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Unit 3. Fame



31.jpgLISTENING WARM-UP
Look at the photograph and answer the questions.
Key.The photo is of J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter books.
•    Do you recognize this woman?
•    Do you think she is rich and famous?


DEVELOP YOUR LISTENING SKILLS
Listening know-how ANTICIPATING AND PREDICTING
Развивайте умение прогнозировать содержание последующей репликисобеседника. Это умение вам очень поможет для понимания речи носителейязыка.


flag.jpgYou are going to listen to a talk about a well-known writer. Underlinewhich of the following words and phrases you expect to hear.
Key.Suggested answers:
best-selling author, story, readers, entertaining, make a fortune, characters

•  best-selling author
•  story
•  disappointing
•  readers
•  embarrassed
•  entertaining
•  make a fortune
•  characters


flag.jpgListen to the first part of the talk. Then try to predict what the speaker is going to talk about next.
Key.C 
In the next part, the speaker is probably going to talk about...
A   what life at Harry Potter's school is like.
В   some of the characters in the Harry Potter stories.
С   the early life of J.К. Rowling.

Tapescript

Voice:
Each of the Harry Potter books has been a great success and some of them have even been made into Hollywood films. Both children and adults seem to like the characters and the entertaining stories. The adventures of Harry Potter, the young wizard, and his friends at Hogwarts School have brought pleasure to millions of readers of all ages. But what about the creator of Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling? What is the story behind this best-selling author?
flag.jpgListen to the second part of the talk. As you listen, check your answerto Exercise B. Then try to predict what the speaker is going to talkabout next.
Key.C 
In the next part, the speaker is probably going to talk about...
A   Rowlings first success with Harry Potter.
В   what Rowlings life is like now.
С   what Rowling was like as a teenager.

Tapescript

Voice: Joanne Rowling was born in Chipping Sodbury, a small townin the west of England, near the city of Bristol. She always wanted tobe a writer, even from a very young age and would entertain her sister,Di, with her stories. When she was nine, her family moved to thecountryside and she and her sister used to spend their time playing inthe fields. When she went to secondary school, Joanne's favouritesubjects were English and foreign languages.
flag.jpgListen to the third part of the talk. As you listen, check your answer to Exercise С Then try to predict what the speaker is going to talk about next.
Key.A 
In the next part, the speaker is probably going to talk about...
A   what Rowling's life is like now.
В   how much Rowling enjoyed lessons at school.
С   what happens in the latest Harry Potter book.

Tapescript

Voice: She was a quiet, shy teenager and she often told herfriends stories during the break. These stories were usually aboutthemselves doing exciting things. As she got older, she continued towrite. She went to Exeter University where she studied French. Sheworked as a secretary for a short while before going to Portugal, whereshe taught English. All the time she was there she worked on her HarryPotter stories, but she had no idea that she would one day make afortune from her writing.
flag.jpgListen to the final part of the talk. As you listen, check your answer to Exercise D.

Tapescript

Voice: These days, J.K. Rowling lives with her children and husband in Scotland. She is one of the richest people in England and has won many awards for her books. People of all ages from all around the world can't wait for her to finish the next book so that they can find out what is happening to Harry Potter and his friends.
Listen to the whole talk again. Write a word or short phrase to complete these statements. 
Key.1    characters
2    Bristol
3    to the countryside
4    foreign languages
5    French
6    secretary
7    in Scotland
 
1.   Adults and children like the stories and ____________.
2.   Chipping Sodbury is a town near ____________.
3.   When she was nine, J.K. Rowling's family moved ____________.
4.   Rowling enjoyed English and ____________ at school.
5.   At university, she studied ____________.
6.   After working as a ____________, she went to teach English in Portugal.
7.   Nowadays, Rowling lives ____________ with her husband and children.

Tapescript

Each of the Harry Potter books has been a great success and some of themhave even been made into Hollywood films. Both children and adults seemto like the characters and the entertaining stories. The adventures ofHarry Potter, the young wizard, and his friends at Hogwarts School havebrought pleasure to millions of readers of all ages. But what about thecreator of Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling? What is the story behind thisbest-selling author?
Joanne Rowling was born in Chipping Sodbury, a small townin the west of England, near the city of Bristol. She always wanted tobe a writer, even from a very young age and would entertain her sister,Di, with her stories. When she was nine, her family moved to thecountryside and she and her sister used to spend their time playing inthe fields. When she went to secondary school, Joanne's favouritesubjects were English and foreign languages.
She was a quiet, shy teenager and she often told herfriends stories during the break. These stories were usually aboutthemselves doing exciting things. As she got older, she continued towrite. She went to Exeter University where she studied French. Sheworked as a secretary for a short while before going to Portugal, whereshe taught English. All the time she was there she worked on her HarryPotter stories, but she had no idea that she would one day make afortune from her writing.
These days, J.K. Rowling lives with her children and husband inScotland. She is one of the richest people in England and has won manyawards for her books. People of all ages from all around the world can'twait for her to finish the next book so that they can find out what ishappening to Harry Potter and his friends.



PRACTISE YOUR LISTENING SKILLS


flag.jpgYou are going to listen to four people talking about famous people theyadmire. Before you listen, complete the table using the key words andphrases from the box.
Key.Speaker 1: computer, program, software, PC
Speaker 2: prison, government, politics, President
Speaker 3: rocket, space shuttle, space
Speaker 4: act, film, cinema

32.jpg
prison, government, rocket, program, space shuttle, politics, act, PC, space, President, film, cinema, software

This speaker is talking about...
What key words and phrases do you expect to hear?
Speaker 1
Speaker 2
Speaker 3
Speaker 4
Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft    computer,
Nelson Mandela, South African politician   
John Glenn, American astronaut
Brad Pitt, Hollywood actor
computer, 
flag.jpgListen and check your answers to Exercise G. How many words and phrases did you predict correctly?

Speaker 1


Do you know who I've always admired? Bill Gates. He is the man who founded Microsoft, the computer software company. In the 1970s, he realized that one day everyone would have a PC on their desk and in their home and he started writing programs. His most successful idea was Windows. I think he's one of the richest men in the whole world now.

Speaker 2


I think one of my heroes is Nelson Mandela. He was born in 1918 in South Africa. When he grew up, he became involved in politics. At the time, the black people in South Africa faced a lot of problems from the white government. Mandela believed in using violence to change the situation and he was put in prison. He was in prison for 27 years, but he never lost hope. When he was released, he soon became the President of South Africa. I think his story teaches us that we should never give up.

Speaker 3


One of the most famous astronauts is John Glenn. He was the first American to go into space. That was in 1962. He went up in a rocket and went around the Earth three times. The most amazing thing about him is that he went into space again, 37 years later! He went on a space shuttle mission in 1998, when he was 77 years old. The aim was to study how being in space affects old people. I think it's great that he showed how you're never too old to do amazing things.

Speaker 4


The famous person I most admire is Brad Pitt. I think he can act really well. He was born in 1963 in Oklahoma and grew up in Missouri. He had a fairly normal, happy childhood and he loved films from a very young age. He was always at the cinema, watching whatever was playing. After university, where he studied journalism, he moved to California and spent all his spare money on acting lessons. He got some work in television and finally appeared in a major film in 1991. Now, he's one of Hollywood's top actors.

flag.jpgListen again and circle True or False.
Key.1  F
2  T
3  F  
4  F
 
1    Bill Gates started a company that made computers.
2    Nelson Mandela became president after being in prison.
3    John Glenn went back into space when he was 67.
4    Brad Pitt became interested in films when he moved to California. 
T / F
T / F
T / F
T / F

Speaker 1


Do you know who I've always admired? Bill Gates. Heis the man who founded Microsoft, the computer software company. In the1970s, he realized that one day everyone would have a PC on their deskand in their home and he started writing programs. His most successfulidea was Windows. I think he's one of the richest men in the whole worldnow.

Speaker 2


I think one of my heroes is NelsonMandela. He was born in 1918 in South Africa. When he grew up, he becameinvolved in politics. At the time, the black people in South Africafaced a lot of problems from the white government. Mandela believed inusing violence to change the situation and he was put in prison. He wasin prison for 27 years, but he never lost hope. When he was released, hesoon became the President of South Africa. I think his story teaches usthat we should never give up.

Speaker 3


One of the mostfamous astronauts is John Glenn. He was the first American to go intospace. That was in 1962. He went up in a rocket and went around theEarth three times. The most amazing thing about him is that he went intospace again, 37 years later! He went on a space shuttle mission in1998, when he was 77 years old. The aim was to study how being in spaceaffects old people. I think it's great that he showed how you're nevertoo old to do amazing things.

Speaker 4


The famous person Imost admire is Brad Pitt. I think he can act really well. He was bornin 1963 in Oklahoma and grew up in Missouri. He had a fairly normal,happy childhood and he loved films from a very young age. He was alwaysat the cinema, watching whatever was playing. After university, where hestudied journalism, he moved to California and spent all his sparemoney on acting lessons. He got some work in television and finallyappeared in a major film in 1991. Now, he's one of Hollywood's topactors.
pair.jpgIn pairs, describe a famous person you admire and explain why. Your partner must guess who he/she is.




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