Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Germaine Greer. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Germaine Greer is an Australian-born writer, academic and journalist. She is most famous for speaking out on women’s issues. She is one of the boldest and clearest feminist voices of modern times. She became a household name overnight after the publication of her best-seller ‘The Female Eunuch’. This ground-breaking book won her millions of admirers and critics alike and is still a must read.
Greer was born in Melbourne in 1939. She graduated from university with a degree in English and French language and literature, and moved to Sydney. She lectured at Sydney University and did her Master’s. Her MA thesis won her a scholarship, which she used to do her Ph.D. at Cambridge University at an all-women’s college.
Greer started writing witty articles on gender issues for underground magazines. She married an Australian journalist in 1968, but the marriage lasted only three weeks due to her unfaithfulness. In 1970, ‘The Female Eunuch’ brought her instant fame. She toured the world to promote her book and investigate women’s situations in other countries. She was arrested in New Zealand for using ‘naughty words’ in a speech.
Greer has spent four decades writing and lecturing at universities. The constant theme in her work is that girls are feminized from childhood. She said this eventually leads women to feel powerless. She also continues to speak her mind. She criticized Australians as being "too relaxed to give a damn." In 2007, she called Princess Diana a "desperate woman seeking applause".
245 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.
academic
a.
essay
2
a household name
b.
pioneering
3.
ground-breaking
c.
famous
4.
lectured
d.
scholar
5.
thesis
e.
doctorate
6.
Ph.D.
f.
taught
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
witty
g.
immediate
8.
instant
h.
praise
9.
naughty
i.
continuous
10.
constant
j.
funny
11
give a damn
k
bad
12
applause
l
care
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
She is most famous for speaking
a.
name overnight
2
the boldest and clearest
b.
from childhood
3.
She became a household
c.
articles on gender issues
4.
a must
d.
weeks due to her unfaithfulness
5.
Her MA thesis
e.
out on women’s issues
6.
Greer started writing witty
f.
read
7.
the marriage lasted only three
g.
won her a scholarship
8.
using naughty
h.
feminist voices of modern times
9.
girls are feminized
i.
a damn
10.
too relaxed to give
j.
words
LISTENING GAP FILL
Germaine Greer is an Australian-born _________________ journalist. She is most famous for _________________ women’s issues. She is one of the boldest and clearest feminist voices of modern times. She became a household _________________ after the publication of her best-seller ‘The Female Eunuch’. This ground-breaking book won her millions of admirers _________________ and is still a must read.
Greer was born in Melbourne in 1939. She graduated from university _________________ English and French language and literature, and moved to Sydney. She lectured at Sydney University _________________. Her MA _________________ scholarship, which she used _________________ Cambridge University at an all-women’s college.
Greer started writing witty articles _________________ underground magazines. She married an Australian journalist in 1968, but the marriage _________________ weeks due to her unfaithfulness. In 1970, ‘The Female Eunuch’ brought _________________. She toured the world to promote her book and investigate women’s situations in other countries. She was arrested in New Zealand for _________________ in a speech.
Greer _________________ decades writing and lecturing at universities. The constant theme in _________________ girls are feminized from childhood. She said this eventually leads women to feel powerless. She also continues _________________. She criticized Australians as being "too relaxed _________________." In 2007, she called Princess Diana a "desperate woman seeking applause".
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics:
Germaine Greer is an Australian-born / -birth writer, academic and journalist. She is most famous for speaking out / in on women’s issues. She is one of the boldest and clearest feminist voices of modern era / times. She became a household name overnight after the publication of her best-seller ‘The Female Eunuch’. This ground-breaking book won her millions of admirers and critics alike and is still a must / should read.
Greer was born in Melbourne in 1939. She graduated for / from university with a degree in English and French language and literate / literature, and moved to Sydney. She lectured at Sydney University and did her Master’s. Her MA these / thesis won her a scholarship, which she used to do her Ph.D. at Cambridge University at an every- / all-women’s college.
Greer started writing witty / with articles on gender issues for underground magazines. She married an Australian journalist in 1968, but the marriage lasted only three weeks due / because to her unfaithfulness. In 1970, ‘The Female Eunuch’ brought her instant famous / fame. She toured the world to promote her book and investigate women’s situations in other countries. She was arrested in New Zealand for using ‘naughty words’ in a speak / speech.
Greer has spent four decades writing and lecturing at universities. The constant / content theme in her work is that girls are feminized from childhood. She said this eventually leads women to feel power / powerless. She also continues to speak her mind / brain. She criticized Australians as being "too relaxed to give a damn / dam." In 2007, she called Princess Diana a "desperate woman seeking applause".
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
writer, academic and rainjtouls
2.
famous for speaking out on women’s eusssi
3.
She became a household name nvohigetr
4.
millions of admirers and citcisr
Paragraph 2
5.
French language and terueialtr
6.
She ulceterd at Sydney University
7.
Her MA thesis won her a cpoiashhlrs
8.
an all-women’s leceglo
Paragraph 3
9.
Greer started writing witty eraislct on gender issues
10.
the marriage aedlts only three weeks
11.
‘The Female Eunuch’ brought her ttinnsa fame
12.
She was arrested in New Zealand for using ‘htangyu words’
Paragraph 4
13.
The constant eehtm in her work
14.
girls are feminized from oidcohhld
15.
feel srwpolsee
16.
a "trdspaeee woman seeking applause"
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
unfaithfulness. In 1970, ‘The Female Eunuch’ brought her instant fame. She toured the world to promote her book and
( )
name overnight after the publication of her best-seller ‘The Female Eunuch’. This ground-breaking book
( )
French language and literature, and moved to Sydney. She lectured at Sydney University and did her
( )
won her millions of admirers and critics alike and is still a must read.
( 1 )
Germaine Greer is an Australian-born writer, academic and journalist. She is most famous for speaking
( )
journalist in 1968, but the marriage lasted only three weeks due to her
( )
"too relaxed to give a damn." In 2007, she called Princess Diana a "desperate woman seeking applause".
( )
powerless. She also continues to speak her mind. She criticized Australians as being
( )
Greer has spent four decades writing and lecturing at universities. The constant theme in her
( )
Greer started writing witty articles on gender issues for underground magazines. She married an Australian
( )
work is that girls are feminized from childhood. She said this eventually leads women to feel
( )
out on women’s issues. She is one of the boldest and clearest feminist voices of modern times. She became a household
( )
investigate women’s situations in other countries. She was arrested in New Zealand for using ‘naughty words’ in a speech.
( )
Greer was born in Melbourne in 1939. She graduated from university with a degree in English and
( )
Master’s. Her MA thesis won her a scholarship, which she used to do her Ph.D. at Cambridge University at an all-women’s college.
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
for on She famous out issues most speaking women’s is
2.
clearest and boldest the of one voices feminist
3.
became She overnight name household a
4.
and English literature and a French degree language in
5.
articles witty writing started Greer issues gender on
6.
marriage the weeks three only lasted
7.
Zealand naughty was New using She in for words arrested
8.
childhood feminized girls from are
9.
leads to powerless eventually women feel this
10.
a seeking desperate applause woman
DISCUSSION (Write your questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Germaine Greer?
2.
Would you like to meet Germaine Greer?
3.
What would you like to know about Germaine Greer 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 Germaine Greer. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. GERMAINE GREER POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Germaine Greer. 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 Germaine Greer. 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 Germaine Greer. 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 “Germaine Greer expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
academic
a.
scholar
2
a household name
b.
famous
3.
ground-breaking
c.
pioneering
4.
lectured
d.
taught
5.
thesis
e.
essay
6.
Ph.D.
f.
doctorate
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
witty
g.
funny
8.
instant
h.
immediate
9.
naughty
i.
bad
10.
constant
j.
continuous
11
give a damn
k
care
12
applause
l
praise
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
She is most famous for speaking
a.
out on women’s issues
2
the boldest and clearest
b.
feminist voices of modern times
3.
She became a household
c.
name overnight
4.
a must
d.
read
5.
Her MA thesis
e.
won her a scholarship
6.
Greer started writing witty
f.
articles on gender issues
7.
the marriage lasted only three
g.
weeks due to her unfaithfulness
8.
using naughty
h.
words
9.
girls are feminized
i.
from childhood
10.
too relaxed to give
j.
a damn
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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