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FREE Handout, Listening & Quizzes - Lance Armstrong
(11 Pages of Materials & 8 Online Activities)

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Lance Armstrong Banned and Loses Titles (25th August, 2012)

Cycling officials have banned cycling legend Lance Armstrong for life after the cyclist stopped fighting doping charges. The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) also said Armstrong should have his seven Tour de France titles taken away from him. The International Cycling Union (ICA) has not yet commented on if it will also ban the U.S. cyclist and take away his titles. Armstrong said he was tired of fighting those who said he used drugs to improve his performances while racing. The USADA said the fact that Armstrong is no longer fighting proves he is guilty. Many in the cycling world still believe Armstrong is innocent.

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The lifetime ban means all of his results and victories dating back to 1998 will be erased. He won the hearts of millions by defeating cancer in 1996. He then won the Tour de France seven times between 1999 and 2005. Tour de France organisers said they would wait to see what happens between the USADA and ICA before taking any action. Armstrong told reporters the USADA was a corrupt organisation: "If I thought for one moment that by participating in USADA's process, I could confront these allegations in a fair setting and - once and for all - put these charges to rest, I would jump at the chance," he said.

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PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article.

Paragraph 1

1.	cycling	a.	doping charges
2	the cyclist stopped fighting	b.	of fighting
3.	it will also ban	c.	cycling world
4.	Armstrong said he was tired	d.	legend
5.	used drugs to improve	e.	the U.S. cyclist
6.	Many in the	f.	his performances

Paragraph 2

1.	lifetime	a.	setting
2	He won the hearts	b.	for all
3.	defeating	c.	at the chance
4.	in a fair	d.	cancer
5.	once and	e.	ban
6.	I would jump	f.	of millions

LISTENING GAP FILL

Cycling officials have (1) ____________________ Lance Armstrong for (2) ____________________ stopped fighting doping charges. The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) also said Armstrong should have his seven Tour de France titles (3) ____________________. The International Cycling Union (ICA) has (4) ____________________ on if it will also ban the U.S. cyclist and take away his titles. Armstrong said he was tired of fighting those who said he (5) ______________________ his performances while racing. The USADA said the fact that Armstrong is no longer fighting (6) ____________________. Many in the cycling world still believe Armstrong is innocent.

The lifetime ban means all of his (7) ____________________ dating back to 1998 will be erased. He (8) ____________________ millions by defeating cancer in 1996. He then won the Tour de France seven times between 1999 and 2005. Tour de France organisers (9) ____________________ to see what happens between the USADA and ICA before (10) ____________________. Armstrong told reporters the USADA was a corrupt organisation: "If I thought for one moment that by participating in USADA's process, I could confront these allegations (11) ____________________ and - once and for all - put these charges to rest, I would (12) ____________________," he said.

MULTIPLE CHOICE

Cycling officials have banned cycling legend Lance Armstrong for (1) ____ after the cyclist stopped fighting doping (2) ____. The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) also said Armstrong should have his seven Tour de France titles (3) ____ away from him. The International Cycling Union (ICA) has not (4) ____ commented on if it will also ban the U.S. cyclist and take away his titles. Armstrong said he was tired (5) ____ fighting those who said he used drugs to improve his performances while racing. The USADA said the fact that Armstrong is no longer fighting (6) ____ he is guilty. Many in the cycling world still believe Armstrong is innocent.

The lifetime ban (7) ____ all of his results and victories dating back to 1998 will be erased. He won the (8) ____ of millions by defeating cancer in 1996. He then won the Tour de France seven times between 1999 and 2005. Tour de France organisers said they would wait to (9) ____ what happens between the USADA and ICA before taking (10) ____ action. Armstrong told reporters the USADA was a corrupt organisation: "If I thought for one moment that by participating in USADA's process, I could confront these allegations in a (11) ____ setting and - once and for all - put these charges to rest, I would (12) ____ at the chance," he said.

Put the correct words from this table into the article.

1.	(a)	life	(b)	living	(c)	lifestyle
2.	(a)	changes	(b)	charges	(c)	challenges
3.	(a)	took	(b)	taken	(c)	takes
4.	(a)	yet	(b)	still	(c)	already
5.	(a)	for	(b)	as	(c)	of
6.	(a)	proof	(b)	proves	(c)	profits
7.	(a)	means	(b)	meanings	(c)	meanie
8.	(a)	legs	(b)	heads	(c)	hearts
9.	(a)	listen	(b)	see	(c)	feel
10.	(a)	any	(b)	much	(c)	lots
11.	(a)	fare	(b)	fear	(c)	fair
12	(a)	jog	(b)	jaunt	(c)	jump

SPELLING

Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.

Paragraph 1
1.	Cycling afilsifco
2.	cycling lnedge
3.	fighting ipognd charges
4.	ripvmeo his performances
5.	proves he is uligyt
6.	Armstrong is otiencnn
Paragraph 2
7.	mitelief ban
8.	etsursl and victories
9.	won the sahrte of millions
10.	wait to see what anpehps
11.	in a fair igentst
12.	I would jump at the ehcnca

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	titles taken away from him. The International Cycling Union (ICA) has not yet commented on if it will also
( )	millions by defeating cancer in 1996. He then won the Tour de France seven times between 1999 and
( )	used drugs to improve his performances while racing. The USADA said the fact that Armstrong is no longer
( 1 )	Cycling officials have banned cycling legend Lance Armstrong for life after the cyclist stopped fighting doping
( )	moment that by participating in USADA's process, I could confront these allegations in a fair
( )	ban the U.S. cyclist and take away his titles. Armstrong said he was tired of fighting those who said he
( )	charges. The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) also said Armstrong should have his seven Tour de France
( )	fighting proves he is guilty. Many in the cycling world still believe Armstrong is innocent.
( )	any action. Armstrong told reporters the USADA was a corrupt organisation: "If I thought for one
( )	2005. Tour de France organisers said they would wait to see what happens between the USADA and ICA before taking
( )	The lifetime ban means all of his results and victories dating back to 1998 will be erased. He won the hearts of
( )	setting and - once and for all - put these charges to rest, I would jump at the chance," he said.

THE READING / TAPESCRIPT

With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.

1.	doping cyclist fighting charges The stopped.
2.	Tour titles seven France away his de taken Have.
3.	Ban his and U.S. the titles take away cyclist.
4.	his improve to drugs used He performances.
5.	innocent is Armstrong believe Still.
6.	erased to 1998 Victories will dating be back.
7.	millions cancer won of defeating He hearts by the.
8.	happens what see to wait would They.
9.	allegations these Confront setting fair a in.
10.	would at chance I jump the.

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

WRITING

Write about doping for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other's work.

______________________________________________________________________________

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. DOPING: Search the Internet and find more information about the doping charges against Lance Armstrong. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about doping. Include an imaginary interview with Lance Armstrong. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

4. 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.

5. LETTER: Write a letter to a doping expert. Ask him/her three questions about doping in sport. Give him/her three of your opinions on it. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Your partner will answer the questions you asked.

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News English Lessons FREE Handout, Listening & Quizzes - Lance Armstrong (11 Pages of Materials & 8 Online Activities)