Chuck Grassley, a 90-year-old man from the Republican Party, has been called the “ultimate matchmaker” because 20 people who work for him got married after meeting in his office. Grassley posted a photo on the internet of him, his wife, and the newly married couple at their wedding in Iowa. This news became very popular, with some single people joking that they want to work in Grassley’s office to find love. But, some people think that so many staff members getting married shows that Grassley has been in his job for too long.
Grassley has been in his job for 48 years and is now the oldest person in Congress after Senator Dianne Feinstein died. He has not said anything about his talent for matchmaking, but he has a rival in this area. The leader of the Democratic Senate, Chuck Schumer, has helped 13 couples get married and 14 babies be born. Former workers say that Schumer likes to encourage his staff to get married.
People have different opinions about Grassley’s staff getting married. Some people think it’s a sweet story about how Grassley can bring people together. Others think it shows that he has been in his job for too long. But, many people on the internet are talking about Grassley’s matchmaking, with some joking that they want to work for him to find love.
Original news source: Chuck Grassley crowned ‘matchmaker’ after 20 staff marriages (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Summary
Instructions: In this activity, students will work in pairs or small groups to summarize the article in their own words. They can take turns reading paragraphs or sentences and then discuss and summarize the main points. Afterward, they can share their summaries with the class.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups – one group who thinks Grassley’s staff getting married is a sweet story and another group who thinks it shows he has been in his job for too long. Each group will come up with reasons to support their opinion. Then, they can present their arguments to the class and have a class discussion on the topic.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary words from the article on separate cards or pieces of paper. Divide the class into teams and give each team a set of vocabulary cards. One person from each team will pick a card and draw a picture representing the word while their team tries to guess the word. This activity helps reinforce vocabulary and encourages creativity.
– Keyword Taboo
Instructions: Write down keywords from the article on separate cards or pieces of paper. Divide the class into teams and give each team a set of keyword cards. One person from each team will choose a card and try to describe the keyword without using the word itself. Their team members have to guess the keyword. This activity helps students practice their speaking and listening skills.
– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: In this activity, students will individually think about and write down their thoughts on the following prompt: “What qualities or skills do you think make a good matchmaker?” Then, they will pair up with a partner and discuss their ideas. Finally, they will share their thoughts with the class, opening up a discussion on the topic.
Comprehension Questions:
1. Why do people call Chuck Grassley the “ultimate matchmaker”?
2. What did Chuck Grassley post on the internet?
3. How long has Chuck Grassley been in his job?
4. Who is the oldest person in Congress now?
5. How many couples has Chuck Schumer helped get married?
6. What do some people think about Grassley’s staff getting married?
7. What are some people joking about on the internet?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Chuck Grassley, a 90-year-old man from the Republican Party, has been called the “”ultimate matchmaker”” because 20 people who work for him got (1)______ after meeting in his office. Grassley posted a photo on the internet of him, his wife, and the newly married couple at their (2)______ in Iowa. This news (3)______ very popular, with some (4)______ people joking that they want to work in Grassley’s office to find love. But, some people think that so many staff members getting married (5)______ that Grassley has been in his job for too long.
Grassley has been in his job for 48 years and is now the (6)______ person in Congress after Senator Dianne Feinstein died. He has not said anything about his talent for matchmaking, but he has a rival in this area. The leader of the Democratic Senate, Chuck Schumer, has helped 13 couples get married and 14 babies be born. Former workers say that Schumer (7)______ to (8)______ his staff to get married.
People have (9)______ opinions about Grassley’s staff getting married. Some people (10)______ it’s a sweet story about how Grassley can bring people together. Others think it shows that he has been in his job for too long. But, many people on the (11)______ are (12)______ about Grassley’s matchmaking, with some joking that they want to work for him to find love.
Go to answers ⇩
Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. What is a matchmaker?
2. How would you feel if you met your future spouse at work?
3. Do you think it’s a good thing or a bad thing that so many people who work for Grassley got married? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s important for politicians to encourage their staff to get married? Why or why not?
5. If you had the chance, would you want to work in Grassley’s office to find love? Why or why not?
6. How do you think Grassley feels about his talent for matchmaking?
7. Do you think it’s better to have a long career in politics or to retire earlier? Why or why not?
8. What do you think about the story of Grassley bringing people together? Why?
9. Do you think it’s easy or difficult to find love at work? Why?
10. How do you think Grassley’s staff feel about him helping them find love?
11. What do you think about politicians getting involved in their staff’s personal lives? Why?
12. Would you like to meet Chuck Grassley? Why or why not?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. Grassley
2. matchmaker
3. married
4. office
5. popular
6. rival
7. encourage
8. internet
Meanings:
(a) Liked by many people
(b) A 90-year-old man from the Republican Party
(c) Someone who competes with another person
(d) A place where people work
(e) A place where people can share information online
(f) When two people become husband and wife
(g) To give support and motivation
(h) Someone who helps people find love
Go to answers ⇩
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. Why is Chuck Grassley called the “”ultimate matchmaker””?
(a) He is the oldest person in Congress.
(b) 20 people who work for him got married after meeting in his office.
(c) He posted a photo on the internet.
(d) He has been in his job for 48 years.
2. Where did Grassley post a photo of him, his wife, and the newly married couple?
(a) In a newspaper.
(b) In his office.
(c) On social media.
(d) On the internet.
3. What do some single people joke about wanting to do?
(a) Get married in Iowa.
(b) Work in Grassley’s office to find love.
(c) Meet Grassley’s wife.
(d) Become a member of Congress.
4. How many years has Grassley been in his job?
(a) 48 years.
(b) 90 years.
(c) 20 years.
(d) 13 years.
5. Who is the leader of the Democratic Senate?
(a) Chuck Grassley.
(b) Dianne Feinstein.
(c) The article does not say.
(d) Chuck Schumer.
6. How many couples has Chuck Schumer helped get married?
(a) 13 couples.
(b) 20 couples.
(c) 14 couples.
(d) The article does not say.
7. What do some people think about Grassley’s staff getting married?
(a) It shows that Grassley has been in his job for too long.
(b) It’s a joke.
(c) It’s a sweet story about bringing people together.
(d) The article does not say.
8. What are many people on the internet talking about?
(a) Grassley’s job in Congress.
(b) Grassley’s rival.
(c) Grassley’s matchmaking.
(d) The article does not say.
True or False Questions:
1. Grassley has not been in his job for 48 years, making him the oldest person in Congress after Senator Dianne Feinstein died.
2. Grassley’s office has been called the “”ultimate matchmaker”” because 20 people who work for him got married after meeting there.
3. Chuck Schumer, the leader of the Democratic Senate, has not helped 13 couples get married and 14 babies be born.
4. Many people on the internet are not talking about Grassley’s matchmaking, with some joking that they want to work for him to find love.
5. Chuck Grassley is a 90-year-old man from the Republican Party.
6. Grassley has not said anything about his talent for matchmaking.
7. Some people think Grassley’s staff getting married is a sweet story about how he can bring people together.
8. Grassley did not post a photo on the internet of him, his wife, and the newly married couple at their wedding in Iowa.
Go to answers ⇩
Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Writing Questions:
Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
1. What is Chuck Grassley known for?
2. How many people who work for Grassley got married after meeting in his office?
3. What did Grassley post on the internet?
4. What are some people joking about wanting to do?
5. How long has Grassley been in his job?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. Why do people call Chuck Grassley the “ultimate matchmaker”?
Because 20 people who work for him got married after meeting in his office.
2. What did Chuck Grassley post on the internet?
He posted a photo of him, his wife, and the newly married couple at their wedding in Iowa.
3. How long has Chuck Grassley been in his job?
He has been in his job for 48 years.
4. Who is the oldest person in Congress now?
Chuck Grassley is the oldest person in Congress now.
5. How many couples has Chuck Schumer helped get married?
Chuck Schumer has helped 13 couples get married.
6. What do some people think about Grassley’s staff getting married?
Some people think it’s a sweet story about how Grassley can bring people together.
7. What are some people joking about on the internet?
Some people are joking that they want to work for Grassley to find love.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
(1) married
(2) wedding
(3) became
(4) single
(5) shows
(6) oldest
(7) likes
(8) encourage
(9) different
(10) think
(11) internet
(12) talking
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. Grassley
Answer: (b) A 90-year-old man from the Republican Party
2. matchmaker
Answer: (h) Someone who helps people find love
3. married
Answer: (f) When two people become husband and wife
4. office
Answer: (d) A place where people work
5. popular
Answer: (a) Liked by many people
6. rival
Answer: (c) Someone who competes with another person
7. encourage
Answer: (g) To give support and motivation
8. internet
Answer: (e) A place where people can share information online
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. Why is Chuck Grassley called the “”ultimate matchmaker””?
Answer: (b) 20 people who work for him got married after meeting in his office.
2. Where did Grassley post a photo of him, his wife, and the newly married couple?
Answer: (d) On the internet.
3. What do some single people joke about wanting to do?
Answer: (b) Work in Grassley’s office to find love.
4. How many years has Grassley been in his job?
Answer: (a) 48 years.
5. Who is the leader of the Democratic Senate?
Answer: (d) Chuck Schumer.
6. How many couples has Chuck Schumer helped get married?
Answer: (a) 13 couples.
7. What do some people think about Grassley’s staff getting married?
Answer: (c) It’s a sweet story about bringing people together.
8. What are many people on the internet talking about?
Answer: (c) Grassley’s matchmaking.
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. Grassley has not been in his job for 48 years, making him the oldest person in Congress after Senator Dianne Feinstein died. (Answer: False)
2. Grassley’s office has been called the “”ultimate matchmaker”” because 20 people who work for him got married after meeting there. (Answer: True)
3. Chuck Schumer, the leader of the Democratic Senate, has not helped 13 couples get married and 14 babies be born. (Answer: False)
4. Many people on the internet are not talking about Grassley’s matchmaking, with some joking that they want to work for him to find love. (Answer: False)
5. Chuck Grassley is a 90-year-old man from the Republican Party. (Answer: True)
6. Grassley has not said anything about his talent for matchmaking. (Answer: True)
7. Some people think Grassley’s staff getting married is a sweet story about how he can bring people together. (Answer: True)
8. Grassley did not post a photo on the internet of him, his wife, and the newly married couple at their wedding in Iowa. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧
