Speed Reading — Sanae Takaichi - Level 3 — 300 wpm

Now do this put-the-text-back-together activity.


This is the text (if you need help).

Japan has its first ever female prime minister. Her name is Sanae Takaichi. She was elected as the country's 104th prime minister on Tuesday. She won 237 votes in the lower house of Japan's Diet (parliament). Her opponent, Yoshihiko Noda, won 149 votes. Ms Takaichi takes over from former leader Shigeru Ishiba. He was in power for just one year. Takaichi is head of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). To get enough votes to win the election, she had to make an alliance with the right-wing Japan Innovation Party. She has a tough job ahead of her. Japanese people are unhappy about rising prices, job security, a falling birth rate, and how to care for the increasing number of old people.

Sanae Takaichi, 64, has led an interesting life. At university, she played drums in a heavy metal rock band. She likes sport and supports the Gamba Osaka soccer team and the Hanshin Tigers baseball team. She was interested in motorcycles and had a powerful Kawasaki Z400 motorbike. In 1987, Takaichi moved to the USA and wrote books about American politics. In 1989, she worked as a TV anchor on a variety show. Women in Japan hope Takaichi's background means she will support gender equality and diversity. However, she opposes same-sex marriage and allowing separate surnames for married couples. In addition, she does not agree that a woman should become emperor ahead of a man.

Comprehension questions
  1. How many votes did Sanae Takaichi win to become prime minister?
  2. How long was former prime minister Shigeru Ishiba in power for?
  3. What kind of party did Sanae Takaichi make an alliance with?
  4. What kind of job does the article say Sanae Takaichi has?
  5. What are Japanese people worried about the security of?
  6. What kind of life does the article say Sanae Takaichi has had?
  7. What two sports does Sanae Takaichi like?
  8. What did Sanae Takaichi write books about?
  9. What did Sanae Takaichi work as in 1989?
  10. What do women hope Sanae Takaichi will support besides diversity?

Back to the Sanae Takaichi lesson.

More Activities