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The artistic director of Russia's Bolshoi Theatre is in hospital because someone threw acid in his face. Sergei Filin, 42, was attacked outside his apartment building as he was going home from work. Moscow police say the attacker was wearing a mask and that there were no witnesses. Mr Filin has severe burns on his face and doctors are battling to save his eyesight. A hospital spokesperson said Filin may have to go to a hospital in Belgium for more treatment. The police believe the attacker works for the Bolshoi Ballet. Filin has to make many decisions about who dances and who doesn't. Many performers and staff have criticized him for his tough management style. The Bolshoi is a world-famous ballet company that was founded in 1776 by Moscow prosecutor Prince Pyotr Urusov. Russia's Empress Catherine II gave the Prince permission to organize theatre performances, masquerades, balls and other forms of entertainment for ten years. It rose to fame in the early 20th century because of the amazing technique and athleticism of its dancers. Today, it is the largest company in the world, with around 220 dancers. Mr Filin became the Bolshoi's principal dancer in 1990 and stayed in the position for nearly two decades. He became the company's artistic director in 2008. He won many awards, including the People's Artist of the Russian Federation award in 2001. Sources: WARM-UPS 1. BALLET: Walk around the class and talk to other students about ballet. Change partners often and share your findings. 2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently. 3. ARTS: What can make these things more popular? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.
4. BALLET: Students A strongly believe ballet is the most beautiful art form ever; Students B strongly believe not. Change partners again and talk about your conversations. 5. DANCE: What's best? Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.
6. BALLET: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word 'ballet'. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories. BEFORE READING / LISTENING 1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).
2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.
3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)
GAP FILL
LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.
LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps (1) __________________________ Russia's Bolshoi Theatre is in hospital because someone (2) __________________________. Sergei Filin, 42, was attacked outside his apartment building as he was going home from work. Moscow police say the attacker (3) __________________________ and that there were no witnesses. Mr Filin has severe burns on his face and doctors are battling (4) __________________________. A hospital spokesperson said Filin may have to go to a hospital in Belgium for more treatment. The police believe (5) __________________________ the Bolshoi Ballet. Filin has to make many decisions about who dances and who doesn't. Many performers and (6) __________________________ him for his tough management style. The Bolshoi is a world-famous ballet company (7) _____________________ 1776 by Moscow prosecutor Prince Pyotr Urusov. Russia's Empress Catherine II gave the Prince (8) __________________________ theatre performances, masquerades, balls and other forms of entertainment for ten years. It (9) __________________________ early 20th century because of the amazing (10) __________________________ of its dancers. Today, it is the largest company in the world, with around 220 dancers. Mr Filin became the Bolshoi's (11) __________________________ and stayed in the position for nearly two decades. He became the company's artistic director in 2008. (12) __________________________, including the People's Artist of the Russian Federation award in 2001.
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ
ROLE PLAY
AFTER READING / LISTENING 1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'acid' and 'attack'.
2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.
3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…? 4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings. 5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:
BALLET SURVEY Write five GOOD questions about ballet in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.
BALLET DISCUSSION STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- BALLET DISCUSSION STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
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MULTIPLE CHOICE - LANGUAGE The (1) ____ director of Russia's Bolshoi Theatre is in hospital because someone (2) ____ acid in his face. Sergei Filin, 42, was attacked outside his apartment building as he was going home from work. Moscow police say the attacker was wearing a mask and that there were no (3) ____. Mr Filin has (4) ____ burns on his face and doctors are battling to save his eyesight. A hospital spokesperson said Filin may have to go to a hospital in Belgium for more (5) ____. The police believe the attacker works for the Bolshoi Ballet. Filin has to make many decisions about who dances and who doesn't. Many performers and staff have criticized him (6) ____ his tough management style. The Bolshoi is a world-famous ballet company that was (7) ____ in 1776 by Moscow prosecutor Prince Pyotr Urusov. Russia's Empress Catherine II gave the Prince permission (8) ____ organize theatre performances, masquerades, balls and other (9) ____ of entertainment for ten years. It rose to fame in the early 20th century because of the amazing technique and (10) ____ of its dancers. Today, it is the largest company in the world, with around 220 dancers. Mr Filin became the Bolshoi's principal dancer in 1990 and stayed in the (11) ____ for nearly two decades. He became the company's artistic director in 2008. He won many awards, (12) ____ the People's Artist of the Russian Federation award in 2001. Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.
SPELLING
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER Number these lines in the correct order.
PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER
CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS) The artistic / artistry director of Russia's Bolshoi Theatre is in hospital because someone throws / threw acid in his face. Sergei Filin, 42, was attacked outside his apartment build / building as he was going home from work. Moscow police say the attacker was wearing a / the mask and that there were no witnesses / witness. Mr Filin has severe burnt / burns on his face and doctors are battling / battled to save his eyesight. A hospital spokesperson said Filin may have to go to a hospitality / hospital in Belgium for more treatment. The police believe the attacker / attack works for the Bolshoi Ballet. Filin has to make many decisions about who dances and who doesn't / does. Many performers and staff have criticized him for his tough management style. The Bolshoi is a world-famous ballet company that was founding / founded in 1776 by Moscow prosecutor Prince Pyotr Urusov. Russia's Empress Catherine II gave / made the Prince permission for / to organize theatre performances, masquerades, balls and other formed / forms of entertainment for ten years. It rose / tulip to fame in the early 20th century because of the amazing technical / technique and athleticism / athletes of its dancers. Today, it is the largest company in the world, with around 220 dancers. Mr Filin became the Bolshoi's principle / principal dancer in 1990 and stayed / staid in the position for nearly two decades. He became the company's artistic director in 2008. He won much / many awards, including the People's Artist of the Russian Federation award in 2001. Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u) Th_ _rt_st_c d_r_ct_r _f R_ss__'s B_lsh__ Th__tr_ _s _n h_sp_t_l b_c__s_ s_m__n_ thr_w _c_d _n h_s f_c_. S_rg__ F_l_n, 42, w_s _tt_ck_d __ts_d_ h_s _p_rtm_nt b__ld_ng _s h_ w_s g__ng h_m_ fr_m w_rk. M_sc_w p_l_c_ s_y th_ _tt_ck_r w_s w__r_ng _ m_sk _nd th_t th_r_ w_r_ n_ w_tn_ss_s. Mr F_l_n h_s s_v_r_ b_rns _n h_s f_c_ _nd d_ct_rs _r_ b_ttl_ng t_ s_v_ h_s _y_s_ght. _ h_sp_t_l sp_k_sp_rs_n s__d F_l_n m_y h_v_ t_ g_ t_ _ h_sp_t_l _n B_lg__m f_r m_r_ tr__tm_nt. Th_ p_l_c_ b_l__v_ th_ _tt_ck_r w_rks f_r th_ B_lsh__ B_ll_t. F_l_n h_s t_ m_k_ m_ny d_c_s__ns _b__t wh_ d_nc_s _nd wh_ d__sn't. M_ny p_rf_rm_rs _nd st_ff h_v_ cr_t_c_z_d h_m f_r h_s t__gh m_n_g_m_nt styl_. Th_ B_lsh__ _s _ w_rld-f_m__s b_ll_t c_mp_ny th_t w_s f__nd_d _n 1776 by M_sc_w pr_s_c_t_r Pr_nc_ Py_tr _r_s_v. R_ss__'s _mpr_ss C_th_r_n_ __ g_v_ th_ Pr_nc_ p_rm_ss__n t_ _rg_n_z_ th__tr_ p_rf_rm_nc_s, m_sq__r_d_s, b_lls _nd _th_r f_rms _f _nt_rt__nm_nt f_r t_n y__rs. _t r_s_ t_ f_m_ _n th_ __rly 20th c_nt_ry b_c__s_ _f th_ _m_z_ng t_chn_q__ _nd _thl_t_c_sm _f _ts d_nc_rs. T_d_y, _t _s th_ l_rg_st c_mp_ny _n th_ w_rld, w_th _r__nd 220 d_nc_rs. Mr F_l_n b_c_m_ th_ B_lsh__'s pr_nc_p_l d_nc_r _n 1990 _nd st_y_d _n th_ p_s_t__n f_r n__rly tw_ d_c_d_s. H_ b_c_m_ th_ c_mp_ny's _rt_st_c d_r_ct_r _n 2008. H_ w_n m_ny _w_rds, _ncl_d_ng th_ P__pl_'s _rt_st _f th_ R_ss__n F_d_r_t__n _w_rd _n 2001. PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS the artistic director of russia's bolshoi theatre is in hospital because someone threw acid in his face sergei filin 42 was attacked outside his apartment building as he was going home from work moscow police say the attacker was wearing a mask and that there were no witnesses mr filin has severe burns on his face and doctors are battling to save his eyesight a hospital spokesperson said filin may have to go to a hospital in belgium for more treatment the police believe the attacker works for the bolshoi ballet filin has to make many decisions about who dances and who doesn't many performers and staff have criticized him for his tough management style the bolshoi is a world-famous ballet company that was founded in 1776 by moscow prosecutor prince pyotr urusov russia's empress catherine ii gave the prince permission to organize theatre performances masquerades balls and other forms of entertainment for ten years it rose to fame in the early 20th century because of the amazing technique and athleticism of its dancers today it is the largest company in the world with around 220 dancers mr filin became the bolshoi's principal dancer in 1990 and stayed in the position for nearly two decades he became the company's artistic director in 2008 he won many awards including the people's artist of the russian federation award in 2001 PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE
FREE WRITING Write about ballet for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper. _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ ACADEMIC WRITING Everyone should know the history of ballet and go to see many ballets. Discuss. _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ 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 out more about the Bolshoi Ballet. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson. 3. BALLET: Make a poster about ballet. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things? 4. ATTACKED: Write a magazine article about the attack on Sergei Filin. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s). 5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles. 6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on ballet. Ask him/her three questions about ballet. Give him/her three of your opinions on it. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions. ANSWERS TRUE / FALSE (p.4)
SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)
MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)
ALL OTHER EXERCISES Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2. Help Support This Web Site
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