Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Pretty Zinta. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Preity Zinta is one of India’s most celebrated actresses. She has appeared in both Bollywood and English-language movies. In addition to acting, she is a writer, stage performer and philanthropist. She is also a businesswoman and co-owns a top Indian cricket team. She is well-known for speaking her mind in public, often when it is dangerous to do so.
Zinta was born in 1975. The death of her Indian Army father was a major turning point in her life. She said she had to mature quickly. She remembers being a tomboy as a child. She loved English, especially Shakespeare, and graduated with an English degree. This was followed by a second degree in criminal psychology. Armed with these two degrees, she became a model.
In 1997, Zinta bumped into film-maker Shekhar Kapur, who instantly decided she had to be an actress. Her first leading role was in the action movie ‘Soldier’ in 1998, for which she won the Filmfare Best Female Debut Award. The ‘India Today’ newspaper said Zinta represented a new breed of Indian actors. Her screen success continues, as do the positive reviews from critics.
Zinta has been successful in all areas of her life. She has written for the BBC’s South Asia website about life as a female Indian. Her stage performances include a show in London’s Hyde Park in front of 100,000 spectators. She is also very strong-willed. She spoke out in court against the Indian Mafia and received an award for her bravery.
248 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.
celebrated
a.
significant
2
philanthropist
b.
admired
3.
speaking her mind
c.
equipped
4.
major
d.
grow up
5.
mature
e.
humanitarian
6.
armed
f.
talking frankly
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
bumped into
g.
class
8.
instantly
h.
met
9.
breed
i.
courage
10.
areas
j.
immediately
11
strong-willed
k
aspects
12
bravery
l
determined
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
one of India’s most
a.
breed of actors
2
She is well-known for speaking
b.
in court
3.
a major turning
c.
her mind in public
4.
she had to mature
d.
into film-maker Shekhar Kapur
5.
She remembers being a
e.
in all areas of her life
6.
Zinta bumped
f.
point in her life
7.
Zinta represented a new
g.
tomboy as a child
8.
Zinta has been successful
h.
spectators
9.
in front of 100,000
i.
celebrated actresses
10.
She spoke out
j.
quickly
LISTENING GAP FILL
Preity Zinta is one of India’s _______________ actresses. She has appeared in both Bollywood and English-language movies. _______________ acting, she is a writer, stage performer and philanthropist. She is also a businesswoman _______________ Indian cricket team. She is well-known for speaking her _______________, often when it is dangerous to do so.
Zinta was born in 1975. The _______________ Indian Army father was a major turning _______________. She said she had to mature quickly. She remembers being a _______________ child. She loved English, especially Shakespeare, and graduated with an English degree. This was followed by a second degree in criminal psychology. _______________ two degrees, she became a model.
In 1997, Zinta _______________ film-maker Shekhar Kapur, who instantly decided she had to be an actress. Her first leading role _______________ movie ‘Soldier’ in 1998, for which she won the Filmfare Best Female Debut Award. The ‘India Today’ newspaper said Zinta represented _______________ Indian actors. Her screen success continues, _______________ reviews from critics.
Zinta has been successful _______________ her life. She has written for the BBC’s South Asia website _______________ female Indian. Her stage performances _______________ London’s Hyde Park in front of 100,000 spectators. She is also very strong-willed. She _______________ court against the Indian Mafia and received an award for her bravery.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics:
Preity Zinta is one of India’s most celebrated / celebration actresses. She has appeared in both Bollywood and English-language movies. In additionally / addition to acting, she is a writer, stage performer and philanthropist. She is also a businesswoman and co-owns a top Indian cricket team. She is well-known for speaking her brain / mind in public, often when it is dangerous / dangers to do so.
Zinta was born in 1975. The death / died of her Indian Army father was a major turning stop / point in her life. She said she had to mature quickly. She remembers being a tomboy was / as a child. She loved English, especially Shakespeare, and graduated with an English degree. This was followed by a second degree in criminal psychology. Armed / Arm with these two degrees, she became a model.
In 1997, Zinta bumped onto / into film-maker Shekhar Kapur, who instantly decided she had to be an actress. Her first leading roll / role was in the action movie ‘Soldier’ in 1998, for which she won the Filmfare Best Female Debut Award. The ‘India Today’ newspaper said Zinta represented a new bread / breed of Indian actors. Her screen success continues, as / was do the positive reviews from critics.
Zinta has been successful in all areas / area of her life. She has written for / by the BBC’s South Asia website about life as a female Indian. Her stage performances include a show in London’s Hyde Park in front of 100,000 spectators. She is also very strong-willed. She spoke in / out in court against the Indian Mafia and received an award for her brave / bravery.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
India’s most beacrdeelt actresses
2.
English-aeluangg movies
3.
gsate performer
4.
well-known for psgkinae her mind in public
Paragraph 2
5.
a major tunnigr point in her life
6.
she had to tuamre quickly
7.
She remembers being a booytm as a child
8.
second reedeg in criminal psychology
Paragraph 3
9.
Zinta dmpbue into film-maker Shekhar Kapur
10.
Her first eglinad role
11.
Her screen usecssc continues
12.
spioetiv reviews from critics
Paragraph 4
13.
Zinta has been successful in all saare of her life
14.
life as a mealef Indian
15.
She spoke out in crout
16.
received an award for her ryaebrv
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
a top Indian cricket team. She is well-known for speaking her mind in public, often when it is dangerous to do so.
( )
about life as a female Indian. Her stage performances include a show in London’s Hyde Park
( )
Zinta was born in 1975. The death of her Indian Army father was a major
( )
Zinta has been successful in all areas of her life. She has written for the BBC’s South Asia website
( )
in front of 100,000 spectators. She is also very strong-willed. She spoke
( )
movies. In addition to acting, she is a writer, stage performer and philanthropist. She is also a businesswoman and co-owns
( )
by a second degree in criminal psychology. Armed with these two degrees, she became a model.
( )
as a child. She loved English, especially Shakespeare, and graduated with an English degree. This was followed
( )
out in court against the Indian Mafia and received an award for her bravery.
( )
decided she had to be an actress. Her first leading role was in the action movie ‘Soldier’ in 1998,
( )
turning point in her life. She said she had to mature quickly. She remembers being a tomboy
( )
In 1997, Zinta bumped into film-maker Shekhar Kapur, who instantly
( )
for which she won the Filmfare Best Female Debut Award. The ‘India Today’ newspaper said Zinta represented a new
( )
breed of Indian actors. Her screen success continues, as do the positive reviews from critics.
( 1 )
Preity Zinta is one of India’s most celebrated actresses. She has appeared in both Bollywood and English-language
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
most India’s of one actresses celebrated
2.
known for speaking her mind in public She is well
3.
her a turning in life major point
4.
a being remembers She child a as tomboy
5.
was by second This followed a degree
6.
first leading role was in the action movie ‘Soldier’ Her
7.
Zinta actors Indian of breed new a represented
8.
areas life been all her has in of Zinta successful
9.
in Mafia court She against spoke the out Indian
10.
received bravery her for award an
PREITY ZINTA DISCUSSION (Write your questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Preity Zinta?
2.
Would you like to meet Preity Zinta?
3.
What would you like to know about Preity Zinta 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 Preity Zinta. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. PREITY ZINTA POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Preity Zinta. 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 Preity Zinta. Include an imaginary interview with her. Write about what she does every day and what she 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 Preity Zinta. Ask her three questions about her life. Give her three suggestions on what she should do in her future. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your “Preity Zinta expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
celebrated
a.
admired
2
philanthropist
b.
humanitarian
3.
speaking her mind
c.
talking frankly
4.
major
d.
significant
5.
mature
e.
grow up
6.
armed
f.
equipped
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
bumped into
g.
met
8.
instantly
h.
immediately
9.
breed
i.
class
10.
areas
j.
aspects
11
strong-willed
k
determined
12
bravery
l
courage
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
one of India’s most
a.
celebrated actresses
2
She is well-known for speaking
b.
her mind in public
3.
a major turning
c.
point in her life
4.
she had to mature
d.
quickly
5.
She remembers being a
e.
tomboy as a child
6.
Zinta bumped
f.
into film-maker Shekhar Kapur
7.
Zinta represented a new
g.
breed of actors
8.
Zinta has been successful
h.
in all areas of her life
9.
in front of 100,000
i.
spectators
10.
She spoke out
j.
in court
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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