Control of Listening(7th form)

Control of Listening (7^th form)

The Story of a Superstar

Elvis Presley was born on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississip­pi. His parents were poor and Elvis never had music lessons, but he was surrounded by music from an early age. His parents were very reli­gious, and Elvis regularly sang in the choir at church services. When he was 13, his mother bought him a guitar. In the same year his family moved to Memphis, Tennessee. He left school in 1953 and got a job as a truck driver.

In the summer of 1954 Elvis paid four dollars and recorded two songs for his mother’s birthday at Sun Records studio. The owner of the studio, Sam Phillips, liked the boy’s voice and became his ma­nager. In the next fourteen months Elvis made another fourteen records. They were all big hits. In 1956 he also made his first film in Hollywood.

In March 1958, Elvis had to join the army. He wanted to be an or­dinary soldier. When his hair was cut, thousands of women cried. He spent the next two years in Germany, where he met Priscilla Beaulieu, who became his wife eight years later on May 1, 1967. In 1960 he left the army and went to Hollywood, where he made several films during the next few years.

By 1968 many people had become tired of Elvis. He hadn’t per­formed live for some years. But he recorded “From Elvis in Memphis” and appeared in a special television programme in New York.

He became popular again, and left for Las Vegas. In 1972 his wife left him and they were divorced in October 1973. He died from a heart attack on August 16, 1977 in his mansion at Gracelands, Memphis. He left his money to his only daughter. She became one of the richest peo­ple in the world when she was only nine years old.

For his millions of fans, Elvis is still the King, the King of Rock and Roll.

Tasks for Control of Listening (7^th form)

The Story of Superstar

I variant

1. Mark True, False or Not-Stated.

1. Elvis Presley was born on February 8, 1935.

2. His parents were poor.

3. When he was 13, his father bought him a guitar.

4. He didn’t like to go to school.

5. In 1956 he made his first film in Hollywood.

1. Complete the sentences.

1. He met Priscilla Beaulieu in______.

1. Scotland; b) Italy; c) Germany.

1. In 1960 he left the army and went to______.

1. Hollywood; b) Bollywood; c) the USA.

1. He died from a_______ in August 16, 1977.

1. heart attack; b) insult; c) cancer.

1. Answer the questions.

1. What do you know about Elvis Presley? Who was he?

2. Do you like him? Why? Why not?

II variant

1. Mark True, False or Not-Stated.

1. Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Missiissipi.

2. His parents were very religious.

3. He liked to go to school.

4. In the summer of 1954 Elvis recorded three songs.

5. In March 1948, Elvis had to join the army.

1. Complete the sentences.

1. Priscilla Beaulieu became his______.

1. wife; b) best friend; c) teacher.

1. He______live for some years.

1. had performed; b) hadn’t performed; c) performed.

1. He left his money to his_______.

1. son; b) daughter; c) children.

1. Answer the questions.

1. What do you know about Elvis Presley? Who was he?

2. Do you like him? Why? Why not?