The Reading / Listening - Level 2

The rock star Prince has died at the age of 57. He passed away at his home in Minneapolis. Last week, his plane made an emergency landing to take him to hospital. He had dehydration and the flu. His death has shocked the entertainment world. Many celebrities have shared their thoughts about him online. Madonna wrote: "He changed the world. A true visionary." Barack Obama called him, "one of the most gifted and prolific musicians of our time". He added that: "Prince…was a virtuoso instrumentalist, a brilliant bandleader, and an electrifying performer."

Prince was the son of a jazz pianist. His real name was Prince Rogers Nelson. He became famous in the late seventies. His singing, songwriting, guitar playing, performances and producing changed the music world over four decades. The Washington Post called him, "one of the most popular, inventive and influential recording artists of his generation". Prince sold over 100 million records. He is perhaps best known for his 1984 album 'Purple Rain'. The music magazine 'Rolling Stone' ranked Prince at number 27 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/prince-dead-at-57-20160421
  • https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2016/04/21/authorities-investigating-death-at-princes-paisley-park/
  • http://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/music/prince-iconic-purple-rain-musician-dead-57-publicist-n559946


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 rock star Prince has died

a.

landing

2.

He passed

b.

and prolific musicians

3.

made an emergency

c.

away at his home

4.

His death has shocked the

d.

thoughts about him

5.

celebrities have shared their

e.

instrumentalist

6.

A true

f.

at the age of 57

7.

one of the most gifted

g.

visionary

8.

a virtuoso

h.

entertainment world



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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

Prince was the son of a jazz

a.

decades

2.

He became famous in the late

b.

of All Time

3.

over four

c.

known for his 1984 album

4.

influential recording artists of

d.

seventies

5.

He is perhaps best

e.

on its list

6.

Prince sold over

f.

pianist

7.

at number 27

g.

100 million records

8.

the 100 Greatest Artists

h.

his generation

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

The rock star Prince has (1) ___________________ of 57. He passed away at his home in Minneapolis. Last week, his plane made an (2) ___________________ to take him to hospital. He had dehydration and the flu. His (3) ___________________ the entertainment world. Many celebrities have (4) ________________ about him online. Madonna wrote: "He changed the world. A true visionary." Barack Obama called him, "one of the most (5) ___________________ musicians of our time". He added that: "Prince…was a virtuoso instrumentalist, a brilliant bandleader, (6) ___________________ performer."

Prince (7) ___________________ a jazz pianist. His real name was Prince Rogers Nelson. He became famous (8) __________________ seventies. His singing, songwriting, guitar playing, performances and producing changed the music (9) ___________________ decades. The Washington Post called him, "one of the most popular, inventive and influential (10) ___________________ of his generation". Prince sold over 100 million records. He is perhaps best (11) ___________________ 1984 album 'Purple Rain'. The music magazine 'Rolling Stone' ranked Prince at number 27 on its list of the 100 (12) ___________________ of All Time.

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

TherockstarPrincehasdiedattheageof57.Hepassedawayathishomei
nMinneapolis.Lastweek,hisplanemadeanemergencylandingtotakehi
mtohospital.Hehaddehydrationandtheflu.Hisdeathhasshockedthee
ntertainmentworld.Manycelebritieshavesharedtheirthoughtsabout
himonline.Madonnawrote:"Hechangedtheworld.Atruevisionary."Ba
rackObamacalledhim,"oneofthemostgiftedandprolificmusiciansofo
urtime".Headdedthat:"Prince…wasavirtuosoinstrumentalist,abrillia
ntbandleader,andanelectrifyingperformer."Princewasthesonofajazz
pianist.HisrealnamewasPrinceRogersNelson.Hebecamefamousinth
elateseventies.Hissinging,songwriting,guitarplaying,performan
cesandproducingchangedthemusicworldoverfourdecades.TheWash
ingtonPostcalledhim,"oneofthemostpopular,inventiveandinfluential
recordingartistsofhisgeneration".Princesoldover100millionrecords.
Heisperhapsbestknownforhis1984album'PurpleRain'.Themusicmag
azine'RollingStone'rankedPrinceatnumber27onitslistofthe100Great
estArtistsofAllTime.

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)

________________________________________________________

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

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

Write about Prince for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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