Lesson Plan: After The Olympics? Join Cirque du Soleil!
II. While Reading Activities
Word Inference
- conclude |kənˈklo͞od| verb-[ with obj. ] bring (something) to an end: they conclude their study with these words | [ no obj. ] : we concluded by singing carols.
- career |kəˈrir| noun-an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person’s life and with opportunities for progress.
- competitive kəmˈpedədiv| adjective-having or displaying a strong desire to be more successful than others: she had a competitive streak.
- recruiting |rəˈkro͞ot| verb [ with obj. ] enlist (someone) enroll (someone) as a member or worker in an organization or as a supporter of a cause: there are plans to recruit more staff later this year.
- no-brainer noun informal- something that requires or involves little or no mental effort. the enormous popularity of his TV show makes the book a no-brainer for him.
- transition |tranˈziSH(ə)ntranˈsiSH(ə)n| verb–undergo or cause to undergo a process or period of transition: [ with obj. ] : the network ought to be built by the federal government and then transitioned into private industry | [ no obj. ] : we have transitioned from a high-intensity combat operation to a support role in the community.
- stumble |ˈstəmbəl| verb [ no obj. ] • (stumble across/on/upon) find or encounter by chance: they stumbled across a farmer selling 25 acres.
- audition |ôˈdiSH(ə)n| noun-an interview for a particular role or job as a singer, actor, dancer, or musician, consisting of a practical demonstration of the candidate’s suitability and skill.
- somersault |ˈsəmərˌsôlt| noun-an acrobatic movement in which a person turns head over heels in the air or on the ground and lands or finishes on their feet: a backward somersault | figurative : Paul can do 3 somersaults in a row without stopping.
- blur |blər| noun-a thing that cannot be seen or heard clearly: the pale blur of her face | the words were a blur.
Source: New Oxford American Dictionary
Reading Comprehension
Fill-ins
In the show’s climatic moment, paparazzi and Dick Tracy-esque characters stage an elaborate chase-and-fight scene on rooftops. Bodies crisscross in midair like human juggling pins, nearly colliding. Fourteen acrobats and actors share the mayhem before the focus narrows on Brearley for his solo.
Grammar Focus
Word -Recognition
Terry Bartlett competed in gymnastics at three Olympics for Britain and retired after the Barcelona Games in 1992. Unsure of what to do next, he stumbled on a Cirque du Soleil audition while on vacation in California and accepted a job as an acrobat in “Mystère” in Las Vegas.
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