Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Pablo Picasso. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) is probably one of history’s most famous names. He was a Spanish painter and sculptor and perhaps the most recognized figure in twentieth-century art. He is best known for starting the Cubist style. Among his most famous works is the painting of the German bombing of the Spanish city of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War.
Picasso was born into a middle-class family. He took after his father, who was also a painter and a professor of art. From the age of seven, Picasso had formal art lessons from his father. Picasso threw everything into art and his school grades went down. Aged 16, the family sent Picasso to study at Madrid’s Royal Academy of Art.
Picasso moved to Paris in 1900. It was difficult for him to make a living. In 1911, he was questioned by the police for stealing the Mona Lisa. In the summer of 1918, Picasso married ballerina Olga Khokhlova. She introduced him to the rich people of Paris in the 1920s. He became a celebrity and a very respected artist.
Picasso also acted in movies and always played himself in his film appearances. He became famous for his anti-war views. His painting Guernica showed the horror of war. He publicly opposed America’s involvement in the Korean War. After his death, the French state kept many of his paintings. Today, much of his work hangs in a collection at the Musée Picasso in Paris.
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.
probably
a.
pieces of art
2
recognized
b.
marks
3.
works
c.
proper
4.
took after
d.
known
5.
formal
e.
almost certainly
6.
grades
f.
was similar to
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
make a living
g.
roles
8.
questioned
h.
survive
9.
respected
i.
was against
10.
appearances
j.
nation
11
opposed
k
cross-examined
12
state
l
valued
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
one of history’s
a.
in twentieth-century art
2
the most recognized figure
b.
in his film appearances
3.
Picasso was born
c.
everything into art
4.
He took after
d.
to the rich people of Paris
5.
Picasso threw
e.
into a middle-class family
6.
It was difficult for him
f.
at the Musée Picasso
7.
She introduced him
g.
to make a living
8.
always played himself
h.
most famous names
9.
the horror
i.
his father
10.
his work hangs in a collection
j.
of war
LISTENING GAP FILL
Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) is ______________ history’s most famous names. He was a Spanish painter and sculptor and ______________ recognized figure in twentieth-century art. He ______________ starting the Cubist style. Among ______________ works is the painting of the German bombing of the Spanish city of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War.
Picasso ______________ middle-class family. He took after his father, who was also a painter and a professor of art. From the age of seven, Picasso ______________ lessons from his father. Picasso ______________ art and his school ______________. Aged 16, the family sent Picasso to study at Madrid’s Royal Academy of Art.
Picasso moved to Paris in 1900. It was difficult for him _________________. In 1911, he was questioned ______________ stealing the Mona Lisa. In the summer of 1918, Picasso married ballerina Olga Khokhlova. She introduced him to ______________ Paris in the 1920s. He became a celebrity and a very respected artist.
Picasso also acted in movies ______________ himself in his film appearances. He became famous for his anti-war views. His painting Guernica showed _________________. He publicly opposed America’s involvement in the Korean War. After his death, the French state ______________ paintings. Today, much of ______________ a collection at the Musée Picasso in Paris.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) is probably one of history’s most / best famous names. He was a Spanish painter and sculptor and perhaps the most recognized figure on / in twentieth-century art. He is best known for starting the Cubist style. Among his most famous workers / works is the painting of the German bombing / bomb of the Spanish city of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War.
Picasso was born onto / into a middle-class family. He took before / after his father, who was also a painter and a professor of art. From the age of seven, Picasso had formal / form art lessons from his father. Picasso threw / gave everything into art and his school grades went down. Aged 16, the family sent Picasso to study at Madrid’s Royal Academy of Art.
Picasso moved to Paris in 1900. It was difficult for / to him to make a living. In 1911, he was questioned by / with the police for stealing the Mona Lisa. In the summer of 1918, Picasso married ballerina Olga Khokhlova. She introduced him to the wealth / rich people of Paris in the 1920s. He became a celebrity and a very respected / respect artist.
Picasso also acted in movies and always playful / played himself in his film appearances. He became famous for his anti-war views / viewers. His painting Guernica showed the horrible / horror of war. He publicly opposed America’s involvement in the Korean War. After his death, the French state / stated kept many of his paintings. Today, much of his work hangs in a collection at the Musée Picasso in Paris.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
one of history’s most amoufs names
2.
the most recognized rgufei in twentieth-century art
3.
He is best known for tatsgnir the Cubist style
4.
oAmgn his most famous works
Paragraph 2
5.
Picasso was born into a idledm-class family
6.
Picasso had raflom art lessons
7.
Picasso threw yhegtreniv into art
8.
his school raesdg went down
Paragraph 3
9.
Picasso dovme to Paris in 1900
10.
difficult for him to make a lingiv
11.
questioned by the police for nasegtil the Mona Lisa
12.
a very respected asrtti
Paragraph 4
13.
always played heislmf in his film appearances
14.
He publicly sppodeo America’s involvement in the Korean War
15.
After his etdha, the French state kept many of his paintings
16.
much of his work nghas in a collection at the Musée Picasso
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
Picasso was born into a middle-class family. He took after his father, who was also a painter and a professor of
( )
sculptor and perhaps the most recognized figure in twentieth-century art. He is best known for starting the
( )
into art and his school grades went down. Aged 16, the family sent Picasso to study at Madrid’s Royal Academy of Art.
( )
of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War.
( )
stealing the Mona Lisa. In the summer of 1918, Picasso married a ballerina Olga Khokhlova. She introduced him to the
( )
for his anti-war views. His painting Guernica showed the horror of war. He publicly opposed America’s
( )
Cubist style. Among his most famous works is the painting of the German bombing of the Spanish city
( )
rich people of Paris in the 1920s. He became a celebrity and a very respected artist.
( )
hangs in a collection at the Musée Picasso in Paris.
( )
art. From the age of seven, Picasso had formal art lessons from his father. Picasso threw everything
( 1 )
Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) is probably one of history’s most famous names. He was a Spanish painter and
( )
involvement in the Korean War. After his death, the French state kept many of his paintings. Today, much of his work
( )
Picasso moved to Paris in 1900. It was difficult for him to make a living. In 1911, he was questioned by the police for
( )
Picasso also acted in movies and always played himself in his film appearances. He became famous
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
famous of names history’s probably most one
2.
most recognized figure art in the twentieth-century
3.
was born into family a Picasso middle-class
4.
father after He his took
5.
art formal had Picasso father his from lessons
6.
It to was make difficult a for living him
7.
he Lisa the stealing for police Mona the by questioned was
8.
views his He anti-war became famous for
9.
war or horror the showed Guernica painting His
10.
Picasso hangs collection Musée work a the his in at
PABLO PICASSO DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Pablo Picasso?
2.
Would you like to meet Pablo Picasso?
3.
What would you like to know about Pablo Picasso 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 Pablo Picasso. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. PABLO PICASSO POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Pablo Picasso. 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 Pablo Picasso. 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 Pablo Picasso. 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 “Pablo Picasso expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
probably
a.
almost certainly
2
recognized
b.
known
3.
works
c.
pieces of art
4.
took after
d.
was similar to
5.
formal
e.
proper
6.
grades
f.
marks
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
make a living
g.
survive
8.
questioned
h.
cross-examined
9.
respected
i.
valued
10.
appearances
j.
roles
11
opposed
k
was against
12
state
l
nation
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
one of history’s
a.
most famous names
2
the most recognized figure in
b.
twentieth-century art
3.
Picasso was born
c.
into a middle-class family
4.
He took after
d.
his father
5.
Picasso threw
e.
everything into art
6.
It was difficult for him
f.
to make a living
7.
She introduced him
g.
to the rich people of Paris
8.
always played himself
h.
in his film appearances
9.
the horror
i.
of war
10.
his work hangs in a collection
j.
at the Musée Picasso
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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