Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Steven Spielberg. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Steven Spielberg is a prolific and super-successful American film director and producer. He has won three Best Movie Oscars, among hundreds of other awards. His movies have made nearly $8 billion, the highest for any filmmaker in history. ‘Time’ magazine listed him as one of the 100 greatest people of the 20th Century. ‘Life’ named him the most influential person of his generation.
Spielberg was born in Ohio in 1946. He was interested in movies when he was very young. At 12, he made a 9-minute film to earn his Boy Scout photography badge. Aged 13, he won a prize for a 40-minute war movie. When he was 16, Spielberg filmed a 2-hour science fiction epic. He set his sights on Hollywood.
Spielberg failed to get into film school because of his high school grades. He was undeterred and went directly to Universal Studios, where he got a position as an intern. In 1968, he made a short film that caught the attention of Universal’s vice president. Spielberg became Hollywood’s youngest ever director. He spent seven years making TV movies.
Spielberg’s first major movie was the shark horror film ‘Jaws’. It was a sensational hit and made Spielberg a household name. He has since made many blockbusters that have become a part of world culture, including Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones and E.T. Spielberg has also dealt with serious issues such as slavery, the Holocaust and terrorism. He has also ventured into video game production.
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.
prolific
a.
blockbuster
2
in history
b.
important
3.
influential
c.
ambition
4.
earn
d.
productive
5.
epic
e.
get
6.
sights
f.
ever
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
grades
g.
famous
8.
undeterred
h.
marks
9.
attention
i.
big
10.
major
j.
notice
11
a household name
k
topics
12
issues
l
not put off
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
prolific and super-
a.
filmmaker in history
2
the highest for any
b.
on Hollywood
3.
the most influential person
c.
as an intern
4.
a 2-hour science
d.
name
5.
He set his sights
e.
successful
6.
he got a position
f.
video game production
7.
caught the
g.
fiction epic
8.
made Spielberg a household
h.
of his generation
9.
serious issues
i.
attention of…
10.
He has also ventured into
j.
such as slavery
LISTENING GAP FILL
Steven Spielberg is ________________ super-successful American film director and producer. He has won three Best Movie Oscars, ________________ other awards. His movies have made nearly $8 billion, the highest ________________ in history. ‘Time’ magazine listed him as one of the 100 greatest people of the 20th Century. ‘Life’ ________________ most influential person of his generation.
Spielberg was ________________ 1946. He was interested in movies when he was very young. At 12, he made a 9-minute ________________ Boy Scout photography badge. Aged 13, he won a prize for a ___________________. When he was 16, Spielberg filmed a 2-hour science fiction epic. He ________________ Hollywood.
Spielberg ________________ film school because of his high school grades. He was undeterred ________________ to Universal Studios, where he got a position as an intern. In 1968, he made a short film that ________________ of Universal’s vice president. Spielberg became Hollywood’s youngest ________________. He spent seven years making TV movies.
Spielberg’s first major movie was ________________ film ‘Jaws’. It was a sensational hit and made Spielberg ________________. He has since made many blockbusters that have become a part of world culture, including Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones and E.T. Spielberg has also ________________ serious issues such as slavery, the Holocaust and terrorism. He has also ________________ video game production.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Steven Spielberg is a prolific / profile and super-successful American film director and production / producer. He has won three Best Movie Oscars, among hundreds of other awards. His movies have made nearly $8 billion, the highest with / for any filmmaker in history. ‘Time’ magazine listed him as one of the 100 greatest people of the 20th Century. ‘Life’ named him the most influence / influential person of his generation.
Spielberg was born in Ohio at / in 1946. He was interested in movies when he was very young. At / In 12, he made a 9-minute film to earn / learn his Boy Scout photography badge. Aged 13, he won a prize for a 40-minute war movie. When he was 16, Spielberg filmed a 2-hour science fiction epic. He set his sites / sights on Hollywood.
Spielberg failed / foiled to get into film school because of his high school grades. He was undeterred and went directly / direction to Universal Studios, where he got a position as an intern. In 1968, he made a short film that catch / caught the attention of Universal’s vice president. Spielberg became Hollywood’s youngest ever / even director. He spent seven years making TV movies.
Spielberg’s first major movie was the shark horror film ‘Jaws’. It was a sensational / sensation hit and made Spielberg a household / housework name. He has since made many blockbusters that have become a part / party of world culture, including Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones and E.T. Spielberg has also dealt with seriously / serious issues such as slavery, the Holocaust and terrorism. He has also ventured into video game production.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
a fpirocli and super-successful American film director
2.
henudrds of other awards
3.
nearly $8 niolbli
4.
the most influential person of his aotgeniner
Paragraph 2
5.
He was rsietnetde in movies when he was very young
6.
he made a 9-mtneiu film
7.
a 2-hour science icnoitf epic
8.
He set his ghsist on Hollywood
Paragraph 3
9.
Spielberg laeifd to get into film school
10.
went tyrceidl to Universal Studios
11.
caught the onnatiett of…
12.
He spent seven years gknmai TV movies
Paragraph 4
13.
rrroho film
14.
a uoheolhsd name
15.
world uulcert
16.
serious issues such as yraslev
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
name. He has since made many blockbusters that have become a part of
( )
16, Spielberg filmed a 2-hour science fiction epic. He set his sights on Hollywood.
( )
ever director. He spent seven years making TV movies.
( )
Spielberg failed to get into film school because of his high school grades. He was undeterred and went
( )
directly to Universal Studios, where he got a position as an intern. In 1968, he made a short film that caught the
( )
Spielberg’s first major movie was the shark horror film ‘Jaws’. It was a sensational hit and made Spielberg a household
( )
Century. ‘Life’ named him the most influential person of his generation.
( 1 )
Steven Spielberg is a prolific and super-successful American film director and producer. He has won three Best
( )
as slavery, the Holocaust and terrorism. He has also ventured into video game production.
( )
history. ‘Time’ magazine listed him as one of the 100 greatest people of the 20th
( )
Spielberg was born in Ohio in 1946. He was interested in movies when he was very young. At 12, he made a 9-minute
( )
world culture, including Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones and E.T. Spielberg has also dealt with serious issues such
( )
Movie Oscars among hundreds of other awards. His movies have made nearly $8 billion, the highest for any filmmaker in
( )
film to earn his Boy Scout photography badge. Aged 13, he won a prize for a 40-minute war movie. When he was
( )
attention of Universal’s vice president. Spielberg became Hollywood’s youngest
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
successful - super director film American
2.
nearly made have movies His billion 8 $
3.
generation most person his the influential of
4.
2 epic - Spielberg hour filmed science a fiction
5.
He Hollywood on sights his set
6.
school failed get film Spielberg to into
7.
Hollywood’s became Spielberg director ever youngest
8.
TV He seven making movies spent years
9.
has dealt serious Spielberg also with issues
10.
ventured also has He production game video into
STEVEN SPIELBERG DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Steven Spielberg?
2.
Would you like to meet Steven Spielberg?
3.
What would you like to know about Steven Spielberg 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 Steven Spielberg. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. STEVEN SPIELBERG POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Steven Spielberg. 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 Steven Spielberg. 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 Steven Spielberg. 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 “Steven Spielberg expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
prolific
a.
productive
2
in history
b.
ever
3.
influential
c.
important
4.
earn
d.
get
5.
epic
e.
blockbuster
6.
sights
f.
ambition
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
grades
g.
marks
8.
undeterred
h.
not put off
9.
attention
i.
notice
10.
major
j.
big
11
a household name
k
famous
12
issues
l
topics
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
prolific and super-
a.
successful
2
the highest for any
b.
filmmaker in history
3.
the most influential person
c.
of his generation
4.
a 2-hour science
d.
fiction epic
5.
He set his sights
e.
on Hollywood
6.
he got a position
f.
as an intern
7.
caught the
g.
attention of…
8.
made Spielberg a household
h.
name
9.
serious issues
i.
such as slavery
10.
He has also ventured into
j.
video game production
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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