Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Yusuf Islam. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, is a British musician, singer-songwriter and philanthropist. He has sold over 60 million albums worldwide in a career spanning five decades. He converted to Islam at the height of his fame in 1977. The following year, he started a three-decade break from music to devote himself to helping the British Muslim community.
Yusuf Islam was born in 1948 as Steven Georgiou. His father was a Greek-Cypriot and his mother was Swedish. He lived and grew up very near London’s Piccadilly Circus. Steven started playing piano when he was 12, which led to songwriting and playing guitar. He began to perform his songs in London pubs under the stage name Cat Stevens.
At the age of 18, Stevens got a record deal. His debut album ‘Matthew and Son’ was a huge success. He became a pop sensation until he developed tuberculosis in 1968. He spent several months in hospital, where he took up meditation and read about religion. He wrote many songs that would make him world famous in the 1970s.
In 1976 Stevens nearly drowned, an event that made him question his life. His brother gave him a copy of the Koran and he converted to Islam. Yusuf Islam then abandoned his rock star career. In 1981, he established the first of many Islamia Schools in Britain. He devoted himself to Islamic charitable causes and has received many peace awards. Yusuf returned to releasing records in 2006.
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.
formerly
a.
dedicate
2
philanthropist
b.
sing
3.
devote
c.
do-gooder
4.
very
d.
previously
5.
led to
e.
extremely
6.
perform
f.
resulted in
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
deal
g.
changed
8.
huge
h.
started
9.
took up
i.
agreement
10.
event
j.
set up
11
converted
k
incident
12
established
l
enormous
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
formerly known
a.
question his life
2
a career spanning
b.
name Cat Stevens
3.
at the height
c.
deal
4.
grew up very
d.
as Cat Stevens
5.
under the stage
e.
Islamia Schools
6.
Stevens got a record
f.
near London’s Piccadilly
7.
a huge
g.
causes
8.
an event which made him
h.
five decades
9.
he established the first of many
i.
success
10.
charitable
j.
of his fame
LISTENING GAP FILL
Yusuf Islam, __________________ Cat Stevens, is a British musician, singer-songwriter and philanthropist. He _______________ 60 million albums worldwide in a career __________________. He converted to Islam at the height of his fame in 1977. The following year, he started a three-decade break from __________________ himself to helping the British Muslim community.
Yusuf Islam was born in 1948 as Steven Georgiou. His father was a Greek-Cypriot and his mother was Swedish. He __________________ very near London’s Piccadilly Circus. Steven started playing piano when he was 12, ___________ songwriting and playing guitar. He _______________ his songs in London pubs __________________ name Cat Stevens.
At the age of 18, Stevens _______________ deal. His debut album ‘Matthew and Son’ was _______________. He became a pop sensation until he developed tuberculosis in 1968. _______________ months in hospital, where he took up meditation and read about religion. He wrote many songs that _______________ world famous in the 1970s.
In 1976 Stevens ______________, an event that made him question his life. His brother gave _______________ the Koran and he converted to Islam. Yusuf Islam _______________ his rock star career. In 1981, he established the first of many Islamia Schools in Britain. He devoted himself to Islamic ______________ and has received many peace awards. Yusuf returned to releasing records in 2006.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Yusuf Islam, formerly known / knowing as Cat Stevens, is a British musician, singer-songwriter and philanthropist. He has sold / selling over 60 million albums worldwide in a career spanned / spanning five decades. He converted to Islam at the height of his fame in 1977. The following year, he started a three-decade break from music to devote / devotion himself to helping the British Muslim community.
Yusuf Islam was born in 1948 was / as Steven Georgiou. His father was a Greek-Cypriot and his mother was Sweden / Swedish. He lived and grew up very nearly / near London’s Piccadilly Circus. Steven started playing piano when he was 12, which led to songwriting and playing guitar. He began to perform his songs in London pubs below / under the stage name Cat Stevens.
At the age of 18, Stevens got a record deal / dealer. His debut album ‘Matthew and Son’ was a huge success / successful. He became a pop sensation until he developed tuberculosis in 1968. He spent several months in hospital, where he took up / over meditation and read about religion. He wrote many songs that would / will make him world famous in the 1970s.
In 1976 Stevens nearly drowned, an event / eventful that made him question his life. His brother gave him a copy / copied of the Koran and he converted to Islam. Yusuf Islam then abandoned his rock star career. In 1981, he established the first of much / many Islamia Schools in Britain. He devoted himself to Islamic charitable causes and has received many piece / peace awards. Yusuf returned to releasing records in 2006.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
mloyrrfe known as Cat Steven
2.
a career spanning five adsecde
3.
at the tigheh of his fame in 1977
4.
tvoede himself to helping the British Muslim community
Paragraph 2
5.
his mother was shdeSwi
6.
playing noiap
7.
rpmrfeo his songs in London
8.
under the egtsa name Cat Stevens
Paragraph 3
9.
a record elad
10.
He became a pop esnnsoita
11.
He spent several months in loaiphts
12.
he took up meditation and read about oinrelgi
Paragraph 4
13.
In 1976 Stevens nearly ddnorwe
14.
an event which made him eonitqsu his life
15.
he drvtceone to Islam
16.
charitable uscase
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
songwriting and playing guitar. He began to perform his songs in London pubs under the stage name Cat Stevens.
( 1 )
Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, is a British musician, singer-songwriter and philanthropist. He has sold
( )
of his fame in 1977. The following year, he started a three-decade break from music to devote
( )
and grew up very near London’s Piccadilly Circus. Steven started playing piano when he was 12, which led to
( )
a pop sensation until he developed tuberculosis in 1968. He spent several months in hospital, where he took up
( )
an event which made him question his life. His brother gave him a copy of the Koran and he converted to
( )
At the age of 18, Stevens got a record deal. His debut album ‘Matthew and Son’ was a huge success. He became
( )
causes and has received many peace awards. Yusuf returned to releasing records in 2006.
( )
Islam. Yusuf Islam then abandoned his rock star career. In 1981, he established the first of many
( )
In 1976 Stevens nearly drowned,
( )
himself to helping the British Muslim community.
( )
meditation and read about religion. He wrote many songs that would make him world famous in the 1970s.
( )
Islamia Schools in Britain. He devoted himself to Islamic charitable
( )
over 60 million albums worldwide in a career spanning five decades. He converted to Islam at the height
( )
Yusuf Islam was born in 1948 as Steven Georgiou. His father was a Greek-Cypriot and his mother was Swedish. He lived
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
60 over sold has He worldwide albums million
2.
at of He Islam height fame to the his converted
3.
from three music - he decade started break a
4.
piano playing started Steven 12 was he when
5.
began He London in songs his perform to
6.
Stevens got a record deal At the age of 18 ,
7.
read and meditation up took he religion about
8.
an life his question him made which event
9.
him Koran a His copy brother of gave the
10.
established he Schools Islamia many of first the
YUSUF ISLAM DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Yusuf Islam?
2.
Would you like to meet Yusuf Islam?
3.
What would you like to know about Yusuf Islam 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 Yusuf Islam. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. YUSUF ISLAM POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Yusuf Islam. 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 Yusuf Islam. 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 Yusuf Islam. 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 “Yusuf Islam expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
formerly
a.
previously
2
philanthropist
b.
do-gooder
3.
devote
c.
dedicate
4.
very
d.
extremely
5.
led to
e.
resulted in
6.
perform
f.
sing
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
deal
g.
agreement
8.
huge
h.
enormous
9.
took up
i.
started
10.
event
j.
incident
11
converted
k
changed
12
established
l
set up
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
formerly known
a.
as Cat Stevens
2
a career spanning
b.
five decades
3.
at the height
c.
of his fame
4.
grew up very
d.
near London’s Piccadilly
5.
under the stage
e.
name Cat Stevens
6.
Stevens got a record
f.
deal
7.
a huge
g.
success
8.
an event which made him
h.
question his life
9.
he established the first of many
i.
Islamia Schools
10.
charitable
j.
causes
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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