The Reading / Listening - Richest Man - Level 3

A businessman who sells bottled water is now the richest man in China. The business magazine Bloomberg named Mr Zhong Shanshan as China's richest man in its latest Billionaires Index. The magazine said Mr Zhong is worth over $58 billion. This makes him $2 billion richer than the previous number one, Jack Ma. Mr Ma founded the retail Internet giant Alibaba. Mr Zhong made his wealth from his Nongfu Spring bottled water company. He then branched out into making vaccines. He is the chairman of a vaccine manufacturer called the Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy. Mr Zhong is now 17th on the global rich list. It seems that he will move up that list in the future.

Zhong Shanshan, 66, was a construction worker before he got into business. He started his Nongfu Spring company in 1996. This was just as China's market for bottled water was emerging. Bottled water is now a huge industry in China. Most people who live in China prefer drinking bottled water to tap water for health reasons. They prefer not to trust tap water. Zhong's pharmaceutical company is also helping in the fight against COVID-19. It is developing a nasal-spray vaccine with the help of researchers from a top university. Chinese media call Mr Zhong a "lone wolf" because he is rarely seen in public. He rarely gives interviews and he likes to keep himself to himself.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Richest Man - Level 0,  Richest Man - Level 1   or  Richest Man - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/bottled-water-billionaire-pips-jack-ma-to-become-china-s-richest--13143916
  • https://www.ft.com/content/14143352-5316-467f-aeb8-7f5200e4ac3f
  • https://edition.cnn.com/2020/09/24/business/china-zhong-shanshan-nongfu-intl-hnk/index.html


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. BEING RICH: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about being rich. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       businessman / bottled water / magazine / billion / retail / Internet / giant / vaccine /
       construction worker / market / industry / trust / tap water / fight / wolf / interview
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. HAPPINESS: Students A strongly believe you need money to be happy; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. BILLIONAIRE: How would you change the things below if you were a multi-billionaire? How much happier would you be? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Change?

How Much Happier?

Job

 

 

House

 

 

Food

 

 

Friends

 

 

Hobbies

 

 

English

 

 
MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. BOTTLE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "bottle". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. WEALTH: Rank these with your partner. Put the things that can make you wealthy at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Art
  • Investments
  • Hard work
  • The lottery
  • Gambling
  • Property
  • Gold
  • Love

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. magazine a. Being or happening before in time or order.
      2. latest b. Something for people to read that is printed and comes out every week or every month and contains articles about a particular topic or hobby (cars, fashion, food, business, etc.).
      3. worth c. Has the value of.
      4. previous d. A very, very, very large company.
      5. retail e. Different things or names written or printed (in order) consecutively, usually one below the other.
      6. giant f. Most recent.
      7. list g. The sale of goods to the public in small quantities for use or rather than for resale,

    Paragraph 2

      8. construction h. Like better.
      9. emerging i. Not often; seldom.
      10. huge j. Something that makes a virus go away and makes us better, or protects us from a virus.
      11. prefer k. Very, very, very big.
      12. tap l. The thing you turn on from which water comes out (in a bathroom, kitchen, toilet, etc.).
      13. vaccine m. The building of something, usually buildings and roads.
      14. rarely n. Becoming known or important.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The Forbes business magazine names the man the richest in China.     T / F
  2. The man (Mr Zhong) is worth over $60 billion.     T / F
  3. Mr Zhong is worth $2 billion more than China's second wealthiest man.   T / F
  4. Mr Zhong also has a pharmaceutical company.     T / F
  5. Mr Zhong worked as a construction worker before.    T / F
  6. Mr Zhong got into China's bottled water business just as it was starting.  T / F
  7. Mr Zhong's company is trying to develop a vaccine for COVID-19.     T / F
  8. Mr Zhong is a very sociable person who loves the spotlight.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. businessman
  2. latest
  3. previous
  4. wealth
  5. seems
  6. construction
  7. emerging
  8. huge
  9. fight
  10. rarely
  1. enormous
  2. riches
  3. building
  4. past
  5. appearing
  6. battle
  7. entrepreneur
  8. appears
  9. seldom
  10. most recent

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. A businessman who
  2. richer than the previous number
  3. the retail Internet
  4. a vaccine
  5. he will move up that
  6. construction
  7. prefer drinking bottled water
  8. They prefer not to
  9. he is rarely seen
  10. he likes to keep himself
  1. to himself
  2. manufacturer
  3. sells bottled water
  4. trust tap water
  5. worker
  6. one
  7. in public
  8. giant Alibaba
  9. to tap water
  10. list in the future

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
latest
previous
vaccine
giant
magazine
list
worth
branched

A businessman who sells bottled water is now the richest man in China. The business (1) _____________________ Bloomberg named Mr Zhong Shanshan as China's richest man in its (2) _____________________ Billionaires Index. The magazine said Mr Zhong is (3) _____________________ over $58 billion. This makes him $2 billion richer than the (4) _____________________ number one, Jack Ma. Mr Ma founded the retail Internet (5) _____________________ Alibaba. Mr Zhong made his wealth from his Nongfu Spring bottled water company. He then (6) _____________________ out into making vaccines. He is the chairman of a (7) _____________________ manufacturer called the Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy. Mr Zhong is now 17th on the global rich (8) _____________________. It seems that he will move up that list in the future.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
vaccine
industry
interviews
market
rarely
trust
media
tap

Zhong Shanshan, 66, was a construction worker before he got into business. He started his Nongfu Spring company in 1996. This was just as China's (9) _____________________ for bottled water was emerging. Bottled water is now a huge (10) _____________________ in China. Most people who live in China prefer drinking bottled water to (11) _____________________ water for health reasons. They prefer not to (12) _____________________ tap water. Zhong's pharmaceutical company is also helping in the fight against COVID-19. It is developing a nasal-spray (13) _____________________ with the help of researchers from a top university. Chinese (14) _____________________ call Mr Zhong a "lone wolf" because he is (15) _____________________ seen in public. He rarely gives (16) _____________________ and he likes to keep himself to himself.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) A businessman who sells bottled water is now the richest ______
     a.  men in China
     b.  man's in China
     c.  many in China
     d.  man in China
2)  named Mr Zhong Shanshan as China's richest man in its ______
     a.  latest Billionaires Index
     b.  latex Billionaires Index
     c.  last test Billionaires Index
     d.  late test Billionaires Index
3)  This makes him $2 billion richer than ______
     a.  the previous number
     b.  the impervious number
     c.  the previously number
     d.  the previews number
4)  from his Nongfu Spring bottled water company. He ______
     a.  then branched out
     b.  then brunched tout
     c.  then bunched out
     d.  then branch tout
5)  It seems that he will move up that ______ future
     a.  list on the
     b.  last at the
     c.  list in the
     d.  last in the

6)  Zhong Shanshan, 66, was a construction worker before he ______
     a.  get into business
     b.  gets into business
     c.  getting into business
     d.  got into business
7)  This was just as China's market for bottled ______
     a.  waters were emerging
     b.  waters was emerging
     c.  water were emerging
     d.  water was emerging
8)  Most people who live in China prefer drinking bottled water ______
     a.  to tap water
     b.  to tip water
     c.  to top water
     d.  to tape water
9)  a nasal-spray vaccine with the help of researchers from ______
     a.  at top university
     b.  a stop university
     c.  atop a university
     d.  a top university
10)  He rarely gives interviews and he likes to keep ______
     a.  himself to herself
     b.  himself to themselves
     c.  himself to itself
     d.  himself to himself

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A businessman who sells bottled water is (1) ____________________ man in China. The business magazine Bloomberg named Mr Zhong Shanshan as China's richest man (2) ____________________ Billionaires Index. The magazine said Mr Zhong is worth over $58 billion. This makes him $2 billion richer than the (3) ____________________, Jack Ma. Mr Ma founded the retail Internet giant Alibaba. Mr Zhong (4) ____________________ from his Nongfu Spring bottled water company. He then (5) ____________________ making vaccines. He is the chairman of a vaccine manufacturer called the Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy. Mr Zhong is now 17th on the global rich list. It seems that he will (6) ____________________ list in the future.

Zhong Shanshan, 66, was (7) ____________________ before he got into business. He started his Nongfu Spring company in 1996. This was just as China's market for bottled water was emerging. Bottled water is now (8) ____________________ in China. Most people who live in China prefer drinking bottled water to tap water (9) ____________________. They prefer not to trust tap water. Zhong's pharmaceutical company is also helping in the fight against COVID-19. It is developing a (10) ____________________ with the help of researchers from a top university. Chinese media call Mr Zhong a "lone wolf" because he is rarely (11) ____________________. He rarely gives interviews and he likes to keep (12) ____________________.

Comprehension questions

  1. What is the name of the magazine that made the Billionaires Index?
  2. How much is Zhong Shanshan worth?
  3. How much more is Zhong Shanshan than Jack Ma?
  4. What did Zhong Shanshan branch out into?
  5. Where is Zhong Shanshan on the global rich list?
  6. What did Zhong Shanshan once work as?
  7. When did Zhong Shanshan start his bottled water company?
  8. What do people in China prefer bottled water to?
  9. What kind of spray is Zhong Shanshan's company developing?
  10. What did Chinese media call Zhong Shanshan?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What is the name of the magazine that made the Billionaires Index?
a) Newsweek
b) Forbes
c) Bloomberg
d) TIME
2) How much is Zhong Shanshan worth?
a) over $58 billion
b) exactly $58 billion
c) around $58 billion
d) just under $58 billion
3) How much more is Zhong Shanshan than Jack Ma?
a) $2 billion
b) $12 billion
c) $200,000
d) $20 billion
4) What did Zhong Shanshan branch out into?
a) trees
b) vaccines
c) IT
d) car manufacturing

5) Where is Zhong Shanshan on the global rich list?
a) 11th
b) 15th
c) 15th
d) 17th

6) What did Zhong Shanshan once work as?
a) a soccer referee
b) a construction worker
c) a doctor
d) a train driver
7) When did Zhong Shanshan start his bottled water company?
a) 1996
b) 1997
c) 1998
d) 1999
8) What do people in China prefer bottled water to?
a) fruit juice
b) Coca Cola
c) tap water
d) bottled tea
9) What kind of spray is Zhong Shanshan's company developing?
a) a perfume spray
b) an alcohol spray
c) a hair spray
d) a nasal spray
10) What did Chinese media call Zhong Shanshan?
a) a lone wolf
b) himself
c) a legend
d) an innovator

Role play

Role  A – Property
You think property is the thing that can make you the richest. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things can't make you as rich. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): hard work, gambling or love.

Role  B – Hard Work
You think hard work is the thing that can make you the richest. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things can't make you as rich. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): property, gambling or love.

Role  C – Gambling
You think gambling is the thing that can make you the richest. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things can't make you as rich. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): hard work, property or love.

Role  D – Love
You think love is the thing that can make you the richest. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things can't make you as rich. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): hard work, gambling or property.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'bottle'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'water'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    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:

    • now
    • latest
    • 2
    • branched
    • chairman
    • future
    • worker
    • market
    • prefer
    • trust
    • help
    • himself

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic 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.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Richest Man

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

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'water'?
    3. What do you think of water?
    4. What do you think of bottled water?
    5. Do you prefer reading magazines or the Internet?
    6. What would it be like to be super rich?
    7. How can we become rich?
    8. How happy are you with your level of wealth?
    9. What company would you like to be chairperson of?
    10. What advice do you have for Mr Zhong?

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

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'rich'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of tap water?
    5. How easy is it to start a company?
    6. Do you prefer tap water or bottled water?
    7. Is it OK to put water in plastic bottles?
    8. How will the world change if we find a vaccine for COVID-19?
    9. Do you like to keep yourself to yourself?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Mr Zhong?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

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

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

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

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    A businessman (1) ____ sells bottled water is now the richest man in China. The business magazine Bloomberg named Mr Zhong Shanshan as China's richest man in its (2) ____ Billionaires Index. The magazine said Mr Zhong is (3) ____ over $58 billion. This makes him $2 billion richer than the previous number one, Jack Ma. Mr Ma founded the retail Internet giant Alibaba. Mr Zhong (4) ____ his wealth from his Nongfu Spring bottled water company. He then branched (5) ____ into making vaccines. He is the chairman of a vaccine manufacturer called the Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy. Mr Zhong is now 17th on the global rich list. It seems that he will move up that list (6) ____ the future.

    Zhong Shanshan, 66, was a construction worker before he got into business. He started his Nongfu Spring company in 1996. This was (7) ____ as China's market for bottled water was emerging. Bottled water is now a (8) ____ industry in China. Most people who live in China prefer drinking bottled water to tap water for health reasons. They prefer not to (9) ____ tap water. Zhong's pharmaceutical company is also helping in the fight against COVID-19. It is developing a (10) ____ -spray vaccine with the help of researchers from a top university. Chinese media call Mr Zhong a "(11) ____ wolf" because he is rarely seen in public. He rarely gives interviews and he likes to keep himself to (12) ____.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     whom     (b)     whomever     (c)     who     (d)     whose    
    2. (a)     latest     (b)     lest     (c)     lasting     (d)     lasts    
    3. (a)     worth     (b)     value     (c)     money     (d)     price    
    4. (a)     made     (b)     did     (c)     was     (d)     done    
    5. (a)     in     (b)     out     (c)     root     (d)     of    
    6. (a)     to     (b)     at     (c)     on     (d)     in    
    7. (a)     justice     (b)     justly     (c)     just     (d)     adjust    
    8. (a)     hug     (b)     hugger     (c)     hugging     (d)     huge    
    9. (a)     trust     (b)     thirst     (c)     puddle     (d)     faucet    
    10. (a)     nosy     (b)     nasal     (c)     nosed     (d)     nosedive    
    11. (a)     loneliness     (b)     lone     (c)     alone     (d)     loner    
    12. (a)     itself     (b)     themselves     (c)     himself     (d)     herself

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. The business agmzanie
    2. the epivrous number one
    3. Ma founded the eratil Internet giant
    4. He then rnbhcaed out
    5. a vaccine anumautcrfer
    6. the logabl rich list

    Paragraph 2

    1. a scutrcoitnon worker
    2. ...market for bottled water was reegmnig
    3. a huge nuitsdry in China
    4. developing a sanla spray
    5. he is rarely seen in uplbic
    6. He rarely gives ntriiveews

    Put the text back together

    (...)  out into making vaccines. He is the chairman of a vaccine manufacturer called
    (  1  ) A businessman who sells bottled water is now the richest man in China. The business magazine Bloomberg
    (...)  Zhong Shanshan, 66, was a construction worker before he got into
    (...)  named Mr Zhong Shanshan as China's richest man in its latest Billionaires Index. The magazine said Mr Zhong is worth
    (...)  the Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy. Mr Zhong is now 17th on the global
    (...)  over $58 billion. This makes him $2 billion richer than the previous number one, Jack Ma. Mr Ma founded
    (...)  the retail Internet giant Alibaba. Mr Zhong made his wealth from his Nongfu Spring bottled water company. He then branched
    (...)  tap water for health reasons. They prefer not to trust tap water. Zhong's pharmaceutical company is also helping
    (...)  emerging. Bottled water is now a huge industry in China. Most people who live in China prefer drinking bottled water to
    (...)  business. He started his Nongfu Spring company in 1996. This was just as China's market for bottled water was
    (...)  in the fight against COVID-19. It is developing a nasal-spray vaccine with the help
    (...)  rich list. It seems that he will move up that list in the future.
    (...)  of researchers from a top university. Chinese media call Mr Zhong a "lone wolf" because he is rarely seen in
    (...)  public. He rarely gives interviews and he likes to keep himself to himself.

    Put the words in the right order

    1. Chinese   who   A   bottled   sells   businessman   spring   water   .
    2. than   richer   $2   billion   number   previous   one   the   .
    3. branched   He   into   out   then   making   vaccines   .
    4. on   17th   He's   the   now   rich   global   list   .
    5. that   It   will   he   seems   move   up   .
    6. for   market   As   bottled   China's   was   water   emerging   .
    7. live   People   China   in   who   prefer   bottled   water   .
    8. is   developing   a   It   spray   nasal   vaccine   .
    9. call   Chinese   Zhong   Mr   media   a   lone   wolf   .
    10. likes   to   keep   He   to   himself   himself   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    A businessman who sells bottled water is known / now the richest man in China. The business magazine Bloomberg named Mr Zhong Shanshan as China's richest man in its latest / late Billionaires Index. The magazine said Mr Zhong is worthy / worth over $58 billion. This makes him $2 billion richer than the period / previous number one, Jack Ma. Mr Ma founded the tail / retail Internet giant Alibaba. Mr Zhong made his wealth / wealthy from his Nongfu Spring bottled water company. He then twigged / branched out into making vaccines. He is the chairman of / off a vaccine manufacturer called the Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy. Mr Zhong is now 17th on the global / globe rich list. It seems that he will move up that list on / in the future.

    Zhong Shanshan, 66, was a construct / construction worker before he got into business. He started / starred his Nongfu Spring company in 1996. This was just / justice as China's market for bottled water was emerge / emerging. Bottled water is now a huge / hugging industry in China. Most people who live in China prefer drinking bottled water to tap water for health reason / reasons. They prefer not to trust tap water. Zhong's pharmaceutical company is also helping in the fight against / again COVID-19. It is developing a nasal-spray vaccine with the help to / of researchers from a top university. Chinese media call Mr Zhong a "bone / lone wolf" because he is rarely seen in public. He rarely gives interviews and he likes to keep himself to himself / him.

    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)

    A b_s_n_s s m_n w h_ s_l l s b_t t l_d w_t_r _s n_w t h_ r_c h_s t m_n _n C h_n_. T h_ b_s_n_s s m_g_z_n_ B l__ m b_r g n_m_d M r Z h_n g S h_n s h_n _s C h_n_' s r_c h_s t m_n _n _t s l_t_s t B_l l__ n__ r_s I n d_x . T h_ m_g_z_n_ s__ d M r Z h_n g _s w_r t h _v_r $ 5 8 b_l l__ n . T h_s m_k_s h_m $ 2 b_l l__ n r_c h_r t h_n t h_ p r_v___s n_m b_r _n_, J_c k M_. M r M_ f__ n d_d t h_ r_t__ l I n t_r n_t g__ n t A l_b_b_. M r Z h_n g m_d_ h_s w__ l t h f r_m h_s N_n g f_ S p r_n g b_t t l_d w_t_r c_m p_n y . H_ t h_n b r_n c h_d __ t _n t_ m_k_n g v_c c_n_s . H_ _s t h_ c h__ r m_n _f _ v_c c_n_ m_n_f_c t_r_r c_l l_d t h_ B__ j_n g W_n t__ B__ l_g_c_l P h_r m_c y . M r Z h_n g _s n_w 1 7 t h _n t h_ g l_b_l r_c h l_s t . I t s__ m s t h_t h_ w_l l m_v_ _p t h_t l_s t _n t h_ f_t_r_.

    Z h_n g S h_n s h_n , 6 6 , w_s _ c_n s t r_c t__ n w_r k_r b_f_r_ h_ g_t _n t_ b_s_n_s s . H_ s t_r t_d h_s N_n g f_ S p r_n g c_m p_n y _n 1 9 9 6 . T h_s w_s j_s t _s C h_n_' s m_r k_t f_r b_t t l_ w_t_r w_s _m_r g_n g . B_t t l_d w_t_r _s n_w _ h_g_ _n d_s t r y _n C h_n_. M_s t p__ p l_ w h_ l_v_ _n C h_n_ p r_f_r d r_n k_n g b_t t l_d w_t_r t_ t_p w_t_r f_r h__ l t h r__ s_n s . T h_y p r_f_r n_t t_ t r_s t t_p w_t_r . Z h_n g ' s p h_r m_c__ t_c_l c_m p_n y _s _l s_ h_l p_n g _n t h_ f_g h t _g__ n s t C O V I D - 1 9 . I t _s d_v_l_p_n g _ n_s_l - s p r_y v_c c_n_ w_t h t h_ h_l p _f r_s__ r c h_r s f r_m _ t_p _n_v_r s_t y . C h_n_s_ m_d__ c_l l M r Z h_n g _ " l_n_ w_l f " b_c__ s_ h_ _s r_r_l y s__ n _n p_b l_c . H_ r_r_l y g_v_s _n t_r v__ w s _n d h_ l_k_s t_ k__ p h_m s_l f t_ h_m s_l f .

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    a businessman who sells bottled water is now the richest man in china. the business magazine bloomberg named mr zhong shanshan as china's richest man in its latest billionaires index. the magazine said mr zhong is worth over $58 billion. this makes him $2 billion richer than the previous number one, jack ma. mr ma founded the retail internet giant alibaba. mr zhong made his wealth from his nongfu spring bottled water company. he then branched out into making vaccines. he is the chairman of a vaccine manufacturer called the beijing wantai biological pharmacy. mr zhong is now 17th on the global rich list. it seems that he will move up that list in the future.

    zhong shanshan, 66, was a construction worker before he got into business. he started his nongfu spring company in 1996. this was just as china's market for bottled water was emerging. bottled water is now a huge industry in china. most people who live in china prefer drinking bottled water to tap water for health reasons. they prefer not to trust tap water. zhong's pharmaceutical company is also helping in the fight against covid-19. it is developing a nasal-spray vaccine with the help of researchers from a top university. chinese media call mr zhong a "lone wolf" because he is rarely seen in public. he rarely gives interviews and he likes to keep himself to himself

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    AbusinessmanwhosellsbottledwaterisnowtherichestmaninChina.Th
    ebusinessmagazineBloombergnamedMrZhongShanshanasChina'sri
    chestmaninitslatestBillionairesIndex.ThemagazinesaidMrZhongisw
    orthover$58billion.Thismakeshim$2billionricherthanthepreviousnu
    mberone,JackMa.MrMafoundedtheretailInternetgiantAlibaba.MrZh
    ongmadehiswealthfromhisNongfuSpringbottledwatercompany.Het
    henbranchedoutintomakingvaccines.Heisthechairmanofavaccinem
    anufacturercalledtheBeijingWantaiBiologicalPharmacy.MrZhongisn
    ow17thontheglobalrichlist.Itseemsthathewillmoveupthatlistinthefu
    ture.ZhongShanshan,66,wasaconstructionworkerbeforehegotintob
    usiness.HestartedhisNongfuSpringcompanyin1996.ThiswasjustasC
    hina'smarketforbottledwaterwasemerging.Bottledwaterisnowahug
    eindustryinChina.MostpeoplewholiveinChinapreferdrinkingbottled
    watertotapwaterforhealthreasons.Theyprefernottotrusttapwater.Z
    hong'spharmaceuticalcompanyisalsohelpinginthefightagainstCOVI
    D-19.Itisdevelopinganasal-sprayvaccinewiththehelpofresearchersf
    romatopuniversity.ChinesemediacallMrZhonga"lonewolf"becauseh
    eisrarelyseeninpublic.Herarelygivesinterviewsandhelikestokeephi
    mselftohimself.

    Free writing

    Write about richest man for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Bottled water is better than tap water. Discuss.

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    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 this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. BEING RICH: Make a poster about being rich. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. EQUALITY: Write a magazine article about everyone in the world being equally rich one day. Include imaginary interviews with people who think this will happen and with people who think it won't.
    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 being rich. Ask him/her three questions about being rich. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to get rich. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

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    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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