Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Marilyn Monroe. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson in the charity ward of a Los Angeles hospital in 1926. Her career as an actor and singer made her an icon of the twentieth century. Her trademark looks helped her become one of Hollywood’s greatest ever sex symbols. Her death in 1962 remains a mystery; officially it was suicide but many say she was murdered.
Norma Jeane had a poor childhood and grew up in foster homes and orphanages. She married at 16 to escape life in government care but divorced four years later. In 1946, she joined a modelling agency and took singing and acting lessons. She soon caught the eye of a Hollywood movie executive, who offered her a six-month acting contract.
Norma Jeane changed her name to Marilyn Monroe. She spent seven years taking on small roles and doing part-time modelling. In 1953, she starred in the film ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’ and sang the legendary ‘Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend’. She became a Hollywood sensation. All her movies were instant box office hits. She won a Golden Globe Award in 1959 for ‘Some Like It Hot’.
Monroe became an American superstar. She married baseball great Joe Di Maggio and then playwright Arthur Miller. Many believe she was involved with President John F. Kennedy. Her last significant appearance was singing "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" at a televised birthday party for him in New York. Monroe’s looks and personality have inspired generations of performers since her death.
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.
ward
a.
appearance
2
looks
b.
get away from
3.
murdered
c.
area
4.
escape
d.
chief
5.
care
e.
killed
6.
executive
f.
safekeeping
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
taking on
g.
famous
8.
legendary
h.
immediate
9.
instant
i.
motivated
10.
great
j.
accepting
11
significant
k
legend
12
inspired
l
important
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
the charity ward of
a.
modelling
2
Her trademark
b.
Hollywood movie executive
3.
grew up in foster homes
c.
with President John F. Kennedy
4.
escape life in government
d.
looks
5.
She soon caught the eye of a
e.
box office hits
6.
doing part-time
f.
a Los Angeles hospital
7.
All her movies were instant
g.
of performers
8.
she was involved
h.
care
9.
a televised
i.
and orphanages
10.
inspired generations
j.
birthday party
LISTENING GAP FILL
Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson in ______________ of a Los Angeles hospital in 1926. Her career as an actor and singer made her ______________ twentieth century. Her ______________ helped her become one of Hollywood’s greatest ever sex symbols. Her death in 1962 remains a mystery; officially ______________ but many say she was murdered.
Norma Jeane had ______________ and grew up in foster homes and orphanages. She married at 16 ______________ government care but divorced four years later. In 1946, she joined a modelling agency and took singing and acting lessons. She soon ______________ of a Hollywood movie executive, _________________ six-month acting contract.
Norma Jeane changed her name to Marilyn Monroe. She spent seven years ______________ roles and doing part-time modelling. In 1953, she ______________ film ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’ and ______________ ‘Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend’. She became a Hollywood sensation. All her movies were ______________ hits. She won a Golden Globe Award in 1959 for ‘Some Like It Hot’.
Monroe became an American superstar. She married ______________ Joe Di Maggio and then playwright Arthur Miller. Many believe she was ______________ President John F. Kennedy. Her last significant appearance was singing "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" at a televised birthday ______________ New York. Monroe’s looks and personality have inspired generations of performers ______________.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson in the charity reward / ward of a Los Angeles hospital in 1926. Her career as an actor and singer made her an iron / icon of the twentieth century. Her trademark looks helped her become one of Hollywood’s greatest ever sex symbols. Her death in 1962 remains a mystery / mysterious; officially it was suicide but many say she was murdered / murder.
Norma Jeane had a poor childhood and grew / grown up in foster homes and orphanages / orphans. She married at / by 16 to escape life in government care but divorced four years later. In 1946, she joined a modelling agency and took singing and acting lessons. She soon caught the eye / nose of a Hollywood movie executive, who offered her a six-month acting contract.
Norma Jeane changed her name to Marilyn Monroe. She spent seven years taking on / off small roles and doing part-time models / modelling. In 1953, she starred in the film ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’ and sang the legendary ‘Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend’. She became a Hollywood sensational / sensation. All her movies were instant box / bag office hits. She won a Golden Globe Award in 1959 for ‘Some Like It Hot’.
Monroe became an American superstar. She married / marriage baseball great Joe Di Maggio and then playwright Arthur Miller. Many believe she was involved with President John F. Kennedy. Her latest / last significant appearance was singing "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" at a television / televised birthday party for him in New York. Monroe’s looks and personality have inspired generations of performers since / for her death.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
the yriahct ward of a Los Angeles hospital
2.
the twentieth nyeucrt
3.
sex yblsmos
4.
officially it was iiudsec but many say she was murdered
Paragraph 2
5.
Norma Jeane had a poor odlochhid
6.
She married at 16 to aepecs
7.
she joined a modelling aygcen
8.
movie etxicveue
Paragraph 3
9.
doing prat-imet modelling
10.
nDadsiom Are A Girl’s Best Friend’
11.
All her movies were astnnit box office hits
12.
She won a Golden Globe arAwd
Paragraph 4
13.
an American apussrrte
14.
Many believe she was nevivdlo with President John F. Kennedy
15.
a eeislvted birthday party
16.
inspired generations of rrompserfe
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
government care but divorced four years later. In 1946, she joined a modelling agency and took singing and acting
( )
looks and personality have inspired generations of performers since her death.
( )
lessons. She soon caught the eye of a Hollywood movie executive, who offered her a six-month acting contract.
( )
office hits. She won a Golden Globe Award in 1959 for ‘Some Like It Hot’.
( 1 )
Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson in the charity ward of a Los Angeles hospital in 1926. Her career as an
( )
roles and doing part-time modelling. In 1953, she starred in the film ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’ and sang the
( )
Monroe became an American superstar. She married baseball great Joe Di Maggio and then playwright Arthur Miller.
( )
Hollywood’s greatest ever sex symbols. Her death in 1962 remains a mystery; officially it was
( )
Many believe she was involved with President John F. Kennedy. Her last significant appearance was singing
( )
actor and singer made her an icon of the twentieth century. Her trademark looks helped her become one of
( )
suicide but many say she was murdered.
( )
Norma Jeane had a poor childhood and grew up in foster homes and orphanages. She married at 16 to escape life in
( )
legendary ‘Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend’. She became a Hollywood sensation. All her movies were instant box
( )
"Happy Birthday, Mr. President" at a televised birthday party for him in New York. Monroe’s
( )
Norma Jeane changed her name to Marilyn Monroe. She spent seven years taking on small
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
Los Angeles a of ward charity the hospital
2.
one Hollywood’s ever symbols of greatest sex
3.
say murdered she many was
4.
married to in She 16 life care at escape government
5.
caught of movie soon eye Hollywood She the a executive
6.
small on taking years seven spent She roles
7.
her All hits office box instant were movies
8.
in Award Globe Golden a won She 1959
9.
President involved John F Kennedy Many believe was with she
10.
birthday New party York for a him televised in
MARILYN MONROE DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Marilyn Monroe?
2.
Would you like to have met Marilyn Monroe?
3.
What would you like to know about Marilyn Monroe 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 Marilyn Monroe. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MARILYN MONROE POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Marilyn Monroe. 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 Marilyn Monroe. 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 Marilyn Monroe. 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 “Marilyn Monroe expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
ward
a.
area
2
looks
b.
appearance
3.
murdered
c.
killed
4.
escape
d.
get away from
5.
care
e.
safekeeping
6.
executive
f.
chief
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
taking on
g.
accepting
8.
legendary
h.
famous
9.
instant
i.
immediate
10.
great
j.
legend
11
significant
k
important
12
inspired
l
motivated
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
the charity ward of
a.
a Los Angeles hospital
2
Her trademark
b.
looks
3.
grew up in foster homes
c.
and orphanages
4.
escape life in government
d.
care
5.
She soon caught the eye of a
e.
Hollywood movie executive
6.
doing part-time
f.
modelling
7.
All her movies were instant
g.
box office hits
8.
she was involved
h.
with President John F. Kennedy
9.
a televised
i.
birthday party
10.
inspired generations
j.
of performers
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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