Nelson Mandela
Famous People
LESSON PREVIEW – In this lesson, you will read a short biography of Nelson Mandela. You will practice new
vocabulary and talk about Mandela’s sense of optimism. We hope you’ll join our Anything Is Possible challenge!
B. WARM-UP QUESTIONS ☀
1. What is Nelson Mandela famous for?
2. Do you know the meaning of “apartheid”?
3. Do you know why Nelson Mandela went to prison? Take a guess
how long he spent in jail.
4. Why do you think Nelson Mandela won the Nobel Peace Prize?
5. What will Nelson Mandela be remembered for?
PRE-READING
A. VOCABULARY PREVIEW
Match the words on the left with the correct meanings on the right.
_____ 1. vote
a. a government chosen freely by the people
_____ 2. famous b. a very small town
_____ 3. protest c. to express your choice in an election
QUICK FACTS
_____ 4. suffer d. to stop working at a job, usually because of age
Name: __________________
_____ 5. allow e. very well known Nationality: ______________
First ____________________
_____ 6. democracy
f. to have pain or great difficulty Best known for:
_____ 7. retire _____________________
g. to permit, to let
Quote: ”It always seems
_____ 8. village 0h. to show you do not support something impossible until it’s done.”
- Nelson Mandela
_____9. economy i. to cause someone to do or make something
____10. inspire j. the money and resources of a nation or area
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Nelson Mandela
Famous People
Nelson Mandela
1. Nelson Mandela was born in South Africa in 1918. Until about
1992, South Africa had a political system called apartheid. This
meant that black people had to live apart from white people. For
example, they could not go to the same schools as white people
or eat in the same restaurants. Most blacks had no jobs, were
very poor, and could not vote in elections.
2. Mandela grew up in a village. When he was a young man, he left
his village to study law. He wanted to help free black people
from apartheid. He became a lawyer in 1952 and worked in
Johannesburg, a large city in South Africa.
3. Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1944.
The ANC led many protests against the government’s apartheid
policy. From 1952 to 1960, Mandela was arrested and jailed
twice for being a leader of the ANC. In 1960, the government
COMPREHENSION ✍
killed many black people for protesting against apartheid.
A. TRUE OR FALSE
Mandela was a peaceful man, but after these killings, his protests
became more violent. Read the statements below. If the statement is true,
write T beside the sentence. If it is false, write F. If it is
4. In 1963, the government sent Mandela to prison for life because false, correct the information.
of his work against apartheid. But, even though he was in prison,
1. Nelson Mandela was born in South America.
he became a famous example of how black people suffered
under apartheid. People from all over the world asked the South
African government to release him from jail.
2. Mandela grew up in Johannesburg.
5. Mandela was released in 1990. He had spent 27 years in jail. In
1991, he became president of the ANC. He and the South
African president then agreed that South Africa would end 3. When Mandela was a child, black and white
apartheid and become a democracy. They won the 1993 Nobel children could not go to the same schools.
Peace Prize for this.
6. In 1994, an election was held. Black people were allowed to vote,
4. Mandela went to prison in 1990.
and Mandela became the first black president of South Africa.
When he was president, he worked to improve the economy,
especially for black people. He also worked to bring peace to his
country after many years of violence between blacks and whites. 5. Mandela became the first president of South Africa.
7. In 1999, Mandela retired as president, and began helping other
countries solve their problems. In 2004 he retired from public life. 6. When Mandela retired, he stopped helping people.
He continued to inspire many people to fight for peace and equality.
Nelson Mandela died on December 5th, 2013. He was 95 years old.
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Nelson Mandela
Famous People
COMPREHENSION Continued
B. Practice asking and answering the following questions with your partner.
Then write the answers in complete sentences.
1. When and where was Nelson Mandela born?
2. What kind of political system did his country have until 1992?
3. Explain apartheid.
4. Why did Mandela decide to study law?
5. What group did Mandela join? What did this group do?
6. What happened in 1960?
7. Why did the government send Mandela to prison?
8. What did Mandela try to do for his country when he became president?
VOCABULARY REVIEW ✍
A. What are the meanings of the underlined words? Circle the correct answer.
1. In the apartheid system, black people and white people had to live apart.
a. together b. separately c. in a village
2. The ANC lead many protests against the government apartheid policy.
a. rule or principle b. police c. prison
3. Mandela was arrested for being leader of the ANC.
a. election b. stopped c. taken to jail
4. Mandela spent 27 years in prison.
a. jail b. government c. village
5. He was released in 1990.
a. suffered b. elected c. set free
6. Mandela worked to improve his country.
a. lead b. make better c. protest
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What kind of political system do you have in your country? Who can vote? How old do you have to be to vote?
2. Who are the most famous political heroes in your country? Why are they famous?
3. Do you think it is possible to make big changes in a political system peacefully?
4. Can you name any other famous people who protested peacefully and made big changes in their countries?
5. What characteristics do heroes share? Identify and describe your own personal hero.
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