Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Zhang Ziyi. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Zhang Ziyi, born in Beijing in 1979, is an actress who has worked with the best directors, both in her native China and in America. She said she would have become a kindergarten teacher if she hadn't got into acting. She has starred in many movies that have been worldwide hits and has won a string of awards.
When Zhang was 11, her parents sent her to the Beijing Dance Academy. They wanted their only child to be a star. She had a rough time there and on one occasion she ran away. She remembers the other girls being overly competitive and talking behind each other’s backs. She graduated and joined the prestigious Central Academy of Drama, China’s top acting college.
Zhang soon received many movie role offers. She got her first role in 1999 when she was 19, in ‘The Road Home’. A year later she rose to fame as the character Jen in Ang Lee’s ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’. She won international awards for best supporting actress. In 2001, she appeared in Rush Hour 2, even though she couldn’t speak English.
Zhang’s next international hit was as Sayuri in ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’. She received many nominations for best actress awards. She had also learnt English, helped by listening to Eminem songs. She said it was only later that she understood “how rude” the lyrics were. In 2006, Zhang became the youngest jury member to sit at the Cannes Film Festival.
243 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.
best
a.
series
2
got into
b.
too
3.
string
c.
finest
4.
rough
d.
high ranking
5.
overly
e.
taken up
6.
prestigious
f.
hard
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
role
g.
got
8.
fame
h.
part
9.
appeared
i.
words
10.
received
j.
dirty
11
rude
k
stardom
12
lyrics
l
acted
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
…if she hadn't got
a.
couldn’t speak English
2
won a string
b.
time there
3.
They wanted their only
c.
fame as the character Jen
4.
She had a rough
d.
for best actress awards
5.
talking behind each
e.
into acting
6.
A year later she rose to
f.
at the Cannes Film Festival
7.
… even though she
g.
of awards
8.
She received many nominations
h.
other’s backs
9.
it was only later that she understood
i.
child to be a star
10.
the youngest jury member to sit
j.
“how rude” the lyrics were
LISTENING GAP FILL
Zhang Ziyi, born in Beijing in 1979, is an actress _____________ with the best directors, both _____________ China and in America. She said she would have become a kindergarten teacher if _____________ into acting. She has starred in many movies that have been worldwide hits and has won a _____________.
When Zhang was 11, her parents _______________ Beijing Dance Academy. They wanted their only child to be a star. She _____________ there and on one occasion she ran away. She remembers the other girls being overly competitive and talking behind _______________. She graduated and joined _____________ Central Academy of Drama, China’s top acting college.
Zhang soon received many _____________. She got her first role in 1999 when she was 19, in ‘The Road Home’. A year _______________ to fame as the character Jen in Ang Lee’s ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’. She won international _______________ supporting actress. In 2001, she appeared in Rush Hour 2, _______________ couldn’t speak English.
Zhang’s next international _____________ Sayuri in ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’. She received many nominations for best actress awards. She had also learnt English, _______________ to Eminem songs. She said it was only later that she understood “how rude” _____________. In 2006, Zhang became the youngest jury member _____________ Cannes Film Festival.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Zhang Ziyi, born in Beijing in 1979, is an actress who has / was worked with the best directors, both in her natives / native China and in America. She said she would have become a kindergarten teacher if she hadn't got into / in acting. She has starred in many movies that have been worldwide hits and has won a string / rope of awards.
When Zhang was 11, her parents sending / sent her to the Beijing Dance Academy. They wanted their only child to be a star. She had a rough / roughest time there and on one occasion she run / ran away. She remembers the other girls being overly competitive and talking behind each other’s fronts / backs. She graduated and joined the prestigious Central Academy of Drama, China’s top acting college.
Zhang soon received many movie role offers. She got / getting her first role in 1999 when she was 19, in ‘The Road Home’. A year later she rose / risen to fame as the character Jen in Ang Lee’s ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’. She won international awards with / for best supporting actress. In 2001, she appeared in Rush Hour 2, ever / even though she couldn’t speak English.
Zhang’s next / after international hit was as Sayuri in ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’. She received many / any nominations for best actress awards. She had also learnt English, helping / helped by listening to Eminem songs. She said it was only later that she understood “how rudeness / rude” the lyrics were. In 2006, Zhang became the youngest jury member to sit at the Cannes Film Festival.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
worked with the best isdoterrc
2.
in her navtie China
3.
She has srtarde in many movies
4.
a rnisgt of awards
Paragraph 2
5.
only ihdcl
6.
She had a uhorg time there
7.
tikalgn behind each other’s backs
8.
China’s top iatncg college
Paragraph 3
9.
Zhang soon dreeviec many movie role offers
10.
she rose to fame as the hcteararc Jen
11.
She won international asrwad
12.
even hgutoh she couldn’t speak English
Paragraph 4
13.
mieorMs of a Geisha’
14.
tinlgseni to Eminem songs
15.
she understood “how rude” the lcrsiy were
16.
Zhang became the ugynstoe jury member
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
jury member to sit at the Cannes Film Festival.
( )
though she couldn’t speak English.
( )
into acting. She has starred in many movies that have been worldwide hits and has won a string of awards.
( )
later that she understood “how rude” the lyrics were. In 2006, Zhang became the youngest
( )
When Zhang was 11, her parents sent her to the Beijing Dance Academy. They wanted their only
( )
international awards for best supporting actress. In 2001, she appeared in Rush Hour 2, even
( )
the prestigious Central Academy of Drama, China’s top acting college.
( )
being overly competitive and talking behind each other’s backs. She graduated and joined
( )
child to be a star. She had a rough time there and on one occasion she ran away. She remembers the other girls
( )
China and in America. She said she would have become a kindergarten teacher if she hadn't got
( 1 )
Zhang Ziyi, born in Beijing in 1979, is an actress who has worked with the best directors, both in her native
( )
actress awards. She had also learnt English, helped by listening to Eminem songs. She said it was only
( )
Zhang’s next international hit was as Sayuri in ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’. She received many nominations for best
( )
later she rose to fame as the character Jen in Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’. She won
( )
Zhang soon received many movie role offers. She got her first role in 1999 when she was 19, in ‘The Road Home’. A year
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
actress the who best has directors worked an with
2.
kindergarten would teacher have She become said a she
3.
be their a only star child They to wanted
4.
ran she occasion one on away
5.
talking other’s behind backs each
6.
A year later she rose to fame as the character Jen
7.
best for awards international won She actress supporting
8.
best for nominations many received She awards actress
9.
understood rude lyrics she how the were
10.
Zhang member jury youngest the became
ZHANG ZIYI DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Zhang Ziyi?
2.
Would you like to have met Zhang Ziyi?
3.
What would you like to know about Zhang Ziyi 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 Zhang Ziyi. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. ZHANG ZIYI POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Zhang Ziyi. 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 Zhang Ziyi. 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 Zhang Ziyi. 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 “Zhang Ziyi expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
best
a.
finest
2
got into
b.
taken up
3.
string
c.
series
4.
rough
d.
hard
5.
overly
e.
too
6.
prestigious
f.
high ranking
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
role
g.
part
8.
fame
h.
stardom
9.
appeared
i.
acted
10.
received
j.
got
11
rude
k
dirty
12
lyrics
l
words
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
…if she hadn't got
a.
into acting
2
won a string
b.
of awards
3.
They wanted their only
c.
child to be a star
4.
She had a rough
d.
time there
5.
talking behind each
e.
other’s backs
6.
A year later she rose to
f.
fame as the character Jen
7.
… even though she
g.
couldn’t speak English
8.
She received many nominations
h.
for best actress awards
9.
it was only later that she understood
i.
“how rude” the lyrics were
10.
the youngest jury member to sit
j.
at the Cannes Film Festival
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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