals
7.
Yao played against his fellow
g.
Chinese player Yi Jianlian
8.
Over 200 million people in China
h.
tuned in
9.
He also does a great
i.
deal for charity
10.
created a foundation
j.
to help rebuild schools
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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