Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Britney Spears. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Britney Spears was born in Mississippi, USA in 1981. She is one of the world’s best-selling singers, having sold over 80 million records worldwide. She also writes songs and acts. She led a revival of teen pop in the late 1990s, which helped her become a star. She is also famous for her problems with drugs and alcohol.
Spears was a budding gymnast when she was a child and competed in many tournaments. She also sang and danced in her local church shows. She spent several summers developing her talent at a performing arts school in New York. When she was 11, she appeared in the Disney Channel’s New Mickey Mouse Club. She signed a recording contract at the age of 16.
Spears released her debut single "Baby One More Time” in 1998. It was an instant international success and ranks as the 38th best song of all time. The album of the same name sold 28 million copies and is the best selling album for a teenager. Spears broke many records and won many awards. She had established herself as a pop phenomenon.
Spears was ranked the world's most powerful celebrity in 2002 by ‘Forbes’ magazine. She released four more albums, which cemented her status as a superstar. Her personal life has been less successful. Her four-year relationship with Justin Timberlake ended in 2002. She married dancer Kevin Federline in 2004 and divorced him in 2007. She is currently fighting for custody of their two sons.
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.
worldwide
a.
difficulties
2
revival
b.
competitions
3.
problems
c.
promising
4.
budding
d.
globally
5.
tournaments
e.
a number of
6.
several
f.
comeback
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
instant
g.
sensation
8.
of all time
h.
confirmed
9.
phenomenon
i.
ever
10.
cemented
j.
responsibility
11
relationship
k
immediate
12
custody
l
romance
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
She led a revival of teen
a.
her talent
2
famous for her problems
b.
less successful
3.
Spears was a budding gymnast
c.
with drugs and alcohol
4.
She spent several summers developing
d.
of all time
5.
She signed a recording contract at
e.
a pop phenomenon
6.
ranks as the 38th best song
f.
pop in the late 1990s
7.
She had established herself as
g.
of their two sons
8.
Spears was ranked the world's most
h.
when she was a child
9.
Her personal life has been
i.
the age of 16
10.
She is currently fighting for custody
j.
powerful celebrity
LISTENING GAP FILL
Britney Spears was born in Mississippi, USA in 1981. _________________ world’s best-selling singers, _________________ 80 million records worldwide. She also writes songs and acts. She _________________ pop in the late 1990s, which helped her become a star. She is also famous for her _________________ and alcohol.
Spears _________________ when she was a child and competed in many tournaments. She also sang and danced in her _________________. She spent several summers _________________ at a performing arts school in New York. When she was 11, she appeared in the Disney Channel’s New Mickey Mouse Club. She _________________ contract at the age of 16.
Spears released _________________ "Baby One More Time” in 1998. It was an instant international success _________________ 38th best song of all time. The album of the same name sold 28 million copies and is the best _________________ teenager. Spears broke many records and won many awards. She had _________________ as a pop phenomenon.
Spears ___________________ most powerful celebrity in 2002 by ‘Forbes’ magazine. She released four more albums, which cemented _________________ superstar. Her personal life has _________________. Her four-year relationship with Justin Timberlake ended in 2002. She married dancer Kevin Federline in 2004 and divorced him in 2007. She is currently _________________ of their two sons.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics:
Britney Spears was born in Mississippi, USA in 1981. She is one of the world’s best-selling singers, having selling / sold over 80 million records worldwide. She also writes / wrote songs and acts. She led a revival of teen pop in the late / latest 1990s, which helped her become a star. She is also famous for her problems with medicine / drugs and alcohol.
Spears was a budding gymnast / gymnastics when she was a child and competed in many tournaments. She also sang and dances / danced in her local church shows. She spent several summers developing her talent / talented at a performing arts school in New York. When she was 11, she appeared in the Disney Channel’s New Mickey Mouse Club. She signed a recording contract at the old / age of 16.
Spears released her debut single "Baby One More Time” in 1998. It was an instant / instantly international success and rank / ranks as the 38th best song of all / every time. The album of the same name sold 28 million copies and is the best selling album for a teenager. Spears broke many records and won much / many awards. She had established herself as a pop phenomenon.
Spears was ranked the world's best / most powerful celebrity in 2002 by ‘Forbes’ magazine. She released four more albums, which glued / cemented her status as a superstar. Her personality / personal life has been less successful. Her four-year relationship with Justin Timberlake ended in 2002. She married dancer Kevin Federline in 2004 and divorced him in 2007. She is currently fought / fighting for custody of their two sons.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
of the world’s best-selling nseirgs
2.
sold over 80 million records iedwwlrdo
3.
a vialrve of teen pop in the late 1990s
4.
problems with drugs and ahclloo
Paragraph 2
5.
Spears was a budding yngmast when she was a child
6.
lrasvee summers
7.
developing her latetn
8.
She signed a recording ncotrcat at the age of 16
Paragraph 3
9.
Spears released her edtub single
10.
an ntaitsn international success
11.
the best selling album for a ageerten
12.
Spears broke many cersord
Paragraph 4
13.
Spears was dnkare the world's most powerful celebrity
14.
cemented her austts as a superstar
15.
Her saenrolp life has been less successful
16.
fighting for otudcys of their two sons
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( 1 )
Britney Spears was born in Mississippi, USA in 1981. She is one of the world’s best-selling singers, having sold
( )
over 80 million records worldwide. She also writes songs and acts. She led a revival of teen pop in the late
( )
album for a teenager. Spears broke many records and won many awards. She
( )
dancer Kevin Federline in 2004 and divorced him in 2007. She is currently fighting for custody of their two sons.
( )
Spears was a budding gymnast when she was a child and competed in many tournaments. She also sang
( )
had established herself as a pop phenomenon.
( )
as the 38th best song of all time. The album of the same name sold 28 million copies and is the best selling
( )
Spears released her debut single "Baby One More Time” in 1998. It was an instant international success and ranks
( )
New Mickey Mouse Club. She signed a recording contract at the age of 16.
( )
successful. Her four-year relationship with Justin Timberlake ended in 2002. She married
( )
Spears was ranked as the world's most powerful celebrity in 2002 by ‘Forbes’ magazine. She released
( )
and danced in her local church shows. She spent several summers developing her talent at a performing
( )
arts school in New York. When she was 11, she appeared in the Disney Channel’s
( )
1990s, which helped her become a star. She is also famous for her problems with drugs and alcohol.
( )
four more albums, which cemented her status as a superstar. Her personal life has been less
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
world’s selling is the - She of best singers one
2.
alcohol and drugs with problems her for famous
3.
child a when a was gymnast was Spears budding she
4.
talent spent summers her She several developing
5.
of signed contract age She recording the 16 a at
6.
instant an was It success international
7.
had She phenomenon pop a as herself established
8.
the Spears world's was most ranked powerful as celebrity
9.
been successful personal has less Her life
10.
sons for of two fighting custody their
DISCUSSION (Write your questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Britney Spears?
2.
Would you like to meet Britney Spears?
3.
What would you like to know about Britney Spears 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 Britney Spears. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. BRITNEY SPEARS POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Britney Spears. 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 Britney Spears. Include an imaginary interview with her. Write about what she does every day and what she 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 Britney Spears. Ask her three questions about her life. Give her three suggestions on what she should do in her future. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your “Britney Spears expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
worldwide
a.
globally
2
revival
b.
comeback
3.
problems
c.
difficulties
4.
budding
d.
promising
5.
tournaments
e.
competitions
6.
several
f.
a number of
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
instant
g.
immediate
8.
of all time
h.
ever
9.
phenomenon
i.
sensation
10.
cemented
j.
confirmed
11
relationship
k
romance
12
custody
l
responsibility
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
She led a revival of teen
a.
pop in the late 1990s
2
famous for her problems
b.
with drugs and alcohol
3.
Spears was a budding gymnast
c.
when she was a child
4.
She spent several summers developing
d.
her talent
5.
She signed a recording contract at
e.
the age of 16
6.
ranks as the 38th best song
f.
of all time
7.
She had established herself as
g.
a pop phenomenon
8.
Spears was ranked the world's most
h.
powerful celebrity
9.
Her personal life has been
i.
less successful
10.
She is currently fighting for custody
j.
of their two sons
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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