Famous People
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou is a well-known American poet, writer, actress,
lecturer, and civil rights activist.
She was born Marguerite Ann Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri on
April 24, 1928. When she was three years old, her parents divorced
and she and her older brother were sent to live with their
grandmother. She spent her childhood moving back and forth
between her grandmother in rural, segregated Arkansas, and her
mother in St. Louis. Growing up was a difficult, unhappy time for
Maya. For almost four years, she spoke to no one but her brother.
Pre-Reading Warm Up Questions ☀
1. Have you heard of Maya Angelou? If so, what do you
know about her?
2. What does it mean when we say that many places in the
southern United States used to be segregated?
3. Do you know what a civil rights activist does? Can you
name any famous civil rights activists?
4. Do you like to read autobiographies? If so, whose
autobiography have you read recently?
5. Do you enjoy reading poetry? If so, who is your favorite
poet?
By the time she was in her early 20s, Angelou had worked as a cook,
a streetcar conductor, a cocktail waitress and a dancer, and was
raising her young son, Guy, on her own.
Over the years, she has been a successful singer, actress and
playwright, an editor for an English language magazine in Egypt, a
lecturer at universities, a civil rights activist, and a popular author
of five collections of poetry, and five autobiographies. Her writings
are about her life. Although many stories are grim, they show that
she accepts her past, and knows what was beautiful and good, and
ugly and bad about it. “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” is the
story of her life up to age 16 and the birth of her son. It was
published in 1970 and was a big success.
Angelou has no university education, yet she has been a lecturer at
many universities. Each year, she gives the opening address to new
students at Duke University. She has traveled widely and can speak
English, French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic and Ghanaian Fante. She
has received many awards and honors. In 1993, at the ceremony to
swear Bill Clinton in as president of the United States, Angelou read
her moving poem, “On the Pulse of Morning”. She had written it at
President Clinton’s request.
Angelou’s efforts to improve conditions for women in Third World
countries, especially in Africa, have helped change the lives of
thousands of less privileged people.
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. Maya Angelou had a very troubled childhood.
2. Maya Angelou lived with her grandmother in a large city.
3. Maya Angelou graduated from Duke University.
4. Maya Angelou has taught at many different universities
5. Her book “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” was not
successful.
1
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Famous People
Maya Angelou
B. Practice asking and answering the following questions with your
partner. Then write the answers in complete sentences.
1. What kind of childhood did Maya Angelou have?
2. What kind of work did Maya Angelou do when she was young?
3. Besides becoming a successful poet, what other things has she accomplished?
4. What was the name of her book that was published in 1970 and what was
it about?
5. Why did she write the poem called “On the Pulse of Morning”?
6. Give two examples of how Maya Angelou has worked to improve the
lives of others.
DISCUSS
1. Have you ever read anything written by
Maya Angelou or heard her speak? If so,
discuss your impressions of her and her
writing.
VOCABULARY REVIEW ✍
A. Match the words on the left with the correct meaning on the right.
____ 1. lecturer
____ 2. rural
a) story of a person’s life written by that person
b) cruel, harsh, sad
____ 3. segregated
____ 4. cocktail
____ 5. editor
c) teacher, instructor, professor
d) an alcoholic mixed drink
e) in or of the country
____ 6. author
f) make better
____ 7. autobiography g) person who plans and publishes newspapers, etc.
2. Have you ever heard of a person without a
university degree teaching at a university?
What do you think Maya Angelou lectures
about?
3. What factors do you think help make a
writer successful?
4. How did the work of American civil rights
activists help change the lives of black
people in America? Give some examples.
____ 8. grim
____ 9. published
____ 10. improve
h) kept apart or separate from others
i) printed and made ready to sell (papers, books, etc.)
j) writer
____ 11. ceremony
k) special service or acts on an occasion such as a wedding, graduation, etc.
B. Choose the word(s) with the closest meaning to the underlined words in the following sentences.
1. Maya Angelou is a well-known civil rights activist.
a) lecturer
b) someone who works for the city government c) someone who helps protect the rights of others
2. Each year, Angelou gives the opening address to new students at Duke University.
a) place where a person lives
b) welcoming speech
c) university course
3. Maya Angelou has received many awards and honors.
a) prizes or recognition showing great respect
b) speeches
4. In 1993, at the ceremony to swear in Bill Clinton, she read a poem.
c) books about honesty
a) say good-bye to
b) have someone take an oath of public office
c) thank
5. At the ceremony, Angelou read her moving poem, “On the Pulse of Morning”.
a) about traveling
b) happy
c) causing strong emotions
6. Maya Angelou has helped change the lives of thousands of less privileged people.
a) not having as much as others
b) sick
c) segregated
2
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Famous People
Maya Angelou
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
Individual response.
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
A. True or False
1. T
2. F
3. F
4. T
5. F
B. Written Answers
1. Maya had a difficult and unhappy childhood.
2. Maya worked as a cook, a streetcar conductor, a cocktail waitress and a dancer during her twenties.
3. In addition to becoming a successful poet and writer, Angelou has been a successful singer, actress and playwright, an
editor for an English language magazine in Egypt, a lecturer at universities, and a civil rights activist.
4. Her book published in 1970 is called “ I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” and tells the story of her life up to age 16
and the birth of her son.
5. She wrote this poem at former U.S. President Bill Clinton’s request and read it at his swearing in ceremony.
6. Maya Angelou is an active voice for the civil rights movement and she has also made many efforts to improve
conditions for women in Third World countries, especially in Africa.
VOCABULARY REVIEW
A. Match the words...
1. c
2. e
3. h
9. i
10. f
11. b
4. d
5. g
6. j
4. b
5. c
6. a
7. a
B. Choose the words
1. c
2. b
3. a
3
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8. k
Famous People
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou is a well-known American poet, writer, actress, lecturer, and civil rights activist.
She was born Marguerite Ann Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri on April 24, 1928. When she was three years old, her
parents divorced and she and her older brother were sent to live with their grandmother. She spent her childhood
moving back and forth between her grandmother in rural, segregated Arkansas, and her mother in St. Louis.
Growing up was a difficult, unhappy time for Maya. For almost four years, she spoke to no one but her brother.
By the time she was in her early 20s, Angelou had worked as a cook, a streetcar conductor, a cocktail waitress and
a dancer, and was raising her young son, Guy, on her own.
Over the years, she has been a successful singer, actress and playwright, an editor for an English language
magazine in Egypt, a lecturer at universities, a civil rights activist, and a popular author of five collections of
poetry, and five autobiographies. Her writings are about her life. Although many stories are grim, they show that
she accepts her past, and knows what was beautiful and good, and ugly and bad about it. “I Know Why the Caged
Bird Sings” is the story of her life up to age 16 and the birth of her son. It was published in 1970 and was a big
success.
Angelou has no university education, yet she has been a lecturer at many universities. Each year, she gives the
opening address to new students at Duke University. She has traveled widely and can speak English, French,
Spanish, Italian, Arabic and Ghanaian Fante. She has received many awards and honors. In 1993, at the ceremony
to swear Bill Clinton in as president of the United States, Angelou read her moving poem, “On the Pulse of
Morning”. She had written it at President Clinton’s request.
Angelou’s efforts to improve conditions for women in Third World countries, especially in Africa, have helped
change the lives of thousands of less privileged people.
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.