Famous People Elvis Presley Elvis Presley Pre-Reading Warm Up Questions ☀ 1. What is your favorite kind of music? Who is your favorite singer? Elvis Presley is called “The King of Rock & Roll” by millions of 2. Do you like “rock and roll” music? people around the world. 3. Do you think that teenagers usually like the same kind of music that their parents like? Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, on January 8, 1935. His family was poor and very religious. As a young boy, he sang in the local church choir and learned to play the guitar. 4. Do you know any Elvis Presley songs? If so, which ones do you know? 5. Describe Elvis Presley in this picture. The Presley family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, in 1948. After graduating from high school, Elvis worked as a truck driver. In 1953, he made a record for his mother at a local recording studio. His record impressed the studio owner, who also owned a small record company. In 1954, Elvis made his first single record, and it was a big hit with local people. He did a singing tour of the South and then started recording for RCA Records. Presley’s musical style was influenced by African-American music. The way he dressed and his movements on stage were unique at the time. All of this made him a new and exciting performer. In 1956, Presley appeared on a national American television show called Talk of the Town. His hip movements on stage scandalized many people, which made him even more popular with teenagers. For the next 16 years, he made many million-selling records. He also starred in over 30 movies. His music and movies were listened to and seen by his fans around the world. In 1973, he gave up making movies and touring to be a nightclub performer. Large crowds attended his performances. He was also divorced from his wife, Priscilla, that year. Following his divorce, he COMPREHENSION ✍ A. True or False. Read the statements below. If the statement is true, write T beside the sentence. If it is false, write F. If it is false, correct the information. 1. Elvis Presley was born in Tennessee. became more and more reclusive. He gained a great deal of weight 2. The people in Memphis liked Presley’s first record very and he abused prescription drugs. He was found dead in Graceland, much. his Memphis mansion, on August 16, 1977. He was 42 years old. 3. His clothing and movements were like many other Today, his music is still popular and thousands of people visit Graceland each year. performers’ at the time. 4. Elvis Presley was also a movie star. 5. In the last few years of his life, he liked to spend time with a lot of people. 1 Copyright 2009. This eBook is produced and distributed by Red River Press Inc. All rights reserved. The contents within this e-book/document may only be photocopied by members of ESL-Llibrary.com in accordance with membership terms and conditions. Contact [email protected] for complete details. Famous People Elvis Presley B. Practice asking and answering the following questions with your partner. Then write the answers in complete sentences. 1. What kind of family did Elvis Presley come from? 2. How did Elvis Presley first begin his singing career? 3. What type of music had a big influence on Presley’s style? 4. Why did Elvis Presley become so popular with young people? 5. What did Presley do after he stopped making movies? 6. How did Presley change in the last few years of his life? 7. What is Graceland? VOCABULARY REVIEW ✍ A. Match the words on the left with the correct meaning on the right. _____ 1. local a. a lot, much _____ 2. choir b. something that has become a success DISCUSS _____ 3. mansion c. living alone and staying away from people 1. Why do you think Elvis Presley is _____ 4. impress d. referring to a specific place; in the area called The King of Rock and Roll? _____ 5. hit e. a supporter or admirer _____ 6. influence f. a very large, grand house _____ 7. unique g. singer, dancer, entertainer _____ 8. performer h. group of people who sing together _____ 9. hip i. bad use of something 3. What kind of influence do you think popular music has on teenagers? _____ 10. scandalize j. make a strong mark on one’s memory Explain. _____ 11. fan k. cause an effect or change _____ 12. give up l. body part, below the waist, above the leg _____ 13. a great deal of m. special; only one of a kind _____ 14. reclusive n. stop doing something _____ 15. abuse o. shock, offend people’s values 2. Besides a good voice, what makes a singer popular? 4. Why do you think so many famous singers and movie stars abuse drugs? B. Choose the right word from the left column above to complete the following sentences. (You may have to change the verb tense or pluralize a noun.) 1. If you want to get the job, you will have to ___________________________ the boss during your interview. 2. Bill Clinton, the former president of United States, ___________________________ the country when he got involved with a young woman in his office. 3. She has a terrible cough. She should ___________________________ smoking right away. 4. He has a beautiful voice. He should join our church ___________________________. 5. The ___________________________ in the arena shouted loudly and happily when their hockey team won the final game. 2 Copyright 2009. This eBook is produced and distributed by Red River Press Inc. All rights reserved. The contents within this e-book/document may only be photocopied by members of ESL-Llibrary.com in accordance with membership terms and conditions. Contact [email protected] for complete details. Famous People Elvis Presley ANSWER KEY Please note: The reading for this topic is also available in full-page format at the end of the lesson (page 4). PRE-READING QUESTIONS 1-5. Individual answer COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS A. True or False 1. F 2. T 3. F 4. T 5. F B. Written Answers 1. Elvis Presley came from a religious family who was very poor. 2. Elvis began his singing career by singing in the local church choir and learning to play the guitar. 3. African-American music had a big influence on Presley’s style. 4. Elvis became popular with young people because his movements on stage were unique for the time and scandalized many people. 5. After he stopped making movies, Elvis started touring as a nightclub performer. 6. During the last few years of his life, Elvis became more and more reclusive, gained weight and began abusing prescription drugs. 7. Graceland is Elvis’s Memphis mansion. VOCABULARY REVIEW A. Match the words 1. d 2. h 3. f 4. j 5. b 6. k 7. m 9. l 10. o 11. e 12. n 13. a 14. c 15. i B. Choose the right word 1. impress 2. scandalized 3. give up 4. choir 5. fans 3 Copyright 2009. This eBook is produced and distributed by Red River Press Inc. All rights reserved. The contents within this e-book/document may only be photocopied by members of ESL-Llibrary.com in accordance with membership terms and conditions. Contact [email protected] for complete details. 8. g Famous People Elvis Presley Elvis Presley Elvis Presley is called “The King of Rock & Roll” by millions of people around the world. Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, on January 8, 1935. His family was poor and very religious. As a young boy, he sang in the local church choir and learned to play the guitar. The Presley family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, in 1948. After graduating from high school, Elvis worked as a truck driver. In 1953, he made a record for his mother at a local recording studio. His record impressed the studio owner, who also owned a small record company. In 1954, Elvis made his first single record, and it was a big hit with local people. He did a singing tour of the South and then started recording for RCA Records. Presley’s musical style was influenced by African-American music. The way he dressed and his movements on stage were unique at the time. All of this made him a new and exciting performer. In 1956, Presley appeared on a national American television show called Talk of the Town. His hip movements on stage scandalized many people, which made him even more popular with teenagers. For the next 16 years, he made many million-selling records. He also starred in over 30 movies. His music and movies were listened to and seen by his fans around the world. In 1973, he gave up making movies and touring to be a nightclub performer. Large crowds attended his performances. He was also divorced from his wife, Priscilla, that year. Following his divorce, he became more and more reclusive. He gained a great deal of weight and he abused prescription drugs. He was found dead in Graceland, his Memphis mansion, on August 16, 1977. He was 42 years old. Today, his music is still popular and thousands of people visit Graceland each year. 4 Copyright 2009. This eBook is produced and distributed by Red River Press Inc. All rights reserved. The contents within this e-book/document may only be photocopied by members of ESL-Llibrary.com in accordance with membership terms and conditions. Contact [email protected] for complete details.