Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Ayumi Hamasaki. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Ayumi Hamasaki, a.k.a. "Ayu", is dubbed "the Empress of Japanese Pop". She is hugely popular in Japan and is one of the country’s few singers ever to become known overseas. She was born in 1978 on Japan’s southern island Kyushu. She moved to Tokyo when she was 14 because she wanted to become a superstar. After a brief spell as a model, she got into singing.
In 1998, she released several singles that did OK in the Japanese charts, but did not give her the fame she desired. Her 1999 debut album ‘A Song for XX’ debuted at number one in the music charts and stayed there for four weeks in a row. Ayu had arrived and her adoring fans loved her. She quickly became an icon and a style sensation.
She has sold over 50 million records, making her one of Japan's best-selling singers ever. She holds the record for a Japanese female having the most number-one singles and for having a number-one single every year for ten consecutive years. Her music videos are the most extravagant and expensive ever made by a non-American.
In 2008, Hamasaki revealed that she had become totally deaf in one ear, and that her condition was permanent. Despite this setback, she stated that she would continue singing. She told her fans that she would "not give up" on them, and that "as a professional", she would like to "deliver the best performance for everyone".
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.
a.k.a.
a.
short time
2
dubbed
b.
consecutively
3.
brief spell
c.
wanted
4.
desired
d.
called
5.
in a row
e.
success
6.
sensation
f.
also known as
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
holds
g.
give
8.
consecutive
h.
flashy
9.
extravagant
i.
has
10.
totally
j.
lifelong
11
permanent
k
in a row
12
deliver
l
completely
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
She is hugely
a.
setback
2
a brief
b.
into singing
3.
she got
c.
consecutive years
4.
singles that
d.
a row
5.
four weeks in
e.
spell as a model
6.
She holds
f.
in one ear
7.
every year for ten
g.
popular in Japan
8.
the most extravagant and
h.
the record
9.
totally deaf
i.
did OK
10.
Despite this
j.
expensive ever made
LISTENING GAP FILL
Ayumi Hamasaki, _____________, is dubbed "the Empress of Japanese Pop". She is _____________ in Japan and is one of the country’s few singers _____________ known overseas. She was born in 1978 on Japan’s southern island Kyushu. She moved to Tokyo when she was 14 because she wanted to become a superstar. After _____________ a model, she got into singing.
In 1998, she released several singles _____________ in the Japanese charts, but did not give her the fame _____________. Her 1999 debut album ‘A Song for XX’ debuted at number one in the music charts and stayed there for four _____________. Ayu had arrived and her adoring fans loved her. She quickly became an icon and a _____________.
She has sold over 50 million records, making _____________ Japan's best-selling singers ever. She _________________ a Japanese female having the most number-one singles and for having a number-one single _____________ ten consecutive years. Her music videos are the most extravagant and expensive _____________ non-American.
In 2008, Hamasaki revealed that she had _________________ in one ear, and that her condition was permanent. Despite _______________ stated that she would continue singing. She told her fans that she would "not give _____________, and that "as a professional", she would like _____________ best performance for everyone".
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics:
Ayumi Hamasaki, a.k.a. "Ayu", is dubbed / dabbed "the Empress of Japanese Pop". She is hugely / huge popular in Japan and is one of the country’s few singers ever to become knowing / known overseas. She was born in 1978 on Japan’s southern island Kyushu. She moved to Tokyo when she was 14 because she wanted to become a superstar. After a brief spell / spill as a model, she got into singing.
In 1998, she released several singles that did / made OK in the Japanese charts, but did not give her the famous / fame she desired. Her 1999 debut album ‘A Song for XX’ debuted at number one in the music charts and stayed here / there for four weeks in a row. Ayu had arrived and her adoring fans loved / loathed her. She quickly became an icon and a style sensation.
She has sold over 50 million records, making her one / once of Japan's best-selling singers ever. She holding / holds the record for a Japanese female having the most number-one singles and for having a number-one single every year for / from ten consecutive years. Her music videos are the most extravagant and expensive / expense ever made by a non-American.
In 2008, Hamasaki revealed that she had become totally / total deaf in one ear, and that her condition was permanent. Despite this / these setback, she stated that she would continue songs / singing. She told her fans that she would "not give over / up" on them, and that "as a professional", she would like to "deliver the best performance for everyone".
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
”Ayu”, is dbdbue "the Empress of Japanese Pop"
2.
She is ehyulg popular in Japan
3.
she wanted to become a usersptra
4.
a brief lpsel as a model
Paragraph 2
5.
she released valseer singles
6.
the fame she ieddres
7.
uddtebe at number one in the music charts
8.
She quickly became an icon and a style noseansti
Paragraph 3
9.
one of Japan's best-nlligse singers ever
10.
She losdh the record
11.
for ten stoeucvicen years
12.
the most gnvtateaxra
Paragraph 4
13.
she had become tyoallt deaf in one ear
14.
Despite this cbkesat
15.
as a laepsoosfinr
16.
deliver the best pfcrrenaome for everyone
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
In 2008, Hamasaki revealed that she had become totally deaf in one ear, and that her condition was
( )
Japanese female having the most number-one singles and for having a number-one single every year for ten
( )
at number one in the music charts and stayed there for four weeks in a row. Ayu had arrived and her adoring
( )
Japan’s southern island Kyushu. She moved to Tokyo when she was 14 because she wanted to become a
( )
superstar. After a brief spell as a model, she got into singing.
( )
consecutive years. Her music videos are the most extravagant and expensive ever made by a non-American.
( )
In 1998, she released several singles that did
( )
She has sold over 50 million records, making her one of Japan's best-selling singers ever. She holds the record for a
( )
popular in Japan and is one of the country’s few singers ever to become known overseas. She was born in 1978 on
( )
fans loved her. She quickly became an icon and a style sensation.
( )
OK in the Japanese charts, but did not give her the fame she desired. Her 1999 debut album ‘A Song for XX’ debuted
( )
that she would "not give up" on them, and that "as a professional", she would like to "deliver the best
( )
performance for everyone”.
( )
permanent. Despite this setback, she stated that she would continue singing. She told her fans
( 1 )
Ayumi Hamasaki, a.k.a. ”Ayu”, is dubbed "the Empress of Japanese Pop". She is hugely
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
the " dubbed Pop Japanese of Empress ”
2.
in popular hugely is She Japan
3.
OK released singles did she several that
4.
one number at debuted charts music the in
5.
sensation icon She and quickly a became style an
6.
year every years consecutive ten for
7.
music are most Her videos the extravagant
8.
ear one in deaf totally become had she
9.
would up her she give told that not She fans
10.
everyone for performance best the deliver
DISCUSSION (Write your questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Ayumi Hamasaki?
2.
Would you like to meet Ayumi Hamasaki?
3.
What would you like to know about Ayumi Hamasaki 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 Ayumi Hamasaki. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. AYUMI HAMASAKI POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Ayumi Hamasaki. 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 Ayumi Hamasaki. 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 Ayumi Hamasaki. 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 “Ayumi Hamasaki expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
a.k.a.
a.
also known as
2
dubbed
b.
called
3.
brief spell
c.
short time
4.
desired
d.
wanted
5.
in a row
e.
consecutively
6.
sensation
f.
success
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
holds
g.
has
8.
consecutive
h.
in a row
9.
extravagant
i.
flashy
10.
totally
j.
completely
11
permanent
k
lifelong
12
deliver
l
give
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
She is hugely
a.
popular in Japan
2
a brief
b.
spell as a model
3.
she got
c.
into singing
4.
singles that
d.
did OK
5.
four weeks in
e.
a row
6.
She holds
f.
the record
7.
every year for ten
g.
consecutive years
8.
the most extravagant and
h.
expensive ever made
9.
totally deaf
i.
in one ear
10.
Despite this
j.
setback
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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