Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Julia Roberts. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Julia Roberts (born 1967) is a glamorous American movie star. She shot to fame in the early 1990s after starring in the romantic comedy ‘Pretty Woman’. She won an Oscar for best actress in 2001 for her role in ‘Erin Brockovich’. She is one of the highest-paid actresses in the world. In 2007, she was estimated to be worth $140 million.
Roberts was born in Atlanta. Her father was a vacuum cleaner salesman and her mother was a secretary. They were both one-time actors. Julia wanted to follow her parents into acting. After graduating from high school, she headed to New York to pursue a career in acting. She signed with a modeling agency and enrolled in acting classes.
Roberts made her film debut in a role opposite her brother. She had just two words to say. Her television appearances include a sketch with Elmo on Sesame Street. Roberts’ big break came with her performance in the film ‘Mystic Pizza’ in 1988. She caught the attention of Hollywood. The following year she starred in ‘Steel Magnolias’ and received her first Oscar nomination.
Her role in ‘Pretty Woman’ in 1990 earned her worldwide acclaim and movie offers came pouring in. She was hot property in Hollywood and starred in many blockbusters. Her films have earned box office receipts of over US$2 billion, making her the most profitable female actor ever. She is also the first actress to appear on the front cover of ‘Vogue’.
244 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.
glamorous
a.
judged
2
shot
b.
follow
3.
estimated
c.
skyrocketed
4.
headed
d.
registered for
5.
pursue
e.
beautiful
6.
enrolled in
f.
went
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
break
g.
notice
8.
attention
h.
flooding
9.
nomination
i.
praise
10.
acclaim
j.
chance
11
pouring
k
sales
12
box office
l
recommendation
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
She shot to
a.
into acting
2
she was estimated to be
b.
with a modeling agency
3.
Julia wanted to follow her parents
c.
of over US$2 billion
4.
she headed to New York to
d.
role opposite her brother
5.
She signed
e.
worth $140 million
6.
Roberts made her film debut in a
f.
front cover of ‘Vogue’
7.
She caught the attention
g.
pursue a career in acting
8.
movie offers came
h.
fame in the early 1990s
9.
Her films have earned box office receipts
i.
pouring in
10.
the first actress to appear on the
j.
of Hollywood
LISTENING GAP FILL
Julia Roberts (born 1967) is a glamorous American movie star. She ________________ the early 1990s after starring in the romantic comedy ‘Pretty Woman’. She won an Oscar for best actress in ________________ ‘Erin Brockovich’. She is one ________________ actresses in the world. In 2007, she was estimated ________________ million.
Roberts was born in Atlanta. Her ________________ cleaner salesman and her mother was a secretary. They were ________________. Julia wanted to follow her parents into acting. After graduating from high school, she headed to New York to ________________ in acting. She signed with a modeling agency ________________ acting classes.
Roberts made her film debut ________________ her brother. She had just two words to say. Her television appearances ________________ Elmo on Sesame Street. Roberts’ ________________ with her performance in the film ‘Mystic Pizza’ in 1988. She caught the attention of Hollywood. The following year ________________ ‘Steel Magnolias’ and received her first Oscar nomination.
Her role in ‘Pretty Woman’ in 1990 earned her worldwide acclaim and movie offers ________________. She was ________________ Hollywood and starred in many blockbusters. Her films have earned ________________ of over US$2 billion, making her the most profitable female actor ever. She is also the first actress ________________ front cover of ‘Vogue’.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics:
Julia Roberts (born 1967) is a glamorous / glamour American movie star. She shot to fame / famous in the early 1990s after starring in the romantic comedy ‘Pretty Woman’. She won an Oscar with / for best actress in 2001 for her role in ‘Erin Brockovich’. She is one of the highest-paid actresses in the world. In 2007, she was estimated to be value / worth $140 million.
Roberts was born in Atlanta. Her father was a vacuum cleaner salesman and her mother was a secretarial / secretary. They were both / pair one-time actors. Julia wanted to follow her parents into acting. After graduating from high school, she shouldered / headed to New York to pursue a career in / on acting. She signed with a modeling agency and enrolled in acting classes.
Roberts made her film debut in a role / roll opposite her brother. She had just two words to talk / say. Her television appearances include a sketch with Elmo on Sesame Street. Roberts’ big broken / break came with her performance in the film ‘Mystic Pizza’ in 1988. She caught the attention of Hollywood. The followed / following year she starred in ‘Steel Magnolias’ and received her first Oscar nomination.
Her role in ‘Pretty Woman’ in 1990 earned her worldwide reclaim / acclaim and movie offers came pouring / poured in. She was hot / lost property in Hollywood and starred in many blockbusters. Her films have earned box office invoices / receipts of over US$2 billion, making her the most profitable female actor ever. She is also the first actress to appear on the front cover of ‘Vogue’.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
a omolrsgau American movie star
2.
romantic ecdoym
3.
one of the gshheit-paid actresses
4.
estimated to be orhwt $140 million
Paragraph 2
5.
her mother was a rstcearey
6.
Julia wanted to olowfl her parents into acting
7.
pursue a aeercr in acting
8.
She signed with a modeling ageync
Paragraph 3
9.
a role opioepts her brother
10.
television npprasaeaec
11.
She caught the ottneatni of Hollywood
12.
edecreiv her first Oscar nomination
Paragraph 4
13.
wwlrdodei acclaim
14.
movie offers came rpiuong in
15.
She was hot ptrreoyp in Hollywood
16.
starred in many etsblubrcoks
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
attention of Hollywood. The following year she starred in ‘Steel Magnolias’ and received her first Oscar nomination.
( )
property in Hollywood and starred in many blockbusters. Her films have earned box office receipts of over US$2 billion,
( )
words to say. Her television appearances include a sketch with Elmo on Sesame Street. Roberts’ big
( 1 )
Julia Roberts (born 1967) is a glamorous American movie star. She shot to fame in the early 1990s after
( )
break came with her performance in the film ‘Mystic Pizza’ in 1988. She caught the
( )
pursue a career in acting. She signed with a modeling agency and enrolled in acting classes.
( )
Roberts made her film debut in a role opposite her brother. She had just two
( )
Her role in ‘Pretty Woman’ in 1990 earned her worldwide acclaim and movie offers came pouring in. She was hot
( )
Roberts was born in Atlanta. Her father was a vacuum cleaner salesman and her mother was a
( )
secretary. They were both one-time actors. Julia wanted to follow her parents
( )
role in ‘Erin Brockovich’. She is one of the highest-paid actresses in the
( )
making her the most profitable female actor ever. She is also the first actress to appear on the front cover of ‘Vogue’.
( )
into acting. After graduating from high school, she headed to New York to
( )
starring in the romantic comedy ‘Pretty Woman’. She won an Oscar for best actress in 2001 for her
( )
world. In 2007, she was estimated to be worth $140 million.
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
in fame to shot She 1990s early the
2.
paid - highest the of one is She world the in actresses
3.
, 2007 In million 140 $ worth be to estimated was she
4.
follow to wanted Julia acting into parents her
5.
acting she headed to New York to pursue a career in
6.
say had two to She just words
7.
She the of caught attention Hollywood.
8.
was She Hollywood in property hot
9.
box films 2 over office have billion US receipts earned Her $ of
10.
front the on appear to actress first the Vogue’ ‘ of cover
JULIA ROBERTS DISCUSSION (Write your questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Julia Roberts?
2.
Would you like to meet Julia Roberts?
3.
What would you like to know about Julia Roberts 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 Julia Roberts. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. JULIA ROBERTS POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Julia Roberts. 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 Julia Roberts. 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 Julia Roberts. 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 “Julia Roberts expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
glamorous
a.
beautiful
2
shot
b.
skyrocketed
3.
estimated
c.
judged
4.
headed
d.
went
5.
pursue
e.
follow
6.
enrolled in
f.
registered for
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
break
g.
chance
8.
attention
h.
notice
9.
nomination
i.
recommendation
10.
acclaim
j.
praise
11
pouring
k
flooding
12
box office
l
sales
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
She shot to
a.
fame in the early 1990s
2
she was estimated to be
b.
worth $140 million
3.
Julia wanted to follow her parents
c.
into acting
4.
she headed to New York to
d.
pursue a career in acting
5.
She signed
e.
with a modeling agency
6.
Roberts made her film debut in a
f.
role opposite her brother
7.
She caught the attention
g.
of Hollywood
8.
movie offers came
h.
pouring in
9.
Her films have earned box office receipts
i.
of over US$2 billion
10.
the first actress to appear on the
j.
front cover of ‘Vogue’
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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