The strongest woman in the world

ESL Lessons: True Stories

A printable worksheet for story-based English conversation classes.

Difficulty: Intermediate B1

PDF: The strongest woman in the world

Warm-up

Have you ever been to a circus?

Vocabulary Match

wrestling •• a big top show
circus •• received
inherited •• fighting
against •• beating
bending •• flexing
defeating •• versus

Vocabulary Answers

wrestlingfighting
circusa big top show
inheritedreceived
againstversus
bendingflexing
defeatingbeating

True Story

Listen and fill in the blanks with words from above.

Kate Sandwina, born in 1884 in Vienna, was known as the strongest woman in the world. Her parents were ________ performers with great strength, and Kate ________ their abilities. She was over six feet (1.8m) tall and weighed 187 pounds (85 kg) as a teenager.

Kate became famous for her strength, performing in circuses and challenging men to ________ matches. She never lost and even married one man, Max Heymann, after ________ him. One of her usual acts was lifting her husband, who weighed 165 pounds (75 kg), over her head with one hand.

She also did other amazing things, like ________ steel bars and standing strong ________ the pull of four horses. Her most famous contest was against Eugene Sandow, a strongman, which she won by lifting 300 pounds (136 kg) with one hand.

Kate Sandwina, born in 1884 in Vienna, was known as the strongest woman in the world. Her parents were circus performers with great strength, and Kate inherited their abilities. She was over six feet (1.8m) tall and weighed 187 pounds (85 kg) as a teenager.

Kate became famous for her strength, performing in circuses and challenging men to wrestling matches. She never lost and even married one man, Max Heymann, after defeating him. One of her usual acts was lifting her husband, who weighed 165 pounds (75 kg), over her head with one hand.

She also did other amazing things, like bending steel bars and standing strong against the pull of four horses. Her most famous contest was against Eugene Sandow, a strongman, which she won by lifting 300 pounds (136 kg) with one hand.

Quiz

  1. Where was Kate Sandwina born?
  2. What did Kate do in circuses?
  3. Who did Kate marry after defeating him in a wrestling match?
  4. How much weight did Kate lift with one hand in her most famous contest?

Quiz Answers (examples)

  1. She was born in Vienna, Austria.
  2. She performed and challenged men to wrestling matches.
  3. She married Max Heymann .
  4. She lifted 300 pounds (136 kg).

True or False

  1. Kate never lost any whistling matches. T F
  2. Kate lifted her husband over her head with one hand. T F
  3. Kate could resist the force of four horses pulling her. T F

True or False Answers

  1. False
  2. True
  3. True

Conversation

A:Hey Max, ready for another match today?
B:I don't know, Kate. You always win!
A:Maybe today is your lucky day!
B:Or maybe you'll lift me over your head again.
A:Only if you ask nicely!
B:Ha! Let's see what happens.

Discussion

  1. What circus acts would you like to see?
  2. Kate could lift 300 pounds. What's the heaviest thing you can lift?
  3. Would you rather be really strong or really clever? Why?
  4. What are some sports or activities you would like to try?

Further Reading

https://www.kickassfacts.com/sandwina-woman-of-steel/

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