Unit 21: Famous People

Expanding Tactics for Listening, 3rd Edition » Unit 21: Famous People

Word List

advertisements
assistant
athlete
award
biography
chief
elected
famous
Indiana
inspired
inventor
legend
modeling
newcomer
non-violent
organization
peaceful
physics
prison
reggae
released
retired
scientist
symbol
Academy Award
African American
African National Congress (ANC)
beauty pageants
become independent
deputy president
famous people
horror stories
made (someone) famous
political life
school plays
sentenced to life
stage acting
starring role
State President
the Mona Lisa

Vocabulary Worksheet

‣ Part 1: Read the definitions and unscramble the words below.

a. famous
b. invent
c. athlete
d. scientist
e. advertisement
f. newcomer
g. inspired
h. prison
i. elected
j. retired

someone who is good at sports
teelaht _____
where most criminals are sent
nposir _____
to create something entirely new
nevtin _____
encouraged to act by someone or something
repsindi _____
voted into a government office
teclede _____
a new participant in some activity
menworec _____
extremely popular among many people
somafu _____
no longer working, by choice
tredire _____
a way of promoting a product in media
esitnamdevret _____
someone who studies biology, physics, or similar subjects
sinetsits _____

‣ Part 2: Complete the sentences. Use the words from Part 1.

a. famous
b. invent
c. athlete
d. scientist
e. advertisement
f. newcomer
g. inspired
h. prison
i. elected
j. retired

Martin wanted to _____ something totally new.
The thief was sent to _____ for his crimes.
On his first day at school, the _____ was welcomed by his classmates.
Jessica often dreams of becoming a _____ actor.
The director's latest film was _____ by his trip to Africa.
The _____ was busy doing research in his laboratory.
After 30 years of hard work, Frank finally _____ from his business.
A professional _____ must train many hours every day to stay strong.
The _____ made Lisa want to buy the new product.
On Tuesday, the people voted and _____ a new prime minister.

Answer Key

Match the famous people on the left with the description on the right.

Leonardo da Vinci
Morzart _____
Norma Jean Baker _____
Ronald Reagan _____
Bill Gates _____
Amelia Earhart _____

a. She changed her name to Marilyn Monroe.
b. He was an actor who became a U.S. president.
c. He founded Microsoft and started a charity for education.
d. He wrote his first piece of music at the age of five.
e. He painted the Mona Lisa.
f. She was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic.

Listening 1

Listening 1 ‣ These conversation are about famous people. Listen and circle each famous person's job.

- a. political leader
- b. actress
- a. political leader
- b. writer
- a. actor
- b. writer
- a. painter
- b. athlete
- a. actor
- b. singer
- a. singer
- b. scientist

Listening 2

‣ Task 1

A writer is talking about the life of the actor James Dean. Did these events in Dean's life happen in Indiana, California, or New York? Listen and check (x) the correct answer.

	Indiana	California	New York
1. Hes was born.	⁽¹⁾	⁽²⁾	⁽³⁾
2. His mother passed away.	⁽⁴⁾_____	⁽⁵⁾_____	⁽⁶⁾_____
3. He lived with his aunt and uncle.	⁽⁷⁾_____	⁽⁸⁾_____	⁽⁹⁾_____
4. He went to college.	⁽¹⁰⁾_____	⁽¹¹⁾_____	⁽¹²⁾_____
5. He did more state acting.	⁽¹³⁾_____	⁽¹⁴⁾_____	⁽¹⁵⁾_____
6. He died in a car crash.	⁽¹⁶⁾_____	⁽¹⁷⁾_____	⁽¹⁸⁾_____

‣ Task 2

Listen again. How did James Dean become famous? Number the events from 1 to 6.

He won an award as "Most Promising Newcomer." _____
He had a starring role in East of Eden. _____
He acted in school plays.
He went to college. _____
Rebel Without a Cause made him famous. _____
He did modeling for advertisements. _____

Listening 3

‣ Task 1

This person is talking about the life of South African leader Nelson Mandela. When did these events happen? Listen and write the years.

He was born: 1918 .
He joined the ANC in: _____.
He became deputy president of the ANC in: _____.
He was sentenced to life in prison in: _____.
He was released from prison in: _____.
He became State President in: _____.
He retired in: _____.

‣ Task 2

Listen again. Are these statements true or false? Check (x) the correct answer.

	True	False
1. Mandela's father was an assistant to a chief.	⁽¹⁾	⁽²⁾
2. Mandela studied law.	⁽³⁾_____	⁽⁴⁾_____
3. The ANC encouraged people to be violent.	⁽⁵⁾_____	⁽⁶⁾_____
4. Mandela helped poor people stay on the land where they lived.	⁽⁷⁾_____	⁽⁸⁾_____
5. South Africans forgot about him while he was in prison.	⁽⁹⁾_____	⁽¹⁰⁾_____
6. As soon as he was released from prison, he retired.	⁽¹¹⁾_____	⁽¹²⁾_____

✺ Pronunciation

Reduction of could you, would you, and did you

Pronunciation Help
How we spell it	How we say it
could you	couldja
would you	wouldja
did you	didja

‣ Task 1

Listen and repeat.

1. Would you hand me that book on the table?
2. Could you pass the salt and pepper?
3. What did you do?
4. What would you do if you saw a famous actor?
5. Could you sign your book for me?
6. Did you get his autograph?

‣ Task 2

Read the questions to a partner. Be sure to reduce could you, would you, and did you.

✺ Dictation

‣ Task 1

Listen to the conversation. Write the missing words.

A: So what ⁽¹⁾_____ ⁽²⁾_____ ⁽³⁾_____ this weekend?
B: My friends and I went to Los Angeles for the weekend.
A: Oh, really? Did ⁽⁴⁾_____ ⁽⁵⁾_____ ⁽⁶⁾_____ famous?
B: Yeah! We saw Leonardo DiCaprio in a cafe and Jackie Chan walking down the street!
A: No way! Did you get their autographs?
B: No. We were too shy to ask. What ⁽⁷⁾_____ ⁽⁸⁾_____ ⁽⁹⁾_____ if you saw someone famous? Would you ask for an autograph?
A: Maybe. I was at a restaurant once, and I took picture of ⁽¹⁰⁾_____ ⁽¹¹⁾_____ ⁽¹²⁾_____!

‣ Task 2

Practice the conversation with a partner. Be sure to reduce could you, would you, and did you.

✺ Conversation

Work in pairs. Imagine a famous movie star comes to your city or town. Talk to your partner about where they would go and what they would do.

Answer Key

Favorite Books

Basic Tactics for Listening, 3rd Edition

Tactics for Listening Third Edition is an activity-rich listening course with proven success in building skills in listening and conversation. Now with Tactics for Testing, it provides plenty of practice in testing and exam techniques. The result is confident listeners - and exam success.

Developing Tactics for Listening, 3rd Edition

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