Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Beyonce. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Beyonce Giselle Knowles was born in Texas in 1981. She grew up singing and dancing and quickly developed the qualities that would make her an international superstar. Her talents were discovered by her dance teacher while she was a church choir soloist. She took Beyonce to local talent competitions, where she won no fewer than 30 of them.
Beyonce decided to form a singing group. She asked her best friend LaTavia Roberson to join her. She also invited along a cousin and a friend and together they formed a quartet called 'Destiny's Child'. Beyonce’s father saw their potential and quit his well-paid job to become the group’s manager. They shot to fame as the most successful female group of all time.
It was touch and go at the beginning whether or not her father’s financial risk would pay off. In 1997, they signed with Columbia Records and their debut single, ‘Killing Time’, was the soundtrack to the film ‘Men In Black’. They recorded hit after hit and won dozens of awards. Beyonce went solo in 2000 and her career continued to take off.
Knowles won five awards at the 2004 Grammy Awards and a BRIT Award for International Female Solo Artist. She has recorded with the biggest names in music. Her career also went off in different directions. She became the first singer ever to model for ‘Sports Illustrated’ magazine and appeared in many movies. In April 2008, she married her long-time sweetheart, rapper Jay-Z.
245 words
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.
developed
a.
rose
2
talents
b.
found
3.
discovered
c.
foursome
4.
form
d.
built up
5.
quartet
e.
create
6.
shot
f.
skills
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
touch and go
g.
prizes
8.
pay off
h.
beloved
9.
awards
i.
acted
10.
names
j.
be successful
11
appeared
k
considered
12
sweetheart
l
stars
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
qualities that would make her
a.
formed a quartet
2
she won no fewer than
b.
long-time sweetheart
3.
Beyonce decided to form
c.
go at the beginning
4.
together they
d.
an international superstar
5.
They shot
e.
names in music
6.
It was touch and
f.
a singing group
7.
her father’s financial risk would
g.
after hit
8.
They recorded hit
h.
pay off
9.
recorded with the biggest
i.
to fame
10.
she married her
j.
30 of them
LISTENING GAP FILL
Beyonce Giselle Knowles was born in Texas in 1981. __________________ and dancing and __________________ qualities that would make her an international superstar. Her talents were discovered by her dance teacher while she was a __________________. She took Beyonce to local talent competitions, where she __________________ 30 of them.
Beyonce __________________ singing group. She asked her best friend LaTavia Roberson to join her. She __________________ cousin and a friend and together they formed a quartet called 'Destiny's Child'. Beyonce’s father __________________ quit his well-paid job to become the group’s manager. They __________________ successful female group of all time.
It _____________________ beginning whether or not her father’s financial __________________. In 1997, they signed with Columbia Records and their debut single, ‘Killing Time’, was the soundtrack to the film ‘Men In Black’. They recorded __________________ dozens of awards. Beyonce went solo in 2000 and her career __________________.
Knowles __________________ 2004 Grammy Awards and a BRIT Award for International Female Solo Artist. She has recorded __________________ in music. Her career __________________ different directions. She became the first singer ever to model for ‘Sports Illustrated’ magazine and appeared in many movies. In April 2008, she __________________ sweetheart, rapper Jay-Z.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics:
Beyonce Giselle Knowles was born in Texas in 1981. She grown / grew up singing and dancing and quickly developing / developed the qualities that would make her an international superstar. Her talents were discovered with / by her dance teacher while she was a church choir soloist. She took Beyonce to local talent competitions, where she won no few / fewer than 30 of them.
Beyonce decided to form / formed a singing group. She asked her best friend LaTavia Roberson to join her. She also invited long / along a cousin and a friend and together they formed a quartet called 'Destiny's Child'. Beyonce’s father saw their / there potential and quit his well-paid job to become the group’s manager. They shot to fame / famous as the most successful female group of all time.
It was touch and bye-bye / go at the beginning whether or not her father’s financial risk would pay off / on. In 1997, they signed with Columbia Records and their debut single, ‘Killing Time’, was the soundtrack to the film ‘Men In Black’. They recorded hit before / after hit and won dozens of awards. Beyonce went solo in 2000 and her career continued to take / give off.
Knowles won five awards at / for the 2004 Grammy Awards and a BRIT Award for International Female Solo Artist. She has recorded with the biggest / largest names in music. Her career also went off in different directions / direction. She became the first singer ever to model for ‘Sports Illustrated’ magazine and appearance / appeared in many movies. In April 2008, she married her long-time sweetheart, rapper Jay-Z.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
She grew up ninsigg and dancing
2.
the auesilqit that would make her an international superstar
3.
a church choir soitosl
4.
she won no ewrfe than 30 of them
Paragraph 2
5.
She also eiitvdn along a cousin
6.
they fedorm a quartet called 'Destiny's Child'
7.
Beyonce’s father saw their anpoittel
8.
They htso to fame
Paragraph 3
9.
It was utcoh and go at the beginning
10.
they eisgnd with Columbia Records
11.
They errecdod hit after hit
12.
her eacrre continued to take off.
Paragraph 4
13.
Knowles won five wrsada
14.
She has recorded with the ebgtigs names in music
15.
the first singer ever to eomdl for ‘Sports Illustrated’
16.
she married her long-time athwsreete, rapper Jay-Z.
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
Knowles won five awards at the 2004 Grammy Awards and a BRIT Award for
( )
off. In 1997, they signed with Columbia Records and their debut single, ‘Killing Time’, was the soundtrack to the film ‘Men In Black’. They recorded hit
( )
after hit and won dozens of awards. Beyonce went solo in 2000 and her career continued to take off.
( )
qualities that would make her an international superstar. Her talents were discovered by her dance teacher while
( )
different directions. She became the first singer ever to model for
( )
Beyonce decided to form a singing group. She asked her best friend LaTavia Roberson to join
( )
called 'Destiny's Child'. Beyonce’s father saw their potential and quit his well-paid job to become the group’s manager. They shot
( )
her. She also invited along a cousin and a friend and together they formed a quartet
( )
International Female Solo Artist. She has recorded with the biggest names in music. Her career also went off in
( 1 )
Beyonce Giselle Knowles was born in Texas in 1981. She grew up singing and dancing and quickly developed the
( )
‘Sports Illustrated’ magazine and appeared in many movies. In April 2008, she married
( )
It was touch and go at the beginning whether or not her father’s financial risk would pay
( )
her long-time sweetheart, rapper Jay-Z.
( )
to fame as the most successful female group of all time.
( )
she was a church choir soloist. She took Beyonce to local talent competitions, where she won no fewer than 30 of them.
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
make would that qualities superstar international an her
2.
were talents Her teacher dance her by discovered
3.
friend to She best Roberson her her LaTavia join asked
4.
their father potential saw Beyonce’s
5.
successful most the time all of group female
6.
beginning the at go and touch was It
7.
awards hit and of recorded hit dozens They after won
8.
continued career her off take to
9.
has names recorded in with music the She biggest
10.
married long-time she her sweetheart
DISCUSSION (Write your questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Beyonce Knowles?
2.
Would you like to meet Beyonce Knowles?
3.
What would you like to know about Beyonce Knowles 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 Beyonce Knowles. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. BEYONCE KNOWLES POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Beyonce Knowles. 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 Beyonce Knowles. Include an imaginary interview with her. Write about what she does every day and what she thinks about.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
5. LETTER: Write a letter to Beyonce Knowles. Ask her three questions about her life. Give her three suggestions on what she should do in her future. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your “Beyonce Knowles expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
developed
a.
rose
2
talents
b.
found
3.
discovered
c.
foursome
4.
form
d.
built up
5.
quartet
e.
create
6.
shot
f.
skills
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
touch and go
g.
prizes
8.
pay off
h.
beloved
9.
awards
i.
acted
10.
names
j.
be successful
11
appeared
k
considered
12
sweetheart
l
stars
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
qualities that would make her
a.
formed a quartet
2
she won no fewer than
b.
long-time sweetheart
3.
Beyonce decided to form
c.
go at the beginning
4.
together they
d.
an international superstar
5.
They shot
e.
names in music
6.
It was touch and
f.
a singing group
7.
her father’s financial risk would
g.
after hit
8.
They recorded hit
h.
pay off
9.
recorded with the biggest
i.
to fame
10.
she married her
j.
30 of them
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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