 This post contains a reading of about 200 words aimed at intermediate to upper-intermediate students with activities such as reading comprehension, expressing the main ideas, lexicon and phonetics. |
Hollywood invented the modem 'Star'. In the golden years of Hollywood, the film companies produced film after film starring a particular actor or actress. The films were accompanied by huge publicity so that, whether the 'star' could act or not, he or she became famous overnight and a well-known name throughout the world. A 'star' in Hollywood meant 'an exceptional human being'. The publicity people dreamed up an 'image' for each star; they exaggerated their good qualities and concealed anything unfavourable. Stars were 'marketed' as good looking, heroic, happy, beautiful and rich; living a luxurious life. People looked up to them and treated them as gods.
People were fooled by the publicity campaigns. These 'stars' were not superhuman. They were ordinary people like you and me. Many of Hollywood's 'stars' were average actors/actresses. There was so much advertising with each movie that the public were hypnotised into believing that these 'stars' were in fact superior.
The film companies made a great deal of money and many unfortunate 'stars' often suffered nervous breakdowns in the effort to live up to their public images. Some of them found it so difficult that they committed suicide.
a. Hollywood produced most films without any publicity at all.
b. A Hollywood 'star' was a synonym of 'an extraordinary person'.
c. People believed in the image of the 'stars' that Hollywood created.
d. All actors and actresses usually had a happy life.
2. EXPRESSING THE MAIN IDEAS. Answer the following questions according to the information given in the text. Where possible, use your own words.
a. What did Hollywood mean by the term 'star'?
b. Why were many Hollywood stars unhappy people?
3. LEXICON. Find words or phrases in the text that mean the same as these given.
(a) To perform in a theatre play or in a film.
(b) Very expensive, beautiful and comfortable.
(c) To be in a sleep-like state in which your thoughts and actions can be influenced by others' suggestions.
(d) Serious medical conditions in which someone becomes mentally ill.
4. PHONETICS.
(a) Write two past forms from the text that sound the same as "wanted" /ıd/.
(b) Is the "-n-" pronounced /n/ or /ŋ/ in "looking"?
(c) Write one word from the text that has the same vowel as "foot" /ʊ/ (Underline the part of the word which contains the vowel).
People were fooled by the publicity campaigns. These 'stars' were not superhuman. They were ordinary people like you and me. Many of Hollywood's 'stars' were average actors/actresses. There was so much advertising with each movie that the public were hypnotised into believing that these 'stars' were in fact superior.
The film companies made a great deal of money and many unfortunate 'stars' often suffered nervous breakdowns in the effort to live up to their public images. Some of them found it so difficult that they committed suicide.
QUESTIONS
1. READING COMPREHENSION. Add TRUE or FALSE and copy the evidence from the text to support your answer.
b. A Hollywood 'star' was a synonym of 'an extraordinary person'.
c. People believed in the image of the 'stars' that Hollywood created.
d. All actors and actresses usually had a happy life.
2. EXPRESSING THE MAIN IDEAS. Answer the following questions according to the information given in the text. Where possible, use your own words.
a. What did Hollywood mean by the term 'star'?
b. Why were many Hollywood stars unhappy people?
3. LEXICON. Find words or phrases in the text that mean the same as these given.
(a) To perform in a theatre play or in a film.
(b) Very expensive, beautiful and comfortable.
(c) To be in a sleep-like state in which your thoughts and actions can be influenced by others' suggestions.
(d) Serious medical conditions in which someone becomes mentally ill.
4. PHONETICS.
(a) Write two past forms from the text that sound the same as "wanted" /ıd/.
(b) Is the "-n-" pronounced /n/ or /ŋ/ in "looking"?
(c) Write one word from the text that has the same vowel as "foot" /ʊ/ (Underline the part of the word which contains the vowel).
- Download the printable worksheet with reading and activities.
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