Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, and the ruler of Dubai. He has helped transform the emirate of Dubai from a desert town into a major business hub and tourist destination. He has developed an active pursuit of quality, which ranges from business and sports to making Dubai a world-class city.
Sheikh Mohammed was born in 1949. From the age of four, he was privately tutored in Arabic and Islamic Studies. He was an excellent student and was said to have a photographic memory. His father, Sheikh Rashed, started grooming Sheik Mohammed for political leadership from the age of nine. Throughout his youth, Sheikh Mohammed joined meetings with bankers, businessmen and intellectuals.
Sheikh Mohammed also developed a keen interest in traditional Arabic poetry, as well as falconry and horse riding. He is an expert in both pursuits and he now hosts the world’s richest horse race, the Dubai Gold Cup. His love of sport has also resulted in many other prestigious international sporting events being held in Dubai, including tennis, rugby and golf.
Sheikh Mohammed has guided many projects that are transforming Dubai’s international image. These include the Burj Al Arab hotel, the luxury offshore islands and the world’s tallest building. He owns Dubai Holdings, a company with many investments around the world. He is also well known for his charity. In 2007, he launched Dubai Cares, a campaign to educate one million children in poor countries.
249 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.
ruler
a.
boyhood
2
hub
b.
taught
3.
quality
c.
preparing
4.
tutored
d.
leader
5.
grooming
e.
excellence
6.
youth
f.
centre
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
keen
g.
famous
8.
pursuits
h.
respected
9.
prestigious
i.
started
10.
image
j.
activities
11
well known
k
enthusiastic
12
launched
l
reputation
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
He has helped transform
a.
of quality
2
an active pursuit
b.
the emirate of Dubai
3.
business
c.
tallest building
4.
he was privately
d.
richest horse race
5.
have a photographic
e.
educate one million children
6.
he now hosts the world’s
f.
hub
7.
prestigious international
g.
investments around the world
8.
the world’s
h.
tutored in Arabic
9.
a company with many
i.
sporting events
10.
a campaign to
j.
memory
LISTENING GAP FILL
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the Prime Minister and ____________ of the United Arab Emirates, and ____________ Dubai. He has helped transform the emirate of Dubai from a desert town into a major ____________ and tourist destination. He has developed an active pursuit of quality, which ____________ business and sports to making Dubai a world-class city.
Sheikh Mohammed was born in 1949. From the age of four, he was ____________ in Arabic and Islamic Studies. He was an excellent student and was said to have a _______________. His father, Sheikh Rashed, _______________ Sheik Mohammed for political leadership from the age of nine. Throughout his youth, Sheikh Mohammed _______________ with bankers, businessmen and intellectuals.
Sheikh Mohammed also developed ____________ in traditional Arabic poetry, as well as falconry and horse riding. He is an expert in ____________ and he now hosts the world’s richest horse race, the Dubai Gold Cup. His love of sport has also ____________ many other prestigious international sporting events ______________ Dubai, including tennis, rugby and golf.
Sheikh Mohammed ____________ many projects that are transforming Dubai’s international image. These include the Burj Al Arab hotel, the luxury ______________ and the world’s tallest building. He owns Dubai Holdings, a company with many investments around the world. He is also well known _______________. In 2007, he launched Dubai Cares, ____________ educate one million children in poor countries.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, and the rule / ruler of Dubai. He has helped transform / transformer the emirate of Dubai from a desert town into / onto a major business hub and tourist destination. He has developed an active pursue / pursuit of quality, which ranges from business and sports to making Dubai a world-class city.
Sheikh Mohammed was born in 1949. From the old / age of four, he was privately tutored in Arabic and Islamic Studies. He was an excellent / excelled student and was said to have a photographic memory. His father, Sheikh Rashed, started grooming Sheik Mohammed for political leadership from / for the age of nine. Throughout his youthful / youth, Sheikh Mohammed joined meetings with bankers, businessmen and intellectuals.
Sheikh Mohammed also developed a keen interesting / interest in traditional Arabic poetry, as well as falconry and horse riding. He is an export / expert in both pursuits and he now hosts the world’s richest horse race / racehorse, the Dubai Gold Cup. His love of sport has also resulted in many other prestigious international sporting events being / were held in Dubai, including tennis, rugby and golf.
Sheikh Mohammed has guided many / much projects that are transforming Dubai’s international image. This / These include the Burj Al Arab hotel, the luxury offshore islands and the world’s tallest building. He owner / owns Dubai Holdings, a company with many investments around the world. He is also well known for his charity. In 2007, he launched Dubai Cares, a campaign to educate one million children in poverty / poor countries.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
a major uibsssen hub
2.
tuostri destination
3.
an active pursuit of aiqlyut
4.
ankgim Dubai a world-class city
Paragraph 2
5.
he was privately otduret in Arabic
6.
have a photographic eymmor
7.
itllacipo leadership
8.
Sheikh Mohammed joined estmngie with bankers
Paragraph 3
9.
developed a keen reinttse in traditional Arabic poetry
10.
He is an rxpete
11.
the world’s techsri horse race
12.
prestigious international onistrpg events
Paragraph 4
13.
ctojrspe that are transforming Dubai’s international image
14.
the ruyxul offshore islands
15.
many nnvisstteem around the world
16.
taedeuc one million children
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
from business and sports to making Dubai a world-class city.
( )
Sheikh Mohammed has guided many projects that are transforming Dubai’s international image. These
( )
Studies. He was an excellent student and was said to have a photographic memory. His father, Sheikh Rashed, started
( )
Sheikh Mohammed also developed a keen interest in traditional Arabic poetry, as well as falconry and horse riding. He is an expert
( )
many other prestigious international sporting events being held in Dubai, including tennis, rugby and golf.
( )
of Dubai. He has helped transform the emirate of Dubai from a desert town into a major business
( )
in both pursuits and now hosts the world’s richest horse race, the Dubai Gold Cup. His love of sport has also resulted in
( )
include the Burj Al Arab hotel, the luxury offshore islands and the world’s tallest building. He owns Dubai
( )
youth, Sheikh Mohammed joined meetings with bankers, businessmen and intellectuals.
( )
grooming Sheik Mohammed for political leadership from the age of nine. Throughout his
( )
charity. In 2007, he launched Dubai Cares, a campaign to educate one million children in poor countries.
( )
hub and tourist destination. He has developed an active pursuit of quality, which ranges
( )
Sheikh Mohammed was born in 1949. From the age of four, he was privately tutored in Arabic and Islamic
( 1 )
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, and the ruler
( )
Holdings, a company with many investments around the world. He is also well known for his
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
emirate the transform helped has He Dubai of
2.
hub tourist a business and destination major
3.
class making a - city Dubai world
4.
was From of he tutored age , privately the four
5.
with meetings joined Mohammed Sheikh bankers
6.
keen a developed poetry Arabic traditional in interest
7.
race horse richest world’s the hosts now he
8.
with company a world the around investments many
9.
well also is He charity his for known
10.
one children campaign educate million a to
SHEIKH MOHAMMED DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum?
2.
Would you like to meet Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum?
3.
What would you like to know about Sheikh Mohammed and why?
Write five questions about Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum 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 Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.
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 Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. SHEIKH MOHAMMED AL MAKTOUM POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum. 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 Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum. 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 Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum. 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 “Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
ruler
a.
leader
2
hub
b.
centre
3.
quality
c.
excellence
4.
tutored
d.
taught
5.
grooming
e.
preparing
6.
youth
f.
boyhood
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
keen
g.
enthusiastic
8.
pursuits
h.
activities
9.
prestigious
i.
respected
10.
image
j.
reputation
11
well known
k
famous
12
launched
l
started
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
He has helped transform
a.
the emirate of Dubai
2
an active pursuit
b.
of quality
3.
business
c.
hub
4.
he was privately
d.
tutored in Arabic
5.
have a photographic
e.
memory
6.
he now hosts the world’s
f.
richest horse race
7.
prestigious international
g.
sporting events
8.
the world’s
h.
tallest building
9.
a company with many
i.
investments around the world
10.
a campaign to
j.
educate one million children
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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