The Reading / Listening - Mahathir Mohamad - Level 6

They say age is just a number, and that you are as young as you feel. The former prime minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad, is proving this to be true. Mr Mahathir is pushing back the years and running for office at the ripe old age of 97. He has been the country's leader twice before. The first time was for 22 years, between 1981 and 2003; the second time was a near-two-year term from May 2018. He has announced he will run for parliament in his country's upcoming general election. He was typically coy on whether or not he has his eyes set on the top job once again. He told journalists: "We have not decided who will be prime minister because the prime minister candidate is only relevant if we win."

Mahathir Mohamad has been an ever-present force in Malaysian politics. He first became a member of parliament in 1964. He is widely regarded as being a visionary for changing his country's economic fortunes. He spearheaded Malaysia's rapid economic transformation throughout the 1980s. Mahathir's decision to contest the parliamentary seat of Langkawi marks his 11th general election campaign. Many commentators in Malaysia are sceptical about Mr Mahathir's chances because of his recent ill health. He has a history of heart trouble and has had several heart attacks and bypass operations, including a quadruple bypass surgery. He was discharged from hospital last month after contracting Covid-19.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Mahathir Mohamad - Level 4  or  Mahathir Mohamad - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3195595/malaysias-mahathir-mohamad-97-contest-election-save-country-umno
  • https://edition.cnn.com/2022/10/12/asia/malaysia-mahathir-mohamad-runs-parliament-intl-hnk/index.html
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-63218662


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. PRIME MINISTER: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about prime ministers. 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?
       age / young / prime minister / true / office / old age / parliament / eyes / candidate /
       force / politics / visionary / transformation / election / campaign / ill health / surgery
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. AGE LIMIT: Students A strongly believe there should be an age limit for presidents and prime ministers; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. AGE: What is the best age to do these things? Why Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

The Best Age

Why?

National leader

 

 

First-time parent

 

 

Athlete

 

 

Rock star

 

 

English teacher

 

 

Model

 

 
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. YOUNG: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "young". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. THE BEST AGE: Rank these with your partner. Put the best age to be at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • 10
  • 16
  • 21
  • 30
  • 45
  • 60
  • 75
  • 100

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. ripe a. Put or focused.
      2. term b. Closely connected to or appropriate to what is being done or considered.
      3. announced c. Advanced (in age).
      4. upcoming d. A fixed or limited period for something, for example government office, imprisonment, etc.
      5. set e. About to happen.
      6. candidate f. A person who applies for a job or is nominated for election.
      7. relevant g. Made a formal public statement about a fact, happening, or intention.

    Paragraph 2

      8. regarded h. Consisting of four parts or elements.
      9. visionary i. Not easily convinced; having doubts or reservations.
      10. spearheaded j. A place in a country that a politician can win to represent in an election.
      11. seat k. Considered or thought of in a specified way.
      12. sceptical l. Allowed a patient to leave hospital because they recovered.
      13. quadruple m. A person with original ideas about what the future will or could be like.
      14. discharged n. Was the leader of a campaign and made it successful.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. The article says age is a big number.     T / F
  2. Mahathir Mohamad has been prime minister twice before.     T / F
  3. Mahathir Mohamad was once in power for 22 years.     T / F
  4. Mr Mahathir told reporters he wanted to be prime minister again.     T / F
  5. Mr Mahathir first became a politician in 1984.     T / F
  6. Mr Mahathir will be contesting his eleventh general election.     T / F
  7. Journalists think Mr Mahathir has a good chance of winning the election.  T / F
  8. Mr Mahathir has had several heart attacks.     T / F

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

  1. just
  2. running
  3. announced
  4. typically
  5. relevant
  6. force
  7. regarded
  8. transformation
  9. sceptical
  10. discharged
  1. characteristically
  2. change
  3. pertinent
  4. thought of
  5. standing
  6. doubtful
  7. simply
  8. released
  9. made public
  10. influence

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

  1. They say age is
  2. running for office at the
  3. in his country's upcoming
  4. He was typically
  5. he has his eyes set on
  6. Mohamad has been an ever-present
  7. He is widely regarded as
  8. He spearheaded Malaysia's rapid
  9. sceptical about
  10. a quadruple bypass
  1. the top job once again
  2. Mr Mahathir's chances
  3. force in Malaysian politics
  4. being a visionary
  5. ripe old age of 97
  6. economic transformation
  7. just a number
  8. surgery
  9. coy
  10. general election

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
twice
eyes
term
proving
relevant
ripe
coy
just

They say age is (1) _____________________ a number, and that you are as young as you feel. The former prime minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad, is (2) _____________________ this to be true. Mr Mahathir is pushing back the years and running for office at the (3) _____________________ old age of 97. He has been the country's leader (4) _____________________ before. The first time was for 22 years, between 1981 and 2003; the second time was a near-two-year (5) _____________________ from May 2018. He has announced he will run for parliament in his country's upcoming general election. He was typically (6) _____________________ on whether or not he has his (7) _____________________ set on the top job once again. He told journalists: "We have not decided who will be prime minister because the prime minister candidate is only (8) _____________________ if we win."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
fortunes
bypass
force
sceptical
contracting
visionary
history
contest

Mahathir Mohamad has been an ever-present (9) _____________________ in Malaysian politics. He first became a member of parliament in 1964. He is widely regarded as being a (10) _____________________ for changing his country's economic (11) _____________________. He spearheaded Malaysia's rapid economic transformation throughout the 1980s. Mahathir's decision to (12) _____________________ the parliamentary seat of Langkawi marks his 11th general election campaign. Many commentators in Malaysia are (13) _____________________ about Mr Mahathir's chances because of his recent ill health. He has a (14) _____________________ of heart trouble and has had several heart attacks and bypass operations, including a quadruple (15) _____________________ surgery. He was discharged from hospital last month after (16) _____________________ Covid-19.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  They say age is just a number, and that you are as young ______
     a.  as you feel
     b.  as you heel
     c.  as youth feel
     d.  as youth heel
2)  prime minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad, is proving this ______
     a.  to be truth
     b.  to be through
     c.  to be true
     d.  to be thorough
3)  Mr Mahathir is pushing back the years and running for office at the ______
     a.  reap old age
     b.  wipe old age
     c.  rye poled age
     d.  ripe old age
4)  He has announced he will run for parliament in his country's ______
     a.  incoming general election
     b.  oncoming general election
     c.  upcoming general election
     d.  sup coming general election
5)  who will be prime minister because the prime minister candidate ______
     a.  is only relevance
     b.  is only relevant
     c.  is only relevantly
     d.  is only reverent

6)  Mahathir Mohamad has been an ever-present force ______
     a.  in Malaysian policies
     b.  in Malaysian poll antics
     c.  in Malaysian Polly ticks
     d.  in Malaysian politics
7)  a member of parliament in 1964. He is widely regarded as ______
     a.  been a visionary
     b.  being a visionary
     c.  boing a visionary
     d.  buying a visionary
8) throughout the 1980s. Mahathir's decision to contest ______
     a.  the parliamentary sheet
     b.  the parliamentary seat
     c.  the parliamentary sleet
     d.  the parliamentary suite
9)  sceptical about Mr Mahathir's chances because of his ______
     a.  recent till health
     b.  recent tall health
     c.  recent e-health
     d.  recent ill health
10)  several heart attacks and bypass operations, including a ______
     a.  quadruple bypass sugary
     b.  quadruple bypass surge airy
     c.  quadruple bypass surgery
     d.  quadruple bypass sir Jerry

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

They say age is (1) ____________________, and that you are as young as you feel. The former prime minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad, is proving this to be true. Mr Mahathir (2) ____________________ the years and running for office at the (3) ____________________ of 97. He has been the country's leader twice before. The first time was for 22 years, between 1981 and 2003; the second time was a near-two-year term from May 2018. He has announced he will run for parliament in his country's upcoming general election. He (4) ____________________ on whether or not he has his (5) ____________________ the top job once again. He told journalists: "We have not decided who will be prime minister because the prime minister candidate is (6) ____________________ we win."

Mahathir Mohamad has been an (7) ____________________ in Malaysian politics. He first became a member of parliament in 1964. He is widely regarded as (8) ____________________ for changing his country's economic fortunes. He spearheaded Malaysia's rapid economic transformation throughout the 1980s. Mahathir's (9) ____________________ the parliamentary seat of Langkawi marks his 11th general election campaign. Many commentators in Malaysia (10) ____________________ Mr Mahathir's chances because of his recent ill health. He has a history of heart trouble and has had several heart (11) ____________________ operations, including a quadruple bypass surgery. He was discharged from hospital last (12) ____________________ Covid-19.

Comprehension questions

  1. What does the article say age is?
  2. What does the article say Mahathir Mohamad is pushing back?
  3. What's the longest time Mahathir Mohamad has spent as prime minister?
  4. How was Mahathir Mohamad being with journalists?
  5. Who did Mr Mahathir say would be prime minister?
  6. When did Mr Mahathir first become a politician?
  7. What does the article say Mr Mahathir changed in Malaysia?
  8. How many elections has Mr Mahathir already contested?
  9. What are commentators sceptical about?
  10. What kind of surgery did Mr Mahathir have?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What does the article say age is?
a) old
b) just a number
c) young
d) a great numeral
2) What does the article say Mahathir Mohamad is pushing back?
a) doubts
b) voters
c) elections
d) the years
3) What's the longest time Mahathir Mohamad has spent as prime minister?
a) nearly two years
b) 18 months
c) 22 years
d) 12 years
4) How was Mahathir Mohamad being with journalists?
a) coy
b) angry
c) informative
d) jovial
5) Who did Mr Mahathir say would be prime minister?
a) himself
b) he doesn't know
c) he said it was a two-horse race
d) anybody

6) When did Mr Mahathir first become a politician?
a) 1964
b) 1965
c) 1962
d) 1968
7) What does the article say Mr Mahathir changed in Malaysia?
a) the voting system
b) laws
c) its economic fortunes
d) people's incomes
8) How many elections has Mr Mahathir already contested?
a) 10
b) 11
c) 12
d) 13
9) What are commentators sceptical about?
a) Malaysia's future
b) elections
c) democracy
d) Mahathir's chances of winning
10) What kind of surgery did Mr Mahathir have?
a) a hernia operation
b) one for COVID-19
c) quadruple bypass surgery
d) cosmetic surgery

Role play

Role  A – Ten
You think 10 is the best age to be. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ages. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): 20, 50 or 100.

Role  B – Twenty
You think 20 is is the best age to be. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ages. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): 10, 50 or 100.

Role  C – Fifty
You think 50 is is the best age to be. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ages. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): 20, 10 or 100.

Role  D – One Hundred
You think 100 is is the best age to be. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ages. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): 20, 50 or 10.

After reading / listening

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

'office'

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

    • and 'leader'.

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

    • • 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:

    • number
    • feel
    • ripe
    • term
    • eyes
    • win
    • force
    • widely
    • seat
    • recent
    • several
    • month

    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 - Mahathir Mohamad

    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 'leader'?
    3. Do you think age is just a number?
    4. Are you just as young as you feel?
    5. What do you think of having a 97-year-old leader?
    6. What do you think of your country's leader?
    7. What do you hope to be doing at the age of 97?
    8. Should Mr Mahathir become Malaysia's next prime minister?
    9. When was the last time you were coy about something?
    10. What advice do you have for Mr Mahathir?

    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 'office'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you think of politicians?
    5. Are young or old leaders best?
    6. Should there be a limit on the age of national leaders?
    7. What should the retirement age be?
    8. What are the benefits of being in your nineties?
    9. What do you know about Malaysia?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Mr Mahathir?

    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)

    They say (1) ____ is just a number, and that you are as young as you feel. The former prime minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad, is (2) ____ this to be true. Mr Mahathir is pushing back the years and running for office at the (3) ____ old age of 97. He has been the country's leader twice before. The first time was for 22 years, between 1981 and 2003; the second time was a near-two-year (4) ____ from May 2018. He has announced he will run for parliament in his country's upcoming general election. He was typically (5) ____ on whether or not he has his eyes set on the top job once again. He told journalists: "We have not decided who will be prime minister because the prime minister candidate is only (6) ____ if we win."

    Mahathir Mohamad has been an ever-present (7) ____ in Malaysian politics. He first became a member of parliament in 1964. He is widely regarded as (8) ____ a visionary for changing his country's economic fortunes. He spearheaded Malaysia's rapid economic transformation throughout the 1980s. Mahathir's decision to (9) ____ the parliamentary seat of Langkawi marks his 11th general election campaign. Many commentators in Malaysia are (10) ____ about Mr Mahathir's chances because of his recent ill health. He has a history of heart trouble and has had several heart attacks and (11) ____ operations, including a quadruple bypass surgery. He was discharged from hospital last month (12) ____ contracting Covid-19.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     ageing     (b)     age     (c)     ageist     (d)     ageism    
    2. (a)     proves     (b)     proving     (c)     proven     (d)     proof    
    3. (a)     ramp     (b)     rope     (c)     reap     (d)     ripe    
    4. (a)     semester     (b)     term     (c)     trimester     (d)     phrase    
    5. (a)     queue     (b)     cue     (c)     quay     (d)     coy    
    6. (a)     benevolent     (b)     malevolent     (c)     relevant     (d)     violent    
    7. (a)     force     (b)     pressure     (c)     stamina     (d)     vigour    
    8. (a)     been     (b)     was     (c)     being     (d)     be    
    9. (a)     compete     (b)     victor     (c)     battle     (d)     contest    
    10. (a)     sceptical     (b)     scoped     (c)     scampered     (d)     scarpered    
    11. (a)     bypass     (b)     passerby     (c)     passing     (d)     passed    
    12. (a)     after     (b)     post     (c)     afore     (d)     result

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. gpvnior this to be true
    2. at the rpei old age of 97
    3. He was typically cyo
    4. He has enanudonc he will
    5. run for erplamnita
    6. only nlertaev if we win

    Paragraph 2

    1. widely regarded as being a siynviaro
    2. Malaysia's rapid economic ioaftonnsmrtar
    3. spliacect about Mr Mahathir's chances
    4. erevsla heart attacks
    5. quarudlep bypass surgery
    6. He was resdcdigah from hospital

    Put the text back together

    (...)  discharged from hospital last month after contracting Covid-19.
    (.1..) They say age is just a number, and that you are as young as you feel. The former prime minister
    (...)  for office at the ripe old age of 97. He has been the country's leader twice before. The first
    (...)  coy on whether or not he has his eyes set on the top job once again. He told
    (...)  economic transformation throughout the 1980s. Mahathir's decision to contest the parliamentary seat
    (...)  of Langkawi marks his 11th general election campaign. Many commentators in Malaysia are sceptical about Mr Mahathir's
    (...)  of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad, is proving this to be true. Mr Mahathir is pushing back the years and running
    (...)  journalists: "We have not decided who will be prime minister because the prime minister candidate is only relevant if we win."
    (...)  time was for 22 years, between 1981 and 2003; the second time was a near-two-year term from May 2018. He has
    (...)  heart attacks and bypass operations, including a quadruple bypass surgery. He was
    (...)  chances because of his recent ill health. He has a history of heart trouble and has had several
    (...)  announced he will run for parliament in his country's upcoming general election. He was typically
    (...)  regarded as being a visionary for changing his country's economic fortunes. He spearheaded Malaysia's rapid
    (...)  Mahathir Mohamad has been an ever-present force in Malaysian politics. He first became a member of parliament in 1964. He is widely

    Put the words in the right order

    1. They   is   that   age   number   .   just   a   say
    2. be   true   .   is   Mohamad   to   proving   this
    3. running   and   office   .   back   the   for   years   Pushing
    4. the   leader   been   country's   before   .   He   has   twice
    5. his   the   eyes   He   job   .   has   top   on
    6. member   1964   .   a   He   of   parliament   became   in
    7. widely   being   a   regarded   as   is   visionary   .   He
    8. Mr   commentators   sceptical  about  Mahathir's   are   chances  .  Many
    9. bypass   had   He's   and   attacks   operations   .   heart   several
    10. Covid-19   .   discharged   hospital   was   after   He   from   contracting

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    They say age is just / justly a number, and that you are as young as you feel. The former prime minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad, is proof / proving this to be true. Mr Mahathir is pushing / pulling back the years and running for office at the reap / ripe old age of 97. He has been the country's leader double / twice before. The first time was for 22 years, between 1981 and 2003; the second time was a near-two-year stern / term from May 2018. He has announced he will run / sprint for parliament in his country's upcoming general election. He was typically coy on / at whether or not he has his eyes set on / in the top job once again. He told journalists: "We have not decided who will be prime minister because the prime minister candidate be / is only relevant if we win."

    Mahathir Mohamad has been an ever-present force in Malaysian politics. He first became a member of / by parliament in 1964. He is widely / widened regarded as being / been a visionary for changing his country's economic fortunes. He spearheaded Malaysia's rapid / rapidly economic transformation throughout the 1980s. Mahathir's decision to compete / contest the parliamentary seat of Langkawi marks / markings his 11th general election campaign. Many commentators in Malaysia are sceptical about Mr Mahathir's chances because of his recent illness / ill health. He has a history on / of heart trouble and has had several heart attacks end / and bypass operations, including a quadruple bypass surgery. He was discharged from hospital last month after / and contracting Covid-19.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    Th_y  s_y  _g_  _s  j_st  _  n_mb_r,  _nd  th_t  y__  _r_  _s  y__ng  _s  y__  f__l.  Th_  f_rm_r  pr_m_  m_n_st_r  _f  M_l_ys__,  M_h_th_r  M_h_m_d,  _s  pr_v_ng  th_s  t_  b_  tr__.  Mr  M_h_th_r  _s  p_sh_ng  b_ck  th_  y__rs  _nd  r_nn_ng  f_r  _ff_c_  _t  th_  r_p_  _ld  _g_  _f  97.  H_  h_s  b__n  th_  c__ntry's  l__d_r  tw_c_  b_f_r_.  Th_  f_rst  t_m_  w_s  f_r  22  y__rs,  b_tw__n  1981  _nd  2003;  th_  s_c_nd  t_m_  w_s  _  n__r-tw_-y__r  t_rm  fr_m  M_y  2018.  H_  h_s  _nn__nc_d  h_  w_ll  r_n  f_r  p_rl__m_nt  _n  h_s  c__ntry's  _pc_m_ng  g_n_r_l  _l_ct__n.  H_  w_s  typ_c_lly  c_y  _n  wh_th_r  _r  n_t  h_  h_s  h_s  _y_s  s_t  _n  th_  t_p  j_b  _nc_  _g__n.  H_  t_ld  j__rn_l_sts:  "W_  h_v_  n_t  d_c_d_d  wh_  w_ll  b_  pr_m_  m_n_st_r  b_c__s_  th_  pr_m_  m_n_st_r  c_nd_d_t_  _s  _nly  r_l_v_nt  _f  w_  w_n."

    M_h_th_r  M_h_m_d  h_s  b__n  _n  _v_r-pr_s_nt  f_rc_  _n  M_l_ys__n  p_l_t_cs.  H_  f_rst  b_c_m_  _  m_mb_r  _f  p_rl__m_nt  _n  1964.  H_  _s  w_d_ly  r_g_rd_d  _s  b__ng  _  v_s__n_ry  f_r  ch_ng_ng  h_s  c__ntry's  _c_n_m_c  f_rt_n_s.  H_  sp__rh__d_d  M_l_ys__'s  r_p_d  _c_n_m_c  tr_nsf_rm_t__n  thr__gh__t  th_  1980s.  M_h_th_r's  d_c_s__n  t_  c_nt_st  th_  p_rl__m_nt_ry  s__t  _f  L_ngk_w_  m_rks  h_s  11th  g_n_r_l  _l_ct__n  c_mp__gn.  M_ny  c_mm_nt_t_rs  _n  M_l_ys__  _r_  sc_pt_c_l  _b__t  Mr  M_h_th_r's  ch_nc_s  b_c__s_  _f  h_s  r_c_nt  _ll  h__lth.  H_  h_s  _  h_st_ry  _f  h__rt  tr__bl_  _nd  h_s  h_d  s_v_r_l  h__rt  _tt_cks  _nd  byp_ss  _p_r_t__ns,  _ncl_d_ng  _  q__dr_pl_  byp_ss  s_rg_ry.  H_  w_s  d_sch_rg_d  fr_m  h_sp_t_l  l_st  m_nth  _ft_r  c_ntr_ct_ng  C_v_d-19.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    they say age is just a number and that you are as young as you feel the former prime minister of malaysia mahathir mohamad is proving this to be true mr mahathir is pushing back the years and running for office at the ripe old age of 97 he has been the countrys leader twice before the first time was for 22 years between 1981 and 2003 the second time was a neartwoyear term from may 2018 he has announced he will run for parliament in his countrys upcoming general election he was typically coy on whether or not he has his eyes set on the top job once again he told journalists we have not decided who will be prime minister because the prime minister candidate is only relevant if we win

    mahathir mohamad has been an everpresent force in malaysian politics he first became a member of parliament in 1964 he is widely regarded as being a visionary for changing his countrys economic fortunes he spearheaded malaysias rapid economic transformation throughout the 1980s mahathirs decision to contest the parliamentary seat of langkawi marks his 11th general election campaign many commentators in malaysia are sceptical about mr mahathirs chances because of his recent ill health he has a history of heart trouble and has had several heart attacks and bypass operations including a quadruple bypass surgery he was discharged from hospital last month after contracting covid19

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Theysayageisjustanumber,andthatyouareasyoungasyoufeel.Thefor
    merprimeministerofMalaysia,MahathirMohamad,isprovingthistobet
    rue.MrMahathirispushingbacktheyearsandrunningforofficeattherip
    eoldageof97.Hehasbeenthecountry'sleadertwicebefore.Thefirsttim
    ewasfor22years,between1981and2003;thesecondtimewasanear-
    two-yeartermfromMay2018.Hehasannouncedhewillrunforparliame
    ntinhiscountry'supcominggeneralelection.Hewastypicallycoyonwhe
    therornothehashiseyessetonthetopjobonceagain.Hetoldjournalists:
    "Wehavenotdecidedwhowillbeprimeministerbecausetheprimeminis
    tercandidateisonlyrelevantifwewin."MahathirMohamadhasbeenane
    ver-presentforceinMalaysianpolitics.Hefirstbecameamemberofparl
    iamentin1964.Heiswidelyregardedasbeingavisionaryforchanginghi
    scountry'seconomicfortunes.HespearheadedMalaysia'srapidecono
    mictransformationthroughoutthe1980s.Mahathir'sdecisiontocontes
    ttheparliamentaryseatofLangkawimarkshis11thgeneralelectioncam
    paign.ManycommentatorsinMalaysiaarescepticalaboutMrMahathir'
    schancesbecauseofhisrecentillhealth.Hehasahistoryofhearttroublea
    ndhashadseveralheartattacksandbypassoperations,includingaquad
    ruplebypasssurgery.Hewasdischargedfromhospitallastmonthafterc
    ontractingCovid-19.

    Free writing

    Write about Mahathir Mohamad for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    A 97-year-old is perfectly capable of being a politician. 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. AGE: Make a poster about age. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. AGE LIMIT: Write a magazine article about having no age limits for jobs. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    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 age. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on 90-year-old politicians. 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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