The Reading / Listening - Sculptures - Level 3

A new artwork has been unveiled in Doha, Qatar. The new artwork was created by the British artist Damien Hirst. He is famous for his art installations that include dead sharks and cows in clear plastic boxes. His new modern-art work is called The Miraculous Journey. It consists of 14 giant bronze sculptures that show the beginning of human life from conception to birth. The first exhibit shows a human sperm entering an egg. The sculptures progress from the egg producing an embryo, which then turns into a fetus in a giant womb. The final sculpture is of a newborn baby. The very detailed exhibits are between 5 and 14 meters high. They have been installed in front of a women's healthcare center in Qatar.

Not everyone is happy with the sculptures. They are very controversial in Qatar. Layla Ibrahim, a Qatari art specialist, said: "They are not meant to be decorative, they are meant to create debates. We are not expecting everyone to like them [or] understand them." She added: "We believe it reflects the hospital's mission of taking care of the healthcare of women and babies." Mr Hirst said: "Culturally, it's the first naked sculpture in the Middle East. It's very brave." He added: "The journey a baby goes through before birth is bigger than anything it will experience in its human life. I hope the sculpture will instill in the viewer a sense of awe and wonder at this extraordinary human process."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Sculptures - Level 0 Sculptures - Level 1   or  Sculptures - Level 2

Sources
  • https://mashable.com/article/damien-hirst-uterus-sculptures-qatar/
  • https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/19/damien-hirst-delivers-controversy-with-giant-uterus-sculptures-at-qatar-hospital
  • https://www.aljazeera.com/video/middleeast/2013/10/damien-hirst-unveils-new-art-qatar-201310813953398901.html


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. SCULPTURES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about sculptures. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       artwork / artist / famous / plastic / sculptures / conception / birth / embryo / womb /
       controversial / debate / hospital / mission / healthcare / naked / baby / awe / human
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. ART: Students A strongly believe art must create discussion; Students B strongly believe it doesn't have to create discussion.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. ARTISTS: What is your favourite artwork from these artists? Why? What discussion does it create? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Favourite artwork

Why?

Discussion

Painters

 

 

 

Computer graphics

 

 

 

Sculptors

 

 

 

Dancers

 

 

 

Potter

 

 

 

Photographers

 

 

 

MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. BIRTH: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "birth". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. ART MATERIALS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best art materials at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • clay
  • dead animals
  • people
  • food
  • bronze
  • oil paints
  • wood
  • stone

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. unveiled a. An unborn life form in the process of developing into a baby. For a human, this is approximately from the second to the eighth week after life begins in the egg.
      2. miraculous b. Amazing, unbelievable, remarkable and extraordinary.
      3. journey c. Is made up of; contains.
      4. consists d. Showed or announced publicly for the first time.
      5. conception e. The organ in the lower part of a woman's body where babies start and grow before they are born.
      6. embryo f. A long and often difficult process; an act of traveling from one place to another.
      7. womb g. The point when an egg in a woman's body starts to create a new life.

    Paragraph 2

      8. controversial h. An important task to reach a goal.
      9. debate i. Shows.
      10. reflects j. Showing courage; ready to face danger or pain.
      11. mission k. Creating or likely to create public disagreement.
      12. naked l. A formal discussion on a particular topic in a  meeting, in which opposing arguments are put forward.
      13. brave m. A feeling that something or someone is totally, totally, totally incredible, believable and amazing.
      14. awe n. Having no clothes on.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The new artwork is outside a hospital in Doha, Qatar.     T / F
  2. The artist has used dead cows and dead sheep in his past art works.     T / F
  3. The first sculpture is of a sperm entering an egg.     T / F
  4. One of the sculptures is 140 meters high.     T / F
  5. Everyone in Qatar is happy with the sculptures.     T / F
  6. An art specialist said the sculptures will create debate.     T / F
  7. The artist said it is the second naked sculpture in the Middle East.     T / F
  8. The artist hopes the sculpture will make people have more children.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. unveiled
  2. created
  3. consists of
  4. final
  5. installed
  6. specialist
  7. reflects
  8. naked
  9. sense
  10. extraordinary
  1. feeling
  2. last
  3. put
  4. made
  5. nude
  6. remarkable
  7. revealed
  8. shows
  9. expert
  10. includes

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. A new artwork has been
  2. He is famous for his art
  3. the beginning of human life from
  4. a human sperm entering
  5. The very detailed exhibits are between
  6. They are very
  7. They are not meant
  8. We are not expecting
  9. the hospital's
  10. a sense of awe
  1. an egg
  2. 5 and 14 meters high
  3. mission
  4. everyone to like them
  5. installations
  6. and wonder
  7. unveiled in Doha, Qatar
  8. to be decorative
  9. conception to birth
  10. controversial in Qatar

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
clear
sperm
installed
art
conception
exhibits
consists
fetus

The new artwork was created by the British artist Damien Hirst. He is famous for his (1) ____________ installations that include dead sharks and cows in (2) ____________ plastic boxes. His new modern-art work is called The Miraculous Journey. It (3) ____________ of 14 giant bronze sculptures that show the beginning of human life from (4) ____________ to birth. The first exhibit shows a human (5) ____________ entering an egg. The sculptures progress from the egg producing an embryo, which then turns into a (6) ____________ in a giant womb. The final sculpture is of a newborn baby. The very detailed (7) ____________ are between 5 and 14 meters high. They have been (8) ____________ in front of a women's healthcare center in Qatar.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
journey
happy
experience
expecting
awe
naked
decorative
mission

Not everyone is (9) ____________ with the sculptures. They are very controversial in Qatar. Layla Ibrahim, a Qatari art specialist, said: "They are not meant to be (10) ____________, they are meant to create debates. We are not (11) ____________ everyone to like them [or] understand them." She added: "We believe it reflects the hospital's (12) ____________ of taking care of the healthcare of women and babies." Mr Hirst said: "Culturally, it's the first (13) ____________ sculpture in the Middle East. It's very brave." He added: "The (14) ____________ a baby goes through before birth is bigger than anything it will (15) ____________ in its human life. I hope the sculpture will instill in the viewer a sense of (16) ____________ and wonder at this extraordinary human process."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  famous for his art installations that include dead sharks and cows in ______
     a.  cleared plastic box is
     b.  clears plastic box sets
     c.  clearly plastic boxes
     d.  clear plastic boxes
2)  giant bronze sculptures that show the beginning of human life from ______
     a.  conceptual to birth
     b.  conception to birth
     c.  concept shun to birth
     d.  concept shun too birth
3)  producing an embryo, which then turns into a fetus in ______
     a.  a giant comb
     b.  a giant bomb
     c.  a giant womb
     d.  a giant tomb
4)  The very detailed exhibits are between 5 and ______
     a.  14 meters height
     b.  14 meters highs
     c.  14 meters highly
     d.  14 meters high
5)  They have been installed in front of a women's ______
     a.  healthcare central
     b.  healthcare center
     c.  healthcare centers
     d.  healthcare centering

6)  They are very ______ Qatar
     a.  controversially in
     b.  controversy in
     c.  contra-verse shall in
     d.  controversial in
7)  They are not meant to be decorative, they are meant to ______
     a.  creates debates
     b.  create debates
     c.  created debates
     d.  creator debates
8)  the hospital's mission of taking care of the healthcare of women ______
     a.  and baby is
     b.  and baby's
     c.  and babies'
     d.  and babies
9)  Mr Hirst said: "Culturally, it's the first ______
     a.  nuked sculpture
     b.  necked sculpture
     c.  naked sculpture
     d.  Nike sculpture
10)  I hope the sculpture will instill in the viewer a sense of ______
     a.  awe and wonder
     b.  or and wonder
     c.  ore and wonder
     d.  awl and wonder

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The new artwork (1) ___________________ the British artist Damien Hirst. He is (2) ___________________ art installations that include dead sharks and cows in clear plastic boxes. His new modern-art work is called The Miraculous Journey. It (3) ___________________ giant bronze sculptures that show the beginning of human life from conception to birth. The first (4) ___________________ human sperm entering an egg. The sculptures progress from the egg producing an embryo, which then turns into a fetus in a giant womb. The final sculpture is (5) ___________________ baby. The very detailed exhibits are between 5 and 14 meters high. They have been (6) ___________________ of a women's healthcare center in Qatar.

Not everyone (7) ___________________ the sculptures. They are very controversial in Qatar. Layla Ibrahim, a Qatari art specialist, said: "They are not meant (8) ___________________, they are meant to create debates. We are not expecting everyone to like them [or] understand them." She added: "We believe (9) ___________________ hospital's mission of taking care of the healthcare of women and babies." Mr Hirst said: "Culturally, it's the first (10) ___________________ the Middle East. It's very brave." He added: "The journey a baby goes through before birth is bigger than anything it will (11) ___________________ human life. I hope the sculpture will instill in the viewer a (12) ___________________ and wonder at this extraordinary human process."

Comprehension questions

  1. What is the name of the artist who created the sculptures?
  2. What animals has the artist used in his artworks?
  3. How many giant statues are part of the exhibit?
  4. What is shown in a giant womb?
  5. How high is the tallest sculpture?
  6. What is Layla Ibrahim's job?
  7. What did Layla Ibrahim say the sculptures reflect?
  8. Where did the artist say his sculpture was the first naked sculpture?
  9. What did the artist say a baby's journey was bigger than?
  10. What sense did the artist hope the sculptures would create?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What is the name of the artist who created the sculptures?
a) Fernando Botero
b) Damien Hirst
c) Nam June Paik
d) Yousef Ahmad
2) What animals has the artist used in his artworks?
a) donkeys and hamsters
b) elephants and rhinos
c) frogs and alligators
d) sharks and cows
3) How many giant statues are part of the exhibit?
a) 14
b) 12
c) 10
d) 16
4) What is shown in a giant womb?
a) a fingerprint
b) a smile
c) a fetus
d) a hospital
5) How high is the tallest sculpture?
a) 5 metres
b) 14 meters
c) 72 meters
d) 112 meters

6) What is Layla Ibrahim's job?
a) an art specialist
b) a sculptor
c) a writer
d) a doctor
7) What did Layla Ibrahim say the sculptures reflect?
a) birth
b) life
c) a hospital's mission
d) the meaning of life
8) Where did the artist say his sculpture was the first naked sculpture?
a) the Middle East
b) a hospital
c) Qatar
d) the Gulf
9) What did the artist say a baby's journey was bigger than?
a) anything in life
b) a round the world trip
c) a trip to the moon
d) love
10) What sense did the artist hope the sculptures would create?
a) smell
b) the sixth sense
c) common sense
d) awe and wonder

Role play

Role  A – Bronze
You think bronze is the best art material. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their materials. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): clay, food or oil paint.

Role  B – Clay
You think clay is the best art material. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their materials. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): bronze, food or oil paint.

Role  C – Food
You think food is the best art material. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their materials. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): clay, bronze or oil paint.

Role  D – Oil Paint
You think oil paint is the best art material. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their materials. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): clay, food or bronze.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'birth'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'art'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • happy
    • meant
    • believe
    • first
    • bigger
    • sense
    • unveiled
    • famous
    • beginning
    • shows
    • giant
    • high

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Conception to birth sculptures unveiled in Qatar

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'art'?
    3. Would you like to see the sculptures?
    4. What do you think of the sculptures?
    5. Do you think these sculptures are art?
    6. What is art?
    7. Does all art have to make you think?
    8. Why do you think Damien Hirst created the sculptures?
    9. Would you be a good artist?
    10. What is your favourite piece of art?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'birth'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What do you know about Damien Hirst?
    5. Why might people not be happy with the sculptures?
    6. Should art be decorative?
    7. Should all hospitals have artwork like this?
    8. How amazing is the journey from conception to birth?
    9. What kinds of artists do you like best?
    10. What questions would you like to ask Damien Hirst?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    The new artwork was (1) ____ by the British artist Damien Hirst. He is famous for his art installations that include dead sharks and cows in (2) ____ plastic boxes. His new modern-art work is called The Miraculous Journey. It (3) ____ of 14 giant bronze sculptures that show the beginning of human life from conception to birth. The first exhibit shows a human sperm (4) ____ an egg. The sculptures progress from the egg producing an embryo, which then (5) ____ into a fetus in a giant womb. The final sculpture is of a newborn baby. The very detailed exhibits are between 5 and 14 meters (6) ____. They have been installed in front of a women's healthcare center in Qatar.

    Not everyone is happy (7) ____ the sculptures. They are very controversial in Qatar. Layla Ibrahim, a Qatari art specialist, said: "They are not (8) ____ to be decorative, they are meant to create debates. We are not expecting everyone to like them [or] understand them." She added: "We believe it reflects the hospital's mission (9) ____ taking care of the healthcare of women and babies." Mr Hirst said: "Culturally, it's the first (10) ____ sculpture in the Middle East. It's very brave." He added: "The journey a baby (11) ____ through before birth is bigger than anything it will experience in its human life. I hope the sculpture will instill in the viewer a sense of awe and wonder (12) ____ this extraordinary human process."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     created     (b)     creative     (c)     creating     (d)     creation    
    2. (a)     clarity     (b)     clearly     (c)     clear     (d)     clearance    
    3. (a)     resists     (b)     desists     (c)     consists     (d)     assists    
    4. (a)     enter     (b)     entrance     (c)     entry     (d)     entering    
    5. (a)     twists     (b)     spins     (c)     turns     (d)     revolves    
    6. (a)     height     (b)     high     (c)     highly     (d)     highs    
    7. (a)     of     (b)     with     (c)     to     (d)     at    
    8. (a)     sure     (b)     meant     (c)     frequently     (d)     design    
    9. (a)     as     (b)     at     (c)     of     (d)     up      
    10. (a)     knuckle     (b)     knack     (c)     knackered     (d)     naked    
    11. (a)     walks     (b)     speeds     (c)     shoots     (d)     goes    
    12. (a)     to     (b)     of     (c)     on     (d)     at

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. art stnsianoiltal
    2. from npcceoinot to birth
    3. the egg producing an yebrmo
    4. a fetus in a giant ombw
    5. very detailed ixshbeti
    6. women's alertehach

    Paragraph 2

    1. They are very rsoneticorvla
    2. art ielicaspst
    3. they are meant to create saetdeb
    4. it reflects the hospital's ossimni
    5. It's very eavbr
    6. this extraordinary human pscosre

    Put the text back together

    (...)  care of the healthcare of women and babies." Mr Hirst said: "Culturally, it's the first naked sculpture in
    (...)  instill in the viewer a sense of awe and wonder at this extraordinary human process."
    1  ) A new artwork has been unveiled in Doha, Qatar. The new artwork was created by the British
    (...)  plastic boxes. His new modern-art work is called The Miraculous Journey. It consists of 14
    (...)  5 and 14 meters high. They have been installed in front of a women's healthcare center in Qatar.
    (...)  into a fetus in a giant womb. The final sculpture is of a newborn baby. The very detailed exhibits are between
    (...)  bigger than anything it will experience in its human life. I hope the sculpture will
    (...)  Not everyone is happy with the sculptures. They are very controversial in Qatar. Layla Ibrahim, a Qatari art
    (...)  specialist, said: "They are not meant to be decorative, they are meant to create debates. We are not expecting everyone to
    (...)  shows a human sperm entering an egg. The sculptures progress from the egg producing an embryo, which then turns
    (...)  like them [or] understand them." She added: "We believe it reflects the hospital's mission of taking
    (...)  giant bronze sculptures that show the beginning of human life from conception to birth. The first exhibit
    (...)  artist Damien Hirst. He is famous for his art installations that include dead sharks and cows in clear
    (...)  the Middle East. It's very brave." He added: "The journey a baby goes through before birth is

    Put the words in the right order

    1. artwork   by   was   artist   .   The   British   created   the
    2. beginning   conception   of   to   The   life   from   birth   .
    3. progress   an   Sculptures   egg   the   embryo   .   from   producing
    4. a   final   is   newborn   The   sculpture   of   baby   .
    5. in   a   Installed   front   of   healthcare   center   .   women's
    6. are   not   expecting   everyone   We   to   like   them   .
    7. mission   .   the   reflects   it   believe   We   hospital's
    8. the   naked   sculpture   The   in   first   East   .   Middle
    9. birth   .   The   through   journey   a   baby   goes   before
    10. and   at   extraordinary   process   .   Awe   wonder   human   this

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The new artwork was created by the British artist Damien Hirst. He is famous / famously for his art installations that include dead sharks and cow / cows in clear plastic boxes. His new modern-art work is calling / called The Miraculous Journey. It contrasts / consists of 14 giant bronze sculptures that show the beginning / begins of human life from conception to birth / born. The first exhibit shows a human / humane sperm entering an egg. The sculptures progress from the egg producing a / an embryo, which then turns into a fetus in a giant womb. The final sculpture is of a newborn baby. The very detailed exhibition / exhibits are between 5 and 14 meters high. They have been installed in front / back of a women's healthcare center in Qatar.

    Not everyone is happy with the sculptures. They are very controversy / controversial in Qatar. Layla Ibrahim, a Qatari art specialism / specialist, said: "They are not meant to be decorative / decorate, they are meant to create debates. We are not expect / expecting everyone to like them [or] understand them." She added: "We believe itdeflects / reflects the hospital's mission of taking care of the healthy / healthcare of women and babies." Mr Hirst said: "Culturally, it's the first naked sculpture on / in the Middle East. It's very brave." He added: "The journey a baby goes though / through before birth is bigger than anything it will experience in / on its human life. I hope the sculpture will instill in the viewer a sense of ore / awe and wonder at this extraordinary human process."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    T h_ n_w _r t w_r k w_s c r__ t_d b y t h_ B r_t_s h _r t_s t D_m__ n H_r s t . H_ _s f_m__ s f_r h_s _r t _n s t_l l_t__ n s t h_t _n c l_d_ d__ d s h_r k s _n d c_w s _n c l__ r p l_s t_c b_x_s . H_s n_w m_d_r n -_r t w_r k _s c_l l_d T h_ M_r_c_l__ s J__ r n_y . I t c_n s_s t s _f 1 4 g__ n t b r_n z_ s c_l p t_r_s t h_t s h_w t h_ b_g_n n_n g _f h_m_n l_f_ f r_m c_n c_p t__ n t_ b_r t h . T h_ f_r s t _x h_b_t s h_w s _ h_m_n s p_r m _n t_r_n g _n _g g . T h_ s c_l p t_r_s p r_g r_s s f r_m t h_ _g g p r_d_c_n g _n _m b r y_, w h_c h t h_n t_r n s _n t_ _ f_t_s _n _ g__ n t w_m b . T h_ f_n_l s c_l p t_r_ _s _f _ n_w b_r n b_b y . T h_ v_r y d_t__ l_d _x h_b_t s _r_ b_t w__ n 5 _n d 1 4 m_t_r s h_g h . T h_y h_v_ b__ n _n s t_l l_d _n f r_n t _f _ w_m_n ' s h__ l t h c_r_ c_n t_r _n Q_t_r .

    N_t _v_r y_n_ _s h_p p y w_t h t h_ s c_l p t_r_s . T h_y _r_ v_r y c_n t r_v_r s__ l _n Q_t_r . L_y l_ I b r_h_m , _ Q_t_r_ _r t s p_c__ l_s t , s__ d : " T h_y _r_ n_t m__ n t t_ b_ d_c_r_t_v_, t h_y _r_ m__ n t t_ c r__ t_ d_b_t_s . W_ _r_ n_t _x p_c t_n g _v_r y_n_ t_ l_k_ t h_m [_r ] _n d_r s t_n d t h_m . " S h_ _d d_d : " W_ b_l__ v_ _t r_f l_c t s t h_ h_s p_t_l ' s m_s s__ n _f t_k_n g c_r_ _f t h_ h__ l t h c_r_ _f w_m_n _n d b_b__ s . " M r H_r s t s__ d : " C_l t_r_l l y , _t ' s t h_ f_r s t n_k_d s c_l p t_r_ _n t h_ M_d d l_ E_s t . I t ' s v_r y b r_v_. " H_ _d d_d : " T h_ j__ r n_y _ b_b y g__ s t h r__ g h b_f_r_ b_r t h _s b_g g_r t h_n _n y t h_n g _t w_l l _x p_r__ n c_ _n _t s h_m_n l_f_. I h_p_ t h_ s c_l p t_r_ w_l l _n s t_l l _n t h_ v__ w_r _ s_n s_ _f _w_ _n d w_n d_r _t t h_s _x t r__ r d_n_r y h_m_n p r_c_s s . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the new artwork was created by the british artist damien hirst he is famous for his art installations that include dead sharks and cows in clear plastic boxes his new modernart work is called the miraculous journey it consists of 14 giant bronze sculptures that show the beginning of human life from conception to birth the first exhibit shows a human sperm entering an egg the sculptures progress from the egg producing an embryo which then turns into a fetus in a giant womb the final sculpture is of a newborn baby the very detailed exhibits are between 5 and 14 meters high they have been installed in front of a womens healthcare center in qatar

    not everyone is happy with the sculptures they are very controversial in qatar layla ibrahim a qatari art specialist said they are not meant to be decorative they are meant to create debates we are not expecting everyone to like them or understand them she added we believe it reflects the hospitals mission of taking care of the healthcare of women and babies mr hirst said culturally its the first naked sculpture in the middle east its very brave he added the journey a baby goes through before birth is bigger than anything it will experience in its human life i hope the sculpture will instill in the viewer a sense of awe and wonder at this extraordinary human process"

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    AnewartworkhasbeenunveiledinDoha,Qatar.Thenewartworkwascre
    atedbytheBritishartistDamienHirst.Heisfamousforhisartinstallation
    sthatincludedeadsharksandcowsinclearplasticboxes.Hisnewmoder
    n-artworkiscalledTheMiraculousJourney.Itconsistsof14giantbronze
    sculpturesthatshowthebeginningofhumanlifefromconceptiontobirth
    .Thefirstexhibitshowsahumanspermenteringanegg.Thesculpturesp
    rogressfromtheeggproducinganembryo,whichthenturnsintoafetusi
    nagiantwomb.Thefinalsculptureisofanewbornbaby.Theverydetailed
    exhibitsarebetween5and14metershigh.Theyhavebeeninstalledinfro
    ntofawomen'shealthcarecenterinQatar.Noteveryoneishappywithth
    esculptures.TheyareverycontroversialinQatar.LaylaIbrahim,aQatar
    iartspecialist,said:"Theyarenotmeanttobedecorative,theyaremeant
    tocreatedebates.Wearenotexpectingeveryonetolikethem[or]under
    standthem."Sheadded:"Webelieveitreflectsthehospital'smissionoft
    akingcareofthehealthcareofwomenandbabies."MrHirstsaid:"Cultur
    ally,it'sthefirstnakedsculptureintheMiddleEast.It'sverybrave."Head
    ded:"Thejourneyababygoesthroughbeforebirthisbiggerthananythin
    gitwillexperienceinitshumanlife.Ihopethesculpturewillinstillinthevie
    werasenseofaweandwonderatthisextraordinaryhumanprocess."

    Free writing

    Write about sculptures for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Art isn't art unless it makes people think. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. SCULPTURES: Make a poster about sculptures. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. ART: Write a magazine article about art always having to make people think. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on sculptures. Ask him/her three questions about them. Give him/her three of your opinion of Damien Hirst's The Miraculous Journey artwork. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

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    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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