Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Johnny Depp. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Johnny Depp was born in 1963. He had a troubled childhood and often harmed himself to overcome his shyness. He said his scars and tattoos mean his body is like a journal of his life. His mother bought him a guitar when he was 12. He had several unsuccessful attempts at becoming a rock star. Years later, he played guitar on an Oasis song.
In 1983 he married Lori Allison, a Hollywood make-up artist. She introduced him to the actor Nicolas Cage, who encouraged him to take up acting. His break came the following year with a role in "A Nightmare on Elm Street". This was the first of many successful films that would make Depp one of Hollywood’s top earners.
Depp’s marriage ended in divorce in 1985. He became romantically involved with celebrities including actress Winona Ryder and supermodel Kate Moss. He finally found true love with French singer Vanessa Paradis. The couple have two children who Depp says have given him everything in life, including deep love. He lives with his family and makes wine in France.
Depp has appeared in some of the most memorable movies of the past two decades. All of his roles have been extremely different. He played J.M. Barrie (the creator of Peter Pan), Willie Wonka, and more recently Jack Sparrow in “Pirates of the Caribbean”. He said he only chooses films that he finds personally interesting and not those that might be a commercial success.
243 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.
troubled
a.
chance
2
overcome
b.
numerous
3.
several
c.
disturbed
4.
encouraged
d.
start
5.
take up
e.
persuaded
6.
break
f.
get over
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
ended
g.
caught up
8.
involved
h.
acted
9.
true
i.
finished
10.
appeared
j.
money-making
11
extremely
k
real
12
commercial
l
very
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
He had a troubled
a.
up acting
2
overcome
b.
with celebrities
3.
several unsuccessful attempts
c.
top earners
4.
encouraged him to take
d.
his shyness
5.
make Depp one of Hollywood’s
e.
of the past two decades
6.
He became romantically involved
f.
personally interesting
7.
He finally found
g.
childhood
8.
the most memorable movies
h.
different
9.
All of his roles have been extremely
i.
at becoming a rock star
10.
films that he finds
j.
true love
LISTENING GAP FILL
Johnny Depp was born in 1963. He had __________________ and often harmed himself _______________ shyness. He said his scars and tattoos mean his body is _______________ his life. His mother bought him a guitar when he was 12. He had several unsuccessful _______________ becoming a rock star. Years later, he played guitar on an Oasis song.
In 1983 he married Lori Allison, a Hollywood make-up artist. She introduced _______________ Nicolas Cage, who encouraged him _______________. His break came the following year with a role in "A Nightmare on Elm Street". This _______________ many successful films _______________ Depp one of Hollywood’s top earners.
Depp’s marriage ended in divorce in 1985. He became romantically ___________________ including actress Winona Ryder and supermodel Kate Moss. He finally _______________ with French singer Vanessa Paradis. The couple have two children who Depp says have given him everything in life, _______________. He lives with his family and makes wine in France.
Depp has appeared in _______________ memorable movies of the past two decades. All _______________ been extremely different. He played J.M. Barrie (the creator of Peter Pan), Willie Wonka, _______________ Jack Sparrow in “Pirates of the Caribbean”. He said he only chooses films that he finds personally interesting and not _______________ a commercial success.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Johnny Depp was born in 1963. He had a trouble / troubled childhood and often harmed / harmful himself to overcome his shyness. He said his scars / scares and tattoos mean his body is like a journal of his life. His mother bought him a guitar when he was 12. He had several unsuccessful attempts at becoming a rock star. Year / Years later, he played guitar on an Oasis song.
In 1983 he married Lori Allison, a Hollywood make-up artist. She introduced him for / to the actor Nicolas Cage, who encouraged him to take down / up acting. His break came the following year with a roll / role in "A Nightmare on Elm Street". This was the first of many successful films that would to make / make Depp one of Hollywood’s top earners.
Depp’s marriage ended in / by divorce in 1985. He became romantically involved with celebrities including actress Winona Ryder and supermodel Kate Moss. He final / finally found true / truly love with French singer Vanessa Paradis. The couple have two children who Depp says have given him everything in life, including deeply / deep love. He lives with his family and makes wine in France.
Depp has appeared in some of the most memories / memorable movies of the past two decades. All of his roles have been extreme / extremely different. He played J.M. Barrie (the creator of Peter Pan), Willie Wonka, and more recently Jack Sparrow in “Pirates of the Caribbean”. He said he only choice / chooses films that he finds personally interesting and not these / those that might be a commercial success.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
He had a udoelbtr childhood
2.
his body is like a ajnulro of his life
3.
several unsuccessful esmttatp
4.
he played triagu on an Oasis song
Paragraph 2
5.
a Hollywood make-up irttsa
6.
take up tcagin
7.
His break came the gloowifln year
8.
one of Hollywood’s top anserre
Paragraph 3
9.
Depp’s marriage ended in erovidc
10.
romantically lnodievv with celebrities
11.
He ifyalln found true love
12.
given him yregvthnei in life
Paragraph 4
13.
some of the most balrmeeom movies
14.
ryxteelme different
15.
films that he finds aleslroynp interesting
16.
commercial ecsscsu
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
his shyness. He said his scars and tattoos mean his body is like a journal of his life. His mother bought
( )
in life, including deep love. He lives with his family and makes wine in France.
( )
the first of many successful films that would make Depp one of Hollywood’s top earners.
( )
him a guitar when he was 12. He had several unsuccessful attempts at becoming
( )
encouraged him to take up acting. His break came the following year with a role in "A Nightmare on Elm Street". This was
( )
love with French singer Vanessa Paradis. The couple have two children who Depp says have given him everything
( )
including actress Winona Ryder and supermodel Kate Moss. He finally found true
( )
Depp’s marriage ended in divorce in 1985. He became romantically involved with celebrities
( )
In 1983 he married Lori Allison, a Hollywood make-up artist. She introduced him to the actor Nicolas Cage, who
( )
have been extremely different. He played J.M. Barrie (the creator of Peter Pan), Willie Wonka, and more
( )
Depp has appeared in some of the most memorable movies of the past two decades. All of his roles
( )
personally interesting and not those that might be a commercial success.
( )
recently Jack Sparrow in “Pirates of the Caribbean”. He said he only chooses films that he finds
( )
a rock star. Years later, he played guitar on an Oasis song.
( 1 )
Johnny Depp was born in 1963. He had a troubled childhood and often harmed himself to overcome
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
had childhood a He troubled
2.
life a his journal body of is his like
3.
becoming at attempts unsuccessful several star rock a
4.
him encouraged acting up take to
5.
the was This films successful many of first
6.
marriage in in Depp’s ended divorce 1985
7.
true French Paradis found with Vanessa finally love singer He
8.
the most past memorable two movies decades of the
9.
of All different extremely been have roles his
10.
said he only chooses films that he finds personally interesting He
JOHNNY DEPP DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Johnny Depp?
2.
Would you like to meet Johnny Depp?
3.
What would you like to know about Johnny Depp 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 Johnny Depp. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. JOHNNY DEPP POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Johnny Depp. 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 Johnny Depp. 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 Johnny Depp. 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 “Johnny Depp expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
troubled
a.
disturbed
2
overcome
b.
get over
3.
several
c.
numerous
4.
encouraged
d.
persuaded
5.
take up
e.
start
6.
break
f.
chance
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
ended
g.
finished
8.
involved
h.
caught up
9.
true
i.
real
10.
appeared
j.
acted
11
extremely
k
very
12
commercial
l
money-making
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
He had a troubled
a.
childhood
2
overcome
b.
his shyness
3.
several unsuccessful attempts
c.
at becoming a rock star
4.
encouraged him to take
d.
up acting
5.
make Depp one of Hollywood’s
e.
top earners
6.
He became romantically involved
f.
with celebrities
7.
He finally found
g.
true love
8.
the most memorable movies
h.
of the past two decades
9.
All of his roles have been extremely
i.
different
10.
films that he finds
j.
personally interesting
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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