English Lesson on Sergey Brin

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THE LESSON ON SERGEY BRIN

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


READ

Sergey Mikhailovich Brin is famous for revolutionizing the world of Internet search engines. He co-founded Google with his research partner Larry Page. The whole world knows about Google, but perhaps knows little about Sergey Brin. He is the President of Technology at Google and takes an active role in shaping the company’s future. He is the fourth youngest billionaire in the world.

Brin was born in Moscow in 1973. Both his mother and father were mathematicians, which might explain Sergey’s genius for numbers and formulae. Brin and his family emigrated to the United States when he was six. He attended a Montessori school and his father developed his interest in maths. He graduated from university in 1993 with a degree in maths and computer science.

Brin finished his master’s degree in computer science at America’s prestigious Stanford University. He started his Ph.D. on the processes and calculations that search engines use. He teamed up with Larry Page and they wrote a paper that became the blueprint for Google. He put his studies aside to focus on his new business project. It made him rich beyond his wildest dreams.

Although Brin’s ‘official’ salary is just over $43,000 a year, he has a personal fortune of  $18.5 billion. He has expanded his business interests into other areas of technology and movie production. In 2008, he invested $5 million in a space tourism company. He is also an investor in Tesla Motors, which is developing a long-range electric car.

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.

famous

a.

established

2

partner

b.

brilliance

3.

shaping

c.

associate

4.

genius

d.

well-known

5.

attended

e.

forming

6.

developed

f.

went to


Paragraphs 3 and 4
 

 

 

7.

prestigious

g.

plan

8.

teamed up

h.

backer

9.

blueprint

i.

joined

10.

fortune

j.

fields

11

areas

k

elite

12

investor

l

wealth

PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article:

1.

revolutionizing the world of

a.

blueprint for Google

2

takes an active role in

b.

to the United States

3.

Sergey’s genius for

c.

$5 million in a space tourism

4.

Brin and his family emigrated

d.

that search engines use

5.

a degree in

e.

numbers and formulae

6.

the processes and calculations

f.

Internet search engines

7.

a paper that became the

g.

electric car

8.

It made him rich beyond

h.

maths and computer science

9.

he invested

i.

shaping the company’s future

10.

developing a long-range

j.

his wildest dreams

LISTENING GAP FILL

Sergey Mikhailovich Brin _______________ revolutionizing the world of Internet _______________. He co-founded Google with his research partner Larry Page. The _______________ about Google, but perhaps knows little about Sergey Brin. He is the President of Technology at Google and takes _______________ in shaping the company’s future. He is the fourth youngest billionaire in the world.

Brin was _________________ in 1973. Both his mother and father were mathematicians, which might explain Sergey’s _________________ and formulae. Brin and his family ____________ the United States when he was six. He attended a Montessori school and his father developed his interest in maths. He graduated from university in 1993 with ______________ maths and computer science.

Brin finished his master’s degree in computer science at America’s prestigious Stanford University. He started his Ph.D. on the processes and calculations that search engines use. He teamed up with Larry Page and they wrote a paper that became the blueprint for Google. He put his studies aside to focus on his new business project. It made him rich beyond his wildest dreams.

Although Brin’s ‘official’ salary is _______________ a year, he has a personal fortune of  $18.5 billion. He _______________ his business interests into other areas of technology and movie production. In 2008, he invested $5 million __________________ company. He is also _______________ Tesla Motors, which is developing a long-range electric car.

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

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

Sergey Mikhailovich Brin is fame / famous for revolutionizing the world of Internet search engines. He co-founded Google with his research / researching partner Larry Page. The whole world knows about Google, but perhaps knows little about Sergey Brin. He is the President of Technology at Google and takes an activity / active role in shaping / shapes the company’s future. He is the fourth youngest billionaire in the world.

Brin was born in Moscow in 1973. Both / All his mother and father were mathematicians, which might explanation / explain Sergey’s genius for numbers / numerical and formulae. Brin and his family emigrated to the United States when he was six. He attended a Montessori school and his father developed his interest / interested in maths. He graduated from university in 1993 with a degree in maths and computer science.

Brin finished his master’s degree in computer science at America’s prestigious / prestige Stanford University. He started his Ph.D. at / on the processes and calculations that search engines use. He teamed down / up with Larry Page and they wrote a paper that became the blueprint for Google. He put his studies aside / side to focus on his new business project. It made him rich beyond his wildest dreams.

Although Brin’s ‘official’ / ‘office’ salary is just over $43,000 a year, he has a personality / personal fortune of  $18.5 billion. He has expanded his business interests into other areas of technology and movie production. In 2008, he invested / investments $5 million in a space tourism company. He is also an investor in Tesla Motors, which is developed / developing a long-range electric car.

SPELLING

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

Paragraph 1
 

1.

Internet search snignee

2.

He co-dfudnoe Google

3.

takes an tcivae role

4.

the fourth unoseygt billionaire in the world


Paragraph 2
 

5.

Brin was born in coswMo

6.

Sergey’s sguein for numbers

7.

his family imgdtreae to the United States

8.

a degree in maths and computer iceencs


Paragraph 3
 

9.

master’s redeeg

10.

the ntirbeplu for Google

11.

focus on his new business etocjrp

12.

rich beyond his tediwsl dreams


Paragraph 4
 

13.

Brin’s ‘official’ yaslra is just over $43,000

14.

He has edxadenp his business interests

15.

space utrosmi

16.

a long-range ecrieltc car

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

 

Montessori school and his father developed his interest in maths. He graduated from

( 1 )

 

Sergey Mikhailovich Brin is famous for revolutionizing the world of Internet search engines. He co-founded Google

(    )

in a space tourism company. He is also an investor in Tesla Motors, which is developing a long-range electric car.

(    )

 

his business interests into other areas of technology and movie production. In 2008, he invested $5 million

(    )

 

his Ph.D. on the processes and calculations that search engines use. He teamed up with Larry Page and they wrote

(    )

 

Although Brin’s ‘official’ salary is just over $43,000 a year, he has a personal fortune of  $18.5 billion. He has expanded

(    )

 

a paper that became the blueprint for Google. He put his studies aside to focus on his new business

(    )

 

genius for numbers and formulae. Brin and his family emigrated to the United States when he was six. He attended a

(    )

 

project. It made him rich beyond his wildest dreams.

(    )

 

the company’s future. He is the fourth youngest billionaire in the world.

(    )

 

Sergey Brin. He is the President of Technology at Google and takes an active role in shaping

(    )

 

with his research partner Larry Page. The whole world knows about Google, but perhaps knows little about

(    )

 

Brin finished his master’s degree in computer science at America’s prestigious Stanford University. He started

(    )

 

Brin was born in Moscow in 1973. Both his mother and father were mathematicians, which might explain Sergey’s

(    )

 

university in 1993 with a degree in maths and computer science.

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

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

1.

of    search    revolutionizing    world    Internet    engines    the

2.

company’s    role    future    in    takes    shaping    an    the    active

3.

world    youngest    He    billionaire    is    in    the    the    fourth

4.

mother    father    mathematicians    his    and    were    Both

5.

and    the    his    United    family    States    emigrated    Brin    to

6.

calculations    and    processes    the    use    engines    search    that

7.

for    blueprint    the    became    that    paper    a    Google

8.

beyond    rich    him    made    It    dreams    wildest    his

9.

areas    business    He    interests    has    into   expanded    other    his

10.

car    a    -    electric    developing    long    range

SERGEY BRIN DISCUSSION

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

1.

What do you know about Sergey Brin?

2.

Would you like to meet Sergey Brin?

3.

What would you like to know about Sergey Brin 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 Sergey Brin?

2.

What questions would you like to ask Sergey Brin?

3.

What would his answers be to those questions?

4.

___________________________________________________

5.

___________________________________________________

6.

___________________________________________________

7.

___________________________________________________

8.

___________________________________________________

SERGEY BRIN SURVEY

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

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

ANSWERS

SYNONYM MATCH:

Paragraphs 1 and 2
 

 

 

1.

famous

a.

well-known

2

partner

b.

associate

3.

shaping

c.

forming

4.

genius

d.

brilliance

5.

attended

e.

went to

6.

developed

f.

established


Paragraphs 3 and 4
 

 

 

7.

prestigious

g.

elite

8.

teamed up

h.

joined

9.

blueprint

i.

plan

10.

fortune

j.

wealth

11

areas

k

fields

12

investor

l

backer

PHRASE MATCH:

1.

revolutionizing the world of

a.

Internet search engines

2

takes an active role in

b.

shaping the company’s future

3.

Sergey’s genius for

c.

numbers and formulae

4.

Brin and his family emigrated

d.

to the United States

5.

a degree in

e.

maths and computer science

6.

the processes and calculations

f.

that search engines use

7.

a paper that became the

g.

blueprint for Google

8.

It made him rich beyond

h.

his wildest dreams

9.

he invested

i.

$5 million in a space tourism

10.

developing a long-range

j.

electric car

ALL OTHER EXERCISES:

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

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