Pre-Reading Activities

A: Discussion

Work with a partner and answer these questions

1. How old are most people when they finish high school?
2. How old are they when they finish university?
3. How old are most people when they retire?
4. How old do you want to be when you retire?

B: Vocabulary

These words are from today's article. Check that you know their meanings by putting them in the right places:

law

lecture

graduate

exams

university

part-time

high-school

I am a student now and I also have a job. After I finish high school I am going to study at . If I pass the I will then go to school. One day I would like to be a university professor and in law.
Suggested answer I am a high school student now and I also have a part-time job. After I finish high school I am going to study law at university. If I pass the exams I will then go to graduate school. One day I would like to be a university professor and lecture in law.

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Reading Activities

A: Comprehension

Read the article and answer the questions:

1. How old is Utagawa?
   
   Suggested answer 96 years old
   
   
2. What is his occupation?
   
   Suggested answer He's a print maker.
   
   
3. Utagawa began studying in April 1999. Which university is he studying at?
   
   Suggested answer Kinki University
   
   
4. What will he do after he completes his four-year course?
   
   Suggested answer Go to graduate school
   
   
5. What will he do at the same time?
   
   Suggested answer Continue his printmaking business
   
   
6. What does he lecture in?
   
   
   Suggested answer How to stay healthy
   
   

It's Back To School For 96-Year-Old Man TOKYO Tuesday February 23 (Reuters) - 96-year-old Toyokuni Utagawa is a renowned print master but he has set himself a new goal: to become probably the first centenarian to win a doctorate in law. Monday, Utagawa heard that he had passed rigorous written and oral examinations, allowing him to enter the law division of Kinki University in the western Japanese city of Osaka when the new academic year begins in April, Kyodo news agency reported. "I will study for four years and then proceed to graduate school,'' Utagawa was quoted as saying, planning to carry on his print making at the same time. "If possible, I hope to take a doctorate.'' Utagawa, the sixth generation of a renowned family of Japanese print artists, was born in 1903 and apprenticed himself to his father after finishing primary school. After several decades in management with a trading firm after World War Two, he returned to his art in 1972. Hoping to start writing books, he began to study at a part-time high school several years ago and is due to graduate this March. Already the author of one published book, Utagawa also lectures several times a month on how to stay healthy, Kyodo said. Copyright © 1999 Reuters Limited.

B: Matching Information

These sentences talk about Utagawa's plans. Match each beginning with the correct ending by writing the letter of the ending sentence such as A, B, etc. in the box.

Beginnings:
1. Utagawa did the entrance examinations because he wanted to...
2. He studied at high school because he wanted to...
3. Utagawa wants to...
4. While he is studying at university he hopes to...
5. After he finishes a 4 year law course he wants to....
Suggested answer 1. D. , 2. E., 3. A., 4. B., 5. C.

Endings:
A....be the first centenarian to complete a doctorate in law.
B....continue working in his print making business.
C....go to graduate school.
D....go to Kinki University.
E....start writing books.

C: Understanding the Headline

1. What does 'back' mean in today's headline?
. Suggested answer 'back' means to return or go back to a place. Utagawa is going back to school to do more study.

2. Which of these statements summarizes the headline of the article?

a. A 96-year-old man is a student for the first time.
b. A 96-year-old man has finished school.
c. A 96-year-old man is going to do more study.
Suggested answer c. is the best answer.

D: Language

1. The article contains several difficult words. Use the article to help you match these words with their definitions:

Words	Meanings
1. renowned	A. worked for an employer for a period of time for low wages and received training
2. quoted	B. famous
3. rigorous	C. very hard or difficult
4. apprenticed	D. a newspaper reports what somebody else has said or written

Suggested answer 1. B., 2. D., 3. C., 4. A.

 

2. Imagine that the following short article was written in May 1999. Utagawa began his university studies in April 1999.

Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tenses:

Toyokuni Utagawa (be) a student at Kinki University where he (study) law. He (be) also a printmaker. He (lecture) several times a month on how to stay healthy. He (be) born in 1903 and after he (finish) primary school, he (become) an apprentice printmaker. From about 1945 until 1972 he (work) in management and then (return) to printmaking. Although he (be) 96 years old he (be) a very busy person.

Suggested answer Toyokuni Utagawa is a student at Kinki University where he is studying law. He is also a printmaker. He lectures several times a month on how to stay healthy. He was born in 1903 and after he finished primary school, he became an apprentice printmaker. From about 1945 until 1972 he worked in management and then returned to printmaking. Although he is 96 years old he is a very busy person.