Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Maria Callas. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Maria Callas was an American-born Greek opera singer, often regarded as the greatest ever soprano. She combined a wonderfully versatile voice with a natural ability for drama. She made opera popular with millions of people and her recordings are studied by budding opera singers today. Callas’ own life has been rich enough to be the subject of an opera.
Callas was born in New York and raised in Greece. Her mother recognized Maria’s singing talents early on. Callas said: "I was made to sing when I was only five, and I hated it." In 1937, a singing tutor in Athens described her voice as being “an amazing phenomenon” that should “shine with all its brilliance”. She studied and sang for ten hours a day.
Callas made her professional debut in Athens in 1942. A critic stated Callas was "an extremely dynamic artist possessing the rarest dramatic and musical gifts". Callas’ career took off in 1946 when she went to Italy. She got increasingly rave reviews. One famous soprano said Callas “opened a new door for…all the singers in the world”. She got the nickname ‘Divina’, the divine one.
In 1965, Callas ended her stage career in London’s Royal Opera House. She was adored by opera enthusiasts worldwide. A famous conductor spoke of her amazing talent: "If the public could understand, as we do, how deeply and utterly musical Callas is, they would be stunned." Callas spent her final years living in isolation in Paris.
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.
regarded
a.
sensation
2
versatile
b.
teacher
3.
budding
c.
thought of
4.
raised
d.
up-and-coming
5.
tutor
e.
brought up
6.
phenomenon
f.
adaptable
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
critic
g.
amazed
8.
dynamic
h.
loved
9.
rave
i.
powerful
10.
adored
j.
totally
11
utterly
k
reviewer
12
stunned
l
excellent
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
a wonderfully versatile
a.
singing talents early on
2
budding
b.
enthusiasts worldwide
3.
Her mother recognized Maria’s
c.
an amazing phenomenon
4.
I was made to sing when
d.
off in 1946
5.
described her voice as being
e.
voice
6.
an extremely
f.
in isolation
7.
Callas’ career took
g.
I was only five
8.
She got increasingly rave
h.
opera singers
9.
She was adored by opera
i.
dynamic artist
10.
Callas spent her final years living
j.
reviews
LISTENING GAP FILL
Maria Callas was an American-born Greek opera singer, ________________ the greatest ever soprano. She combined a wonderfully versatile voice with a natural ________________. She made opera popular with millions of people and her recordings are studied ________________ singers today. Callas’ own life has been ________________ the subject of an opera.
Callas was born in New York and raised in Greece. Her mother recognized Maria’s singing ________________. Callas said: "I was ________________ I was only five, and I hated it." In 1937, a singing tutor in Athens described ________________ “an amazing phenomenon” that should “________________ brilliance”. She studied and sang for ten hours a day.
Callas made her professional debut in Athens in 1942. A critic stated Callas was "an extremely dynamic artist possessing ________________ and musical gifts". Callas’ ________________ 1946 when she went to Italy. She got increasingly ________________. One famous soprano said Callas “opened a new door for…all the singers in the world”. She got the nickname ‘Divina’, ________________.
In 1965, Callas ________________ in London’s Royal Opera House. She ________________ opera enthusiasts worldwide. A famous conductor spoke of her amazing talent: "If the public could understand, as we do, ___________________ musical Callas is, they would be stunned." Callas spent her final years ________________ in Paris.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Maria Callas was an American-born Greece / Greek opera singer, often regarded as the greatest ever / even soprano. She combined a wonderfully versatile voice with a natural ability for drama. She made opera popular with millions of people and her recordings are studied by budding / bidding opera singers today. Callas’ own life has been rich / wealthy enough to be the subject of an opera.
Callas was born in New York and risen / raised in Greece. Her mother recognized Maria’s singing talents early off / on. Callas said: "I was made to sing when I was only five, and I hated it." In 1937, a singing tutor / tutorial in Athens described her voice as being “an amazing phenomenon” that should “shiny / shine with all its brilliance”. She studied and sang for ten hours a day.
Callas did / made her professional debut in Athens in 1942. A critic stated Callas was "an extremely dynamic artist possessing the rarest dramatic and musical gifts / presents". Callas’ career took / taken off in 1946 when she went to Italy. She got increasingly rave reviews. One famous soprano said Callas “opening / opened a new door for…all the singers in the world”. She got the nickname ‘Divina’, the divine one.
In 1965, Callas ended her stage career in London’s Royal Opera House. She was adoring / adored by opera enthusiasts worldwide. A famous conductor spoke of her amazing talent: "If the public could understand, as we don’t / do, how deeply and utterly musical Callas is, they would be stunning / stunned." Callas spent her final years living on / in isolation in Paris.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
rdergdea as the greatest ever soprano
2.
a natural ltibyia for drama
3.
her sogndrreci are studied by budding opera singers
4.
the jcubets of an opera
Paragraph 2
5.
born in New York and iseadr in Greece
6.
singing urtot
7.
an inazmag phenomenon
8.
shine with all its liclbeainr
Paragraph 3
9.
Callas made her professional udbte
10.
an extremely miyadcn artist
11.
She got increasingly rave vsrieew
12.
She got the anceknmi ‘Divina’
Paragraph 4
13.
Callas ended her stage errcae
14.
She was eoddar by opera enthusiasts worldwide
15.
they would be nsutden
16.
Callas snpet her final years living in isolation
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
adored by opera enthusiasts worldwide. A famous conductor spoke of her amazing talent: "If the public
( )
soprano. She combined a wonderfully versatile voice with a natural ability for drama. She made opera popular with
( )
In 1965, Callas ended her stage career in London’s Royal Opera House. She was
( )
Callas was born in New York and raised in Greece. Her mother recognized Maria’s singing talents early on. Callas said:
( )
own life has been rich enough to be the subject of an opera.
( )
Callas made her professional debut in Athens in 1942. A critic stated Callas was "an extremely dynamic artist possessing
( )
millions of people and her recordings are studied by budding opera singers today. Callas’
( )
could understand, as we do, how deeply and utterly musical Callas is, they
( )
singers in the world”. She got the nickname ‘Divina’, the divine one.
( 1 )
Maria Callas was an American-born Greek opera singer, often regarded as the greatest ever
( )
being “an amazing phenomenon” that should “shine with all its brilliance”. She studied and sang for ten hours a day.
( )
would be stunned." Callas spent her final years living in isolation in Paris.
( )
"I was made to sing when I was only five, and I hated it." In 1937, a singing tutor in Athens described her voice as
( )
the rarest dramatic and musical gifts". Callas’ career took off in 1946 when she went to Italy. She got increasingly rave
( )
reviews. One famous soprano said Callas “opened a new door for…all the
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
regarded the ever often as greatest soprano
2.
people of millions to popular opera made She
3.
early talents singing Maria’s recognized mother Her on
4.
when only was sing was I to I five made
5.
a sang day for She ten studied hours and
6.
off in 1946 when she went to Italy Callas’ career took
7.
opened Callas world the in singers the all for door new a
8.
one the ‘Divina’ divine got the She nickname ,
9.
talent amazing her of spoke conductor famous A
10.
final her spent Callas isolation in living years
MARIA CALLAS DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Maria Callas?
2.
Would you like to have met Maria Callas?
3.
What would you like to know about Maria Callas 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 Maria Callas. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MARIA CALLAS POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Maria Callas. 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 Maria Callas. Include an imaginary interview with her. Write about what she did every day and what she 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 Maria Callas. Ask her three questions about her life. Tell her how important she is in today’s world. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your “Maria Callas expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
regarded
a.
thought of
2
versatile
b.
adaptable
3.
budding
c.
up-and-coming
4.
raised
d.
brought up
5.
tutor
e.
teacher
6.
phenomenon
f.
sensation
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
critic
g.
reviewer
8.
dynamic
h.
powerful
9.
rave
i.
excellent
10.
adored
j.
loved
11
utterly
k
totally
12
stunned
l
amazed
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
a wonderfully versatile
a.
voice
2
budding
b.
opera singers
3.
Her mother recognized Maria’s
c.
singing talents early on
4.
I was made to sing when
d.
I was only five
5.
described her voice as being
e.
an amazing phenomenon
6.
an extremely
f.
dynamic artist
7.
Callas’ career took
g.
off in 1946
8.
She got increasingly rave
h.
reviews
9.
She was adored by opera
i.
enthusiasts worldwide
10.
Callas spent her final years living
j.
in isolation
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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