In this exercise, you need to read the text about Sonia Sotomayor on pages 36-37 and mark these sentences as true or false. Then, in pairs, you need to correct the false ones.

1. Sonia Sotomayor considers herself an extraordinary person.

**False**: *Sonia Sotomayor se considera una persona nada extraordinaria que tuvo oportunidades extraordinarias.*

Sonia Sotomayor considers herself a not-at-all extraordinary person who had extraordinary opportunities.

2. She knew every employee of the court, from the judges to the janitors.

**True**.

3. When she was little, Sonia wanted to be a detective like Nancy Drew.

**True**.

4. Her parents were New Yorkers.

**False**: *Sus padres eran puertorriqueños.*

Her parents were Puerto Rican.

5. Celina Sotomayor worked as an encyclopedia saleswoman to sustain her children.

**False**: *Celina Sotomayor trabajaba como enfermera para mantener a sus hijos.*

Celina Sotomayor worked as a nurse to sustain her children.

6. Sonia was the inspiration for a character in the TV show *Law and Order.*

**False**: *Robert Morgenthau fue la inspiración para un personaje en la serie de televisión Law and Order.*

Robert Morgenthau was the inspiration for a character in the TV show Law and Order.

In this exercise, you need to read the text about Sonia Sotomayor on pages 36-37, and answer these questions in pairs.

1. Do you think Sonia Sotomayor’s story is extraordinary? Why?

You could write:

*Sí, creo que es extraordinaria, porque supo aprovechar las oportunidades que recibió para llegar a la cima de su carrera a pesar de las circunstancias en contra.*

Yes, I think it’s extraordinary, because she could take advantage of the opportunities she received to reach the height of her career, despite the circunstances against her.

2. In what sense do you think her mother is “her life’s inspiration”?

You could write:

*Creo que su madre es la inspiración de su vida porque trabajaba muy duro para que Sonia y su hermano pudieran tener una buena vida.*

I think her mother is her life’s inspiration because she worked really hard so that Sonia and her brother could have a good life.

3. Do you think her career is proof that the American dream exists?

You could write:

*No, creo que su carrera es una prueba de su habilidad, inteligencia y perseverancia, y de que supo aprovechar la ayuda que recibió.*

No, I think her career is proof of her skill, inteligence and perseverance, and that she knew how to take advantage of the help she received.

4. Do you think she, as a woman and a Hispanic person, and with her life story, can ensure a better discussion in the Supreme Court? Why?

You could write:

*Creo que sí, porque una persona que atravesó todas las cosas que Sonia vivió como mujer hispana tiene una perspectiva más completa de las desventajas que puede tener la vida para algunas personas.*

I think she can, because somebody who went through everything Sonia lived as a Hispanic woman has a more complete perspective of the disadvantages life can have for some people.

5. Do you think life experience is more important, less important or equally important for people as the studies they have? Why?

You could write:

*Creo que son más importantes, porque una persona no aprende todo en la escuela o universidad, también aprende de la vida. Las experiencias de vida pueden hacer que seas una persona totalmente diferente, y pueden darte o quitarte oportunidades.*

I think they are more important, because a person doesn’t learn everything in school or college, they also learn from life. Life experiences can make you a completely different person, and they can give you opportunities or take them from you.

In this exercise, you need to read these quotes from the 2008 Presidential candidates, and comment them among yourselves. Then, you need to write at least four sentences about how you imagine Celina Sotomayor is, and what their children would say about this. Compare your descriptions with your classmates’.

You could write:

*Celina Sotomayor es una mujer muy dedicada. Ella quiere lo mejor para sus hijos, y va a trabajar para intentar dárselo. Sus hijos están muy agradecidos con ella por hacer su vida más fácil. Sonia y su hermano se sienten inspirados por su madre.*

Celina Sotomayor is a very dedicated woman. She wants what’s best for her children, and she’s going to work to try and give it to them. Her children are very thankful with the fact that she made their life easier. Sonia and her brother are inspired by their mother.

In this exercise, you need to write a blog entry in which you talk about a wise person you admire, describing their personality and history, and explaining why they are important to you.

You could write:

*Me siento inspirada por mi cantante favorita, Taylor Swift.*
*Taylor nació en un pueblo en Pensilvania, y empezó a escribir canciones y poemas de muy pequeña. Al ver su talento, sus padres se mudaron a Nashville para ayudarla a seguir su sueño.*
*Años después, ella es una mujer muy exitosa. Es dedicada y ambiciosa, pero también es genuina, amable y romántica. La admiro por su forma de poner en palabras sus sentimientos, y me inspira a escribir mis propias canciones.*

I feel inspired by my favorite singer, Taylor Swift.
Taylor was born in a town in Pennsilvania, and she started writing songs and poems when she was very little. Seeing her talent, her parents moved to Nashville to help her follow her dream.
Years later, she’s a very sucessful woman. She’s dedicated and ambitious, but she’s also genuine, kind and romantic. I admire her for her way of putting her feelings into words, and she inspires me to write my own songs.