2B like, unlike, as

Fact file: Fact file:

J.R.R. Tolken J.K. Rowling

John Ronald Reuel Joanne Kathleen

3 January 1892 – 2 September 1973 13 July 1965 – present

Born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, of British Born in Yate, Gloucestershire, England

parents
His mother died aged 34, when he was 12.
Excelled at classical and modern languages at
school.
Started a Classics degree at Oxford University
but changed to English Language and
Literature.
Her mother died aged 45.
Enjoyed English and foreign languages at
school.
Studied French and Classics at university
Most famous books: The Harry Potter series,
genre: fantasy

Most famous books: The Hobbit and The Lord of The Harry Potter series has been translated
the Rings, genre: fantasy into 67 languages.

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings have been Sales of the series: Around 450 million copies
translated into around 50 languages.
The Harry Potter series has been made into a
Sales of The Lord of the Rings: Between 150-250 series of films (2001–2011). Harry Potter and
million copies the Deathly Hallows cost $250 million
to make.
The Lord of the Rings was made into a series of
films (2001– 2003) costing $285 million
to make.

A Read the facts about the two famous authors. Complete the sentences about them with like, unlike and as.
1 J.K. Rowling chose to use her initials when writing did J.R.R. Tolkien.
2 J.K. Rowling, Tolkien had two middle names.
3 J.K. Rowling is still writing today, Tolkien who died in 1973.
4 Tolkien’s mother and father were British, Rowling’s parents.
5 Unfortunately, both authors’ mothers died relatively young women.
6 Tolkien was good at foreign languages at school, was J.K. Rowling.
7 [R2] Tolkien, Rowling did not study Latin at school.
8 Rowling studied Classics at university Tolkien.
9 Rowling’s university course included French, Tolkien’s.
10 Tolkien did not graduate in Classics he chose to change his degree.

B Write six more sentences comparing the authors and explaining how they are alike and unalike. Use like, unlike and as.

C Compare your sentences with a partner. Did they choose the same facts as you? Did they use the key words?

Solutions 2nd edition  Advanced classroom activity © Oxford University Press • Photocopiable
 2B like, unlike, as

Aims  To review and practise like, unlike and as to describe

similarities and differences
Time  15 minutes
Materials  1 handout for each student
• Write on the board ‘J.R.R. Tolkien’ and ‘J.K. Rowling’ and elicit
that these are the names of famous authors. Elicit any other
knowledge from the students.
• Give each student a copy of the handout. Ask them to read the
fact files and complete task A. Check answers as a class.
Answer Key
1  as  2  unlike  3  unlike    4  like / as were   5  as  6   as
7  unlike  8  like / as did   9  like  10  as
• Ask students to complete task B.
• Divide the class into pairs and tell them to compare their
sentences. Circulate and monitor the activity, ensuring that
students are using the structures in task B. Get some feedback
from the class to focus students on good usage of like, unlike
and as. Correct mistakes together.
Suggested answers
Tolkien’s most famous books are in the genre of fantasy like/as are
J.K.Rowling’s.
Like The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, the Harry Potter books
have been translated into many languages.
Unlike The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, the Harry Potter books
have been translated into 67 languages.
Between 150–250 million copies of The Lord of the Rings have
been sold, unlike the Harry Potter series which have sold 450
million copies.
The Lord of the Rings was made into a series of films like the Harry
Potter series.
The first Lord of the Rings film was made in 2001 as was the first
Harry Potter film.
It took three years to make The Lord of the Rings series unlike the
Harry Potter series, which took eleven years.
The Lord of the Rings series of films cost $285 million to make,
unlike the Harry Potter series where one film alone cost
$250million to make.
Just one part of the Harry Potter series cost almost the same as
the whole series of The Lord of the Rings.

Solutions 2nd edition  Advanced classroom activity © Oxford University Press • Photocopiable