English Lesson on Kobe Bryant

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THE LESSON ON KOBE BRYANT

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


READ

Kobe Bryant is an American All-Star basketball player who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant became famous in 1996 as the first shooting guard in basketball history to be drafted out of high school. He has helped the Lakers win three back-to-back championships and has twice been the NBA’s leading scorer. He was the season's MVP in 2007-08.

Bryant was born in 1978 in Philadelphia. He was named after the beef famous in Kobe, Japan. His father was a Philadelphia 76ers player. When Bryant was six, his family moved to Italy. He learned to play soccer and once considered becoming a professional soccer player. Back in the USA, he excelled in high school basketball and joined the NBA, aged 17.

Bryant joined the Lakers in 1996. His first three seasons were spent coming off the bench but he still managed to become a favourite with fans. From 2000, Bryant was one of the top shooting guards in the league. He helped the Lakers win NBA championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002 and entered basketball’s elite. He has become a cornerstone of the Lakers team.

The Lakers did not reach the NBA Finals again until 2008, when they finished runner-up. Bryant continued his high scoring but had trouble on and off the court. His coach called him ‘uncoachable’ and he hit the headlines after being accused of rape. In 2007, Bryant became the youngest player to reach 20,000 points. He remains one of basketball’s true greats.

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.

relocated

2

drafted

b.

consecutive

3.

back-to-back

c.

thought about

4.

moved

d.

well known

5.

considered

e.

shone

6.

excelled

f.

picked


Paragraphs 3 and 4
 

 

 

7.

managed

g.

best

8.

elite

h.

charged with

9.

cornerstone

i.

get to

10.

reach

j.

succeeded

11

runner-up

k

heart

12

accused

l

second place

PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article:

1.

drafted

a.

becoming a professional

2

win three back-to-back

b.

to become a favourite

3.

He was named after the beef

c.

true greats

4.

once considered

d.

out of high school

5.

he excelled

e.

being accused of rape

6.

he still managed

f.

championships

7.

a cornerstone

g.

20,000 points

8.

hit the headlines after

h.

famous in Kobe, Japan

9.

the youngest player to reach

i.

of the Lakers team

10.

He remains one of basketball’s

j.

in high school

LISTENING GAP FILL

Kobe Bryant is an American All-Star basketball player ____________ the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant became famous in 1996 as the first shooting guard in basketball history to be ______________ high school. He has helped the Lakers win three ____________ championships and has twice been the NBA’s leading scorer. He was the ____________ 2007-08.

Bryant was born in 1978 in Philadelphia. He was ______________ beef famous in Kobe, Japan. His father was a Philadelphia 76ers player. When Bryant was six, ______________ to Italy. He learned to play soccer and ______________ becoming a professional soccer player. Back in the USA, ______________ high school basketball and joined the NBA, aged 17.

Bryant joined the Lakers in 1996. His first three seasons were spent ______________ bench but he still managed to become a favourite with fans. From 2000, Bryant was ______________ shooting guards in the league. He helped the Lakers win NBA championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002 and entered _________________. He has become a ______________ the Lakers team.

The Lakers ______________ the NBA Finals again until 2008, when they finished runner-up. Bryant continued ______________ but had trouble on and off the court. His coach called ______________ and he hit the headlines after being accused of rape. In 2007, Bryant became the youngest player to reach 20,000 points. He ______________ basketball’s true greats.

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

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

Kobe Bryant is an American All-Star basketball player who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant became famous in 1996 as the first shooting guard in basketball history / historical to be drafted / drifted out of high school. He has helped the Lakers win three back-to-back / back-to-front championships and has twice been the NBA’s leading scorer. He was the season's VIP / MVP in 2007-08.

Bryant was born in 1978 in Philadelphia. He was named before / after the beef famous in Kobe, Japan. His father was a Philadelphia 76ers player. When Bryant was six, his family moving / moved to Italy. He learned to play soccer and once / one considered becoming a professional soccer player. Back in the USA, he excelled / expelled in high school basketball and joined the NBA, aged 17.

Bryant joined the Lakers in 1996. His first three seasons were  bought / spent coming off the bench but he still / yet managed to become a favourite with fans. From 2000, Bryant was one of the top shooting guards in the league. He helpful / helped the Lakers win NBA championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002 and entered basketball’s elite. He has become a cornerstone / tombstone of the Lakers team.

The Lakers did not teach / reach the NBA Finals again until 2008, when they finished runner-up. Bryant continued his high scoring but had trouble on / in and off the court. His coach called him ‘uncoachable’ and he hit / smacked the headlines after being accused of rape. In 2007, Bryant became the youngest player to reach 20,000 points. He remains one of basketball’s true greets / greats.

SPELLING

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

Paragraph 1
 

1.

Bryant became mfsuoa in 1996

2.

terfadd out of high school

3.

He has hlpeed the Lakers win

4.

the NBA’s dgeailn scorer


Paragraph 2
 

5.

He was dmean after the beef

6.

his family emdvo to Italy

7.

he lxeeeldc in high school

8.

ndoije the NBA, aged 17


Paragraph 3
 

9.

His first three osenssa

10.

coming off the cnebh

11.

a ueovrifta with fans

12.

basketball’s teeil


Paragraph 4
 

13.

had utloreb on and off the court

14.

hit the ehnaseidl

15.

the youngest player to rcahe 20,000 points

16.

He ainmesr one of basketball’s true greats

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( 1 )

 

Kobe Bryant is an American All-Star basketball player who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant became

(    )

 

player. When Bryant was six, his family moved to Italy. He learned to play soccer and once considered

(    )

 

leading scorer. He was the season's MVP in 2007-08.

(    )

 

basketball’s elite. He has become a cornerstone of the Lakers team.

(    )

 

becoming a professional soccer player. Back in the USA, he excelled in high school basketball and joined the NBA, aged 17.

(    )

 

scoring but had trouble on and off the court. His coach called him ‘uncoachable’ and he hit the headlines

(    )

 

Bryant was born in 1978 in Philadelphia. He was named after the beef famous in Kobe, Japan. His father was a Philadelphia 76ers

(    )

 

guards in the league. He helped the Lakers win NBA championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002 and entered

(    )

 

Lakers win three back-to-back championships and has twice been the NBA’s

(    )

 

Bryant joined the Lakers in 1996. His first three seasons were spent coming off the

(    )

 

after being accused of rape. In 2007, Bryant became the youngest player to reach 20,000

(    )

 

famous in 1996 as the first shooting guard in basketball history to be drafted out of high school. He has helped the

(    )

 

points. He remains one of basketball’s true greats.

(    )

 

bench but he still managed to become a favourite with fans. From 2000, Bryant was one of the top shooting

(    )

 

The Lakers did not reach the NBA Finals again until 2008, when they finished runner-up. Bryant continued his high

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

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

1.

back   championships   helped   the  Lakers   win   three   back  -   to   -

2.

MVP   He   in   was   2007   the   -   season's   08

3.

famous   in   Kobe   ,   Japan   He   was   named   after   the   beef

4.

a   soccer   once   becoming   professional   player   considered

5.

in   high   school   basketball   Back   in   the   USA   ,   he   excelled

6.

with   to   fans   become   e   a   still   favourite   managed

7.

Bryant   guards   shooting   top   the   of   one   was

8.

cornerstone   He   of   has   the   become   Lakers   a   team

9.

accused   the   of   headlines   rape   after   he   being   hit

10.

,   player   000   to   points   reach   the   20   youngest

KOBE BRYANT DISCUSSION

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

1.

What do you know about Kobe Bryant?

2.

Would you like to meet Kobe Bryant?

3.

What would you like to know about Kobe Bryant 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 Kobe Bryant?

2.

What questions would you like to ask Kobe Bryant?

3.

What would his answers be to those questions?

4.

___________________________________________________

5.

___________________________________________________

6.

___________________________________________________

7.

___________________________________________________

8.

___________________________________________________

KOBE BRYANT SURVEY

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

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

ANSWERS

SYNONYM MATCH:

Paragraphs 1 and 2
 

 

 

1.

famous

a.

well known

2

drafted

b.

picked

3.

back-to-back

c.

consecutive

4.

moved

d.

relocated

5.

considered

e.

thought about

6.

excelled

f.

shone


Paragraphs 3 and 4
 

 

 

7.

managed

g.

succeeded

8.

elite

h.

best

9.

cornerstone

i.

heart

10.

reach

j.

get to

11

runner-up

k

second place

12

accused

l

charged with

PHRASE MATCH:

1.

drafted

a.

out of high school

2

win three back-to-back

b.

championships

3.

He was named after the beef

c.

famous in Kobe, Japan

4.

once considered

d.

becoming a professional

5.

he excelled

e.

in high school

6.

he still managed

f.

to become a favourite

7.

a cornerstone

g.

of the Lakers team

8.

hit the headlines after

h.

being accused of rape

9.

the youngest player to reach

i.

20,000 points

10.

He remains one of basketball’s

j.

true greats

ALL OTHER EXERCISES:

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

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