activity of text interpretation, aimed at students in the fifth year of elementary school, about the Nobel Prize. Why is this award so important and how did this story begin? Let's find out? So, read the text carefully! Then answer the various interpretive questions proposed!
You can download this text comprehension activity in editable Word template ready to print in PDF and also the activity with answers.
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SCHOOL: DATE:
PROF: CLASS:
NAME:
Read:
We have been hearing about the Nobel Prize for a long time. The newspapers always report who won it, and the winners, if they weren't already, become famous all over the world. But why is this award so important and how did this story begin?
Alfred Nobel (1833-1896) was a Swedish chemist and industrialist who invented dynamite. He was no longer very satisfied with the military use of his invention until one day, by mistake, a newspaper reported his death (in fact, his brother was the one who had died) and qualified him as a “merchant of death".
Shocked and wanting to change that image, Alfred Nobel, who had become very rich with his invention, left a will stating that his inheritance was destined to create an institute – the Nobel Foundation – which, every year, would reward those who served the good of humanity. He defined five categories for the award: Peace, Literature, Physics, Chemistry and Medicine.
In 1901, five years after his death, prizes began to be awarded, and so they continue to this day. Different institutions participate in the choice of awardees, based on nominations that are sent by scientific organizations from various countries. […]
The award ceremony is held every year in Stockholm on December 10th, the date of its creator's death. The prize consists of a gold medal with the effigy of Alfred Nobel, engraved with the name of the winner, a diploma with the citation of the decoration and a sum of money that varies according to the income of the Nobel Foundation, but which is around 1 million euros. The purpose is that the winners can continue their work without worrying about financial issues.
[…]
One of the rules that many deserving people have left out is the fact that the award is not awarded posthumously. That is, only those who are alive can receive. Until today, unfortunately, no Brazilian has won a Nobel Prize, although many have come very close, such as Jorge Amado, Zilda Arns, Carlos Chagas, Adolfo Lutz, and others. But that's ok: not even Einstein's Theory of Relativity or the pacifist Gandhi received the award, which must leave the Foundation with a great pain in the conscience.
Irene Cavaliere.
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Question 1 - In the fragment “But why is this award so important and how did this story begin?”, which award does the text refer to?
Question 2 – Read back:
“Shocked and wanting to change this image, Alfred Nobel […] left a will determining that his inheritance was destined to create an institute – the Nobel Foundation – […]”
The highlighted passage expresses:
( ) reasons.
( ) conditions.
( ) consequences.
Question 3 – In the part “He defined five categories for the award […]”, the term “He” resumes:
Question 4 – According to the text, the Nobel Prize began to be awarded in:
( ) 1833.
( ) 1896.
( ) 1901.
Question 5 – In the passage “The prize consists of a gold medal with the effigy of Alfred Nobel, engraved with the name of the winner […]”, the author of the text:
( ) narrates.
( ) describe.
( ) argues.
Question 6 - In "Ie, only those who are alive can receive it.”, the underlined expression introduces:
( ) a conclusion.
( ) one explanation.
( ) an example.
Question 7 - Identify the segment that contains an opinion by the author:
( ) “Different institutions participate in the choice of awardees […]”
( ) “The purpose is for the winners to continue their work [...]”
( ) “Unfortunately, until today, no Brazilian has won a Nobel Prize […]”
By Denyse Lage Fonseca
Graduated in Letters and specialist in distance education.