English Lesson on Ellen MacArthur

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THE LESSON ON ELLEN MACARTHUR

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


READ

Dame Ellen MacArthur (born in 1976) is a very brave and talented English yachtswoman. Her first name is Ellen; ‘Dame’ is a special title she received for her outstanding achievements from the British Queen. On 7 February 2005, she broke the world record for being the fastest person to sail around the world. Ellen now heads the crews of Britain’s top sailing teams.

She became interested in sailing after she read the ‘Swallows and Amazons’ books by Arthur Ransome. Her first experience of yachting was on her aunt’s boat on the east coast of England. She instantly fell in love with sailing and the sea. She decided to become a sailor and saved her school dinner money to buy her first boat.

In 1998, aged 22, she was named the Royal Yachting Association "Yachtsman of The Year" in the UK. This encouraged her to go for the big time. In 2001, she came second in the Vendée Globe solo round-the-world race. For this, she got her first honour from Britain’s Queen. She got her second award for breaking the solo circumnavigation of the world.

She has used her fame to start her own charity to help young people with cancer and other serious illnesses. Ellen has also made it to the heavens, as well as the seas; there is an asteroid named 20043 EllenMacarthur. In 2008, she was further honoured; French President Nicolas Sarkozy awarded her the French Legion of Honour.

241 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.

brave

a.

leads

2

outstanding

b.

ocean

3.

heads

c.

extraordinary

4.

experience

d.

courageous

5.

instantly

e.

contact with

6.

sea

f.

straightaway


Paragraphs 3 and 4
 

 

 

7.

encouraged

g.

single-handed

8.

solo

h.

additionally

9.

circumnavigation

i.

terrible

10.

serious

j.

inspired

11

the heavens

k

sailing around

12

further

l

the sky

PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article:

1.

‘Dame’ is a

a.

the world record

2

she broke

b.

20043 EllenMacarthur

3.

the crews of Britain’s

c.

dinner money

4.

She instantly fell in

d.

serious illnesses

5.

saved her school

e.

top sailing teams

6.

encouraged her to go

f.

of the world

7.

the solo circumnavigation

g.

special title

8.

cancer and other

h.

love with sailing

9.

made it to the heavens,

i.

for the big time

10.

an asteroid named

j.

as well as the seas

LISTENING GAP FILL

Dame Ellen MacArthur (born in 1976) _________________ talented English yachtswoman. Her first name is Ellen; ‘Dame’ is _________________ received for her outstanding _________________ the British Queen. On 7 February 2005, she broke the world record ____________________ person to sail around the world. Ellen now heads the crews of Britain’s top sailing teams.

She became interested in sailing _________________ ‘Swallows and Amazons’ books by Arthur Ransome. Her first experience of yachting was on her aunt’s boat on _________________ England. She _________________ with sailing and the sea. She _________________ a sailor and saved her school dinner money to buy her first boat.

In 1998, aged 22, _________________ the Royal Yachting Association "Yachtsman of The Year" in the UK. This encouraged her _________________ time. In 2001, she _________________ Vendée Globe solo round-the-world race. For this, she got her first honour from Britain’s Queen. She got her second award _________________ circumnavigation of the world.

She has used _________________ her own charity to help young people with cancer and other serious illnesses. Ellen has also _________________, as well as the seas; there is _________________ 20043 EllenMacarthur. In 2008, _________________ honoured; French President Nicolas Sarkozy awarded her the French Legion of Honour.

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

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

Dame Ellen MacArthur (born in 1976) is a very brave / bravery and talented English yachtswoman. Her first name is Ellen; ‘Dame’ is a special titled / title she received for her outstanding achievements from the British Queen. On 7 February 2005, she broke / broken the world record for being the fastest person to / for sail around the world. Ellen now heads the crews of Britain’s top sailing teams.

She became interested on / in sailing after she read the ‘Swallows and Amazons’ books by Arthur Ransome. Her first experience of yachting was on her aunt’s boat on the east cost / coast of England. She instantly fell / fallen in love with sailing and the sea. She decided to become a sailor and savings / saved her school dinner money to buy her first boat.

In 1998, aged 22, she was named the Royal Yachting Association "Yachtsman of The Year" in the UK. This encouraged her to go / come for the big time / clock. In 2001, she came / went second in the Vendée Globe solo round-the-world race. For this, she got her first honour from Britain’s Queen. She got her second award for / with breaking the solo circumnavigation of the world.

She has used her fame to start her own / owner charity to help young people with cancer and other serious illnesses / illness. Ellen has also made it to the heavens, as well as the overseas / seas; there is an asteroid named 20043 EllenMacarthur. In 2008, she was farther / further honoured; French President Nicolas Sarkozy awarded her the French Legion of Honour.

SPELLING

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

Paragraph 1
 

1.

a very brave and ettelnda English yachtswoman

2.

‘Dame’ is a special itlte

3.

the atessft person to sail around the world

4.

the wrcse of Britain’s top sailing teams


Paragraph 2
 

5.

She became rteidsente in sailing

6.

on the east tacso of England

7.

She antniytsl fell in love with sailing

8.

esvad her school dinner money to buy her first boat


Paragraph 3
 

9.

This undrgecaoe her

10.

the Vendée Globe solo udrno-the-world race

11.

her first noourh

12.

her second adawr


Paragraph 4
 

13.

arccne and other serious illnesses

14.

the vnesaeh

15.

is an aoietdsr named 20043 EllenMacarthur

16.

she was efutrhr honoured

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

 

illnesses. Ellen has also made it to the heavens, as well as the seas; there is an asteroid named

(    )

 

She became interested in sailing after she read the ‘Swallows and Amazons’ books by Arthur Ransome. Her first experience

(    )

 

honour from Britain’s Queen. She got her second award for breaking the solo circumnavigation of the world.

(    )

 

of yachting was on her aunt’s boat on the east coast of England. She instantly fell in love with sailing and the sea. She decided

(    )

 

to become a sailor and saved her school dinner money to buy her first boat.

(    )

 

‘Dame’ is a special title she received for her outstanding achievements from the British Queen. On 7 February 2005, she

(    )

 

further honoured; French President Nicolas Sarkozy awarded her the French Legion of Honour.

1  )

 

Dame Ellen MacArthur (born in 1976) is a very brave and talented English yachtswoman. Her first name is Ellen;

(    )

 

She has used her fame to start her own charity to help young people with cancer and other serious

(    )

 

"Yachtsman of The Year" in the UK. This encouraged her to go for the big

(    )

 

broke the world record for being the fastest person to sail around the world. Ellen now heads the

(    )

 

time. In 2001, she came second in the Vendée Globe solo round-the-world race. For this, she got her first

(    )

 

In 1998, aged 22, she was named the Royal Yachting Association

(    )

 

crews of Britain’s top sailing teams.

(    )

 

20043 EllenMacarthur. In 2008, she was

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

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

1.

talented    yachtswoman    very    and    English    a    brave

2.

sail    to    person    fastest    the    world    the    around

3.

of    sailing    now    crews    top    Ellen   the    Britain’s   teams   heads

4.

She    fell    love    sailing    instantly    in    with

5.

her    money    her    saved    dinner    buy    boat    school    to    first

6.

encouraged    the    her    big    to    time    go    This    for

7.

first    her    got    she    Queen    Britain’s    from    honour

8.

her    start    charity    used    to    own    has    fame    her    She

9.

to    it    made    also    has    Ellen    heavens    the

10.

is    asteroid    20043    there    an    named    EllenMacarthur

DISCUSSION (Write your questions)

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

1.

What do you know about Ellen MacArthur?

2.

Would you like to meet Ellen MacArthur?

3.

What would you like to know about Ellen MacArthur 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 Ellen MacArthur?

2.

What questions would you like to ask Ellen MacArthur?

3.

What would her answers be to those questions?

4.

___________________________________________________

5.

___________________________________________________

6.

___________________________________________________

7.

___________________________________________________

8.

___________________________________________________

THE DAME ELLEN MACARTHUR SURVEY

Write five questions about Ellen MacArthur 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 Dame Ellen MacArthur for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.

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______________________________________________________________________________

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______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

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______________________________________________________________________________

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

3. ELLEN MACARTHUR POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Ellen MacArthur. 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 Dame Ellen MacArthur. 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 Dame Ellen MacArthur. 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 “Dame Ellen MacArthur expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.

ANSWERS

SYNONYM MATCH:

Paragraphs 1 and 2
 

 

 

1.

brave

a.

courageous

2

outstanding

b.

extraordinary

3.

heads

c.

leads

4.

experience

d.

contact with

5.

instantly

e.

straightaway

6.

sea

f.

ocean


Paragraphs 3 and 4
 

 

 

7.

encouraged

g.

inspired

8.

solo

h.

single-handed

9.

circumnavigation

i.

sailing around

10.

serious

j.

terrible

11

the heavens

k

the sky

12

further

l

additionally

PHRASE MATCH:

1.

‘Dame’ is a

a.

special title

2

she broke

b.

the world record

3.

the crews of Britain’s

c.

top sailing teams

4.

She instantly fell in

d.

love with sailing

5.

saved her school

e.

dinner money

6.

encouraged her to go

f.

for the big time

7.

the solo circumnavigation

g.

of the world

8.

cancer and other

h.

serious illnesses

9.

made it to the heavens,

i.

as well as the seas

10.

an asteroid named

j.

20043 EllenMacarthur

ALL OTHER EXERCISES:

Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.

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