Christopher Reeve: He Played Superman… Then Showed a Different Type of Strength
Level B2 (Upper intermediate) · Watch the video and do the online quiz at https://brightlivesenglish.com/lessons/christopher-reeve-strength/
A Match the words to their meanings
- spinal cord (noun)
- paralysed (adjective)
- campaigner (noun)
- research (noun)
- strength (noun)
- foundation (noun)
- horse riding (noun)
- advocate (noun)
- an organisation that gives money to help a cause
- a person who works hard, in public, to change something
- not able to move part or all of your body
- careful study to discover new facts
- power in your body, or the power in your mind to keep going
- the long bundle of nerves inside your back that carries messages between your brain and your body
- the sport of riding horses
- a person who speaks up for a group of people
B Complete the sentences from the story
campaigner · research · advocate · foundation · spinal cord · horse riding · paralysed · strength
- He showed a different type of .
- He was from the neck down.
- He loved .
- He was a strong for people with disabilities.
- He raised money for medical .
- The fall injured the top of his .
- He became a for people with spinal injuries.
- His still supports spinal cord research.
C Did you understand?
- He was hurt while making a film.True / False
- Who made him laugh for the first time after the accident?
- His doctor
- The Queen
- Robin Williams
- A nurse
- What did he do for people with spinal injuries?
- He built hospitals
- He became a doctor
- He made a superhero film
- He raised money for medical research
- In 2000, he moved his index finger.True / False
D Put the words in order
- used / for / help / asking / to / wasn't / He
E Grammar: used to + verb (past habit) vs be used to + -ing (something feels normal)
We use it for used to sail = he sailed in the past; wasn't used to asking = it felt new and strange for him. He used to sail, fly his own plane and ride horses. · He wasn't used to asking for help.
Example from the story: He wasn't used to asking for help.
- He wasn't used to for help. (asking / ask / asked)
- He to sail and fly his own plane. (used / was used / is used)
- I'm new here, so I'm not used to on the left. (driving / drive / drove)
F Your turn
Retell Christopher Reeve's story in 5–6 sentences. Use at least three words from exercise A.
Transcript
He was famous around the world for playing Superman, a hero who could fly.
Then, one day in 1995, he could not move his arms or legs.
This is the story of Christopher Reeve.
Welcome to brightlivesenglish.com, where we teach real English using real-life stories.
Spinal cord. Your spinal cord carries messages between your brain and your body.
The fall injured the top of his spinal cord.
Paralysed. If you are paralysed, you cannot move part of your body.
He was paralysed from the neck down.
Campaigner. A campaigner works hard, in public, to change something.
He became a campaigner for people with spinal injuries.
Research. Research is careful study to discover new facts.
He raised money for medical research.
Strength. Strength can mean power in your body, or power in your mind.
He showed a different type of strength.
Now, one pattern: used to, and be used to.
He used to sail means he sailed in the past, but not any more.
He wasn't used to asking for help means asking for help felt new and strange to him.
He wasn't used to asking for help.
Ready? Let's begin.
Christopher Reeve was born in New York in 1952.
He studied acting at Juilliard, where one of his classmates and closest friends was a young Robin Williams.
In 1978, he became world famous as Superman.
He was tall, strong and very active.
He used to sail, fly his own plane and ride horses.
On 27 May 1995, he was riding in a horse competition in Virginia.
Before a jump, his horse stopped suddenly.
He was thrown forward and landed on his head.
The fall injured the top of his spinal cord.
He was paralysed from the neck down, and he could not even breathe without a machine.
He wasn't used to asking for help.
Now he needed help with everything.
In his darkest moment, his wife Dana told him, "You're still you. And I love you."
Then a crazy Russian doctor burst into his hospital room.
It was Robin Williams, dressed as a doctor.
For the first time since the accident, Christopher laughed.
In 1996, he went to the Oscars, and the audience stood and clapped for a long time.
He became a campaigner for people with spinal injuries.
He raised money for medical research.
He led a foundation that still supports this research today.
He also directed a film from his wheelchair, "In the Gloaming", which was nominated for Emmy Awards.
He acted again, and he wrote books about his life.
His doctors did not expect him to move again.
But he did hours of exercise and therapy, day after day.
Would his body ever answer?
In 2000, five years after the accident, he moved his index finger.
Later, he could feel touch on most of his body, and breathe on his own for a while.
His doctor said no one with such a serious injury had recovered so much.
He showed a different type of strength.
He died in 2004, aged 52.
He once wrote, "A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles."
Let's review. The fall injured the top of his spinal cord.
He was paralysed from the neck down.
He became a campaigner for people with spinal injuries.
He raised money for medical research.
He showed a different type of strength.
And remember: he wasn't used to asking for help.
Christopher Reeve's story teaches us: real heroes don't need to fly.
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Answer key
A. 1f 2c 3b 4d 5e 6a 7g 8h
B. 1 strength · 2 paralysed · 3 horse riding · 4 advocate · 5 research · 6 spinal cord · 7 campaigner · 8 foundation
C. 1 False · 2 c · 3 d · 4 True
D. 1 He wasn't used to asking for help.
E. 1 asking · 2 used · 3 driving