Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Hikaru Utada. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Hikaru Utada is one of Japan’s top singer-songwriters. She is also a talented music arranger and record producer. She is well-known among video game players for her songs on Square Enix's Kingdom Hearts games. In 2007, Utada was the best-selling artist in the world in terms of digital sales. She has three albums in Japan’s top ten all-time list.
Utada was born in New York in 1983 into a musical family. Her father was a record producer, her mother an enka singer, and her grandmother a shamisen player. Utada had music in her blood and so carried on in her parents’ footsteps. However, her first album in the States failed to be released, so she moved back to Japan.
In 1988, Utada signed a recording contract and her debut Japanese singles were huge hits. They led to the phenomenal success of her debut album ‘First Love’ in 1999. It is the best-selling Japanese album of all time, selling over 10 million copies to date worldwide. Utada was ranked number five on a Tokyo radio station’s top 100 artists of the 20th Century.
In mid-2004, Utada moved back to New York to record an English-language album. Two songs from it, "You Make Me Want to Be a Man" and "Devil Inside" topped the US dance chart. A year later she returned to Japan and made her fourth album ‘Ultra Blue’. Her next album ‘Heart Station’ was released in 2008 and is her fifth consecutive number one.
245 words
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted biographies.
Mail this lesson to friends and teachers. Click the @ below.
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.
talented
a.
continued
2
well-known
b.
singer
3.
artist
c.
gifted
4.
carried on
d.
put on sale
5.
released
e.
returned
6.
moved back
f.
famous
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
huge
g.
listed
8.
phenomenal
h.
headed
9.
ranked
i.
incredible
10.
record
j.
enormous
11
topped
k
successive
12
consecutive
l
make
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
She is well-known
a.
into a musical family
2
the best-selling artist in the world in
b.
of the 20th Century
3.
Utada was born in New York in 1983
c.
parents’ footsteps
4.
Utada had music
d.
among video game players
5.
carried on in her
e.
of her debut album
6.
her debut Japanese singles were
f.
in her blood
7.
the phenomenal success
g.
the US dance chart
8.
top 100 artists
h.
terms of digital sales
9.
"Devil Inside" topped
i.
number one
10.
her fifth consecutive
j.
huge hits
LISTENING GAP FILL
Hikaru Utada is one of Japan’s top singer-songwriters. She ______________ music arranger and record producer. She is ________________ video game players for her songs on Square Enix's Kingdom Hearts games. In 2007, Utada was the best-selling artist in the world ________________ sales. She has three albums in Japan’s ___________________.
Utada was born in New York in 1983 ________________. Her father was a record producer, her mother an enka singer, and her grandmother a shamisen player. Utada had ________________ and so carried on in her ________________. However, her first album in the States ____________________, so she moved back to Japan.
In 1988, Utada signed a recording ________________ debut Japanese singles were huge hits. They led to the phenomenal ________________ album ‘First Love’ in 1999. It is the best-selling Japanese album of all time, selling over 10 million ________________ worldwide. Utada ________________ five on a Tokyo radio station’s top 100 artists of the 20th Century.
In mid-2004, Utada moved back to New York to record an English-language album. ________________, "You Make Me Want to Be a Man" and "Devil Inside" __________________ chart. A year later she returned to Japan and ________________ ‘Ultra Blue’. Her next album ‘Heart Station’ was released in 2008 and is her ________________ number one.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics:
Hikaru Utada is one of Japan’s top singer-songwriters. She is also a talented / talentless music arranger and record producer. She is well-known among video game players for / with her songs on Square Enix's Kingdom Hearts games. In 2007, Utada was the best-selling artist in the world in term / terms of digital sales. She has three albums in / at Japan’s top ten all-time list.
Utada was born in New York in 1983 into a musical / musician family. Her father was a record product / producer, her mother an enka singer, and her grandmother a shamisen player. Utada had music in her blood and to / so carried on in her parents’ footsteps. However, her first album in the States failed / lost to be released, so she moved back to Japan.
In 1988, Utada signed a recording contract and her debut Japanese singles were huge hits. They led to the phenomenal successful / success of her debut album ‘First Love’ in 1999. It is the best-selling Japanese album of all time, selling over 10 million copies to day / date worldwide. Utada was ranked / ranking number five on a Tokyo radio station’s top 100 artists of the 20th / 19th Century.
In mid-2004, Utada moved back to New York to / and record an English-language album. Two songs from / for it, "You Make Me Want to Be a Man" and "Devil Inside" topped the US dance graph / chart. A year later she returned to Japan and made her fourth album ‘Ultra Blue’. Her next album ‘Heart Station’ was released in 2008 and is her fifth / five consecutive number one.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
one of Japan’s top singer-sreignwrsto
2.
record ruopcrde
3.
well-known ngmao video game players
4.
in terms of iagditl sales
Paragraph 2
5.
a umlisca family
6.
Utada had music in her boldo
7.
carried on in her parents’ toosefstp
8.
her first album in the States deialf to be released
Paragraph 3
9.
Utada signed a recording ccortant
10.
the phenomenal seccssu of her debut album
11.
selling over 10 million copies to date dwwleiodr
12.
akernd number five
Paragraph 4
13.
In mid-2004, Utada evdom back to New York
14.
tpdpeo the US dance chart
15.
‘Heart Station’ was lsdreeea in 2008
16.
her fifth cvsoeicuetn number one
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
singer, and her grandmother a shamisen player. Utada had music in her blood and so carried on in her parents’
( )
producer. She is well-known among video game players for her songs on Square Enix's Kingdom Hearts
( )
In mid-2004, Utada moved back to New York to record an English-language album. Two songs from it,
( )
footsteps. However, her first album in the States failed to be released, so she moved back to Japan.
( )
Utada was born in New York in 1983 into a musical family. Her father was a record producer, her mother an enka
( )
games. In 2007, Utada was the best-selling artist in the world in terms of digital
( )
album ‘Heart Station’ was released in 2008 and is her fifth consecutive number one.
( )
phenomenal success of her debut album ‘First Love’ in 1999. It is the best-selling Japanese album of all
( )
sales. She has three albums in Japan’s top ten all-time list.
( 1 )
Hikaru Utada is one of Japan’s top singer-songwriters. She is also a talented music arranger and record
( )
five on a Tokyo radio station’s top 100 artists of the 20th Century.
( )
later she returned to Japan and made her fourth album ‘Ultra Blue’. Her next
( )
In 1988, Utada signed a recording contract and her debut Japanese singles were huge hits. They led to the
( )
time, selling over 10 million copies to date worldwide. Utada was ranked number
( )
"You Make Me Want to Be a Man" and "Devil Inside" topped the US dance chart. A year
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
Japan’s Utada top is singer one - of songwriters
2.
was - in Utada best artist world the selling the
3.
in born was Utada family musical a into 1983 in York New
4.
had Utada blood her in music
5.
her in on carried footsteps parents’
6.
hits debut singles huge her Japanese were
7.
album best of - all selling time Japanese the
8.
Man a Be to Want Me Make You
9.
she made returned her to fourth Japan album and
10.
one consecutive her number fifth
HIKARU UTADA DISCUSSION (Write your questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Hikaru Utada?
2.
Would you like to meet Hikaru Utada?
3.
What would you like to know about Hikaru Utada 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 Hikaru Utada. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. HIKARU UTADA POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Hikaru Utada. 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 Hikaru Utada. 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 Hikaru Utada. 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 “Hikaru Utada expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
talented
a.
gifted
2
well-known
b.
famous
3.
artist
c.
singer
4.
carried on
d.
continued
5.
released
e.
put on sale
6.
moved back
f.
returned
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
huge
g.
enormous
8.
phenomenal
h.
incredible
9.
ranked
i.
listed
10.
record
j.
make
11
topped
k
headed
12
consecutive
l
successive
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
She is well-known
a.
among video game players
2
the best-selling artist in the world in
b.
terms of digital sales
3.
Utada was born in New York in 1983
c.
into a musical family
4.
Utada had music
d.
in her blood
5.
carried on in her
e.
parents’ footsteps
6.
her debut Japanese singles were
f.
huge hits
7.
the phenomenal success
g.
of her debut album
8.
top 100 artists
h.
of the 20th Century
9.
"Devil Inside" topped
i.
the US dance chart
10.
her fifth consecutive
j.
number one
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
HELP SUPPORT THIS WEBSITE
Recommend the site on blogs,Twitter, Facebook, forums and other sites.
