English Lesson on Yao Ming

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THE LESSON ON YAO MING

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


READ

Yao Ming is probably China’s most famous sports star. He plays basketball for the China national team and for the Houston Rockets in America. He is currently the tallest player in the NBA, measuring 2.29 metres. His mother and father stand at 1.90 and 2.01 metres. Yao has been China’s richest celebrity for over five years and has helped Chinese-US relations.

Yao started playing basketball when he was nine and joined the Shanghai Sharks at 13. He played on their senior team for five years and won the Chinese championship. In 2002, he became the first international player ever to be selected as the number one pick of rookies. China gave permission for Yao to play in the USA on the morning of the draft.

He is a huge success in America and has signed many major sponsorship deals. He has played in the NBA All-Star Game in all of his seasons with Houston. In 2007, Yao played against his fellow Chinese player Yi Jianlian for the first time. Over 200 million people in China tuned in, making it one of the most-watched basketball games ever.

Yao is married to Ye Li, a former player for China's national team. In 2004, he carried the Chinese flag during the opening ceremony of the Olympics, which he said was a “long dream come true”. He also does a great deal for charity. After the 2008 China earthquake, he donated $2 million dollars and created a foundation to help rebuild schools.

248 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.

probably

a.

presently

2

currently

b.

began

3.

celebrity

c.

choice

4.

started

d.

personality

5.

selected

e.

most likely

6.

pick

f.

chosen


Paragraphs 3 and 4
 

 

 

7.

huge

g.

charity

8.

deals

h.

ex

9.

tuned in

i.

lots

10.

former

j.

enormous

11

a great deal

k

watched

12

foundation

l

agreements

PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article:

1.

Yao Ming is probably China’s

a.

permission for Yao to play

2

His mother and father stand

b.

team for five years

3.

He played on their senior

c.

tuned in

4.

selected as the

d.

sponsorship deals

5.

China gave

e.

Chinese player Yi Jianlian

6.

signed many major

f.

at 1.90 and 2.01 metres

7.

Yao played against his fellow

g.

to help rebuild schools

8.

Over 200 million people in China

h.

most famous sports star

9.

He also does a great

i.

number one pick

10.

created a foundation

j.

deal for charity

LISTENING GAP FILL

Yao Ming ____________________ most famous sports star. He plays basketball for the China national team and for the Houston Rockets in America. He ____________________ player in the NBA, measuring 2.29 metres. His mother and father stand at 1.90 and 2.01 metres. Yao has been China’s ____________________ over five years and has helped Chinese-US relations.

Yao started playing basketball ____________________ and joined the Shanghai Sharks at 13. He played on their senior team for five years and won the Chinese championship. In 2002, he became the first international player ____________________ as the number one pick of rookies. China ____________________ Yao to play in the USA on the morning of the draft.

He ____________________ in America and has signed many major sponsorship deals. He has played in the NBA All-Star Game in all of his seasons with Houston. In 2007, Yao ____________________ Chinese player Yi Jianlian for the first time. Over 200 million people in China ____________________ one of the most-watched basketball games ever.

Yao is married to Ye Li, ____________________ China's national team. In 2004, he carried the Chinese flag during ____________________ of the Olympics, which he said was a “long dream come true”. He ______________________ for charity. After the 2008 China earthquake, he donated $2 million dollars and created a foundation to help rebuild schools.

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

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

Yao Ming is probably / probable China’s most famous sports star. He plays basketball for the China nation / national team and for the Houston Rockets in America. He is currently the tallest player in the NBA, measuring 2.29 metres. His mother and father stand by / at 1.90 and 2.01 metres. Yao has been China’s richest celebrity for over five years and has helped Chinese-US relation / relations.

Yao started playing basketball when he was nine and joining / joined the Shanghai Sharks for / at 13. He played on their senior team for five years and won the Chinese championship. In 2002, he became the first international player never / ever to be selected as the number one pick of rookies. China gave permission for / to Yao to play in the USA on the morning of the draft.

He is a huge / hug success in America and has signed many major sponsorship deals / deal. He has played in the NBA All-Star Game in all of his seasons with Houston. In 2007, Yao played against his fellows / fellow Chinese player Yi Jianlian for the first time. Over 200 million people in China tuned in / up, making it one of the most-watched basketball games ever.

Yao is married to Ye Li, a former / firmer player for China's national team. In 2004, he carried the Chinese flag while / during the opening ceremony of the Olympics, which he said was a “long dream come false / true”. He also does a great deal / deals for charity. After the 2008 China earthquake, he donated $2 million dollars and created a foundation to help rebuild schools.

SPELLING

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

Paragraph 1
 

1.

balopbyr China’s most famous sports star

2.

He is nerulytcr the tallest player in the NBA

3.

His mother and father atdns at 1.90 and 2.01 metres

4.

Chinese-US otisaenrl


Paragraph 2
 

5.

ioejnd the Shanghai Sharks at 13

6.

He played on their soiren team

7.

the first international player ever to be tcdlseee

8.

China gave mnrpsisoei for Yao to play


Paragraph 3
 

9.

He is a huge eusscsc in America

10.

his snssaoe with Houston

11.

Yao played against welfol Chinese player Yi Jianlian his

12.

Over 200 million people in China tdenu in


Paragraph 4
 

13.

a rfomre player for China's national team

14.

he carried the Chinese flag during the opening yeconrem

15.

He also does a great elad for charity

16.

help udibelr schools

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

 

and created a foundation to help rebuild schools.

(    )

 

his fellow Chinese player Yi Jianlian for the first time. Over 200 million people in China tuned in, making

(    )

 

flag during the opening ceremony of the Olympics, which he said was a “long dream come

(    )

 

true”. He also does a great deal for charity. After the 2008 China earthquake, he donated $2 million dollars

(    )

 

it one of the most-watched basketball games ever.

(    )

 

measuring 2.29 metres. His mother and father

(    )

 

He is a huge success in America and has signed many major sponsorship

( 1 )

 

Yao Ming is probably China’s most famous sports star. He plays basketball for the China national team and

(    )

 

stand at 1.90 and 2.01 metres. Yao has been China’s richest celebrity for over five years and has helped Chinese-US relations.

(    )

 

for the Houston Rockets in America. He is currently the tallest player in the NBA,

(    )

 

be selected as the number one pick of rookies. China gave permission for Yao to play in the USA on the morning of the draft.

(    )

 

deals. He has played in the NBA All-Star Game in all of his seasons with Houston. In 2007, Yao played against

(    )

 

Yao started playing basketball when he was nine and joined the Shanghai Sharks at 13. He played on their

(    )

 

senior team for five years and won the Chinese championship. In 2002, he became the first international player ever to

(    )

 

Yao is married to Ye Li, a former player for China's national team. In 2004, he carried the Chinese

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

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

1.

probably   star   sports   famous   most   China’s

2.

is   tallest   the   He   the   in   currently   player   NBA

3.

their   years   senior   He   team   played   for   on   five

4.

be   to   ever   player   international   first   the   selected

5.

China   for   play   USA   permission   to   the   gave   Yao   in

6.

success   America   is   huge   in   He   a

7.

player   Chinese   fellow   against   his    played   Yao   Yi-Jianlian

8.

in   tuned   China   in   people   million   200   Over

9.

player   China's   team   former   for   national   a

10.

created   foundation   help   schools   a   to   rebuild

YAO MING DISCUSSION

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

1.

What do you know about Yao Ming?

2.

Would you like to meet Yao Ming?

3.

What would you like to know about Yao Ming 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 Yao Ming?

2.

What questions would you like to ask Yao Ming?

3.

What would his answers be to those questions?

4.

___________________________________________________

5.

___________________________________________________

6.

___________________________________________________

7.

___________________________________________________

8.

___________________________________________________

YAO MING SURVEY

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

3. YAO MING POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Yao Ming. 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 Yao Ming. 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 Yao Ming. 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 “Yao Ming expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.

ANSWERS

SYNONYM MATCH:

Paragraphs 1 and 2
 

 

 

1.

probably

a.

most likely

2

currently

b.

presently

3.

celebrity

c.

personality

4.

started

d.

began

5.

selected

e.

chosen

6.

pick

f.

choice


Paragraphs 3 and 4
 

 

 

7.

huge

g.

enormous

8.

deals

h.

agreements

9.

tuned in

i.

watched

10.

former

j.

ex

11

a great deal

k

lots

12

foundation

l

charity

PHRASE MATCH:

1.

Yao Ming is probably China’s

a.

most famous sports star

2

His mother and father stand

b.

at 1.90 and 2.01 metres

3.

He played on their senior

c.

team for five years

4.

selected as the

d.

number one pick

5.

China gave

e.

permission for Yao to play

6.

signed many major

f.

sponsorship deals

7.

Yao played against his fellow

g.

Chinese player Yi Jianlian

8.

Over 200 million people in China

h.

tuned in

9.

He also does a great

i.

deal for charity

10.

created a foundation

j.

to help rebuild schools

ALL OTHER EXERCISES:

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

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