Lou Gehrig: He Played 2,130 Games in a Row… Then Called Himself the Luckiest Man
Level A2 (Elementary) · Watch the video and do the online quiz at https://brightlivesenglish.com/lessons/lou-gehrig-luckiest-man/
A Match the words to their meanings
- row (noun)
- miss (verb)
- disease (noun)
- speech (noun)
- lucky (adjective)
- illness (noun)
- streak (noun)
- retire (verb)
- a time when the same thing happens again and again
- a serious illness
- being sick
- a talk to many people
- to stop working, usually because you are old or ill
- to not go to or take part in something
- in a row: one after another
- having good things happen to you
B Complete the sentences from the story
disease · miss · speech · illness · luckiest · streak · retire · row
- Doctors said that he had a rare called ALS.
- His was 2,130 games.
- He had to in 1939.
- His made him weak.
- He gave a short .
- He said he was the man on Earth.
- He did not a game for almost 14 years.
- He played game after game, in a .
C Did you understand?
- Lou Gehrig missed many games.True / False
- How many games did he play in a row?
- 130
- 2,130
- 56
- 60,000
- Why did he say he was lucky?
- Because he was rich
- Because he was not ill
- Because of his friends, family and fans
- Because he won a prize
- His record lasted 56 years.True / False
D Put the words in order
- 2,130 / games / He / row / in / a / played
E Grammar: in a row
We use it for to say that things happen one after another, with no break. He played 2,130 games in a row. · It rained for five days in a row.
Example from the story: He played 2,130 games in a row.
- He played 2,130 games in a . (row / line / time)
- It rained for five days a row. (in / on / at)
- She won three games in row. (a / the / one)
F Your turn
Retell Lou Gehrig's story in 5–6 sentences. Use at least three words from exercise A.
Transcript
He was ill.
But he told a huge crowd he was the luckiest man on Earth.
This is the story of Lou Gehrig.
Welcome to brightlivesenglish.com, where we teach real English using real-life stories.
Row. In a row means one after another.
He played game after game, in a row.
Miss. To miss something is to not go to it.
He did not miss a game for almost 14 years.
Disease. A disease is a serious illness.
Doctors said that he had a rare disease called ALS.
Speech. A speech is a talk to many people.
He gave a short speech.
Lucky. Lucky means having good things happen to you.
He said he was the luckiest man on Earth.
Now, one pattern: in a row.
He played 2,130 games in a row.
Ready? Let's begin.
Lou Gehrig was born in New York in 1903.
In 1923, he joined the New York Yankees.
From 1925, he played game after game, in a row.
He did not miss a game for almost 14 years.
He played 2,130 games in a row!
In 1939, he felt weak.
Doctors said that he had a rare disease called ALS.
It slowly makes muscles weak.
On 4 July, over 60,000 people came.
He gave a short speech.
He said he was the luckiest man on Earth, because of his friends, family and fans.
He died in 1941.
His record of games in a row lasted 56 years.
Now, the disease has his name.
Let's review. He played game after game, in a row.
He did not miss a game for almost 14 years.
Doctors said that he had a rare disease called ALS.
He gave a short speech.
He said he was the luckiest man on Earth.
And remember: he played 2,130 games in a row.
Lou Gehrig's story teaches us: count the good things.
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Answer key
A. 1g 2f 3b 4d 5h 6c 7a 8e
B. 1 disease · 2 streak · 3 retire · 4 illness · 5 speech · 6 luckiest · 7 miss · 8 row
C. 1 False · 2 b · 3 c · 4 True
D. 1 He played 2,130 games in a row.
E. 1 row · 2 in · 3 a