Sixth Grade
Worksheets
Fame Can Be Found in Many Ways
Fame can come to a person in many different ways. Most people think of fame coming to athletes or entertainers, but there are other ways to become famous. Following are a few examples of immigrants to the United States who have become famous in their own right.
Bette Bao Lord is a writer. You may have read some of her books. One of the most popular books she has written is called In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson. In this book she tells of a small girl from China who must overcome many difficulties while trying to make a new home in the United States. The story is based on the real life of Bette Bao Lord. Bette was born in 1938 in Shanghai, China. She came to the United States when she was just eight years old. Her father had been sent to America to purchase machinery for the Chinese government. While Bette's family was here, the Communist Party took over the government in China. Bette and her family were unable to return to their homeland. Making a new home in America was hard for Bette. In later years she was able to put her thoughts in writing. Her first novel was called Spring Moon. Her latest book follows seventy years of Chinese history. This book is called The Middle Heart. Bette spends much of her time promoting democracy in countries that are not democratic nations.
Madeline Albright made history by being appointed as the first woman United States Secretary of State. Marie Jana Korbelova was born in 1937 in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Her family fled to London in 1939 when Germany took over her homeland. Her father was a diplomat for the Czech government, and his life was in danger. Marie took the name Madeline from the nickname she was given as a child. Her family moved to the United States in 1948. Her father took a job as dean at the University of Denver. Madeline attended school in Switzerland and Denver before receiving a degree in political science from Wellesley College in Massachusetts. She seemed destined to follow in her father's footsteps as a diplomat. She became an American citizen in 1957. She speaks fluent English, Czech, French, and Russian. She is also able to speak and read some German, Polish, and Serbian. Madeline became an advisor on international affairs to the Democratic Party. She was noticed by President Clinton who appointed her as the American ambassador to the United Nations. President Clinton later appointed her to the job of Secretary of State.
