English Lesson on Oscar Pistorius

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THE LESSON ON OSCAR PISTORIUS

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


READ

Oscar Pistorius is the South African Paralympic runner famous for trying to compete at the Olympics. He is known as "Blade Runner" because of the artificial limbs he uses to sprint. He is also dubbed "the fastest man on no legs". Pistorius is the double amputee world record holder and in the 100, 200 and 400 metres. He won gold medals in these events at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics.

Pistorius was born in 1986 with the fibula bone missing in both of his legs. When he was 11 months old, doctors amputated his legs halfway between his knees and ankles. His disability did not stop him from enjoying sports. At school he was very keen on rugby, water polo and tennis. He started running in 2004 and says he has "never looked back".

He runs on a pair of specially-developed carbon-fibre blades. At the 2004 Summer Paralympics, he won the 200-metre final with a world record time. In 2005, he finished first in the able-bodied South African Championships over 400 metres and won the 400-metre gold at the Paralympic World Cup. He decided to compete at the Beijing Olympics.

Pistorius tried to prove he could compete with the best able-bodied runners in the world. His biggest obstacle was the international athletics federation who decided his blades were a “technological aid” and therefore illegal. He now has his sights set on the 2012 London Olympics. His motto is: "You're not disabled by the disabilities you have, you are able by the abilities you have."

255 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.

trying

a.

cut off

2

limbs

b.

called

3.

dubbed

c.

handicap

4.

amputated

d.

interested in

5.

disability

e.

attempting

6.

keen on

f.

legs


Paragraphs 3 and 4
 

 

 

7.

developed

g.

demonstrate

8.

championships

h.

invented

9.

compete

i.

ambitions

10.

prove

j.

participate

11

obstacle

k

tournament

12

sights

l

hurdle

PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article:

1.

the artificial limbs he

a.

bodied runners in the world

2

He is also dubbed

b.

him from enjoying sports

3.

doctors amputated his legs halfway

c.

2012 London Olympics

4.

His disability did not stop

d.

uses to sprint

5.

He started running in 2004 and says

e.

the abilities you have

6.

a pair of specially-developed

f.

"the fastest man on no legs"

7.

he won the 200-metre final with

g.

he has "never looked back”

8.

compete with the best able-

h.

carbon-fibre blades

9.

He now has his sights set on the

i.

between his knees and ankles

10.

you are able by

j.

a world record time

LISTENING GAP FILL

Oscar Pistorius is the South African Paralympic __________________ trying to compete at the Olympics. He is known as "Blade Runner" because of __________________ he uses to sprint. __________________ "the fastest man on no legs". Pistorius is the double amputee world record holder in the 100, 200 and __________________. He also won gold medals in these events at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics

Pistorius was born in 1986 with the fibula bone __________________ his legs. When he was 11 months old, __________________ legs halfway between his knees and ankles. His __________________ him from enjoying sports. At school he was very keen on rugby, water polo and tennis. He started running in 2004 and says he has "__________________ ".

He runs on a pair of specially-developed __________________. At the 2004 Summer Paralympics, he won the 200-metre final with a __________________. In 2005, he finished first __________________ South African Championships over 400 metres and won the 400-metre gold at the Paralympic World Cup. He decided __________________ Beijing Olympics.

Pistorius tried __________________ compete with the best able-bodied runners in the world. His __________________ the international athletics federation who decided his blades were a “technological aid” __________________. He now has his sights set on the 2012 London Olympics. His motto is: "You're not disabled by the disabilities you have, you are ____________________ you have."

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

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

Oscar Pistorius is the South African Paralympic runner famous with / for trying to compete / complete at the Olympics. He is known as "Blade Runner" because of the artificial limbs he uses to splint / sprint. He is also dubbed "the fastest man on no legs". Pistorius is the double amputee world record holding / holder in the 100, 200 and 400 metres. He won gold medals in these events at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics

Pistorius was born in 1986 with / but the fibula bone missing in both of his legs. When he was 11 months old, doctors amputation / amputated his legs halfway between his knees and ankles. His disability / disabled did not stop him from enjoying sports. At school he was very keen on rugby, water polo and tennis. He started running in 2004 and says he has "never looked / looking back".

He runs on a pair / pear of specially-developed carbon-fibre blades. At the 2004 Summer Paralympics, he won / beat the 200-metre final with a world record time. In 2005, he finished first in the able-bodied South African Championships over / under 400 metres and won the 400-metre gold at the Paralympic World Cup. He decided to compete at / for the Beijing Olympics.

Pistorius tried to proof / prove he could compete with the best able-bodied runners in the world. His biggest obstacle was / has the international athletics federation who decided his blades were / was a “technological aid” and therefore illegal. He now has his sights set / setting on the 2012 London Olympics. His motto is: "You're not disabled by the disabilities you have, you are able by the abilities you have."

SPELLING

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

Paragraph 1
 

1.

poecmte at the Olympics

2.

the artificial limbs he uses to sinrtp

3.

bodelu amputee

4.

He won gold medals in these tenves


Paragraph 2
 

5.

the fibula bone isigmns in both of his legs

6.

between his knees and esakln

7.

His tsbdiaiyil did not stop him

8.

he has "never dolkoe back"


Paragraph 3
 

9.

a pair of icapleyls-developed carbon-fibre blades

10.

a world rcoerd time

11.

he iihednfs first

12.

able-doedbi


Paragraph 4
 

13.

tried to orpev he could

14.

His biggest elboctsa

15.

has his thsigs set on the 2012 London Olympics

16.

His otmot

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

 

"the fastest man on no legs". Pistorius is the double amputee world record

(    )

 

He runs on a pair of specially-developed carbon-fibre blades. At the 2004 Summer Paralympics, he won the 200-metre

(    )

 

holder in the 100, 200 and 400 metres. He won gold medals in these events at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.

(    )

 

he was very keen on rugby, water polo and tennis. He started running in 2004 and says he has "never looked back".

( 1 )

 

Oscar Pistorius is the South African Paralympic runner famous for trying to compete at the Olympics. He is known as "Blade

(    )

 

set on the 2012 London Olympics. His motto is: "You're not disabled by

(    )

 

Pistorius tried to prove he could compete with the best able-bodied

(    )

 

Pistorius was born in 1986 with the fibula bone missing in both of his legs. When he was 11 months old, doctors

(    )

 

Runner" because of the artificial limbs he uses to sprint. He is also dubbed

(    )

 

runners in the world. His biggest obstacle was the international athletics federation who decided his

(    )

 

final with a world record time. In 2005, he finished first in the able-bodied South African Championships over

(    )

 

blades were a “technological aid” and therefore illegal. He now has his sights

(    )

 

amputated his legs halfway between his knees and ankles. His disability did not stop him from enjoying sports. At school

(    )

 

the disabilities you have, you are able by the abilities you have."

(    )

 

400 metres and won the 400-metre gold at the Paralympic World Cup. He decided to compete at the Beijing Olympics.

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

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

1.

He    "    legs    no    on    man    fastest    the    "    dubbed    also    is

2.

double    the    is    Pistorius    holder    record    world    amputee

3.

old   ,   doctors   months   his   legs   When   he   was   amputated   11  

4.

sports    stop    His    him    disability    from    did    enjoying    not

5.

has    he    says    back    looked    never

6.

of   on   blades   carbon-fibre   a   He   pair   specially-developed   runs  

7.

decided    He    Olympics    Beijing    the    at    compete    to

8.

able -bodied   runners   in   the   world   compete   with   the   best

9.

London   Olympics   He   now   has   his   sights   set   on   the   2012

10.

abilities    the    by    able    are    you    have    you

OSCAR PISTORIUS DISCUSSION

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

1.

What do you know about Oscar Pistorius?

2.

Would you like to meet Oscar Pistorius?

3.

What would you like to know about Oscar Pistorius 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 Oscar Pistorius?

2.

What questions would you like to ask Oscar Pistorius?

3.

What would his answers be to those questions?

4.

___________________________________________________

5.

___________________________________________________

6.

___________________________________________________

7.

___________________________________________________

8.

___________________________________________________

OSCAR PISTORIUS SURVEY

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

3. OSCAR PISTORIUS POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Oscar Pistorius. 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 Oscar Pistorius. 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 Oscar Pistorius. 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 “Oscar Pistorius expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.

ANSWERS

SYNONYM MATCH:

Paragraphs 1 and 2
 

 

 

1.

trying

a.

attempting

2

limbs

b.

legs

3.

dubbed

c.

called

4.

amputated

d.

cut off

5.

disability

e.

handicap

6.

keen on

f.

interested in


Paragraphs 3 and 4
 

 

 

7.

developed

g.

invented

8.

championships

h.

tournament

9.

compete

i.

participate

10.

prove

j.

demonstrate

11

obstacle

k

hurdle

12

sights

l

ambitions

PHRASE MATCH:

1.

the artificial limbs he

a.

uses to sprint

2

He is also dubbed

b.

"the fastest man on no legs"

3.

doctors amputated his legs halfway

c.

between his knees and ankles

4.

His disability did not stop

d.

him from enjoying sports

5.

He started running in 2004 and says

e.

he has "never looked back”

6.

a pair of specially-developed

f.

carbon-fibre blades

7.

he won the 200-metre final with

g.

a world record time

8.

compete with the best able-

h.

bodied runners in the world

9.

He now has his sights set on the

i.

2012 London Olympics

10.

you are able by

j.

the abilities you have

ALL OTHER EXERCISES:

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

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