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GENERAL ENGLISH · BREAKING NEWS · UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)

MUHAMMAD
ALI DIES

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1 Key words

Match the terms on the left to the definitions on the right.

1. Parkinson’s a. a disease of the nervous system that makes the muscles become
stiff and the body shake, and gradually gets worse as a person gets
older
2. a tribute b. a fight in boxing

3. unorthodox c. a quick, straight punch

4. a jab d. different from what is usual

5. a campaigner e. feeling tired and wanting to sleep

6. civil rights f. somebody who organizes activities to achieve political or social

change
7. drowsy g. something formal that you do or say to show that you respect and
admire someone
8. a bout h. the freedom for everybody in a country to do and say things
without fear of punishment

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MUHAMMAD ALI DIES

2 Find the information

What do you know about Muhammad Ali? Choose the best answers and then scan the text to check.

1. Where was Muhammad Ali born?

a. Louisville b. Lost Angeles c. Mississippi

2. How old was he when he started training?

a. 8 years old b. 12 years old c. 14 years old

3. At what age did he win the heavyweight title?

a. 22 b. 26 c. 32

4. When did he retire?

a. 1978 b. 1980 c. 1981

5. How many times did he fight?

a. 31 b. 41 c. 61

6. How many times did he lose?

a. 0 b. 2 c. 5

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UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)
MUHAMMAD ALI DIES
Muhammad Ali dies
6th June 2016
1.
On Saturday, it was announced that Muhammad Ali
had passed away. Although the former heavyweight
boxing champion had struggled with Parkinson’s
disease for decades, his death was a shock to many
people.
2.
Tributes for the great sportsman have been pouring
in from across the world. "Muhammad Ali shook up
the world. And the world is better for it," said US
President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle.
3.
Former President Bill Clinton said the boxer had
been "courageous in the ring, inspiring to the young,
compassionate to those in need".
4.
Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay in Louisville,
Kentucky, United States. He began training when he
was 12 years old and at 22 he won the heavyweight
championship from Sonny Liston in 1964.
also became the first boxer to capture a world
heavyweight title on three separate occasions.
5.
Ali had a highly unorthodox boxing style for a
heavyweight, illustrated by his catchphrase "float
like a butterfly, sting like a bee". He was never
an overpowering puncher, but he relied on superior
hand speed, superb reflexes and constant movement,
dancing and circling opponents for most of the
fight, and throwing quick left jabs from unpredictable
angles.
6.
Crowned "Sports Personality of the Century" by the
BBC, Ali was noted for his provocative talk and bold
fight predictions just as much as his boxing skills
inside the ring.
7.
But he was also a civil rights campaigner and poet
who gave speeches at colleges and universities across
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the country, which was very rare a boxer. He was
also known for refusing to serve in the US Army when
the US was involved in the Vietnam War. As a result,
he was arrested, his boxing license was suspended
and he would not fight again for nearly four years.
However, his actions helped inspire many figures to
voice their opposition to the war.
8.
Ali’s boxing career ended with one-sided defeats by
Larry Holmes in 1980 and Trevor Berbick in 1981.
Many people felt he should have retired long before.
He fought a total of 61 times as a professional, losing
five times and winning 37 bouts by knockout.
9.
Soon after retiring, people start to speculate about
the state of Ali’s health as his speech had changed and
he was often drowsy. He was eventually diagnosed
He with Parkinson’s disease but he continued to make
public appearances, receiving warm welcomes
wherever he travelled.
10.
When asked how he would like to be remembered, he
once said: "I would like to be remembered as a man
who won the heavyweight title three times, who was
humorous and who treated everyone right.
11.
"As a man who never looked down on those who
looked up to him...who stood up for his beliefs...who
tried to unite all humankind through faith and love.
12.
"And if all that’s too much, then I guess I’d settle for
being remembered only as a great boxer who became
a leader and a champion of his people. And I wouldn’t
even mind if folks forgot how pretty I was."
Sources: BBC, Wikipedia
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MUHAMMAD ALI DIES

3 Checking understanding

Read the text again and put T (True) or F (False) next to each statement below. Explain why the ‘False
answers’ are false.

1. Nobody was surprised by Muhammad Ali’s death.

2. Ali was known for his hard punches.
3. His actions outside the ring were unusual for a boxer.
4. Ali was not allowed to box for nearly four years because of his refusal to fight in the Vietnam War.
5. Many people felt that they could speak publicly against the Vietnam War because of Muhammad
Ali.
6. Ali’s last two fights were very close.
7. Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease as soon as he retired.

4 Phrasal verbs

There are seven phrasal verbs in the text. Put the infinitive form of each phrasal verb next to its
correct definition below.

1. to make a make change:

2. to arrive in large numbers:
3. to think that someone is less important than you:
4. to support an idea (or person) that is being criticized
5. to accept something, especially something that is not exactly what you want:
6. to respect and admire someone:
7. to die :

Now make up a sentence for each phrasal verb.

5 Collocations

Match the verbs on the left to the words on the right to form phrases from the text.

1. capture a. a jab

2. throw b. a public appearance

3. serve c. a warm welcome

4. voice d. in the army

5. make e. the world title

6. receive f. your opposition to something

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Now make up a sentence for each phrase.

6 Talking point

Discuss any of the questions below in pairs or groups.

1. What do you think of Muhammad Ali?

2. What other famous sportsmen do you consider to be as ‘great’ as Ali? Why?
3. Do you think boxing should be banned? Why/why not?

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