Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Rowan Atkinson. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Rowan Atkinson is an English comedian, actor and writer. He is famous around the world for his character Mr. Bean. He was listed in the top 50 funniest people ever by a group of comedians. Atkinson shot to fame in Britain in the late 1970s. Throughout the 1980s he starred in one of Britain’s most successful comedies, Black Adder. Mr. Bean brought him worldwide fame and acclaim.
Atkinson was born in the north of England in 1955. He went to very good schools and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. While studying for a Master’s degree at Oxford University he fell in love with acting and comedy and joined an amateur theatre company. He took his comedy sketches to the Edinburgh Festival in 1976 and performed on the street.
After university, Atkinson got a lucky break and made a one-off comedy show for a British TV company. He quickly went on to appear in the hit comedy show ‘Not the Nine O'Clock News’. This made him one of Britain’s most popular comedians. From 1993, he starred in the incredibly successful Black Adder series, which he also co-wrote.
Mr. Bean came along on New Years Day, 1990. It was originally just a one-off show. The character was a hit and Atkinson made more episodes throughout the 1990s. It was eventually made into a movie which made Atkinson an international star. His visual comedy style has earned him the nickname "the man with the rubber face".
246 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.
ever
a.
stardom
2
fame
b.
fine
3.
acclaim
c.
acts
4.
good
d.
praise
5.
joined
e.
of all time
6.
sketches
f.
became a member of
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
break
g.
shows
8.
appear
h.
appeared
9.
incredibly
i.
act
10.
came along
j.
opportunity
11
episodes
k
got
12
earned
l
very
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
famous around the world for his
a.
for a Master’s degree
2
the top 50
b.
the rubber face
3.
Mr. Bean brought him worldwide
c.
break
4.
While studying
d.
character Mr. Bean
5.
he fell in
e.
successful Black Adder
6.
Atkinson got a lucky
f.
funniest people ever
7.
the incredibly
g.
off show
8.
Mr. Bean came
h.
love with acting
9.
It was originally just a one-
i.
fame and acclaim
10.
the man with
j.
along on New Years Day
LISTENING GAP FILL
Rowan Atkinson is an English comedian, _______________. He is famous around the world _______________ Mr. Bean. He was listed in the top 50 funniest people ever by a group of comedians. Atkinson _______________ in Britain in the late 1970s. Throughout the 1980s he starred in one of Britain’s most successful comedies, Black Adder. Mr. Bean brought him worldwide _______________.
Atkinson was born in the north of England in 1955. He went to very good schools and _______________ a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. While _______________ Master’s degree at Oxford University he _______________ acting and comedy and joined an amateur theatre company. He took his comedy _______________ Edinburgh Festival in 1976 and performed on the street.
After university, Atkinson got _______________ and made a one-off comedy show for a British TV company. He quickly ________________ in the hit comedy show ‘Not the Nine O'Clock News’. This _______________ of Britain’s most popular comedians. From 1993, he starred in the incredibly successful Black Adder series, which _______________.
Mr. Bean _______________ New Years Day, 1990. It was originally just a one-off show. The character was a hit and Atkinson made _______________ throughout the 1990s. It _______________ made into a movie which made Atkinson an international star. His _______________ style has earned him the nickname "the man with the rubber face".
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Rowan Atkinson is an English comedian / comedy, actor and writer. He is famous around the world for his character Mr. Bean. He was listed in the top 50 funniest people never / ever by a group of comedians. Atkinson shot to fame / famous in Britain in the late 1970s. Throughout the 1980s he starred in one of Britain’s most successful comedies, Black Adder. Mr. Bean brought him worldwide fame and acclaim / reclaim.
Atkinson was born in the northern / north of England in 1955. He went to very well / good schools and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. While studying for a Master’s degree at Oxford University he fallen / fell in love with acting and comedy and joined an amateur theatre company. He took his comedy sketches to the Edinburgh Festival in 1976 and performed / performance on the street.
After university, Atkinson got a lucky / luck break and made a one-off comedy show for a British TV company. He quick / quickly went on to appear in the hit comedy show ‘Not the Nine O'Clock News’. This made him one of Britain’s most popularity / popular comedians. From 1993, he starred in the incredibly successful / success Black Adder series, which he also co-wrote.
Mr. Bean came long / along on New Years Day, 1990. It was originally just a one-off / -on show. The character was a hit and Atkinson made more episodes throughout the 1990s. It was eventually made into a movie which made Atkinson an international star. His visual / vision comedy style has earned him the nickname "the man for / with the rubber face".
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
his ehrcrctaa Mr. Bean
2.
the top 50 tisnfeun people
3.
successful sodeicme
4.
worldwide fame and accimal
Paragraph 2
5.
graduated with a Bachelor’s egered
6.
he fell in love with acgnti
7.
an uaermta theatre company
8.
emrefrpdo on the street
Paragraph 3
9.
Atkinson got a lucky baerk
10.
paaper in the hit comedy show
11.
Britain’s most lpurapo comedians
12.
the lnrcibdyei successful Black Adder series
Paragraph 4
13.
ilyaorginl just a one-off show
14.
Atkinson made more sopseeid
15.
His silauv comedy style
16.
the man with the brbreu face
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
After university, Atkinson got a lucky break and made a one-off comedy show for a British TV company. He quickly went on
( )
Atkinson was born in the north of England in 1955. He went to very good schools and graduated with a Bachelor’s
( )
comedians. From 1993, he starred in the incredibly successful Black Adder series, which he also co-wrote.
( )
degree in electrical engineering. While studying for a Master’s degree at Oxford University he fell in love with
( )
the nickname "the man with the rubber face".
( )
comedies, Black Adder. Mr. Bean brought him worldwide fame and acclaim.
( 1 )
Rowan Atkinson is an English comedian, actor and writer. He is famous around the world for his character Mr.
( )
to appear in the hit comedy show ‘Not the Nine O'Clock News’. This made him one of Britain’s most popular
( )
acting and comedy and joined an amateur theatre company. He took his comedy
( )
into a movie which made Atkinson an international star. His visual comedy style has earned him
( )
in the late 1970s. Throughout the 1980s he starred in one of Britain’s most successful
( )
Bean. He was listed in the top 50 funniest people ever by a group of comedians. Atkinson shot to fame in Britain
( )
Mr. Bean came along on New Years Day, 1990. It was originally just a one-off show. The character was a
( )
sketches to the Edinburgh Festival in 1976 and performed on the street.
( )
hit and Atkinson made more episodes throughout the 1990s. It was eventually made
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
ever people funniest 50 top the
2.
Bean and brought acclaim him Mr worldwide . fame
3.
of north the in born was Atkinson England
4.
engineering electrical in degree Bachelor’s a
5.
fell he comedy and acting with love in
6.
lucky a got Atkinson , university After break
7.
Black Adder successful incredibly the series
8.
was - originally off just show a It one
9.
movie was made a It eventually into
10.
the ” " with face nickname man rubber the the
ROWAN ATKINSON DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Rowan Atkinson?
2.
Would you like to meet Rowan Atkinson?
3.
What would you like to know about Rowan Atkinson 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 Rowan Atkinson. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. ROWAN ATKINSON POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Rowan Atkinson. 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 Rowan Atkinson. 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 Rowan Atkinson. 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 “Rowan Atkinson expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
ever
a.
of all time
2
fame
b.
stardom
3.
acclaim
c.
praise
4.
good
d.
fine
5.
joined
e.
became a member of
6.
sketches
f.
acts
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
break
g.
opportunity
8.
appear
h.
act
9.
incredibly
i.
very
10.
came along
j.
appeared
11
episodes
k
shows
12
earned
l
got
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
famous around the world for his
a.
character Mr. Bean
2
the top 50
b.
funniest people ever
3.
Mr. Bean brought him worldwide
c.
fame and acclaim
4.
While studying
d.
for a Master’s degree
5.
he fell in
e.
love with acting
6.
Atkinson got a lucky
f.
break
7.
the incredibly
g.
successful Black Adder
8.
Mr. Bean came
h.
along on New Years Day
9.
It was originally just a one-
i.
off show
10.
the man with
j.
the rubber face
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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