Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Bob Dylan. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Robert Allen Zimmerman was born in 1941 and loved music, especially blues, from a young age. He formed several bands and played so loudly at a high school talent show the principal had to cut the microphone off. He switched to folk music because, he said: “The songs are filled with more despair, more sadness, more triumph, more faith in the supernatural, much deeper feelings."
In 1963, he released his second album, “The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan”. It included what became the most famous song of the times, "Blowin' in the Wind". The album made Dylan a legend overnight. The Beatles bought it and said: "We just played it, just wore it out…it was incredibly original and wonderful.” It inspired a whole generation of musicians.
Dylan continued to have an important impact on the history of rock for many decades. He has received hundreds of awards for his songwriting, recording and performances. He got a Pulitzer Prize in 2008 for his "profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power”. He still plays 100 dates a year.
There is a debate today about whether or not Dylan should receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. Thousands of his fans, as well as literary critics, say his words are as important as those of any previous winners. His songs describe the latter half of the twentieth century and many have become traditional protest songs. Many believe he is the greatest living poet.
247 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.
loved
a.
motivated
2
switched
b.
misery
3.
despair
c.
adored
4.
times
d.
instantly
5.
overnight
e.
changed
6.
inspired
f.
era
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
impact
g.
past
8.
profound
h.
effect
9.
extraordinary
i.
reviewers
10.
debate
j.
amazing
11
critics
k
great
12
previous
l
discussion
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
He switched
a.
famous song of the times
2
The songs are filled with
b.
protest songs
3.
It included what became the most
c.
more despair
4.
The album made Dylan a
d.
on the history of rock
5.
it was incredibly
e.
music and American culture
6.
have an important impact
f.
to folk music
7.
his profound impact on popular
g.
legend overnight
8.
his words are as important as those
h.
half of the twentieth century
9.
the latter
i.
original and wonderful
10.
traditional
j.
of any previous winners
LISTENING GAP FILL
Robert Allen Zimmerman was born in 1941 and __________________ blues, from a young age. He formed several bands and played _____________ high school talent show the principal had to cut the microphone off. He switched to folk music because, he said: “The songs are _____________ despair, more sadness, more triumph, more faith in the supernatural, much _____________."
In 1963, he released his second album, “The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan”. __________________ the most famous song of the times, "Blowin' in the Wind". The album made Dylan _____________. The Beatles bought it and said: "We just played it, _____________ …it was incredibly original and wonderful.” ________________ generation of musicians.
Dylan continued to have an important impact _____________ rock _____________. He has received hundreds of awards for his songwriting, recording and performances. He got a Pulitzer Prize in 2008 for his "profound _____________ music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary _____________”. He still plays 100 dates a year.
There is a debate today _____________ not Dylan should receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. Thousands of his fans, _____________ critics, say his words are as important as those _____________ winners. His songs describe _____________ the twentieth century and many have become traditional protest songs. Many believe he is the greatest living poet.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Robert Allen Zimmerman was born in 1941 and loved / loving music, especially blues / reds, from a young age. He formed several bands and played so loudly at a high school talent show the principal had to cut the microphone off / on. He switched to folk music because, he said: “The songs are filled with more despair, more / many sadness, more triumph, more faith in the supernatural, much deeper feelings."
In 1963, he released his secondly / second album, “The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan”. It included what became the most famous songs / song of the times, "Blowin' in the Wind". The album made Dylan a legend overnight. The Beatles bought it and said: "We just played it, just wore / wear it out…it was incredibly original and wonderful.” It inspired a whole generation / general of musicians.
Dylan continued to have an important impact in / on the history of rock for many decades. He has received hundreds of awards for / by his songwriting, recording and performances. He got / win a Pulitzer Prize in 2008 for his "profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power”. He still plays 100 calendars / dates a year.
There is a debate yesterday / today about whether or not Dylan should receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. Thousands of his fans, as good / well as literary critics, say his words are as important as those / these of any previous winners. His songs describe the letter / latter half of the twentieth century and many have become traditional protest songs. Many believe he is the greatest living poet.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
loved music, scleapiyel blues
2.
He formed eevrasl bands
3.
He hecstwid to folk music
4.
much epeder feelings
Paragraph 2
5.
In 1963, he lerdesae his second album
6.
The album made Dylan a dleneg overnight
7.
it was incredibly inailogr
8.
It inspired a whole oannreiteg of musicians
Paragraph 3
9.
an important ipmtca on the history of rock
10.
He has eeedicvr hundreds of awards
11.
his profound maptci on popular music
12.
extraordinary octiep power
Paragraph 4
13.
There is a dtaeeb today
14.
cvireee the Nobel Prize for Literature
15.
His songs describe the retalt half of the twentieth century
16.
traditional otstper songs
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
song of the times, "Blowin' in the Wind". The album made Dylan a legend overnight. The Beatles bought
( )
songs. Many believe he is the greatest living poet.
( )
a whole generation of musicians.
( )
age. He formed several bands and played so loudly at a high school talent show the principal had to cut
( )
Dylan continued to have an important impact on the history of rock for many decades. He has received hundreds of
( )
it and said: "We just played it, just wore it out…it was incredibly original and wonderful.” It inspired
( 1 )
Robert Allen Zimmerman was born in 1941 and loved music, especially blues, from a young
( )
the microphone off. He switched to folk music because, he said: “The songs are filled with more despair, more sadness, more
( )
triumph, more faith in the supernatural, much deeper feelings."
( )
awards for his songwriting, recording and performances. He got a Pulitzer Prize in 2008 for his "profound
( )
impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power”. He still plays 100 dates a year.
( )
the latter half of the twentieth century and many have become traditional protest
( )
fans, as well as literary critics, say his words are as important as those of any previous winners. His songs describe
( )
In 1963, he released his second album, “The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan”. It included what became the most famous
( )
There is a debate today about whether or not Dylan should receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. Thousands of his
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
He folk switched music to
2.
more the faith supernatural in
3.
most song the the famous of times
4.
album Dylan legend The made a overnight
5.
It a generation musicians inspired whole of
6.
rock of history the on impact important an
7.
American on culture popular his music profound and impact
8.
extraordinary compositions poetic of power
9.
century describe half twentieth songs latter the His the of
10.
the is he believe Many poet living greatest
BOB DYLAN DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Bob Dylan?
2.
Would you like to meet Bob Dylan?
3.
What would you like to know about Bob Dylan 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 Bob Dylan. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. BOB DYLAN POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Bob Dylan. 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 Bob Dylan. Include an imaginary interview with him. Write about what he does every day and what he 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 Bob Dylan. Ask him three questions about his life. Give him three suggestions on what he should do in his future. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your “Bob Dylan expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
loved
a.
adored
2
switched
b.
changed
3.
despair
c.
misery
4.
times
d.
era
5.
overnight
e.
instantly
6.
inspired
f.
motivated
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
impact
g.
effect
8.
profound
h.
great
9.
extraordinary
i.
amazing
10.
debate
j.
discussion
11
critics
k
reviewers
12
previous
l
past
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
He switched
a.
to folk music
2
The songs are filled with
b.
more despair
3.
It included what became the most
c.
famous song of the times
4.
The album made Dylan a
d.
legend overnight
5.
it was incredibly
e.
original and wonderful
6.
have an important impact
f.
on the history of rock
7.
his profound impact on popular
g.
music and American culture
8.
his words are as important as those
h.
of any previous winners
9.
the latter
i.
half of the twentieth century
10.
traditional
j.
protest songs
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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