Famous People

EMEL ÇOBAN 060510133 3/A

• PAPARAZZI: Imagine, you are a famous star. Everyone in the street recognizes you. The paparazzi constantly follow you and photograph your every move. Talk to the other “stars” in the class about being famous. What do you think of the paparazzi? In what ways is your life not normal?

A FAMOUS MODEL Claudia Schiffer Read the list of adjectives and identify which are used to describe physical appearance and which describe character. Then read the text and fill in the blanks. Finally, give the paragraph plan. Where could this piece of writing be found? • • • • • • • • • •

intelligent heart-shaped tall generous sociable successful sparkling straight slim shoulder-length

Claudia Schiffer is a very successful German super-model. She has appeared on the covers and fashion pages of all the major fashion magazines and is one of the faces of Channel. Claudia, now in her mid-twenties, is a very beautiful women. She has a………. figure and is…………with very long legs. Her most stunning feature, though, is her attractive………..face with her……..eyes and ………nose. At the moment she has………….. blond hair but its style and colors are often changed to suit each modeling assignment.

Not only is Claudia is a professional model, but she is also a very ………….businesswoman. She has her own fitness video and is a partner in he new chain of “Fashion Cafes”. She is also very………, spending a lot of her time working with various charity organizations helping children in need. Claudia is …………too, and likes being with famous people. When Claudia is not modeling or doing charity work, she likes reading and watching old films. She also enjoys going to parties, but she rarely stays out late. Although Claudia’s popularity as a model rises and falls with the season (as it does for all supermodels) Claudia is so beautiful, talented and most of all……….. That she will be famous for a long time to come.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING 1.

TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.

Britney Spears allowed her baby son to drive her car at 80 kph.

T/F

b. c.

Ms. Spears has admitted her actions were dangerous.

T/F T/F

d.

Ms. Spears said a photographer tried to move her.

T/F

e.

In California, children up to the age of six must use child seats in cars.

T/F

f.

Los Angeles police visited Ms. Spears at her home after the incident.

T/F

g.

A family group has said Ms. Spears’ actions were understandable.

T/F

A photo agency said its photographers were not aggressive.

Answers • • • • • • • •

a. F b. T c. F d. T e. T f. T g. F h. F

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

A B C D E F G H I J

headlines snapped admitted protect pics breaking penalty question angry matter

confessed quiz photographs violating fine photographed furious news incident shield

Answers • • • • • • • • • • •

SYNONYM MATCH: a. headline- snews b. snapped-photographed c. admitted-confessed d. protect-shield e. pics-photographs f. breaking-violating g. penalty-fine h. question-quiz i. angry-furious j. matter-incident

WHILE READING / LISTENING

GAP FILL: Put the words in the column on the right into the gaps in the text. Pop singer Britney Spears is in the __________ for the wrong reasons again. Photographers ________ her driving her car with her fourmonth-old son on her lap. Ms. Spears has ________ that her actions were dangerous. However, she has ________ the paparazzi for being aggressive toward her. She said the photographers follow her every ________. She added that she feels she is always trying to ________ from them. Ms. Spears said she put her son on her lap to ________ him from the media. The agency that took the pics said the “photographers ________ no aggressive behavior.”

escape admitted move headlines exhibited snapped blamed protect

Spears may have to go to court for ________ traffic safety laws. California law ________ children to sit in a child-safety seat until they are at ________ 6 years old or weigh 27 kg. A police spokesperson said Ms. Spears knew this and may have to pay a ________. He said a deputy sheriff had already visited Spears’ Malibu home. The Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services asked the police to ________ Ms. Spears. The group is angry at the dangerous example ________ by the singer. The ________ is now in the ________ of the LA Police Department.

question matter requires penalty set breaking hands least

LISTENING Listen and fill in the spaces.

•

Britney Spears admits baby driving mistake

Pop singer Britney Spears is in the __________ for the wrong headlines reasons again. Photographers snapped her driving her car with her fourmonth-old son on her lap. Ms. Spears admitted has __________ that her actions were dangerous. However, she has blamed the paparazzi for being aggressive __________ toward her. She said the photographers follow her every move. She added that she feels she is always trying to escape ________ from them. Ms. Spears said she put her son on her _____ to lap protect him from the media. The agency that took the pics said the “photographers exhibited no behavior aggressive ___________.”

• Spears may have to go to court for breaking ________ traffic safety laws. California law requires children to sit in a child-safety seat until they least are at ________ 6 years old or weigh 27 kg. A police spokesperson said Ms. Spears knew this and may have to pay a ________. penalty. He said a deputy sheriff had already visited Spears’ Malibu home. The Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services asked the police to question ________ Ms. Spears. The group is angry at the dangerous example ________ by the singer. The matter is set now in the ________ of the LA Police hands Department.

How would you describe your favorite actor or actress? Handsome Comely Plain Overrated Impeccable Boring Extrovert Sophisticated Agile Sinister Multi-talented Beautiful Absurd Versatile Ironic Glamorous Idiotic

Woody Allen Marilyn Monroe Roberto Benigni Anthony Hopkins Judy Foster Dustin Hoffman Jim Carey Demi Moore Arnold Schwarzeneger Sophia Loren Bruce Willis Will Smith Meg Ryan Tom Hanks You choose! You choose! You choose!

As a class, go through the list of actors and actresses and discuss which adjectives they have chosen to describe the various actors and actresses. As a follow up activity choose an actor or actress that you are very familiar with and write a description of the various films that he/she has done using the various descriptive adjectives from the list, as well as others that you know or look up in a dictionary.

Compare and contrast the following well-known people. Write a few paragraphs and during writing take note of the pictures of them and the following clues under the photos.

•

Listen and fill in the spaces. Would you like your children to follow the same _______________________ career path as yours? According to the USA's 'People' magazine, it seems Tom Cruise does. His son Connor _______________________ is following in his famous father's footsteps by appearing in a Hollywood movie. He follows a long tradition of children following their parents' example and taking up _______________________ acting. Many Hollywood kids _______________________ grow up to be famous stars like their mothers and fathers. •Connor, aged 13, made his debut in March in a new Will Smith movie called 'Seven Pounds'. Connor plays the part of Will Smith's character when he was a child. It's ________________ a minor role but could be ___ the beginning of a major acting career. Connor is the youngest child of screen superstars ___________________ Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. The two actors adopted him in 1995 but split up and divorced five ______________________ years later.

•

'People' magazine reported that Connor _______________________ had to audition for the role along with other child actors. The magazine wrote that "Tom is so proud of Connor…for really doing this on his own." In truth, Connor didn't have _______________________ his to do a whole lot in debut role. He spent just two days finishing his part _______________________ photographs. Reports and is mostly shown in are that he doesn't speak in the film. Even though he auditioned for the part, probably helped his chances it ______________________ a little that his Dad and Will Smith are best friends. Tom Cruise has done his best to shield ______________________his son from the limelight. He has stayed very quiet about Connor's first acting job. Hollywood is now full of gossip and rumours about who will get the first exclusive ______________________Connor Cruise interview. The movie tells the tale of a man, Will Smith, who affects the lives of _______________________ seven strangers.

ROLE-PLAY: Interview

•

Prepare for a role-play in which a journalist interviews a famous celebrity who has just retired from show business. Read the role-play information in the boxes below.

Celebrity

You have had a long career in show business and an important magazine wants to interview you about your life and career. Decide which area of show business you worked in – film, TV, music... . Then, imagine your life and make notes. Use the topics below to help you.

Childhood How you got started in show business Your greatest successes Your biggest failures Your best times Your worst times The joys of fame The drawbacks of fame

Your early career Your personal life Money Creativity / talent

Journalist Prepare to interview a celebrity (your partner) who has come to the end of his/her career. Think of some questions to ask. Use the topics below to help you.

His/her childhood How he/she got started in show business His/her early career Success and failure Good and bad times His/her personal life Money The good and bad things about fame Creativity / talent

Investigation into a Famous Life As an investigative reporter you will need to take responsibility for tracking your own progress and to really come to grips with your assignment. We want a well researched investigation that shows you have got under the skin of your chosen famous person.

Choose the famous person • Write down four information sources you will get information from. Two must be written and one must involve communication media. 1.____________________________ 2.____________________________ 3.____________________________ 4.-___________________________ Write three investigation questions that show your thinking about the topic 1.____________________________ 2.____________________________ 3.____________________________

• • • • •

Design your concept map and add to it to make it complete over time A timeline summarizing the ten most important dates about your person A picture/drawing of them A couple of paragraphs about their life in general. Your answers to the questions below and your one’s above. Put this information into a sensible or logical order. Ask yourself which information will help support new insights? Which information will be thrown away?

Britain’s Prince Harry to serve in Iraq Firstly listen then change the passage opposite using the opposite of the adjectives.

Britain’s Ministry of Defence announced on Thursday that 22-year-old Prince Harry would be going to serve in Iraq. The announcement was made on the _____ _____day the British government declared it would reduce the number of its troops serving in Iraq by 1,600. Prince Harry, __________of the ______Diana, Princess of Wales, said he was "over the moon" at the news of his posting. His grandmother, the British Queen, gave her approval to his deployment. The Prince will become the _______British royal to go to a war zone and see _______line action since Prince Andrew, Harry’s uncle, fought in the Falklands War in 1982. Harry is third in line to the throne. He will be a tank commander and lead a troop of 12 men for six months. However, it is not expected the ______ will be assigned to ________areas.

Prince Harry has ____made his intentions ______that he wanted to be a career soldier and would go wherever his regiment went. He reportedly threatened to quit the British Army if he were not allowed to do his public duty and stand and fight ________his comrades. His wish has now come _____and he could be heading to Iraq _____ two months. The media will be banned from reporting on his whereabouts to reduce the chances of the prince becoming a terrorist target. British Prime Minister Tony Blair was full of praise for Harry. “He's a very _________________and he's __________________man who wants to be part of the Army,” Blair told the BBC. He added: “I think that shows ______________ character on his part.” Harry’s Iraq duty will certainly alter his ___________ image of the underage drinker and marijuana-smoking, _______ prince.

SPEAKING 1. Discuss these questions with your partner. • a. Who do you think are the five most famous living people in the world, from the world of show business i.e. films, music etc.? • b. Can you think of five other people who are famous, but less famous than your first five? • c. Are there people who are famous in your country who are probably not famous around the world? • d. Why do you think people want to become famous?