Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Brad Pitt. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
William Bradley Pitt is an American actor and film producer. He is one of Hollywood’s superstars and received an Academy Award nomination in 1995 but has yet to win an Oscar. He often tops the “most handsome guy in the world” lists. He was married to Jennifer Aniston for five years and is now married to Angelina Jolie, with whom he has six children.
Brad was born in 1963 in Oklahoma. His father owned a trucking company and his mother was a school counsellor. He was an active student and enjoyed debating and acting. He studied journalism at the University of Missouri but his heart wasn’t really in reporting. He didn’t finish his degree but instead drove to Hollywood to look for fame.
In 1988, Pitt landed his first role in ‘The Dark Side of the Sun’, which was filmed in the former Yugoslavia. He attracted great attention in the hit movie ‘Thelma & Louise’. This made him a sex symbol after he was filmed topless wearing a cowboy hat. Pitt slowly got bigger roles, including Robert Redford's ‘A River Runs Through It’ in 1992.
In 1994, his role in ‘Interview with a Vampire’ launched him into the big time as Hollywood’s hottest actor. Other blockbusters followed, including ‘Se7en’, ‘Fight Club’, ‘Twelve Monkeys’ and ‘Ocean’s Eleven’. Pitt has used his fame to help the homeless in New Orleans. He is also behind the organization Not On Our Watch, which raises awareness of the suffering in Darfur.
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.
film
a.
kids
2
tops
b.
in fact
3.
children
c.
heads
4.
debating
d.
movie
5.
really
e.
stardom
6.
fame
f.
discussing
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
landed
g.
gradually
8.
great
h.
increases
9.
slowly
i.
got
10.
launched
j.
a lot of
11
raises
k
pain
12
suffering
l
started
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
has yet
a.
counsellor
2
He often tops the most handsome
b.
former Yugoslavia
3.
his mother was a school
c.
look for fame
4.
his heart wasn’t really
d.
to win an Oscar
5.
drove to Hollywood to
e.
homeless in New Orleans
6.
filmed in the
f.
in Darfur
7.
sex
g.
bigger roles
8.
Pitt slowly got
h.
in reporting
9.
Pitt has used his fame to help the
i.
guy in the world lists
10.
raises awareness of the suffering
j.
symbol
LISTENING GAP FILL
William Bradley Pitt is an American actor and film producer. He is one of Hollywood’s superstars and received an Academy Award nomination in 1995 _______________ win an Oscar. He often tops the “most handsome guy _______________. He was married to Jennifer Aniston for five years and is now married to Angelina Jolie, _______________ six children.
Brad was born in 1963 in Oklahoma. His _______________ trucking company and his mother was a school counsellor. He was an active student and _______________ acting. He studied journalism at the University of Missouri but his _______________ in reporting. He didn’t finish his degree _______________ to Hollywood to look for fame.
In 1988, Pitt _______________ role in ‘The Dark Side of the Sun’, which was filmed in the former Yugoslavia. He _______________ attention in the hit movie ‘Thelma & Louise’. This made him a sex symbol _______________ filmed topless wearing a cowboy hat. Pitt slowly _______________, including Robert Redford's ‘A River Runs Through It’ in 1992.
In 1994, his role in ‘Interview with a Vampire’ _______________ into the big time as Hollywood’s hottest actor. _______________ followed, including ‘Se7en’, ‘Fight Club’, ‘Twelve Monkeys’ and ‘Ocean’s Eleven’. Pitt has used his fame to _______________ in New Orleans. He is also behind the organization Not On Our Watch, which raises awareness of _______________ Darfur.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
William Bradley Pitt is an American actor and film production / producer. He is one of Hollywood’s superstars and received an Academy Award nomination in 1995 but has yet / not to win an Oscar. He often tops the “most handsome guy in / on the world” lists. He was married to Jennifer Aniston for five years and is now married to Angelina Jolie, with which / whom he has six children.
Brad was born in 1963 in Oklahoma. His father owned / owner a trucking company and his mother was a school counsellor. He was an activity / active student and enjoyed debating and acting. He studied journalism at the University of Missouri but his heart / lung wasn’t really in reporting. He didn’t finish his degree but instead driving / drove to Hollywood to look for fame.
In 1988, Pitt landing / landed his first role in ‘The Dark Side of the Sun’, which was filmed in the former / farmer Yugoslavia. He attracted great attention in the hit movie ‘Thelma & Louise’. This made him a sex symbol / symbolism after he was filmed topless wearing a cowboy hat. Pitt slowed / slowly got bigger roles, including Robert Redford's ‘A River Runs Through It’ in 1992.
In 1994, his role in ‘Interview with a Vampire’ lunched / launched him into the big time was / as Hollywood’s hottest actor. Other blockbusters followed, including ‘Se7en’, ‘Fight Club’, ‘Twelve Monkeys’ and ‘Ocean’s Eleven’. Pitt has used his fame / famous to help the homeless in New Orleans. He is also behind the organization Not On Our Watch, which raises awareness of the suffers / suffering in Darfur.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
film rucordep
2.
He is one of Hollywood’s esrptssuar
3.
the most senodahm guy in the world
4.
he has six dlenhcir
Paragraph 2
5.
His father wnedo a trucking company
6.
He was an itevca student
7.
his erath wasn’t really in reporting
8.
He didn’t finish his egedre
Paragraph 3
9.
In 1988, Pitt ednadl his first role
10.
was filmed in the ermorf Yugoslavia
11.
sex mlsboy
12.
mleidf topless wearing a cowboy hat
Paragraph 4
13.
Other blockbusters dwfolloe
14.
ludnceha him into the big time
15.
the lemsheos in New Orleans
16.
the ifesugfrn in Darfur
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
In 1988, Pitt landed his first role in ‘The Dark Side of the Sun’, which was filmed in the former
( )
Yugoslavia. He attracted great attention in the hit movie ‘Thelma & Louise’. This made him a sex
( )
finish his degree but instead drove to Hollywood to look for fame.
( )
counsellor. He was an active student and enjoyed debating and acting. He studied journalism
( )
roles, including Robert Redford's ‘A River Runs Through It’ in 1992.
( )
Academy Award nomination in 1995 but has yet to win an Oscar. He often tops the “most handsome guy in the world”
( )
organization Not On Our Watch, which raises awareness of the suffering in Darfur.
( )
Eleven’. Pitt has used his fame to help the homeless in New Orleans. He is also behind the
( )
lists. He was married to Jennifer Aniston for five years and is now married to Angelina Jolie, with whom he has six children.
( )
actor. Other blockbusters followed, including ‘Se7en’, ‘Fight Club’, ‘Twelve Monkeys’ and ‘Ocean’s
( )
Brad was born in 1963 in Oklahoma. His father owned a trucking company and his mother was a school
( )
In 1994, his role in ‘Interview with a Vampire’ launched him into the big time as Hollywood’s hottest
( )
symbol after he was filmed topless wearing a cowboy hat. Pitt slowly got bigger
( )
at the University of Missouri but his heart wasn’t really in reporting. He didn’t
( 1 )
William Bradley Pitt is an American actor and film producer. He is one of Hollywood’s superstars and received an
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
yet has Oscar an win to
2.
the in guy handsome most the lists world
3.
student active an was He debating enjoyed and
4.
his reporting in really wasn’t heart
5.
for drove Hollywood look fame to to
6.
filmed former in Yugoslavia the
7.
wearing topless filmed was he hat cowboy a
8.
launched time big the into him
9.
New in homeless the help to fame his used Orleans
10.
suffering Darfur awareness the in raises of
BRAD PITT DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Brad Pitt?
2.
Would you like to meet Brad Pitt?
3.
What would you like to know about Brad Pitt 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 Brad Pitt. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. BRAD PITT POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Brad Pitt. 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 Brad Pitt. 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 Brad Pitt. 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 “Brad Pitt expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
film
a.
movie
2
tops
b.
heads
3.
children
c.
kids
4.
debating
d.
discussing
5.
really
e.
in fact
6.
fame
f.
stardom
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
landed
g.
got
8.
great
h.
a lot of
9.
slowly
i.
gradually
10.
launched
j.
started
11
raises
k
increases
12
suffering
l
pain
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
has yet
a.
to win an Oscar
2
He often tops the most handsome
b.
guy in the world lists
3.
his mother was a school
c.
counsellor
4.
his heart wasn’t really
d.
in reporting
5.
drove to Hollywood to
e.
look for fame
6.
filmed in the
f.
former Yugoslavia
7.
sex
g.
symbol
8.
Pitt slowly got
h.
bigger roles
9.
Pitt has used his fame to help the
i.
homeless in New Orleans
10.
raises awareness of the suffering
j.
in Darfur
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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