EnglishClub

Pre-listening vocabulary

• activist: someone who works toward political or social change
• apartheid: the South African system of racial segregation
• liberate: to free someone
• oppression: cruel and unfair acts of people in power
• pardon: to end a criminal punishment
• negotiate: to discuss and compromise about a goal
• suffrage: the right to vote in elections

Listening activity

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:29 — 1.4MB)

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Gapfill exercise

Nelson Mandela was a South African activist, lawyer, and politician. He was born in the Mvezo in 1918. His original name was Rolihlahla, which means “troublemaker” in Xhosa. Mandela studied law in , and later joined the African National Congress, a political group that aimed to end apartheid and liberate Black Africans from oppression. In 1962, Mandela was for his acts of resistance against the South African government. He received a life sentence in 1964 and spent 27 years in . After being pardoned in 1990, Mandela began to meet with members of the government to negotiate suffrage for Black South Africans. Four years later, he became the country’s first Black . He died in 2013, at age 95.

Comprehension questions

See answers below

1. Mandela’s birth name means
   a. leader
   b. creator
   c. troublemaker
   
2. In university, Mandela studied
   a. law
   b. political science
   c. history
   
3. In 1990,
   a. Mandela was arrested for his activism
   b. Mandela was pardoned and released from prison
   c. Mandela was elected South Africa’s first Black president

Discussion/essay questions

1. Nelson Mandela is often remembered as a non-violent activist. However, he also took part in some armed resistance against the government. What do you think about violence and non-violence? Is force ever necessary to resist injustice? Why or why not?

Transcript

Nelson Mandela was a South African activist, lawyer, and politician. He was born in the Mvezo village in 1918. His original name was Rolihlahla, which means “troublemaker” in Xhosa. Mandela studied law in university, and later joined the African National Congress, a political group that aimed to end apartheid and liberate Black Africans from oppression. In 1962, Mandela was arrested for his acts of resistance against the South African government. He received a life sentence in 1964 and spent 27 years in prison. After being pardoned in 1990, Mandela began to meet with members of the government to negotiate suffrage for Black South Africans. Four years later, he became the country’s first Black president. He died in 2013, at age 95.

Answers to comprehension questions

1c 2a 3b

Pre-listening vocabulary

• council: a group of politicians who make decisions for a city, town, or county
• candidate: someone who is running in an election
• tragedy: a sad and terrible event
• campaign: to take action for a specific goal, such as winning an election
• incumbent: a politician who is already in office
• inaugurate: to formally put an elected candidate into office

Listening activity

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:20 — 1.2MB)

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Gapfill exercise

Joe Biden is the 46th of the United States. He was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania in November 1942. Biden first became involved in in 1970, when he was elected to a county council in Delaware. Two years later, he ran for the U.S. Senate as a candidate for the Democratic Party. However, before he was able to begin working as a senator, Biden experienced a tragedy. He lost his wife and daughter in a terrible car accident that also injured both of his sons, and he had to begin his in the Senate while he was still grieving this loss. In 2008, Biden became the running mate of presidential candidate Barack Obama, and they were elected for two . Biden decided to run for the presidency himself in 2020. He campaigned against incumbent president Donald Trump and won the in November of 2020. Two months later, Biden was officially inaugurated as the 46th U.S. president.

Comprehension questions

[wp_quiz id=”20053″]

Discussion/essay questions

1. Many of Biden’s speeches since his election have mentioned uniting people of different backgrounds and political beliefs. He seems to believe that his country will be stronger if people can work together. Why is this an important message?

Transcript

Joe Biden is the 46th president of the United States. He was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania in November 1942. Biden first became involved in politics in 1970, when he was elected to a county council in Delaware. Two years later, he ran for the U.S. Senate as a candidate for the Democratic Party. However, before he was able to begin working as a senator, Biden experienced a tragedy. He lost his wife and daughter in a terrible car accident that also injured both of his sons, and he had to begin his career in the Senate while he was still grieving this loss. In 2008, Biden became the running mate of presidential candidate Barack Obama, and they were elected for two terms. Biden decided to run for the presidency himself in 2020. He campaigned against incumbent president Donald Trump and won the race in November of 2020. Two months later, Biden was officially inaugurated as the 46th U.S. president.