English Lesson on Cristina Kirchner

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THE LESSON ON CRISTINA KIRCHNER

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


READ

Cristina Kirchner (born February 19, 1953) is an Argentine lawyer and the current President of Argentina. She is the wife of former President Nestor Kirchner. Before she became president, she was a Senator for Buenos Aires and First Lady during her husband's term. She swept to power in October 2007. She crushed the other candidates, with a 22% lead over her nearest rival.

Kirchner briefly started out in politics in the 1970s. However, due to the authoritarian rule in her country, she dropped out to practice law. She re-entered politics in the late 1980s and in 1995, she became a senator. She was a guiding light behind her husband’s successful presidential campaign in 2003. She gained a reputation for being a strong speaker and won many admirers.

Kirchner is Argentina's second female president. She is the first wife in any country’s history to be elected to succeed her husband as leader. She is often compared to Eva ‘Evita’ Peron but always rejects the comparisons. She once said the only similarity is "the hair in a bun and the clenched fist before a microphone".

Kirchner immediately faced some mighty challenges upon taking power. She had to tackle high inflation, unions demanding higher salaries, corruption, and a credit crisis. She introduced some very unpopular taxes and her popularity nosedived. A poll taken in April 2008 showed her disapproval rating was at 61.8%. She needs to dig deep to turn around her country’s economy and her own political fortunes.

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.

lawyer

a.

dictatorial

2

former

b.

opponent

3.

rival

c.

name

4.

authoritarian

d.

attorney

5.

reputation

e.

fans

6.

admirers

f.

ex-


Paragraphs 3 and 4
 

 

 

7.

succeed

g.

similarities

8.

comparisons

h.

dropped

9.

clenched

i.

position

10.

mighty

j.

follow

11

nosedived

k

closed tightly

12

fortunes

l

huge

PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article:

1.

She swept to

a.

light

2

a 22% lead over

b.

power in October 2007

3.

Kirchner briefly started

c.

her nearest rival

4.

a guiding

d.

inflation

5.

won many

e.

husband as leader

6.

succeed her

f.

mighty challenges

7.

She is often compared

g.

out in politics in the 1970s

8.

faced some

h.

her country’s economy

9.

She had to tackle high

i.

admirers

10.

She needs to dig deep to turn around

j.

to Eva ‘Evita’ Peron

LISTENING GAP FILL

Cristina Kirchner (born February 19, 1953) is an Argentine lawyer ______________ President of Argentina. She is the ___________ President Nestor Kirchner. Before she became president, she was a Senator for Buenos Aires and First Lady during her ______________. She swept to power in October 2007. She crushed the other candidates, with a 22% ______________ nearest rival.

Kirchner briefly started ______________ the 1970s. However, due to the authoritarian rule in her country, she ______________ practice law. She re-entered politics in the late 1980s and in 1995, she became a senator. She was a guiding ______________ husband’s successful presidential campaign in 2003. She gained a reputation for being a strong speaker and ______________.

Kirchner is Argentina's second female president. She ______________ any country’s history to be elected to succeed her ______________. She is often compared to Eva ‘Evita’ Peron but _________________ comparisons. She once said __________________ is "the hair in a bun and the clenched fist before a microphone".

Kirchner immediately _________________ challenges upon taking power. She ______________ high inflation, unions demanding higher salaries, corruption, and a credit crisis. She introduced some very unpopular taxes and her __________________. A poll taken in April 2008 showed her disapproval rating was at 61.8%. She needs to _________________ around her country’s economy and her own political fortunes.

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

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

Cristina Kirchner (born February 19, 1953) is an Argentine lawyer and the currant / current President of Argentina. She is the wife of former / firmer President Nestor Kirchner. Before she became president, she was a Senator for Buenos Aires and First Lady during her husband's team / term. She swept to power in October 2007. She crushed the other candidates, with a 22% lead under / over her nearest rival.

Kirchner briefly / briefs started out in politics in the 1970s. However, because / due to the authoritarian rule in her country, she dropped out / in to practice law. She re-entered politics in the late 1980s and in 1995, she became a senator. She was a guiding light behind her husband’s successful presidential campaign in 2003. She gained a reputation for being a strong speaker and won much / many admirers.

Kirchner is Argentina's second female president. She is the first wife in / on any country’s history to be elected to succeed her wife / husband as leader. She is often compared / comparison to Eva ‘Evita’ Peron but always rejects the comparisons. She once said the only similarity / similar is "the hair in a bun and the clenched fist before a microphone".

Kirchner immediately faced some mighty / might challenges upon taking power. She had to tackle / trickle high inflation, unions demanding higher salaries, corruption, and a credit crisis. She introduced some very unpopular taxis / taxes and her popularity nosedived. A poll / pole taken in April 2008 showed her disapproval rating was at 61.8%. She needs to dig deep to turn around her country’s economy and her own political fortunes.

SPELLING

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

Paragraph 1
 

1.

the nrrutce President of Argentina

2.

the wife of rrefmo President Nestor Kirchner

3.

She tepws to power in October 2007

4.

a 22% lead over her staenre rival


Paragraph 2
 

5.

Kirchner elirfyb started out in politics in the 1970s

6.

she dorpepd out to practice law

7.

a iigundg light

8.

won many radmsier


Paragraph 3
 

9.

Kirchner is Argentina's second felame president

10.

cdsueec her husband as leader

11.

She is often apedcrom to Eva ‘Evita’ Peron

12.

the only iayrmitils


Paragraph 4
 

13.

Kirchner immediately cfdae some mighty challenges

14.

She had to tlacek high inflation

15.

a credit isrisc

16.

her disapproval tgnrai was at 61.8%

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

 

Kirchner immediately faced some mighty challenges upon taking power. She had to tackle high inflation, unions

1  )

 

Cristina Kirchner (born February 19, 1953) is an Argentine lawyer and the current President of Argentina. She is the

(    )

 

Kirchner briefly started out in politics in the 1970s. However, due to the authoritarian rule in her country, she dropped

(    )

 

out to practice law. She re-entered politics in the late 1980s and in1995, she became a senator. She was a guiding

(    )

 

demanding higher salaries, corruption, and a credit crisis. She introduced some very unpopular taxes and her popularity

(    )

 

wife of former President Nestor Kirchner. Before she became president, she was a Senator for Buenos Aires and First

(    )

 

her husband as leader. She is often compared to Eva ‘Evita’ Peron but always rejects the comparisons. She once said the

(    )

 

the other candidates, with a 22% lead over her nearest rival.

(    )

 

only similarity is "the hair in a bun and the clenched fist before a microphone".

(    )

 

light behind her husband’s successful presidential campaign in 2003. She gained a

(    )

 

reputation for being a strong speaker and won many admirers.

(    )

 

deep to turn around her country’s economy and her own political fortunes.

(    )

 

Lady during her husband's term. She swept to power in October 2007. She crushed

(    )

 

Kirchner is Argentina's second female president. She is the first wife in any country’s history to be elected to succeed

(    )

 

nosedived. A poll taken in April 2008 showed her disapproval rating was at 61.8%. She needs to dig

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

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

1.

the   Nestor   wife   Kirchner   of   She   former   is   President

2.

She   to   in   2007   swept   power   October

3.

%   a   rival   nearest   her   over   lead   22

4.

to   out   dropped   she   law   practice

5.

being   gained   a   a   strong   reputation   speaker   for   She

6.

often   ‘Evita’   compared   Peron   to   She   Eva   is  

7.

fist   clenched   the   microphone   a   before

8.

immediately   Kirchner   challenges   mighty   some   faced

9.

inflation   high   tackle   to   had   She

10.

turn  around   her  country’s   economy   She   needs   to  dig   deep  to

DISCUSSION (Write your questions)

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

1.

What do you know about Cristina Kirchner?

2.

Would you like to meet Cristina Kirchner?

3.

What would you like to know about Cristina Kirchner 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 Cristina Kirchner?

2.

What questions would you like to ask Cristina Kirchner?

3.

What would her answers be to those questions?

4.

___________________________________________________

5.

___________________________________________________

6.

___________________________________________________

7.

___________________________________________________

8.

___________________________________________________

THE CRISTINA KIRCHNER SURVEY

Write five questions about Cristina Kirchner 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 Cristina Kirchner 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 Cristina Kirchner. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

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

ANSWERS

SYNONYM MATCH:

Paragraphs 1 and 2
 

 

 

1.

lawyer

a.

attorney

2

former

b.

ex-

3.

rival

c.

opponent

4.

authoritarian

d.

dictatorial

5.

reputation

e.

name

6.

admirers

f.

fans


Paragraphs 3 and 4
 

 

 

7.

succeed

g.

follow

8.

comparisons

h.

similarities

9.

clenched

i.

closed tightly

10.

mighty

j.

huge

11

nosedived

k

dropped

12

fortunes

l

position

PHRASE MATCH:

1.

She swept to

a.

power in October 2007

2

a 22% lead over

b.

her nearest rival

3.

Kirchner briefly started

c.

out in politics in the 1970s

4.

a guiding

d.

light

5.

won many

e.

admirers

6.

succeed her

f.

husband as leader

7.

She is often compared

g.

to Eva ‘Evita’ Peron

8.

faced some

h.

mighty challenges

9.

She had to tackle high

i.

inflation

10.

She needs to dig deep to turn around

j.

her country’s economy

ALL OTHER EXERCISES:

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

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