Famous People
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev was General Secretary of the Soviet Union from
1985 to 1991 and President from 1988 to 1991.
Gorbachev was born on March 2, 1931, in Privolnoye, near
Stavropol, Russia. He joined the Communist Party in 1952. After
graduating from law at Moscow University, he returned to Stavropol
to work for the Young Communist League. In 1961, he became
Stavropol’s delegate to the Communist Party Congress.
During the 1960s, he studied agronomy and economics. His skills as
an administrator and his honesty contributed to his election to the
Supreme Soviet in 1970. By 1980, he was a member of the
Politburo, the main governing body.
Pre-Reading Warm Up Questions ☀
1. What is a political party?
2. Can you explain the meaning of the “Cold War”? When did
it take place?
3. Look at a world map. What are some of the countries that
made up the former Soviet Union?
4. When did the communist system fall in Eastern Europe and
the Soviet Union?
5. Do you know how long Mikhail Gorbachev was leader of
the Soviet Union?
In 1985, Gorbachev was named General Secretary of the
Communist Party. In 1988, he also became President of the Soviet
Union.
Gorbachev believed the Soviet Union needed reform. From 1985 to
1991, he made many changes. He helped to end the Cold War by
signing arms control treaties with the West. He allowed open
criticism of the government and other political parties to form. Free
elections could be held throughout the Soviet Union. He moved
toward a market economy in which individuals could own property.
He brought Soviet troops home from Afghanistan.
By 1989, people in the Communist states of Central Europe wanted
similar reforms. Gorbachev said he would not help the leaders of
these states if their people rebelled against them. Soon, Poland,
Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, and East Germany were democracies.
Gorbachev won the 1990 Nobel Peace Prize for his democratic
reforms and his foreign policy.
The Soviet Union broke up into several independent states.
Gorbachev wanted to keep control of them but they wanted their
freedom and formed a Confederation of Independent States.
Gorbachev resigned as president in December 1991, when he was
defeated in an election.
Today, Gorbachev is the head of the Gorbachev Foundation. This
international foundation does political and economic research and
encourages international co-operation and exchange.
COMPREHENSION ✍
A. True or False. Read the statements below. If the
statement is true, write T beside the sentence. If it is
false, write F. If it is false, correct the information.
1. Gorbachev was born in Stavropol, Russia
2. Gorbachev was President of the Soviet Union for three
years.
3. Under Gorbachev’s rule, only the government could own
property.
4. Gorbachev wanted to increase Russia’s nuclear weapons.
5. Gorbachev won the 1991 election
1
Copyright 2009. This eBook is produced and distributed by Red River Press Inc. All rights reserved. The contents within this e-book/document may only be
photocopied by members of ESL-Llibrary.com in accordance with membership terms and conditions. Contact [email protected] for complete details.
Famous People
Mikhail Gorbachev
B. Practice asking and answering the following questions with your partner. Then write the answers in complete sentences.
1. What did Gorbachev study in university?
2. Why was Gorbachev able to get elected to the Soviet government?
3. What reforms did Gorbachev make in the Soviet Union?
4. What is a market economy?
5. Which European countries became democracies in the early 1990’s?
6. Why did Gorbachev win the Nobel Peace Prize?
7. What does the Gorbachev Foundation do?
DISCUSS
VOCABULARY REVIEW ✍
1. Have you ever been to Russia? Would you
A. Match the words on the left with the correct meaning on the right.
like to go? Why or why not?
_____ 1. delegate
a. weapons; guns, bombs, etc.
2. How has Russia changed since the fall of
_____ 2. skills
b. lose, be beaten
communism?
_____ 3. honesty
c. representative
_____ 4. reform
d. of or from another country
3. Do you think that all these changes have
_____ 5. contribute
e. truthfulness
been good? Explain your answer.
_____ 6. arms
f. agreement between countries
_____ 7. criticism
g. abilities, things one can do well
_____ 8. treaty
h. help to make something happen
Gorbachev was defeated? Who is the current
_____ 9. rebel
i. groups of soldiers
leader of Russia? How do you think he
_____ 10. foreign
j. change
compares to Gorbachev as a leader?
_____ 11. be defeated
k. fight or protest strongly against something
_____ 12. troops
l. finding fault with, saying something is wrong or bad
4. Who was the leader of Russia after
B. Choose the word(s) with the closest meaning to the underlined words in the following sentences.
1. Gorbachev was elected because he was a good administrator.
a) lawyer
b) economist
c) manager
b) gave up his job
c) signed his name
2. He resigned in 1991.
a) was shot
3. Gorbachev allowed other political parties to form.
a) groups of people with similar ideas
b) celebrations
c) entertainment
4. The Gorbachev Foundation does political and economic research.
a) respect
b) study
c) record
5. The Gorbachev Foundation encourages international co-operation and exchange.
a) supports, gives help to
b) is not afraid
c) enjoys
2
Copyright 2009. This eBook is produced and distributed by Red River Press Inc. All rights reserved. The contents within this e-book/document may only be
photocopied by members of ESL-Llibrary.com in accordance with membership terms and conditions. Contact [email protected] for complete details.
Famous People
Mikhail Gorbachev
ANSWER KEY
Please note:
The reading for this topic is also available in full-page format at the end of the lesson (page 4).
PRE-READING QUESTIONS
1. A political party is a group of people sharing similar political beliefs and goals.
2. The Cold War refers to a period of time when the relations between the Soviet Bloc countries and the West were very
unfriendly. There was no actual fighting, but there was a struggle for superiority and a build up of nuclear weapons.
This period occurred from the end of the Second World War until the early 1990’s.
3. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia,
Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan are all countires that made up the former Soviet Union.
4. The communist sysem fell in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union in the early 1990s.
5. Gorbachev was leader of the Soviet Union for three years.
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
A. True or False
1. F
2.T
3. F
4. F
5. F
B. Written Answers
1. Gorbachev studied agronomy, economics and law.
2. Gorbachev was able to get elected because he was a skilled administrator and an honest man.
3. Gorbachev signed arms control treaties, allowed criticism of the government and let other political parties form. He also
allowed free elections to be held and moved the Soviet Union toward a market economy.
4. A market economy is one in which goods and services are exchanged voluntarily between producers and consumers
(and the setting of prices is determined largely by supply and demand).
5. Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and East Germany became democracies in the early 1990’s.
6. Gorbachev won the prize because of his democratic reforms and his foreign policies.
7. The Gorbachev Foundation does political and economic research and encourages international co-operation and
exchange.
VOCABULARY REVIEW
A. Matching
1. c
9. k.
2. g
10. d
B. Choose the correct word
1. c
2. b
3. e
11. b
4. j
12. i
5. h
3. a
4. b
5.a
6. a
7. l
3
Copyright 2009. This eBook is produced and distributed by Red River Press Inc. All rights reserved. The contents within this e-book/document may only be
photocopied by members of ESL-Llibrary.com in accordance with membership terms and conditions. Contact [email protected] for complete details.
8. f
Famous People
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev was General Secretary of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991 and President from 1988 to
1991.
Gorbachev was born on March 2, 1931, in Privolnoye, near Stavropol, Russia. He joined the Communist Party in
1952. After graduating from law at Moscow University, he returned to Stavropol to work for the Young
Communist League. In 1961, he became Stavropol’s delegate to the Communist Party Congress.
During the 1960s, he studied agronomy and economics. His skills as an administrator and his honesty contributed
to his election to the Supreme Soviet in 1970. By 1980, he was a member of the Politburo, the main governing
body.
In 1985, Gorbachev was named General Secretary of the Communist Party. In 1988, he also became President of
the Soviet Union.
Gorbachev believed the Soviet Union needed reform. From 1985 to 1991, he made many changes. He helped to
end the Cold War by signing arms control treaties with the West. He allowed open criticism of the government and
other political parties to form. Free elections could be held throughout the Soviet Union. He moved toward a
market economy in which individuals could own property. He brought Soviet troops home from Afghanistan.
By 1989, people in the Communist states of Central Europe wanted similar reforms. Gorbachev said he would not
help the leaders of these states if their people rebelled against them. Soon, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania,
and East Germany were democracies.
Gorbachev won the 1990 Nobel Peace Prize for his democratic reforms and his foreign policy.
The Soviet Union broke up into several independent states. Gorbachev wanted to keep control of them but they
wanted their freedom and formed a Confederation of Independent States. Gorbachev resigned as president in
December 1991, when he was defeated in an election.
Today, Gorbachev is the head of the Gorbachev Foundation. This international foundation does political and
economic research and encourages international co-operation and exchange.
4
Copyright 2009. This eBook is produced and distributed by Red River Press Inc. All rights reserved. The contents within this e-book/document may only be
photocopied by members of ESL-Llibrary.com in accordance with membership terms and conditions. Contact [email protected] for complete details.