Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant is an American All-Star basketball player who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant became famous in 1996 as the first shooting guard in basketball history to be drafted out of high school. He has helped the Lakers win three back-to-back championships and has twice been the NBA’s leading scorer. He was the season's MVP in 2007-08.

Bryant was born in 1978 in Philadelphia. He was named after the beef famous in Kobe, Japan. His father was a Philadelphia 76ers player. When Bryant was six, his family moved to Italy. He learned to play soccer and once considered becoming a professional soccer player. Back in the USA, he excelled in high school basketball and joined the NBA, aged 17.

Bryant joined the Lakers in 1996. His first three seasons were spent coming off the bench but he still managed to become a favorite with fans. From 2000, Bryant was one of the top shooting guards in the league. He helped the Lakers win NBA championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002 and entered basketball’s elite. He has become a cornerstone of the Lakers team.

The Lakers did not reach the NBA Finals again until 2008, when they finished runner-up. Bryant continued his high scoring but had trouble on and off the court. His coach called him ‘uncoachable’ and he hit the headlines after being accused of rape. In 2007, Bryant became the youngest player to reach 20,000 points. He remains one of basketball’s true greats.

246 words

Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted biographies.

Fill in the gaps:

Kobe Bryant is an American All-Star basketball player ____________ the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant became famous in 1996 as the first shooting guard in basketball history to be ______________ high school. He has helped the Lakers win three ____________ championships and has twice been the NBA’s leading scorer. He was the ____________ 2007-08.

Bryant was born in 1978 in Philadelphia. He was ______________ beef famous in Kobe, Japan. His father was a Philadelphia 76ers player. When Bryant was six, ______________ to Italy. He learned to play soccer and ______________ becoming a professional soccer player. Back in the USA, ______________ high school basketball and joined the NBA, aged 17.

Bryant joined the Lakers in 1996. His first three seasons were spent ______________ bench but he still managed to become a favorite with fans. From 2000, Bryant was ______________ shooting guards in the league. He helped the Lakers win NBA championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002 and entered _________________. He has become a ______________ the Lakers team.

The Lakers ______________ the NBA Finals again until 2008, when they finished runner-up. Bryant continued ______________ but had trouble on and off the court. His coach called ______________ and he hit the headlines after being accused of rape. In 2007, Bryant became the youngest player to reach 20,000 points. He ______________ basketball’s true greats.

Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.

Kobe Bryant is an American All-Star basketball player who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant became famous in 1996 as the first shooting guard in basketball history / historical to be drafted / drifted out of high school. He has helped the Lakers win three back-to-back / back-to-front championships and has twice been the NBA’s leading scorer. He was the season's VIP / MVP in 2007-08.

Bryant was born in 1978 in Philadelphia. He was named before / after the beef famous in Kobe, Japan. His father was a Philadelphia 76ers player. When Bryant was six, his family moving / moved to Italy. He learned to play soccer and once / one considered becoming a professional soccer player. Back in the USA, he excelled / expelled in high school basketball and joined the NBA, aged 17.

Bryant joined the Lakers in 1996. His first three seasons were bought / spent coming off the bench but he still / yet managed to become a favorite with fans. From 2000, Bryant was one of the top shooting guards in the league. He helpful / helped the Lakers win NBA championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002 and entered basketball’s elite. He has become a cornerstone / tombstone of the Lakers team.

The Lakers did not teach / reach the NBA Finals again until 2008, when they finished runner-up. Bryant continued his high scoring but had trouble on / in and off the court. His coach called him ‘uncoachable’ and he hit / smacked the headlines after being accused of rape. In 2007, Bryant became the youngest player to reach 20,000 points. He remains one of basketball’s true greets / greats.

The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly:

Paragraph 1
1.	Bryant became mfsuoa in 1996
2.	terfadd out of high school
3.	He has hlpeed the Lakers win
4.	the NBA’s dgeailn scorer
Paragraph 2
5.	He was dmean after the beef
6.	his family emdvo to Italy
7.	he lxeeeldc in high school
8.	ndoije the NBA, aged 17
Paragraph 3
9.	His first three osenssa
10.	coming off the cnebh
11.	a ueovrifta with fans
12.	basketball’s teeil
Paragraph 4
13.	had utloreb on and off the court
14.	hit the ehnaseidl
15.	the youngest player to rcahe 20,000 points
16.	He ainmesr one of basketball’s true greats

Number these lines in the correct order:

( 1 )	Kobe Bryant is an American All-Star basketball player who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. Bryant became
(    )	player. When Bryant was six, his family moved to Italy. He learned to play soccer and once considered
(    )	leading scorer. He was the season's MVP in 2007-08.
(    )	basketball’s elite. He has become a cornerstone of the Lakers team.
(    )	becoming a professional soccer player. Back in the USA, he excelled in high school basketball and joined the NBA, aged 17.
(    )	scoring but had trouble on and off the court. His coach called him ‘uncoachable’ and he hit the headlines
(    )	Bryant was born in 1978 in Philadelphia. He was named after the beef famous in Kobe, Japan. His father was a Philadelphia 76ers
(    )	guards in the league. He helped the Lakers win NBA championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002 and entered
(    )	Lakers win three back-to-back championships and has twice been the NBA’s
(    )	Bryant joined the Lakers in 1996. His first three seasons were spent coming off the
(    )	after being accused of rape. In 2007, Bryant became the youngest player to reach 20,000
(    )	famous in 1996 as the first shooting guard in basketball history to be drafted out of high school. He has helped the
(    )	points. He remains one of basketball’s true greats.
(    )	bench but he still managed to become a favorite with fans. From 2000, Bryant was one of the top shooting
(    )	The Lakers did not reach the NBA Finals again until 2008, when they finished runner-up. Bryant continued his high

Put the words back into the correct order:

1.	back   championships   helped   the  Lakers   win   three   back  -   to   -
2.	MVP   He   in   was   2007   the   -   season's   08
3.	famous   in   Kobe   ,   Japan   He   was   named   after   the   beef
4.	a   soccer   once   becoming   professional   player   considered
5.	in   high   school   basketball   Back   in   the   USA   ,   he   excelled
6.	with   to   fans   become   e   a   still   favorite   managed
7.	Bryant   guards   shooting   top   the   of   one   was
8.	cornerstone   He   of   has   the   become   Lakers   a   team
9.	accused   the   of   headlines   rape   after   he   being   hit
10.	,   player   000   to   points   reach   the   20   youngest

Match the words from the article on the left with their synonyms on the right:

Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.	famous	a.	relocated
2	drafted	b.	consecutive
3.	back-to-back	c.	thought about
4.	moved	d.	well known
5.	considered	e.	shone
6.	excelled	f.	picked
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.	managed	g.	best
8.	elite	h.	charged with
9.	cornerstone	i.	get to
10.	reach	j.	succeeded
11.	runner-up	k.	heart
12.	accused	l.	second place

Match the following phrases from the article:

1.	drafted	a.	becoming a professional
2	win three back-to-back	b.	to become a favorite
3.	He was named after the beef	c.	true greats
4.	once considered	d.	out of high school
5.	he excelled	e.	being accused of rape
6.	he still managed	f.	championships
7.	a cornerstone	g.	20,000 points
8.	hit the headlines after	h.	famous in Kobe, Japan
9.	the youngest player to reach	i.	of the Lakers team
10.	He remains one of basketball’s	j.	in high school