Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Amy Winehouse. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Amy Jade Winehouse was an English singer and songwriter. She was known for her marvelous voice and controversial private life. She debuted in 2003 at the age of 20 with the album ‘Frank’. It set her on the road to fame. Music lovers everywhere were excited about her talents and how her career would progress. She was one of music’s hottest stars but constantly battled against drugs and alcohol.
She grew up in a family that loved jazz. Her musical talents were clear to see from a very young age. Aged ten, she formed a rap group called Sweet 'n' Sour with a childhood friend. She got her first guitar when she was 13 and she began writing music. She signed to a major record label after they heard her distinctive voice.
Winehouse’s second album “Back To Black” made her an acclaimed international star. She won dozens of awards, including five at the 2008 Grammy’s. Some of the biggest names in rock were waiting to collaborate with her. George Michael said: "Amy is the best female vocalist I have ever heard in my entire career, as well as one of the best writers."
Winehouse was constantly the focus of media attention. She couldn’t escape the reporters who followed her every move. She has given them good reason to write about her. Her battles with drug and alcohol abuse and her self-destructive behaviour was often tabloid news. The world has lost an amazing talent who had so much more incredible music to offer. She died in July, 2011, aged 27.
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted biographies.
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SYNONYM MATCH
Match the words from the article on the left with their synonyms on the right. Are your answers the same as other students’?
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
marvelous
a.
unique
2
debuted
b.
develop
3.
progress
c.
started
4.
clear
d.
wonderful
5.
formed
e.
made her first appearance
6.
distinctive
f.
obvious
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
acclaimed
g.
continually
8.
collaborate
h.
whole
9.
entire
i.
damaging
10.
constantly
j.
admired
11
destructive
k
amazing
12
incredible
l
work together
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
1.
singer and
a.
see from a very young age
2
the road
b.
drug and alcohol abuse
3.
Her musical talents were clear to
c.
dozens of awards
4.
she formed
d.
to fame
5.
her distinctive
e.
to collaborate with her
6.
She won
f.
songwriter
7.
the biggest names in rock were waiting
g.
was often tabloid news
8.
She couldn’t escape the reporters
h.
voice
9.
Her battles with
i.
a rap group
10.
her self destructive behaviour
j.
who followed her every move
LISTENING GAP FILL
Amy Jade Winehouse was an English ___________________. She was known for her marvelous voice and controversial private life. ________________ 2003 at the age of 20 with the album ‘Frank’. It ________________ to fame. Music lovers everywhere were excited about her talents ________________ would. She was one of music’s hottest stars but constantly battled against drugs and alcohol.
She grew up in a family ________________. Her musical talents were ________________ a very young age. Aged ten, she formed a rap group called Sweet 'n' Sour with a childhood friend. She got her first guitar when she was 13 and she ________________. She signed to a major record label after they ________________ voice.
Winehouse’s second album “Back To Black” made ________________ international star. She ________________ awards, including five at the 2008 Grammy’s. Some of the biggest names in rock were _________________ with her. George Michael said: "Amy is the best female vocalist I have ever heard ________________, as well as one of the best writers."
Winehouse was constantly ________________ attention. She couldn’t escape the reporters ________________ move. She has given them good reason to write about her. She ________________ and alcohol abuse and her self destructive behaviour is often tabloid news. The world has lost an _____________________ had so much more incredible music to offer. She died in July, 2011, aged 27.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
Amy Jade Winehouse was an English singer and songwriter. She was known / know for her marvelous voice and controversial private live / life. She debuted / debut in 2003 at the age of 20 with the album ‘Frank’. It set her on the road to fame. Music lovers everywhere were excited about her talents and how her career would progressive / progress. She was one of music’s hottest stars but constantly battled against drugs and alcohol.
She grew up in a family that loved / loving jazz. Her musical talents were clearly / clear to see from a very young age. Aged ten, she formed a rap group called Sweet 'n' Sour with a childhood friend. She got her first guitar when she was 13 and she began wrote / writing music. She signed to a major record label after they heard / listened her distinctive voice.
Winehouse’s second album “Back To Black” made her an acclaimed international star. She beat / won dozens of awards, including five at the 2008 Grammy’s. Some of the biggest names in / on rock were waiting to collaborate with her. George Michael said: "Amy is the best female vocals / vocalist I have ever heard in my entire / entirely career, as well as one of the best writers."
Winehouse was constantly the focus of media / medium attention. She couldn’t escaped / escape the reporters who followed her every move. She has given them good reason to writing / write about her. Her battles with drug and alcohol abuse and her self destructive behaviour was often tabloid news. The world has lost an amazing talent who had so much more incredible / incredibly music to offer. She died in July, 2011, aged 27.
SPELLING
These jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
singer and wosretgrni
2.
controversial vripaet life
3.
Music lovers everywhere
4.
one of music’s ehtttso stars
Paragraph 2
5.
a family that dovle jazz
6.
she efodrm a rap group
7.
She got her first itragu when she was 13
8.
her distinctive eivoc
Paragraph 3
9.
She won snozde of awards
10.
naigiwt to collaborate with her
11.
the best female covsailt I have ever heard
12.
in my tniree career
Paragraph 4
13.
constantly the usfoc of media attention
14.
She couldn’t caspee the reporters
15.
Her ttelbas with drug and alcohol abuse
16.
so much more incredible music to forer
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
writing music. She signed to a major record label after they heard her distinctive voice.
( 1 )
Amy Jade Winehouse was an English singer and songwriter. She was known for her marvelous
( )
Winehouse was constantly the focus of media attention. She couldn’t escape the reporters who followed her every move. She has
( )
progress. She was one of music’s hottest stars but constantly battled against drugs and alcohol.
( )
Winehouse’s second album “Back To Black” made her an acclaimed international star. She won dozens of
( )
tabloid news. The world has lost an amazing talent who had so much more incredible music to offer. She died in July, 2011, aged 27.
( )
voice and controversial private life. She debuted in 2003 at the age of 20 with the album ‘Frank’. It set her on the road
( )
to collaborate with her. George Michael said: "Amy is the best female vocalist I have
( )
ever heard in my entire career, as well as one of the best writers."
( )
awards, including five at the 2008 Grammy’s. Some of the biggest names in rock were waiting
( )
called Sweet 'n' Sour with a childhood friend. She got her first guitar when she was 13 and she began
( )
given them good reason to write about her. Her battles with drug and alcohol abuse and her self-destructive behaviour was often
( )
She grew up in a family that loved jazz. Her musical talents were clear to see from a very young age. Aged ten, she formed a rap group
( )
to fame. Music lovers everywhere were excited about her talents and how her career would
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
and English songwriter singer an
2.
about excited were everywhere lovers Music talents her
3.
one music’s stars was of hottest She
4.
She family grew that up loved in jazz a
5.
a record She to major label signed
6.
with her the biggest names in rock were waiting to collaborate
7.
have I vocalist female best the heard ever
8.
constantly attention media of focus the
9.
and abuse battles drug alcohol Her with
10.
talent world lost amazing The has an.
DISCUSSION (Write your questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Amy Winehouse?
2.
What do you think of Amy Winehouse’s?
3.
What would you like to know about Amy Winehouse and why?
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about Amy Winehouse. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. AMY WINEHOUSE POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Amy Winehouse. Show your poster to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all find out similar things?
4. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Amy Winehouse. Include an imaginary interview with her fans.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
5. OBITUARY: Write an obituary about Amy Winehouse.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
marvelous
a.
wonderful
2
debuted
b.
made her first appearance
3.
progress
c.
develop
4.
clear
d.
obvious
5.
formed
e.
started
6.
distinctive
f.
unique
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
acclaimed
g.
admired
8.
collaborate
h.
work together
9.
entire
i.
whole
10.
constantly
j.
continually
11
destructive
k
damaging
12
incredible
l
amazing
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
singer and
a.
songwriter
2
the road
b.
to fame
3.
Her musical talents were clear to
c.
see from a very young age
4.
she formed
d.
a rap group
5.
her distinctive
e.
voice
6.
She won
f.
dozens of awards
7.
the biggest names in rock were waiting
g.
to collaborate with her
8.
She couldn’t escape the reporters
h.
who followed her every move
9.
Her battles with
i.
drug and alcohol abuse
10.
her self destructive behaviour
j.
was often tabloid news
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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