The Age of Wonder

Warmer
A. Discuss with a partner.
1. What are your hobbies?
2. Do you go to any after-school clubs to develop your skills?
3. What other things are you good at?

B. Discuss with your partner.

1. Do you think it's important to be good at something to be famous? Why/Why not?
2. Some people are "famous for being famous” What do you think that means?
3. What would you miss about your life now if you suddenly became famous?

Reading and Vocabulary

A. Discuss with a partner.
1. Which sport do you enjoy doing? Why?
2. Why do you think it's good for teens to do sport?

B. Match the verbs and the noun phrases to complete these expressions about sport.
1. Be a. a gold medal
2. Be b. a natural athlete
3. Become c. a world record
4. Break d. a world champion
5. qualify for e. an international event
6. succeed f. home a trophy
7. take g. in life
8. win h. in the lead

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 A Brilliant Teenager

At the age of just 16, Emma Davis and her desire to help others that make
had already made a name for herself as her truly special.”
one of the most admired young athletes But Emma’s life isn’t just about
in the country. She started training winning competitions. She makes sure to
professionally in gymnastics when she take a break when she needs to,
was only 7 years old. Her coach, a former sometimes gardening as she switches off
champion gymnast, quickly recognized from her intense training. “I have green
her determination and unique talent. fingers, and I find gardening really helps
Emma is even double-jointed, which me to relax,” she says with a smile.
helps her perform difficult routines with Despite her accomplishments,
ease. But what really sets her apart is her Emma stays grounded. When asked if
humble, down-to-earth attitude despite she’s ever felt jealous of other gymnasts,
her success. she replied, “I’ve learned that being
At her latest competition, Emma jealous is a waste of energy. Everyone
was in the lead right from the beginning. has their own journey, and I focus on my
Her routine on the uneven bars, which own.” Emma also believes in staying
many call her superpower, was flawless, sympathetic to others’ struggles. “It’s
earning her a perfect score and another important not to be ignorant of the
trophy to add to her growing collection. challenges people face. We all have our
The highlight of her day was when the own issues to deal with.”
national anthem played as she stood on Emma’s role model is Simone
the podium, holding her gold medal. Biles, a legend in the gymnastics world.
Emma is not only a talented “I admire her strength and
gymnast, but she’s also passionate about perseverance. She’s a reminder that no
giving back. She regularly volunteers for matter how tough things get, you can
a local charity that helps underprivileged always get back up,” Emma says. Her
children access sports programs. “I never goal is to someday qualify for the
want to waste an opportunity to make a Olympics and break a world record, but
difference,” Emma said in an interview. for now, she’s content focusing on
Her coach admires her work ethic, improving her skills and enjoying the
saying, “Emma’s success is not just about journey.
talent. It’s her determination to succeed

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Activities
A. Vocabulary Matching (Comprehension Check):
Match the following vocabulary words from the text with their definitions.
1. Admire a) Someone who helps you train in a sport
2. Athlete b) Feeling resentful towards someone else's success
3. Coach c) Strong or difficult
4. Jealous d) To stop thinking about work or stress
5. Tough e) A person who competes in sports
6. Champion f) To have great respect for someone
7. Sympathetic g) A person who wins a competition
8. Highlight h) To lose a chance to do something valuable
9. Waste an opportunity i) The most exciting or important part of something
10.Switch off j) Feeling understanding of others' problems

B. True or False (Text Understanding):

Read the statements and decide if they are true or false. Correct the false statements.
1. Emma is double-jointed, which helps her in gymnastics. ( )
2. Emma feels jealous of other athletes and their success. ( )
3. Emma is only focused on winning trophies and medals. ( )
4. She admires Simone Biles for her determination. ( )
5. Emma spends her free time meditating to relax. ( )

C. Discussion Questions (Speaking Practice):

1. Who do you admire in sports or life, and why?
2. Do you think it's important to be down-to-earth when you succeed?
Why or why not?
3. Have you ever felt jealous of someone? How did you deal with it?
4. How do you like to switch off and relax after a stressful day?
5. Why do you think helping others, like working for a charity, is important?

D. Gap Fill (Grammar and Vocabulary Practice):

Complete the sentences using the vocabulary from the list.
1. It’s important not to feel _______ when someone else succeeds; instead,
we should celebrate their success.
2. After training all day, Emma likes to _______ by gardening.
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 3. Winning a gold _______ was the _______ of her gymnastics career.
4. Simone Biles is a _______ in gymnastics, and many young athletes
_______ her.
5. Volunteering for a _______ is a great way to give back to the community.

E. Idioms
• Explain the idioms and write sentences using the idioms.
1. to be in the lead,
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2. to have green fingers,
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3. to waste an opportunity.
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F. Writing Activity (Creative Writing):

Imagine you are a young athlete like Emma. Write a short diary entry about your
day, including your training, your coach, and how you deal with the pressures of
competition. Try to use at least 10 vocabulary words from the text.
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 The Hidden Talents

Adam: The Rising Star of Football

At just 15 years old, Adam is already
making headlines as a promising athlete. He
has played football professionally since he
was 12 and is currently competing in the
national youth league. His coach always
praises his determination to succeed and calls
him the future champion of football. During
his last match, Adam was in the lead for most
of the game, scoring two goals. The highlight
of the match was when he beat the
goalkeeper with a perfect shot, earning his team the victory. Despite his
growing fame, Adam remains down-to-earth, always crediting his team for
their hard work.

Sarah: The Gymnast with a Gift

Sarah is a 14-year-old gymnast with an incredible talent. Her superpower is
her flexibility—she’s double-jointed, allowing her to perform stunts that
most people could only dream of. During her last
competition, she was in first place for almost the
entire event, but a slight mistake caused her to
drop to second. However, she didn’t waste an
opportunity to show her amazing skills on the
balance beam, earning her a silver medal. “It’s
tough, but I’m learning to stay positive,” she said.
Sarah hopes to qualify for the national
gymnastics team next year.

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 Luke: The Young Tennis Legend
At 16, Luke is already a legend in youth
tennis. He started playing when he was
6 and has been competing in junior
tournaments for the last five years. Last
month, Luke broke a world record for
the fastest serve in his age group. His
coach is incredibly proud of him, saying
that Luke has never wasted an
opportunity to improve his skills. Even
when he is tense before a big match,
Luke takes a moment to meditate to
clear his mind. He’s currently ranked number one in his country and is aiming
to qualify for international competitions soon.

Emily: The Swimmer Who Gives Back

Emily is a 17-year-old swimmer who has been swimming professionally since
she was 13. She recently won a gold medal in a regional competition, beating
her closest competitor by just a few seconds.
Emily's determination to win is remarkable,
but what makes her even more special is her
work with a local charity that teaches
swimming to children in need. Emily says, "I
never want to be ignorant of the struggles of
others, which is why I try to give back as much
as I can." Despite her busy schedule, Emily
always finds time to take a break and relax
with her friends.

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 Activities:
A. Vocabulary Matching:
Match the words with their definitions.
1. Athlete a) A person who competes in sports
2. Coach b) The will to achieve something despite difficulties
3. Determination c) To do well in something
4. Succeed d) A person who trains athletes
5. Down-to-earth e) Humble and practical

B. True or False:
Decide if the following statements are true or false.
1. Adam is already playing football professionally at 15. ( )
2. Adam’s coach thinks he has no future in football. ( )
3. Adam won the last match by scoring two goals. ( )

C. Gap Fill:
Complete the sentences with the correct vocabulary from the text.
1. Sarah is incredibly flexible because she’s _________.
2. Despite making a mistake, Sarah won a silver _________.
3. Sarah wants to _________ for the national gymnastics team.
D. Discussion Questions:
• What would you do if you made a mistake during an important
competition?
• Do you think Sarah’s superpower of flexibility gives her an advantage?

E. Multiple Choice:
Choose the correct answer.
1. Luke broke a world record for:
a) The fastest serve in tennis
b) Winning the most matches in a row
c) The longest time spent playing tennis
2. Before a match, Luke likes to:
a) Snack
b) Meditate
c) Watch TV
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F. Vocabulary Use:
Use these words in a sentence:
Legend: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… .
World: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… .
Record: …………………………………………………………..………………………………………… .
Meditate: …………………………..……………………………………………………………………… .
Rank: ………………….……………………………………………………………………………………… .

G. Fill in the Blanks:

Complete the sentences with the correct word from the text.
1. Emily won a gold _______ in swimming.
2. She helps out at a _______ that teaches children to swim.
3. Emily never wants to be _______ of others’ struggles.

H. Speaking Practice:
• How do you think working with a charity makes Emily a better athlete?
• Why is it important to take a break after working hard?

I. Writing Practice:
Write a short paragraph about an athlete you admire. Include details about
why you admire them and what makes them special.
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Writing
A. Discuss with a partner. B. Match the two halves of the
When people become famous at a sentence.
young age, they can sometimes find it 1. A magazine article can sometimes be
difficult to deal with the celebrity
2. It often includes
lifestyle.
1. Why do you think they 3. To make the text more personal, you can
sometimes find it more difficult 4. It should be written in
than older celebrities?
a. a personal tone to engage the
2. Do you think parents should
reader.
encourage their children to
become famous? Why/Why b. an interview with a celebrity.
not?
c. include a quote from the celebrity.
3. Can you think of any young
celebrities who have had d. some details about the person's past
problems because of their and present.
fame?

Teen Star to Legend: An Interview with Liam Harris

Liam Harris, the 19-year-old rising star in the world of music, sat down with us
to chat about his incredible journey. With three hit singles and a massive fan base,
it’s hard to believe Liam only started his career two years ago. “It’s been a whirlwind,”
he says, smiling. “I never thought my
songs would blow up like this!”
Born in a small town, Liam
grew up playing the guitar and
writing songs in his bedroom. His big
break came when he posted a cover
of a popular song on social media,
and it went viral overnight. Now,
he's performing to sold-out crowds
worldwide.
When asked about handling fame at such a young age, Liam admits,
“It’s a lot sometimes, but I’ve got a great team and amazing fans who keep me

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grounded.” And what’s next for the teen sensation? “I just wanna keep making music
that connects with people. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
Keep an eye out—Liam Harris is just getting started!

C. Answer the questions.

1. What inspired Liam Harris to start his music career?
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2. How does Liam feel about his quick rise to fame?
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3. What does Liam hope to achieve in the future?
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4. How has Liam’s life changed since his viral social media post?
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D. Write a magazine article (120—180 words) based on an interview with a
celebrity. Use the checklist to help you.
• Write an interesting title.
• Give details about the person's life.
• Include a quote from the person.
• Use a personal tone.
• Use contractions and informal language.
• Proofread your article for grammar and spelling
• mistakes.
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