English Lesson on Asashoryu

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THE LESSON ON ASASHORYU

Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Asashoryu. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:


READ

Asashoryu is a sumo grand champion and one of the most successful sumo fighters in history. His real name is Dolgorsurengiin Dagvadorj; Asashoryu is his fighting name. He was born in Mongolia in 1980 and is the first Mongolian to reach sumo’s top position of yokozuna, which means grand champion. He is also the most successful non-Japanese ever to enter the sumo ring.

Asashoryu grew up with wrestling in his blood. His father and brothers are all fighters. He moved to Japan as an exchange student to study Japanese and quickly developed a passion and great talent for sumo. In 1999, he joined a leading sumo stable (team) and fought his way up through the ranks.

Asashoryu could well become the greatest sumo fighter ever. He is closing in on the all-time greats for the number of championships won. He holds the record for winning the most fights in one year. In 2005 he won an impressive 84 out of 90 fights and all six championships. Victory in the final tournament of 2004 meant he won seven in a row – another record.

Asashoryu has a huge following, but he has also upset sumo’s traditionalists. Many people love him because he goes against the grain, but others say he’s bad for sumo. In 2007, he became the first yokozuna in history to be suspended from competition. He has a history of bad and unsportsmanlike behaviour. Regardless, he continues to create a lot of interest in the sport.

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.

in history

a.

step onto

2

position

b.

battled

3.

enter

c.

rank

4.

moved

d.

top

5.

leading

e.

ever

6.

fought

f.

relocated


Paragraphs 3 and 4
 

 

 

7.

ever

g.

breathtaking

8.

impressive

h.

enormous

9.

in a row

i.

in history

10.

huge

j.

generate

11

history

k

consecutively

12

create

l

record

PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article:

1.

Asashoryu is his

a.

an exchange student

2

the first Mongolian to reach sumo’s

b.

the grain

3.

Asashoryu grew up with wrestling

c.

top position of yokozuna

4.

He moved to Japan as

d.

84 out of 90 fights

5.

fought his way up

e.

fighting name

6.

He is closing in

f.

following

7.

In 2005 he won an impressive

g.

on the all-time greats

8.

Asashoryu has a huge

h.

through the ranks

9.

he goes against

i.

behaviour

10.

bad and unsportsmanlike

j.

in his blood

LISTENING GAP FILL

Asashoryu is a sumo grand champion ________________ most successful sumo fighters in history. His real name is Dolgorsurengiin Dagvadorj; Asashoryu ________________. He was born in Mongolia in 1980 and is the first Mongolian ________________ position of yokozuna, which means grand champion. He is also the most successful non-Japanese ________________ sumo ring.

Asashoryu grew up with wrestling ________________. His father and brothers are all fighters. He moved to Japan as ________________ to study Japanese and quickly developed a passion and great talent for sumo. In 1999, he joined a ________________ (team) and fought his way up ________________.

Asashoryu ________________ the greatest sumo fighter ever. He is closing in on the all-time greats for the number of championships won. He ________________ winning the most fights in one year. In 2005 he ________________ 84 out of 90 fights and all six championships. Victory in the final tournament of 2004 meant he ________________ – another record.

Asashoryu has ________________, but he has also upset sumo’s traditionalists. Many people love him because he goes ________________, but others say he’s bad for sumo. In 2007, he became the first yokozuna in history ________________ from competition. He has a history of bad and unsportsmanlike behaviour. Regardless, he ________________ a lot of interest in the sport.

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.

Asashoryu is a sumo grand champion and one of the best / most successful sumo fighters in history. His real / really name is Dolgorsurengiin Dagvadorj; Asashoryu is his fighting name. He was born in Mongolia in 1980 and is the first Mongolian to reach sumo’s stop / top position of yokozuna, which means grand champion. He is also the most successful non- / none- Japanese ever to enter the sumo ring.

Asashoryu grew up / down with wrestling in his blood. His father and brothers are all fighters. He moved to Japan as an extra / exchange student to study Japanese and quickly developed a passion / poison and great talent for sumo. In 1999, he joined a leading sumo stable (team) and fought his way up through / threw the ranks.

Asashoryu could well become / became the greatest sumo fighter ever. He is closing in / up on the all-time greats for the number of championships won. He holds the record / recording for winning the most fights in one year. In 2005 he won an impressive 84 out of 90 fights and all six championships. Victory in the final tournament of 2004 meant he won seven in a column / row – another record.

Asashoryu has a huge / hug following, but he has also upset sumo’s traditionalists. Many people love him because he goes against the brain / grain, but others say he’s bad for sumo. In 2007, he became the first yokozuna in history to be hung / suspended from competition. He has a history of bad and unsportsmanlike behaviour. Regardless, he continues to create a much / lot of interest in the sport.

SPELLING

The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.

Paragraph 1
 

1.

Asashoryu is a sumo grand pmhcnaio

2.

Asashoryu is his igfhgint name

3.

the first Mongolian to reach sumo’s top tonpsiio of yokozuna

4.

the most ssfcuulces non-Japanese


Paragraph 2
 

5.

Asashoryu grew up with stnrlwieg in his blood

6.

He moved to Japan as an aehgncxe student

7.

quickly developed a niopass and great talent for sumo

8.

uofght his way up through the ranks


Paragraph 3
 

9.

He is ocsgiln in on the all-time greats

10.

the record for nwnnigi the most fights

11.

he won an eiisemvprs 84 out of 90 fights

12.

yorictV in the final tournament of 2004


Paragraph 4
 

13.

Asashoryu has a huge lliwnogof

14.

he goes aangtsi the grain

15.

the first yokozuna in history to be dpsedusen from competition

16.

He has a hyrsoti of bad and unsportsmanlike behaviour

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

 

Asashoryu has a huge following, but he has also upset sumo’s traditionalists. Many people

(    )

 

Asashoryu could well become the greatest sumo fighter ever. He is closing in on the all-time

(    )

 

won an impressive 84 out of 90 fights and all six championships. Victory in the final tournament

(    )

 

greats for the number of championships won. He holds the record for winning the most fights in one year. In 2005 he

(    )

 

history to be suspended from competition. He has a history of bad and unsportsmanlike

(    )

 

Asashoryu grew up with wrestling in his blood. His father and brothers are all fighters. He moved to Japan

(    )

 

love him because he goes against the grain, but others say he’s bad for sumo. In 2007, he became the first yokozuna in

(    )

 

Japanese ever to enter the sumo ring.

(    )

 

sumo’s top position of yokozuna, which means grand champion. He is also the most successful non-

(    )

 

Dolgorsurengiin Dagvadorj; Asashoryu is his fighting name. He was born in Mongolia in 1980 and is the first Mongolian to reach

(    )

 

a leading sumo stable (team) and fought his way up through the ranks.

(    )

 

as an exchange student to study Japanese and quickly developed a passion and great talent for sumo. In 1999, he joined

( 1 )

 

Asashoryu is a sumo grand champion and one of the most successful sumo fighters in history. His real name is

(    )

 

behaviour. Regardless, he continues to create a lot of interest in the sport.

(    )

 

of 2004 meant he won seven in a row – another record.

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.

1.

most   history   successful   one   sumo   of   fighters   the   in

2.

sumo’s   first   reach   position   the   to   top   Mongolian

3.

grew   Asashoryu   blood   his   in   wrestling   with   up

4.

Japan   to   moved   He   student   exchange   an   as

5.

ranks   his   up   the   fought   way   through

6.

is   on   -   He   in   all   greats   closing   the   time

7.

the   winning   for   record   the   year   one   in   fights   most

8.

he   traditionalists   sumo’s   upset   also   has

9.

the   because   grain   he   people   goes   love   against   him

10.

of   lot   a   create   sport   the   in   interest

ASASHORYU DISCUSSION

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1.

What do you know about Asashoryu?

2.

Would you like to meet Asashoryu?

3.

What would you like to know about Asashoryu and why?

4.

___________________________________________________

5.

___________________________________________________

6.

___________________________________________________

7.

___________________________________________________

8.

___________________________________________________

------------------------------------

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

1.

What did you learn from this text about Asashoryu?

2.

What questions would you like to ask Asashoryu?

3.

What would his answers be to those questions?

4.

___________________________________________________

5.

___________________________________________________

6.

___________________________________________________

7.

___________________________________________________

8.

___________________________________________________

ASASHORYU SURVEY

Write five questions about Asashoryu in the table. Do this in pairs/groups. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

Without your partner, interview other students. Write down their answers.

 

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

 

 

 

 

Q.2.

 

 

 

 

Q.3.

 

 

 

 

Q.4.

 

 

 

 

Q.5.

 

 

 

 

Return to your original partner(s) and share and talk about what you found out.  Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITING

Write about Asashoryu for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

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 Asashoryu. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. ASASHORYU POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Asashoryu. 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 Asashoryu. 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 Asashoryu. 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 “Asashoryu expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.

ANSWERS

SYNONYM MATCH:

Paragraphs 1 and 2
 

 

 

1.

in history

a.

ever

2

position

b.

rank

3.

enter

c.

step onto

4.

moved

d.

relocated

5.

leading

e.

top

6.

fought

f.

battled


Paragraphs 3 and 4
 

 

 

7.

ever

g.

in history

8.

impressive

h.

breathtaking

9.

in a row

i.

consecutively

10.

huge

j.

enormous

11

history

k

record

12

create

l

generate

PHRASE MATCH:

1.

Asashoryu is his

a.

fighting name

2

the first Mongolian to reach sumo’s

b.

top position of yokozuna

3.

Asashoryu grew up with wrestling

c.

in his blood

4.

He moved to Japan as

d.

an exchange student

5.

fought his way up

e.

through the ranks

6.

He is closing in

f.

on the all-time greats

7.

In 2005 he won an impressive

g.

84 out of 90 fights

8.

Asashoryu has a huge

h.

following

9.

he goes against

i.

the grain

10.

bad and unsportsmanlike

j.

behaviour

ALL OTHER EXERCISES:

Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.

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