The Reading / Listening - Level 5

The hit musical 'Cats' has had a makeover for its comeback in London in December. One of the traditional songs will be a rap. The musical's writer, Andrew Lloyd Webber, wants the musical to be updated to appeal to a new generation of theatre-goers. 'Cats' is based on a famous book called "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" by the famous British writer T. S. Eliot. It is about a group of cats who must decide which cat gets to come back to life. 'Cats' first opened in London in 1981 and in New York in 1982. It won many awards and ran for twenty-one years in the English capital.

The character Rum Tum Tugger will perform the rap. He is a rebellious street cat. Lloyd Webber said: "I think Rum Tum Tugger is going to have to become a street cat for today and he has to do hip-hop." He added that the 1930s poem that the cat sings has a strong rap rhythm. He joked that T.S. Eliot was the world's first rapper, saying: "I've come to the conclusion…that maybe Eliot was the inventor of rap." The show's producer said the rap was for, "a whole generation of kids who haven't seen 'Cats'". He said parts of the musical could "be reinvigorated in very contemporary terms".

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-news/10951867/Cats-classic-musical-to-feature-a-rapping-cat.html
  • http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/theatre/andrew-lloyd-webbers-hit-musical-cats-gets-hiphop-twist-as-it-returns-to-west-end-9589096.html
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cats_%28musical%29


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

The hit musical 'Cats' has had

a.

of theatre-goers

2.

One of the traditional songs

b.

writer T. S. Eliot

3.

updated to appeal to a new generation

c.

in the English capital

4.

'Cats' is based

d.

group of cats

5.

the famous British

e.

a makeover

6.

It is about a

f.

on a famous book

7.

decide which cat gets to

g.

will be a rap

8.

ran for twenty-one years

h.

come back to life



MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

He is a rebellious

a.

of rap

2.

become a street cat for today and he

b.

rhythm

3.

the 1930s

c.

terms

4.

a strong rap

d.

generation of kids

5.

He joked that T.S. Eliot was the

e.

street cat

6.

the inventor

f.

poem

7.

a whole

g.

has to do hip-hop

8.

in very contemporary

h.

world's first rapper

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

The hit musical 'Cats' (1) ___________________ for its comeback in London in December. One of the (2) ___________________ be a rap. The musical's writer, Andrew Lloyd Webber, wants the musical (3) ___________________ to (4) ___________________ theatre-goers. 'Cats' is based on a famous book called "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" by the famous British writer T. S. Eliot. It is (5) ___________________ who must decide which cat gets to come back to life. 'Cats' first opened in London in 1981 and in New York in 1982. It won (6) ___________________ for twenty-one years in the English capital.

The character Rum Tum Tugger (7) ___________________. He is a rebellious street cat. Lloyd Webber said: "I think Rum Tum Tugger is going to have to become a street cat for today (8) ___________________." He added that the 1930s (9) ___________________ sings has a strong rap rhythm. He joked that T.S. Eliot (10) ___________________ rapper, saying: "I've come to the conclusion…that maybe Eliot was the inventor of rap." The show's producer said the rap was for, "(11) ___________________ kids who haven't seen 'Cats'". He said parts of the musical could "be reinvigorated in (12) ___________________".

RAP SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about rap in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

 

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

 

 

 

 

Q.2.

 

 

 

 

Q.3.

 

 

 

 

Q.4.

 

 

 

 

Q.5.

 

 

 

 

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about rap for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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