$ Reading Exercise
Here is a complete copy of the text on Lester Pearson:

Mention the term “politician” and most people think of the words cynicism and opportunism.  When it comes to rating different careers on a scale that ranges from “least trusted” to “most trusted”, consistently people rate politicians at the lower end of the spectrum.  Of all the great politicians in Canadian history, Lester Bowles Pearson appears to be an exception.  Almost thirty years after his death, Pearson is remembered with respect and affection.  Public buildings have been named in his honor, as have educational institutions, and most notably Toronto’s International Airport, which bears his name.   Pearson is often credited with promoting Canada as a peace-loving country.

Lester Bowles Pearson was born on April 23, 1897 in Newtonbrook, Ontario (now a part of Toronto).Born to Irish parents, Lester received a balanced education from his conservative father (a Methodist minister) and his mother (noted for her liberalism).At the age of 16, Pearson enrolled at the University of Toronto because he was too young to enlist in the Canadian military.  When Canada declared war in 1914, Pearson volunteer in the university-sponsored hospital unit where he served in England, Egypt and Greece.  Eventually, he enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps but serious injuries cut short his military career.  In the Second World War, he worked in Washington and London as a member of Canada’s diplomatic corps.  Lester Pearson’s political star continued to shine, serving as Canada’s Ambassador to the United States, later as Minister of External Affairs (1948-1957) and finally as Prime Minister (1963-1968).

In 1956, during his term as Minister of External Affairs, Pearson orchestrated a solution to a potentially dangerous situation in the Middle East.The British, the French and the Israelis had attacked Egypt in an effort to regain control of the Suez Canal which had recently been captured by Egypt.  Pearson defused the increasing hostilities by proposing a large multinational peace force composed of United Nations soldiers.  Stunningly, words and not bombs, were able to ease the imminent danger. The success of this proposal and Canada’s involvement in the peacekeeping mission earned Lester B. Pearson the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize.

Based largely on Pearson’s diplomatic initiatives, Canada had secured its position as “international peacekeeper”.  Canada has become the country that the United Nations invariably turns to whenever a peacekeeping force is needed.  Throughout the second half of the twentieth century, Canadian soldiers have participated in a total of 58 UN peacekeeping forces all over the globe (Cyprus, Haiti, East Timor, Somalia, Kosovo and the Persian Gulf to name a few).  As Canadians, it is often very difficult for us to distinguish how we are “different” from our neighbours to the south.  One thing that is inseparable to the Canadian psyche is “peacekeeping” and to a great extent, we owe this to the actions of an eminent Canadian—Lester B. Pearson. 

Answers to the Reading Comprehension Questions:

1.  (c)            2.  (b)         3. answers will vary         4. (c)      5.  “always”,  “habitually”     Have students write their sentences on the board for peer correction.      6.  answers will vary    7. (c)

8.  “notably”   9.  (b)

þ    Grammar Exercise:   top

Working With Word Forms

Exercise One:   

Answer will vary.  Write students’ examples on the board.  As a follow up, you can have students write sentences using some of the newly generated vocabulary.

Exercise Two:   

1.  Children with excellent intellectual abilities are often chosen to represent their school at citywide competitions.

2.  Termites are extremely destructive to wooden play structures.

3.  If you carefully analyze the data, I’m sure you will come to the same conclusion.

4.  The length of daylight hours is significantly shorter in the winter than in the summer. 

5.  Ants are able to carry remarkably heavy objects in proportion to their weight.

6.  Most TOEFL students perform well in at least two sections of the test.

7.  Last night, I attended a live performance put on by the Ukrainian national ballet.

8.  Toronto is made up of Little Italy, Chinatown, Little India and other interesting residential neighborhoods. 

9.  Lester B. Pearson and other famous Canadian politicians have proposed many peace initiatives.

10.  The health of a pet is greatly determined by the care and attention provided by the owner.

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