Famous People
Lech Walesa
Lech Walesa
Lech Walesa is a Polish trade-union leader who helped to free his
country from Communism.
Walesa was born in Popowo, Poland on September 29, 1943. In the
early 1960s, he worked as a mechanic and served in the army. In
1967, he moved to Gdansk to work as an electrician in the local
shipyards.
Pre-Reading Warm Up Questions ☀
1. Look at a map of Europe. Where is Poland located?
2. When did the Soviet Union begin to collapse?
3. What is a trade-union? Have you ever belonged to a union?
4. What characteristics make a good leader?
5. What is a strike?
Poland was a Communist country then and living conditions were
very poor. In the 1970s, workers began to protest these conditions.
Walesa became a leader of these protests. In 1976, he lost his job
because of his activities.
This did not stop him. In 1980, he led a strike at the Gdansk
shipyards. Other Polish workers went on strike, too. Poland’s
Communist rulers finally gave in to the workers’ demands for a free
trade union. It was known as Solidarity and Walesa was its first
elected leader. Most Polish workers joined this union.
For the next two years, Walesa traveled the world to gain support for
the Solidarity movement. But, in December 1981, the Polish
government made Solidarity illegal. It arrested and detained many
of the union’s leaders, including Walesa. Walesa was held for nearly
a year.
When Walesa was released, he returned to his electrician’s job in
Gdansk. For the rest of the 1980s, he was part of a secret Solidarity
movement.
By 1989, the Polish economy was in poor shape and workers went
on strike again. The government was very unpopular and had to
negotiate with Walesa and his fellow trade unionists. Solidarity
became legal once again. In June 1989, free elections were held.
Solidarity members won enough seats in the parliament to be part of
a new non-Communist government. In 1990, Walesa was elected
president of Poland. He served until 1995, when he was defeated in
an election.
Walesa’s leadership in Poland helped to bring about the collapse of
the Soviet Union. He has received many honors for his work,
including the 1983 Nobel Peace Prize.
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. Lech Walesa worked as a mechanic and an electrician.
2. The living conditions in Poland were good in the 1970’s.
3. Solidarity was always a legal trade-union in Poland.
4. Walesa helped bring free elections to Poland.
5. Walesa became president of Poland in 1995.
1
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Famous People
Lech Walesa
B. Practice asking and answering the following questions with your partner. Then write the answers in complete sentences.
1. What did Walesa do when he moved to Gdansk?
2. What did the Polish shipyard workers do to protest their poor living conditions?
3. What happened to Walesa as a result of his protests? (Name two things.)
4. What was the name of the Polish free trade-union? What do you think is the significance of this name?
5. What did Walesa do to increase support for his movement?
6. Why did the Polish government have to negotiate with Solidarity in 1989?
7. How long did Walesa serve as president of Poland?
8. What special prize did Walesa receive for his hard work?
DISCUSS
VOCABULARY REVIEW ✍
1. What characteristics do you think
A. Match the words on the left with the correct meaning on the right.
Walesa had that made him a good
leader?
_____ 1. union
_____ 2. protest
_____ 3. demands
a. hold, keep, not let go
b. try to reach an agreement
c. an organization of workers
2. Do you think trade unions serve a
useful purpose? Explain.
_____ 4. elect
_____ 5. illegal
d. win a victory over, beat
e. requests, asking for something
3. Why do you think Walesa received
_____ 6. local
_____ 7. detain
_____ 8. release
f. show you are against something
g. choose by voting
h. against the law
_____ 9. negotiate
_____ 10. defeat
i. set free
j. in the area
the Nobel Peace Prize?
4. What other world leaders have
brought about great social change
without violence?
B. Choose the word(s) with the closest meaning to the underlined words in the following sentences.
1. He worked in the local shipyards.
a) factories
b) transportation companies
c) places to build big boats
b) fight
c) parade
2. He led a strike at the shipyards.
a) work stoppage
3. The communist rulers gave in to the workers’ demands.
a) fired them
b) gave them what they wanted
c) demanded they go back to work
4. The government arrested Walesa.
a) let him rest
b) took him to prison
c) fired him
5. Walesa helped bring about the collapse of the Soviet Union.
a) the start
b) the change
c) the fall
2
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Famous People
Lech Walesa
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. individual answer
2. The former Soviet Union began to collapse in the early 1990s.
3. A trade union is an organization of workers formed for the purpose of improving work conditions and salaries. It is also
called a labor union.
4. individual response
5. A strike is a work stoppage for the purpose of getting better salaries or improved work conditions, or protesting
something.
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
A. True or False
1. T
2. F
3. F
4. T
5. F
B. Written Answers
1. Walesa worked as an electrician in the local shipyards.
2. They went on strike.
3. Walesa was elected leader of the Solidarity movement. He was arrested and held for nearly a year.
4. The union was called Solidarity. The name signified that the workers were united by common interests and common
goals.
5. Walesa traveled around the world to gain support for the Solidarity movement.
6. When the workers went on strike again, the economy was in poor shape and the government was very unpopular.
7. Walesa was president for five years.
8. Walesa received the Nobel Peace Prize.
VOCABULARY REVIEW
A. Matching
1. c
9. b
2. f
10. d
3. e
4. g
5. h
B. Choose the word with the closest meaning.
1. c
2. a
3. b
4. b
5. c
6. j
7. a
3
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8. i
Famous People
Lech Walesa
Lech Walesa
Lech Walesa is a Polish trade-union leader who helped to free his country from Communism.
Walesa was born in Popowo, Poland on September 29, 1943. In the early 1960s, he worked as a mechanic and
served in the army. In 1967, he moved to Gdansk to work as an electrician in the local shipyards.
Poland was a Communist country then and living conditions were very poor. In the 1970s, workers began to
protest these conditions. Walesa became a leader of these protests. In 1976, he lost his job because of his activities.
This did not stop him. In 1980, he led a strike at the Gdansk shipyards. Other Polish workers went on strike, too.
Poland’s Communist rulers finally gave in to the workers’ demands for a free trade union. It was known as
Solidarity and Walesa was its first elected leader. Most Polish workers joined this union.
For the next two years, Walesa traveled the world to gain support for the Solidarity movement. But, in December
1981, the Polish government made Solidarity illegal. It arrested and detained many of the union’s leaders,
including Walesa. Walesa was held for nearly a year.
When Walesa was released, he returned to his electrician’s job in Gdansk. For the rest of the 1980s, he was part of
a secret Solidarity movement.
By 1989, the Polish economy was in poor shape and workers went on strike again. The government was very
unpopular and had to negotiate with Walesa and his fellow trade unionists. Solidarity became legal once again. In
June 1989, free elections were held. Solidarity members won enough seats in the parliament to be part of a new
non-Communist government. In 1990, Walesa was elected president of Poland. He served until 1995, when he was
defeated in an election.
Walesa’s leadership in Poland helped to bring about the collapse of the Soviet Union. He has received many honors
for his work, including the 1983 Nobel Peace Prize.
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.