The professor and the madman

ESL Lessons: True Stories

A printable worksheet for story-based English conversation classes.

Difficulty: Intermediate B1

PDF: The professor and the madman

Warm-up

Do you often use a dictionary? (Yes, I...)

Vocabulary Match

chances -   - helpers
scared -   - hospital
mentally -   - of the mind
asylum -   - words
editor -   - chief
contributors -   - frightened
entries -   - opportunities

True Story

Listen and fill in the blanks with words from above.

"The Professor and the Madman" is a book about the making of the Oxford English Dictionary. It took 70 years to complete and many people helped to make it. One of the most important ________ was Dr. William Chester Minor, an American man who had fought in a war. He sent nearly ten thousand ________ for the dictionary, which were very helpful.

But the ________ of the dictionary, Sir James Murray, was surprised to learn that Dr. Minor was in an ________ for people who were ________ ill. Dr. Minor had killed someone during a time when he was very sick and ________. However, he was able to keep working on the dictionary because he had money from the army.

Dr. Minor and Sir James Murray became friends and worked together for many years. This book tells their story and shows how important it is to give people ________ to use their skills, even if they have problems in their lives.

Quiz

  1. What is the book, "The Professor and the Madman", about?
  2. What was Sir James Murray surprised to learn?
  3. How was Dr. Minor able to keep working on the dictionary?

True or False

  1. The Oxford English Dictionary was completed in 70 years.   T  |  F
  2. Dr. Minor killed someone who was very sick and scared.  T  |  F
  3. Dr. Minor and Sir James Murray did not become friends.  T  |  F

Conversation

A: Hey, I heard you're working on the Oxford English Dictionary?
B: Yeah, that's right. It's a pretty big project.
A: I bet! How many words are in there?
B: Oh, I don't know exactly. But it's a lot.
A: Well, I'm sure you'll do great. You're a smart guy.
B: Thanks, man. I appreciate the support.

Discussion

  1. How do you usually check the meaning of words?
  2. Do you think it's important to give people second chances?
  3. What's the biggest project you've ever worked on?

True Story Answers

"The Professor and the Madman" is a book about the making of the Oxford English Dictionary. It took 70 years to complete and many people helped to make it. One of the most important contributors was Dr. William Chester Minor, an American man who had fought in a war. He sent nearly ten thousand entries for the dictionary, which were very helpful.

But the editor of the dictionary, Sir James Murray, was surprised to learn that Dr. Minor was in an asylum for people who were mentally ill. Dr. Minor had killed someone during a time when he was very sick and scared. However, he was able to keep working on the dictionary because he had money from the army.

Dr. Minor and Sir James Murray became friends and worked together for many years. This book tells their story and shows how important it is to give people chances to use their skills, even if they have problems in their lives.

Vocabulary Answers

contributors → helpers
asylum → hospital
mentally → of the mind
entries → words
editor → chief
scared → frightened
chances → opportunities

Quiz Answers

  1. It's about the making of the Oxford English Dictionary.
  2. He was surprised to learn that Dr. Minor was in an asylum for people who were mentally ill.
  3. Because he had money from the army.

True or False Answers

  1. True
  2. False
  3. False

Further Reading

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Professor_and_the_Madman_(film)

More "True Story" Lessons

ESL Lessons: True Stories