Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Bob Marley. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Robert "Bob" Nesta Marley is the greatest ever reggae singer. He spread reggae and his message of love and unity to a worldwide audience. His live performances were legendary for their passion and energy. Marley’s album ‘Exodus’ was voted by ‘Time’ magazine as the best of the 20th Century. The BBC declared his song ‘One Love’ as the song of the millennium.
Marley was born in 1945 in a small village in Jamaica to a white father and black mother. The racist bullying he received as a child had an impact on his songwriting. He left school at the age of 14 to make music. He met members of his future band The Wailers at a jam session. It took several years before they became famous.
The Wailers' first album ‘Catch a Fire’ was released in 1973 and sold well. Another album followed a year later which included the song ‘I Shot The Sheriff’. Eric Clapton’s cover of the song in 1974 brought Marley a lot of global attention. In 1975, Marley released his breakthrough song ‘No Woman, No Cry’, still regarded as a classic today.
Marley left Jamaica for England in 1976 to record his ‘Exodus’ and ‘Kaya’ albums. He toured the world and performed to campaign against apartheid in South Africa and to celebrate Zimbabwe’s independence. He died of cancer in 1981, aged 36. He was given a state funeral in Jamaica according to the Rastafari tradition. He continues to be an important influence on today’s music.
249 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.
unity
a.
famous
2
legendary
b.
well-known
3.
declared
c.
influence
4.
impact
d.
a number of
5.
several
e.
harmony
6.
famous
f.
announced
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
released
g.
push
8.
global
h.
brought out
9.
regarded
i.
official
10.
campaign
j.
thought of
11
state
k
inspiration to
12
influence
l
worldwide
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
his message
a.
received as a child
2
His live performances are
b.
of global attention
3.
song of
c.
before they became famous
4.
The racist bullying he
d.
as a classic today
5.
It took several years
e.
influence on today’s music
6.
‘Catch a Fire’ was released in 1973
f.
of love and unity
7.
brought Marley a lot
g.
funeral
8.
still regarded
h.
legendary
9.
He was given a state
i.
and sold well
10.
He continues to be an important
j.
the millennium
LISTENING GAP FILL
Robert "Bob" Nesta Marley is _________________ reggae singer. He spread reggae and _________________ and unity to a worldwide audience. His live performances were legendary _________________ energy. Marley’s album ‘Exodus’ was voted by ‘Time’ magazine as the best of the 20th Century. The BBC declared his song ‘One Love’ as the song _________________.
Marley was born in 1945 _________________ Jamaica to a white father and black mother. The _____________ received as a child had _________________ songwriting. He left school at the age of 14 to make music. He met members of his future band The Wailers at a jam session. It took several years before _________________.
The Wailers' first album ‘Catch a Fire’ was _________________ and sold well. Another _________________ year later which included the song ‘I Shot The Sheriff’. Eric Clapton’s _________________ in 1974 brought Marley a lot of global attention. In 1975, Marley released his breakthrough song ‘No Woman, No Cry’, still ____________________ today.
Marley left Jamaica for England _________________ his ‘Exodus’ and ‘Kaya’ albums. He _________________ and performed to campaign against apartheid in South Africa _________________ Zimbabwe’s independence. He died of cancer in 1981, aged 36. He was given a state funeral in Jamaica according to the Rastafari tradition. He continues to be an _________________ on today’s music.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Robert "Bob" Nesta Marley is the greater / greatest ever reggae singer. He spread reggae and his message of love / lovely and unity to a worldwide audience. His live / life performances were legendary for their passion and energy. Marley’s album ‘Exodus’ was voted by ‘Time’ magazine as the best of the 20th Century. The BBC declared his song ‘One Love’ as the song of / by the millennium.
Marley was born in 1945 in a small village in Jamaica to a white father and black mother. The racism / racist bullying he received as a child had an impression / impact on his songwriting. He left school at the age of 14 to make music. He met member / members of his future band The Wailers at a honey / jam session. It took several years before they became famous.
The Wailers' first album ‘Catch a Fire’ was releasing / released in 1973 and sold well. Another album following / followed a year later which included the song ‘I Shot The Sheriff’. Eric Clapton’s cover / covered of the song in 1974 brought Marley a lot of global attention. In 1975, Marley released his breakthrough song ‘No Woman, No Cry’, still regarded / regarding as a classic today.
Marley left Jamaica for England in 1976 to recording / record his ‘Exodus’ and ‘Kaya’ albums. He toured / tour the world and performed to campaign against apartheid in South Africa and to celebrate Zimbabwe’s independence. He died by / of cancer in 1981, aged 36. He was given a state funeral in Jamaica according to the Rastafari tradition. He continues to be an important influential / influence on today’s music.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
the esrgatte ever reggae singer
2.
his mgsseea of love and unity
3.
aisnpos and energy
4.
song of the nmlmeliinu
Paragraph 2
5.
asrtic bullying
6.
had an icmapt on his songwriting
7.
He met reesmbm of his future band
8.
It took rvlasee years
Paragraph 3
9.
Another album eowllfdo a year later
10.
Eric Clapton’s rocve of the song
11.
a lot of lgalbo attention
12.
still regarded as a lsiscca
Paragraph 4
13.
pimgnaac against apartheid
14.
He died of cecanr
15.
the Rastafari dtantioir
16.
an important lecnneiuf on today’s music
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
included the song ‘I Shot The Sheriff’. Eric Clapton’s cover of the song in 1974 brought Marley a lot of global
( 1 )
Robert "Bob" Nesta Marley is the greatest ever reggae singer. He spread reggae and his message of love and
( )
members of his future band The Wailers at a jam session. It took several years before they became famous.
( )
unity to a worldwide audience. His live performances were legendary for their passion and energy. Marley’s album ‘Exodus’
( )
attention. In 1975, Marley released his breakthrough song ‘No Woman, No Cry’, still regarded as a classic today.
( )
Marley was born in 1945 in a small village in Jamaica to a white father and black mother. The racist
( )
to the Rastafari tradition. He continues to be an important influence on today’s music.
( )
world and performed to campaign against apartheid in South Africa and to celebrate Zimbabwe’s
( )
was voted by ‘Time’ magazine as the best of the 20th Century. The BBC declared
( )
bullying he received as a child had an impact on his songwriting. He left school at the age of 14 to make music. He met
( )
his song ‘One Love’ as the song of the millennium.
( )
independence. He died of cancer in 1981, aged 36. He was given a state funeral in Jamaica according
( )
The Wailers' first album ‘Catch a Fire’ was released in 1973 and sold well. Another album followed a year later which
( )
Marley left Jamaica for England in 1976 to record his ‘Exodus’ and ‘Kaya’ albums. He toured the
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
is greatest reggae Marley the ever singer
2.
and of unity reggae message and spread his love He
3.
small village in Jamaica Marley was born in 1945 in a
4.
make music He left school at the age of 14 to
5.
became they before years several took It famous
6.
year a followed album Another later
7.
breakthrough his released Marley , 1975 In song
8.
for in Marley Jamaica England 1976 left
9.
Jamaica in funeral state a given was He
10.
influence continues be important He to an
BOB MARLEY DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Bob Marley?
2.
Would you like to have met Bob Marley?
3.
What would you like to know about Bob Marley 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 Marley. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. BIB MARLEY POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Bob Marley. 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 Marley. Include an imaginary interview with him. Write about what he did every day and what he thought 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 Marley. Ask him three questions about his life. Tell him how important he is in today’s world. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your “Bob Marley expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
unity
a.
harmony
2
legendary
b.
famous
3.
declared
c.
announced
4.
impact
d.
influence
5.
several
e.
a number of
6.
famous
f.
well-known
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
released
g.
brought out
8.
global
h.
worldwide
9.
regarded
i.
thought of
10.
campaign
j.
push
11
state
k
official
12
influence
l
inspiration to
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
his message
a.
of love and unity
2
His live performances were
b.
legendary
3.
song of
c.
the millennium
4.
The racist bullying he
d.
received as a child
5.
It took several years
e.
before they became famous
6.
‘Catch a Fire’ was released in 1973
f.
and sold well
7.
brought Marley a lot
g.
of global attention
8.
still regarded
h.
as a classic today
9.
He was given a state
i.
funeral
10.
He continues to be an important
j.
influence on today’s music
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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