Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Missy Elliott. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott was born in Virginia in 1971. She is an award-winning rap artist and probably the greatest ever female rapper. As well as having a string of hit singles and albums, Elliott has also written songs for other top artists, including Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson. Elliott’s success in the rap industry is nothing short of phenomenal.
Elliott grew up experiencing and witnessing sexual and physical abuse. She lived in fear that her father would beat her mother to death. She found an escape in music. From the age of four she dreamed about stardom. She wrote letters to her hero Michael Jackson every day, asking him to rescue her. She also spent her youth writing song lyrics.
Elliott formed a rap group called Sista with three school friends, which broke up after their record label refused to release their album. She wrote songs and contributed vocals to other artists' songs. The CEO of Elektra Records heard Elliott on Gina Thompson's "The Things That You Do" and knew she was special. She won a contract to run her own record label, GoldMind Inc.
Elliott teamed up with her old friend Timbaland and set the world of rap on fire with her stylish songs and image. Six of her albums would go platinum and she received five Grammy awards for her brilliance. She also produced stars like Madonna and Beyonce. Elliott also has time for charity work, in particular, to highlight domestic violence and teen obesity.
249 words
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted biographies.
Mail this lesson to friends and teachers. Click the @ below.
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.
probably
a.
get away
2
ever
b.
ill-treatment
3.
phenomenal
c.
all time
4.
abuse
d.
most likely
5.
escape
e.
fame
6.
stardom
f.
amazing
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
formed
g.
split up
8.
broke up
h.
focus on
9.
run
i.
joined forces
10.
teamed up
j.
created
11
brilliance
k
manage
12
highlight
l
talent
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
probably the greatest
a.
of phenomenal
2
a string
b.
on fire
3.
nothing short
c.
song lyrics
4.
She found an escape
d.
her own record label
5.
She also spent her youth writing
e.
up with her old friend
6.
contributed vocals
f.
ever female rapper
7.
She won a contract to run
g.
in music
8.
Elliott teamed
h.
and teen obesity
9.
set the world of rap
i.
of hit singles
10.
highlight domestic violence
j.
to other artists' songs
LISTENING GAP FILL
Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott was born in Virginia in 1971. She is an award-winning ________________ probably the greatest ever female rapper. As well as having ________________ singles and albums, Elliott has also written songs for other top artists, including Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson. Elliott’s ________________ industry is ________________ phenomenal.
Elliott grew up experiencing and witnessing sexual _______________. She ________________ her father would beat her mother to death. She found an escape in music. From the age of four she dreamed about stardom. She wrote letters to her hero Michael Jackson every day, asking ________________. She also spent her _____________________.
Elliott formed a rap group called Sista with three school friends, which ________________ their record label ________________ their album. She wrote songs and ________________ to other artists' songs. The CEO of Elektra Records heard Elliott on Gina Thompson's "The Things That You Do" and knew she was special. She won a contract ________________ record label, GoldMind Inc.
Elliott ________________ her old friend Timbaland and set the world ________________ with her stylish songs and image. Six of her albums __________________ and she received five Grammy awards for her brilliance. She also produced stars like Madonna and Beyonce. Elliott also has time for charity work, in particular, to highlight domestic violence ________________.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott was birth / born in Virginia in 1971. She is an award-winning rap artist and probable / probably the greatest ever female rapper. As well as having a string / rope of hit singles and albums, Elliott has also written songs for other top artists, including Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson. Elliott’s success in the rap industry is nothing short / tall of phenomenal.
Elliott grew up experiencing and witnessing sexual and physical abusive / abuse. She lived in fear / afraid that her father would beat her mother to death. She found / discover an escape in music. From the age of four she dreamed about stardom. She wrote letters to her hero Michael Jackson every day, asking him to rescue her. She also spent her youths / youth writing song lyrics.
Elliott formed a rap group calling / called Sista with three school friends, which broke up after their record lapel / label refused to release their album. She wrote songs and contributed / contribution vocals to other artists' songs. The CEO of Elektra Records heard Elliott on Gina Thompson's "The Things That You Do" and knew she was especially / special. She won a contract to run her own record label, GoldMind Inc.
Elliott teamed down / up with her old friend Timbaland and set the world of rap on fire / fired with her stylish songs and image. Six of her albums would go platinum and she received five Grammy awards for her brilliance / brilliant. She also produced stars like Madonna and Beyonce. Elliott also has time for charity work, in particular, to highlight domestic violence and teen obese / obesity.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
arbyoplb the greatest ever female rapper
2.
a srgtni of hit singles
3.
the rap yrunidts
4.
ohgintn short of phenomenal
Paragraph 2
5.
sexual and physical uesab
6.
She found an spaeec in music
7.
asking him to ceuers her
8.
song lyrics
Paragraph 3
9.
Elliott rfmoed a rap group called Sista
10.
their record label sfereud to release their album
11.
knew she was esacpil
12.
She won a rtotccan to run her own record label
Paragraph 4
13.
Elliott tdaeme up with her old friend Timbaland
14.
her sihltys songs and image
15.
highlight domestic cnevoile
16.
teen seoiytb
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
her hero Michael Jackson every day, asking him to rescue her. She also spent her youth writing song lyrics.
( )
Elliott grew up experiencing and witnessing sexual and physical abuse. She lived in fear that her father would beat
( 1 )
Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott was born in Virginia in 1971. She is an award-winning rap artist and probably
( )
Elliott teamed up with her old friend Timbaland and set the world of rap alight with her stylish songs and
( )
brilliance. She also produced stars like Madonna and Beyonce. Elliott also has time for charity
( )
image. Six of her albums would go platinum and she received five Grammy awards for her
( )
the greatest ever female rapper. As well as having a string of hit singles and albums, Elliott has also written songs for other
( )
her mother to death. She found an escape in music. From the age of four she dreamed about stardom. She wrote letters to
( )
top artists, including Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson. Elliott’s success
( )
work, in particular, to highlight domestic violence and teen obesity.
( )
she was special. She won a contract to run her own record label, GoldMind Inc.
( )
Elliott formed a rap group called Sista with three school friends, which broke up after their record
( )
of Elektra Records heard Elliott on Gina Thompson's "The Things That You Do" and knew
( )
label refused to release their album. She wrote songs and contributed vocals to other artists' songs. The CEO
( )
in the rap industry is nothing short of phenomenal.
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
- award an is She artist rap winning
2.
has other also top written artists songs Elliott for
3.
short nothing phenomenal of
4.
fear that her father would beat her mother She lived in
5.
her spent also She lyrics song writing youth
6.
other to vocals contributed songs artists'
7.
run to contract a label record own her
8.
old her with up teamed Elliott Timbaland friend
9.
fire the of on set world rap
10.
obesity teen and violence domestic highlight
MISSY ELLIOTT DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Missy Elliott?
2.
Would you like to have met Missy Elliott?
3.
What would you like to know about Missy Elliott 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 Missy Elliott. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MISSY ELLIOTT POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Missy Elliott. 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 Missy Elliott. 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 Missy Elliott. Ask her three questions about her life. Tell her how important she is in today’s world and how she is missed. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your “Missy Elliott expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
probably
a.
most likely
2
ever
b.
all time
3.
phenomenal
c.
amazing
4.
abuse
d.
ill-treatment
5.
escape
e.
get away
6.
stardom
f.
fame
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
formed
g.
created
8.
broke up
h.
split up
9.
run
i.
manage
10.
teamed up
j.
joined forces
11
brilliance
k
talent
12
highlight
l
focus on
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
probably the greatest
a.
ever female rapper
2
a string
b.
of hit singles
3.
nothing short
c.
of phenomenal
4.
She found an escape
d.
in music
5.
She also spent her youth writing
e.
song lyrics
6.
contributed vocals
f.
to other artists' songs
7.
She won a contract to run
g.
her own record label
8.
Elliott teamed
h.
up with her old friend
9.
set the world of rap
i.
on fire
10.
highlight domestic violence
j.
and teen obesity
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
HELP SUPPORT THIS WEBSITE
Recommend the site on blogs,Twitter, Facebook, forums and other sites.
