Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Wolfgang Mozart. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart lived between 1756 and 1791. He is one of the most famous composers ever to live. You can hear his music almost everywhere today – in TV commercials, movies, mobile phone ringtones, and of course concert halls. He composed over 600 works ranging from symphonies, piano concertos, operas and choral music. Many musicians and music experts say he was a musical genius.
Mozart was born into a musical family in Salzburg, Austria. His father worked for the local orchestra, taught the violin and was a composer. Mozart started learning the keyboard when he was three and composed his first pieces of music aged five. His father soon became unable to keep up with his son’s outstanding talents.
Between the ages of six and seventeen, Mozart went on tours of Europe with his family. He performed in front of royalty and met many great musicians. He also studied the works of the great composers, including Johan Bach, who he met in London in 1764 and 1765. By his mid-teens, Mozart had established himself throughout Europe as an up-and-coming composer.
Mozart moved to Vienna and started composing some of his finest works, including the opera “The Marriage of Figaro”. He married, had two children and lived quite a lavish lifestyle. He worked non-stop producing music that is studied by students all over the world today. He continues to be one of the greatest influences on classical music.
237 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.
almost
a.
specialists
2
composed
b.
superb
3.
experts
c.
piano
4.
local
d.
virtually
5.
keyboard
e.
neighbourhood
6.
outstanding
f.
wrote
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
tours
g.
best
8.
established
h.
rising
9.
up-and-coming
i.
trips
10.
finest
j.
luxurious
11
lavish
k
inspirations
12
influences
l
well known
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart lived
a.
studied by students
2
music experts say
b.
of music aged five
3.
Mozart was born
c.
lavish lifestyle
4.
composed his first pieces
d.
coming composer
5.
His father soon became unable
e.
he was a musical genius
6.
He also studied the works
f.
on classical music
7.
an up-and-
g.
into a musical family
8.
producing music that is
h.
between 1756 and 1791
9.
lived quite a
i.
to keep up
10.
one of the greatest influences
j.
of the great composers
LISTENING GAP FILL
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart _______________ 1756 and 1791. He is one of the most famous composers ______________. You can hear his music almost everywhere today – in TV commercials, movies, mobile phone ringtones, and of course concert halls. He composed over 600 _______________ from symphonies, piano concertos, operas and choral music. Many musicians and _______________ he was a musical genius.
Mozart _______________ a musical family in Salzburg, Austria. His father _______________ local orchestra, taught the violin and was a composer. Mozart started learning the keyboard when he was three and composed his first _______________ aged five. His father soon became unable _______________ his son’s outstanding talents.
Between the ages of six and seventeen, Mozart _______________ of Europe with his family. He performed _______________ and met many great musicians. He also studied the __________________ composers, including Johan Bach, who he met in London in 1764 and 1765. _________________, Mozart had established himself throughout Europe as an up-and-coming composer.
Mozart moved to Vienna and started composing _________________ works, including the opera “The Marriage of Figaro”. He married, had two children and lived _______________ lifestyle. He worked non-stop producing music _______________ by students all over the world today. He continues _______________ greatest influences on classical music.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart lived between / around 1756 and 1791. He is one of the most famous composers even / ever to live. You can hear his music almost everywhere today – in TV commercials, movies, mobile phone ringtones, and of course concert halls. He composed over 600 work / works ranging from symphonies, piano concertos, operas and choral / coral music. Many musicians and music experts say he was a musical genius.
Mozart was born onto / into a musical family in Salzburg, Austria. His father worked for / by the local orchestra, taught the violin and was a composer. Mozart started learning the keyboard when he was three and composed his first pieces of music aged / age five. His father soon became unable to keep down / up with his son’s outstanding talents.
Between the ages of six and seventeen, Mozart went / been on tours of Europe with his family. He performed in front of royalty / royal and met many great musicians. He also studied the works of the greet / great composers, including Johan Bach, who he met in London in 1764 and 1765. By his mid-teens, Mozart had established himself throughout Europe as an up-and-coming / down-and-out composer.
Mozart moved to Vienna and started composed / composing some of his finest works, including / included the opera “The Marriage of Figaro”. He married, had two children and lived quite / quiet a lavish lifestyle. He worked non-stop producing music that is studied by students all over the world today. He continues to be one of the greatest influence / influences on classical music.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
Mozart lived tneebwe 1756 and 1791
2.
mobile phone oniersntg
3.
He composed over 600 rwkso
4.
he was a musical ugnise
Paragraph 2
5.
Mozart was born into a sailumc family
6.
His father worked for the local etscorrha
7.
albenu to keep up
8.
his son’s outstanding tantsle
Paragraph 3
9.
He performed in front of rtalyyo
10.
the works of the agtre composers
11.
Mozart had hdiselatebs himself
12.
an up-and-nimgoc composer
Paragraph 4
13.
some of his tfesni works
14.
lived quite a lavish eyflstiel
15.
He worked nno-tops
16.
one of the greatest leisnnecuf on classical music
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
Between the ages of six and seventeen, Mozart went on tours of Europe with his family. He performed in front of
( )
music. Many musicians and music experts say he was a musical genius.
( )
aged five. His father soon became unable to keep up with and develop his son’s outstanding talents.
( )
Mozart moved to Vienna and started composing some of his finest
( )
be one of the greatest influences on classical music.
( )
lifestyle. He worked non-stop producing music that is studied by students all over the world today. He continues to
( )
violin and was a composer. Mozart started learning the keyboard when he was three and composed his first pieces of music
( )
hear his music almost everywhere today – in TV commercials, movies, mobile phone ringtones, and of course concert
( )
works, including the opera “The Marriage of Figaro”. He married, had two children and lived quite a lavish
( )
composers, including Johan Bach, who he met in London in 1764 and 1765. By his mid-teens, Mozart had
( )
halls. He composed over 600 works ranging from symphonies, piano concertos, operas and choral
( )
royalty and met many great musicians. He also studied the works of the great
( )
established himself throughout Europe as an up-and-coming composer.
( )
Mozart was born into a musical family in Salzburg, Austria. His father worked for the local orchestra, taught the
( 1 )
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart lived between 1756 and 1791. He is one of the most famous composers ever to live. You can
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
Mozart 1791 and 1756 between lived
2.
music genius musical a was he say experts
3.
into musical Mozart born a family was
4.
three keyboard Mozart when started he learning was the
5.
develop keep his up son’s with outstanding and talents
6.
Mozart Europe of tours on went
7.
royalty of front in performed He
8.
finest started some his works composing of
9.
quite lifestyle a lived lavish
10.
by students all over the world today music that is studied
MOZART DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
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 Mozart. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MOZART POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Mozart. 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 Mozart. Include an imaginary interview with him. Write about what he did every day and what he 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 Mozart. Ask him three questions about his life. Tell him how important he is in today’s world. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your “Mozart expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
almost
a.
virtually
2
composed
b.
wrote
3.
experts
c.
specialists
4.
local
d.
neighbourhood
5.
keyboard
e.
piano
6.
outstanding
f.
superb
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
tours
g.
trips
8.
established
h.
well known
9.
up-and-coming
i.
rising
10.
finest
j.
best
11
lavish
k
luxurious
12
influences
l
inspirations
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart lived
a.
between 1756 and 1791
2
music experts say
b.
he was a musical genius
3.
Mozart was born
c.
into a musical family
4.
composed his first pieces
d.
of music aged five
5.
His father soon became unable
e.
to keep up
6.
He also studied the works
f.
of the great composers
7.
an up-and-
g.
coming composer
8.
producing music that is
h.
studied by students
9.
lived quite a
i.
lavish lifestyle
10.
one of the greatest influences
j.
on classical music
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.
