Listening Activity (Gap-Fill Exercise)

1. Gap-Fill Exercise
“I AM MALALA”
I was born in Mingora, Pakistan on July 12, 1997.
My father was a teacher. He ran a girls’ school in our (1) __________.
I loved school. But everything changed when the Taliban took control of our town in Swat Valley. They
said girls could no longer go to school.
In January 2008 when I was just 11 years old, I said goodbye to my classmates. I did not know if I will
see them again.
I spoke out and I wanted all girls like me to go to school. This made the Taliban angry.
In October 2012, on my way home from school, a masked (2) ___________ got on my school bus and
asked, “Who is Malala?” He (3) __________ me on the left side of my head.
After months of getting better in the hospital, I joined my family in our new home in the (4) ________
I have two choices: I could live a quiet life or I could make the most of this new life and continue my
fight until every girl could go to school.
In (5) _____________ of our work, I received the Nobel Peace (6) ________ in December 2014 and
became the youngest person to receive it.
Now I am studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of Oxford.
And every day I fight to ensure all girls receive 12 years of free, safe, (7) ___________ education.
I travel to many countries to meet girls fighting (8) ________, wars, child marriage and gender
discrimination to go to school. Malala Fund is working so that their stories, like mine, can be heard
around the world.
With more than 130 (9)_________ girls out of school today, there is more work to be done. I hope you
will join my fight for education and (10) ________. Together, we can create a world where all girls can
learn and lead.

2. “RYAN’S STORY”
One day in January 1998, I was sitting in my Grade One classroom. My teacher, Mrs. Prest, explained
that people were sick and some were even (1) ____________ because they didn’t have clean water. She
told us that some people walked for (2) __________ in Africa and sometimes it was just to get dirty
water.
So, I went home and begged my mom and dad to help. After a few days, they told me I could do extra (3)
___________ to earn the $70 I thought would build a well. I thought that’s all it would take to solve the
world’s water problem. I worked for four months to earn my first $70. Then I learned that it was actually
going to cost $2,000 to build a well in a place like Uganda. I also learned that the problem was way
bigger than I realized.
I started speaking to service clubs, school classes, to anyone who would listen to my story so that I could
(4) ___________ money for my first well at Angolo Primary School in Uganda. That’s how my little
Grade One (5) _________ became the Ryan’s Well Foundation.
I attended University of King’s College in Halifax on the east coast of Canada. I’ve just completed my
studies in international development and political (6) ____________, but remain involved with the
foundation as a Project Manager. I speak around the world on water issues and on the importance of
making a difference no matter who you are or how old you are.
My work would not happen without the support of my family and friends. My Ugandan pen pal, Jimmy
Akana, who I met on my first trip to Uganda, is now a member of our family. Jimmy is an (7) ________
because he works hard and has a positive (8) _________. He always has a great big smile.
My advice to anyone is that in order to make a positive change in the world, you need to find something
you are (9) ____________ about and then you need to take steps to act. For me, the issue is water and
sanitation.
Water is essential to all life. I hope my story is a reminder that we can all make a (10) _________ – it
applies to each and every one of us.
(end)