Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Michael Jackson. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Michael Joseph Jackson (born 1958) is truly a music legend. He became a superstar at the age of eleven as a member of his family band The Jackson 5. His solo career earned him the title "King of Pop". His studio albums have all become classics. Jackson is equally famous for his high energy and complicated dance techniques such as the Moonwalk. He died in 2009 at the age of 50.
Jackson dominated the music charts throughout the 1970s, 80s and 90s. His distinctive vocal style, rhythm and fashion were perfect for the new music video age. MTV enthusiastically played his videos to the world. His ‘Thriller’ video had all the excitement of a major movie release. Jackson became a true icon of pop culture and influenced dozens of today’s top stars.
Jackson’s personal life created significant controversy and earned him a nickname he hated, ‘Wacko Jacko’. He angered many by having plastic surgery and lightening his skin to look white. His reputation was badly damaged in several high-profile child sexual abuse cases in 2003 and 2005. The courts cleared him on both occasions.
His awards and records are proof of the phenomenal success he achieved. He won World Music Award's Best-Selling Pop Male Artist of the Millennium, and was the American Music Award's Artist of the Century. ‘Thriller’ remains the best selling album of all time. ‘Vanity Fair’ magazine named him the "Most popular artist in the history of show business".
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.
truly
a.
difficult
2
earned
b.
symbol
3.
complicated
c.
ruled
4.
dominated
d.
passionately
5.
enthusiastically
e.
beyond doubt
6.
icon
f.
got
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
significant
g.
times
8.
reputation
h.
major
9.
occasions
i.
evidence
10.
proof
j.
extraordinary
11
phenomenal
k
continues as
12
remains
l
image
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
1.
truly a
a.
dance techniques
2
earned him the title
b.
vocal style
3.
complicated
c.
success he achieved
4.
His distinctive
d.
music legend
5.
influenced dozens
e.
selling album of all time
6.
earned him a
f.
show business
7.
His reputation was
g.
"King of Pop"
8.
proof of the phenomenal
h.
badly damaged
9.
remains the best
i.
of today’s top stars
10.
in the history of
j.
nickname he hated
LISTENING GAP FILL
Michael Joseph Jackson (born 1958) __________________ legend. He became a superstar at the age of eleven as a member of his family band The Jackson 5. His __________________ him the title "King of Pop". His studio albums have all become classics. Jackson __________________ for his high energy and complicated dance __________________ the Moonwalk. He died in 2009 at the age of 50.
Jackson dominated the music charts __________________, 80s and 90s. His distinctive vocal style, rhythm and fashion __________________ new music video age. MTV enthusiastically played his videos to the world. His ‘Thriller’ video had all the excitement of a major movie release. Jackson became __________________ culture and influenced dozens of today’s top stars.
Jackson’s personal __________________ significant controversy and earned him a nickname he hated, ‘Wacko Jacko’. He angered many by having plastic surgery and lightening his __________________. His reputation ____________________ several high-profile child sexual abuse cases in 2003 and 2005. The courts __________________ occasions.
His awards and records are proof of the __________________ he achieved. He won World Music Award's Best-Selling Pop Male Artist of the Millennium, and was the American Music Award's Artist of the Century. ‘Thriller’ __________________ selling album of all time. ‘Vanity Fair’ magazine named him the "Most popular artist __________________ business".
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Michael Joseph Jackson (born 1958) is truly / true a music legend. He became a superstar at the age / ages of eleven as a member of his family band The Jackson 5. His solo career earned him the title "King of Pop". His studio albums have all become / became classics. Jackson is equally famous for his high energy and complication / complicated dance techniques such as the Moonwalk. He died in 2009 at the age of 50.
Jackson dominated the music charts throughout the 1970s, 80s and 90s. His distinctive vocal stylish / style, rhythm and fashion were perfect for the new music video age. MTV enthusiastically playing / played his videos to the world. His ‘Thriller’ video had every / all the excitement of a major movie release. Jackson became a truly / true icon of pop culture and influenced dozens of today’s top stars.
Jackson’s personal life creation / created significant controversy and earned him a nickname he hated, ‘Wacko Jacko’. He angry / angered many by having plastic surgery and lightening / lightning his skin to look white. His reputation was badly / bad damaged in several high-profile child sexual abuse cases in 2003 and 2005. The courts cleared him on both occasions.
His awards and records are prove / proof of the phenomenal success he achievement / achieved. He won World Music Award's Best-Selling Pop Male Artist of the Millennium, and was the American Music Award's Artist of the Century. ‘Thriller’ remains the best / most selling album of all time. ‘Vanity Fair’ magazine named him the "Most popular artist in the history of / for show business".
SPELLING
These jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
truly a music ngedel
2.
a rmmeeb of his family
3.
His studio albums have all become scssicla
4.
complicated dance esniqecuth
Paragraph 2
5.
thurugooth the 1970s, 80s and 90s
6.
ecteprf for the new music video age
7.
all the excitement of a oamrj movie release
8.
a true icon of pop teurclu
Paragraph 3
9.
earned him a amcinnke he hated
10.
silpcat surgery
11.
His reputation was badly aedamgd
12.
The courts areledc him on both occasions
Paragraph 4
13.
proof of the phenomenal ecscsus he achieved
14.
Artist of the Crnuety
15.
‘Thriller’ senairm the best selling album of all time
16.
show essbnsui
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
the Century. ‘Thriller’ remains the best selling album of all time. ‘Vanity Fair’ magazine named
( )
Jackson dominated the music charts throughout the 1970s, 80s and 90s. His distinctive vocal
( 1 )
Michael Joseph Jackson (born 1958) is truly a music legend. He became a superstar at the age of eleven as a
( )
cleared him on both occasions.
( )
world. His ‘Thriller’ video had all the excitement of a major movie release. Jackson became a true icon
( )
member of his family band The Jackson 5. His solo career earned him the title "King of Pop". His studio albums have all
( )
style, rhythm and fashion were perfect for the new music video age. MTV enthusiastically played his videos to the
( )
become classics. Jackson is equally famous for his high energy and complicated dance techniques such as the Moonwalk. He died in 2009 at the age of 50.
( )
His awards and records are proof of the phenomenal success he achieved. He won
( )
was badly damaged in several high-profile child sexual abuse cases in 2003 and 2005. The courts
( )
Jackson’s personal life created significant controversy and earned him a nickname
( )
of pop culture and influenced dozens of today’s top stars
( )
he hated, ‘Wacko Jacko’. He angered many by having plastic surgery and lightening his skin to look white. His reputation
( )
World Music Award's Best-Selling Pop Male Artist of the Millennium, and was the American Music Award's Artist of
( )
him the "Most popular artist in the history of show business".
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
at He the became age a of superstar eleven
2.
classics studio have become His albums all
3.
the dominated Jackson 1970s the throughout charts music
4.
MTV world the to videos his played enthusiastically
5.
became Jackson culture pop of icon true a
6.
having by many angered He surgery plastic
7.
reputation damaged was His badly
8.
phenomenal the of proof achieved he success
9.
album time remains selling all ‘Thriller’ best of the
10.
history the in business show of
MICHAEL JACKSON DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Michael Jackson?
2.
Would you like to meet Michael Jackson?
3.
What would you like to know about Michael Jackson 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 Michael Jackson. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MICHAEL JACKSON POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Michael Jackson. 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 Michael Jackson. 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 Michael Jackson. 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 “Michael Jackson expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
truly
a.
beyond doubt
2
earned
b.
got
3.
complicated
c.
difficult
4.
dominated
d.
ruled
5.
enthusiastically
e.
passionately
6.
icon
f.
symbol
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
significant
g.
major
8.
reputation
h.
image
9.
occasions
i.
times
10.
proof
j.
evidence
11
phenomenal
k
extraordinary
12
remains
l
continues as
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
truly a
a.
music legend
2
earned him the title
b.
"King of Pop"
3.
complicated
c.
dance techniques
4.
His distinctive
d.
vocal style
5.
influenced dozens
e.
of today’s top stars
6.
earned him a
f.
nickname he hates
7.
His reputation was
g.
badly damaged
8.
proof of the phenomenal
h.
success he has achieved
9.
remains the best
i.
selling album of all time
10.
in the history of
j.
show business
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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