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Sitar legend Ravi Shankar dies (13th December, 2012)

The world's greatest ever sitar player Ravi Shankar has died in a hospital in the USA, aged 92. The legendary maestro was hospitalized last week to have an operation, but never fully recovered. His wife Sukanya and daughter Anoushka, also an accomplished sitarist, were by his side when he passed away. They issued a statement to say: "Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the surgeons and doctors taking care of him, his body was not able to withstand the strain of the surgery." They added: "Although it is a time for sorrow and sadness, it is also a time for all of us to give thanks and to be grateful that we were able to have him as a part of our lives. He will live forever in our hearts and in his music."


 

Ravi Shankar was born Robindro Shaunkor Chowdhury on 7 April 1920 in Varanasi on the banks of the River Ganges. He started learning the sitar when he was 26. Sixteen years later he was touring Europe and the USA helping to increase the popularity of Indian classical music. His major break came when he taught George Harrison of The Beatles to play the sitar. He went on to have a huge influence on Western popular music and became an international superstar. He said in an interview in 2011: "Everywhere I went, I was recognised. I didn't like that at all." Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described him as a "national treasure and global ambassador of India's cultural heritage".

Sources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-20690632
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/ravi-shankar-dead-at-92-20121212


 
 

WARM-UPS


 

1. RAVI SHANKAR: Walk around the class and talk to other students about Ravi Shankar. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

 

greatest / sitar / legendary / maestro / accomplished / surgeons / sorrow / grateful / River Ganges / popularity / Indian classical music / influence / superstar / ambassador

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. LEGENDARY: Who are your legends? Complete this table and share what you wrote with your partner(s). Change and share again.

 

Who?

Why?

Musician

 

 

Actor

 

 

Business person

 

 

Humanitarian

 

 

Politician

 

 

English teacher

 

 

4. WESTERN ROCKS: Students A strongly believe Western rock music is the best music in the world; Students B strongly believe otherwise.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

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5. MUSIC: Rank these and share your rankings with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Indian classical music
  • Hawaiian music
  • Caribbean calypso
  • Australian didgeridoo
  • Scottish bagpipe music
  • Peruvian panpipes
  • Flamenco
  • Arabic music

6. MAESTRO: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word 'maestro'. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.



 

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if  a-h  below are true (T) or false (F).

a.

Ravi Shankar has been in hospital for the past month.

T / F

b.

He died alone in his sleep.

T / F

c.

His wife and daughter issued a statement to the press.

T / F

d.

His wife said it is not a time for sorrow and sadness.

T / F

e.

Ravi Shankar was not the name he was given at birth.

T / F

f.

Shankar started playing the sitar when he was 6 years old.

T / F

g.

Shankar taught a member of the rock group The Beatles to play sitar.

T / F

h.

Shankar said he didn't like people knowing who he was.

T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.

legendary

a.

expert

2.

maestro

b.

representative

3.

accomplished

c.

survive

4.

despite

d.

impact

5.

withstand

e.

renowned

6.

break

f.

one of a kind

7.

influence

g.

virtuoso

8.

treasure

h.

tradition

9.

ambassador

i.

regardless of

10.

heritage

j.

opportunity

3. PHRASE MATCH:  (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.

The legendary maestro was

a.

the River Ganges

2.

an accomplished

b.

influence on

3.

his body was not able to

c.

sorrow and sadness

4.

it is a time for

d.

as a national treasure

5.

He will live forever

e.

sitarist

6.

on the banks of

f.

hospitalized last week

7.

helping to increase

g.

withstand the strain

8.

have a huge

h.

heritage

9.

Manmohan Singh described him

i.

the popularity

10.

India's cultural

j.

in our hearts

WHILE READING / LISTENING

GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.

The world's greatest (1) ____________ sitar player Ravi Shankar has died in a hospital in the USA, aged 92. The (2) ____________ maestro was hospitalized last week to have an operation, but never fully (3) ____________. His wife Sukanya and daughter Anoushka, also an (4) ____________ sitarist, were by his side when he passed away. They issued a statement to say: "Unfortunately, despite the best (5) ____________ of the surgeons and doctors taking care of him, his body was not able to withstand the (6) ____________ of the surgery." They added: "Although it is a time for (7) ____________ and sadness, it is also a time for all of us to give thanks and to be grateful that we were able to have him as a part of our lives. He will live (8) ____________ in our hearts and in his music."

 

 

 

accomplished
sorrow
legendary
forever
ever
efforts
recovered
strain

Ravi Shankar was born Robindro Shaunkor Chowdhury on 7 April 1920 in Varanasi on the (9) ____________ of the River Ganges. He started learning the sitar when he was 26. Sixteen years later he was (10) ____________ Europe and the USA helping to (11) ____________ the popularity of Indian classical music. His major (12) ____________ came when he taught George Harrison of The Beatles to play the sitar. He went on to have a huge (13) ____________ on Western popular music and became an international superstar. He said in an interview in 2011: "Everywhere I went, I was (14) ____________. I didn't like that at all." Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described him as a "national (15) ____________ and global ambassador of India's cultural (16) ____________ ".

 

 

increase
treasure
break
banks
heritage
touring
influence
recognised


 
 

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)

The ______ sitar player Ravi Shankar has died in a hospital in the USA.

 

a.  world's ever greatest
b.  world's grey test ever
c.  world's greatest ever
d.  greatest ever in the world

2)

The ______ was hospitalized last week to have an operation…

 

a.  legendary maestro
b.  legend and maestro
c.  legend of the maestro
d.  legendary maestros

3)

His wife Sukanya and daughter Anoushka, also an accomplished sitarist, _____ he passed away.

 

a.  were buying his side when
b.  whereby his side when
c.  were beside him when
d.  were by his side when

4)

his body was not able ______ of the surgery

 

a.  to withstand all the strain
b.  to understand the strain
c.  to withstand the strain
d.  to with stand this train

5)

a time ______ and to be grateful that we were able to have him

 

a.  for all of us to say thanks
b.  for us all to say thanks
c.  from all of us to say thank you
d.  for all of us to give thanks

6)

Sixteen years later he was touring Europe and the USA helping ______ Indian classical music.

 

a.  to increase the population of
b.  two in crease the popular it
c.  to increase a popularity of
d.  to increase the popularity of

7)

______ he taught George Harrison of The Beatles to play the sitar.

 

a.  He's mayor break came when
b.  He's major bray came when
c.  His major bray came when
d.  His major break came when

8)

He went on to ______ Western popular music

 

a.  have a huge influential on
b.  have a huge influence on
c.  have a who influence on
d.  have a huge influence in

9)

______ recognised. I didn't like that at all.

 

a.  Anywhere I went, I was
b.  Everywhere I when tie was
c.  Everywhere I went, I was
d.  Everywhere we went, I was

10)

Singh described him as ______ global ambassador of India's cultural heritage"

 

a.  a "nation and treasure and
b.  a "national treasury and
c.  a "national treasure and
d.  a "nationality treasure and

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

The world's (1) _____________________ Ravi Shankar has died in a hospital in the USA, aged 92. The (2) _____________________ hospitalized last week to have an operation, but never fully recovered. His wife Sukanya and daughter Anoushka, also (3) _____________________, were by his side when he passed away. They issued a statement to say: "Unfortunately, (4) _____________________ the surgeons and doctors taking care of him, his body was not able to (5) _____________________ the surgery." They added: "Although it is a time for sorrow and sadness, it is also a time for all of us to give thanks (6) _____________________ we were able to have him as a part of our lives. He will live forever in our hearts and in his music."

Ravi Shankar was born Robindro Shaunkor Chowdhury on 7 April 1920 in Varanasi (7) _____________________ River Ganges. He started learning the sitar when he was 26. Sixteen years later he was touring Europe and the USA helping to (8) _____________________ Indian classical music. His major break came when he taught George Harrison of The Beatles to play the sitar. He went on to (9) _____________________ Western popular music and became an international superstar. He said in an interview in 2011: "Everywhere (10) _____________________. I didn't like that at all." Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (11) _____________________ treasure and global ambassador (12) _____________________ ".


 
 

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.

Where did Ravi Shankar die?

2.

Why did ho go to hospital?

3.

Who was sitting next to him when he died?

4.

What could not withstand the strain of the surgery?

5.

Where did his wife and daughter say he woukld live forever?

6.

When did he start learning the Sitar?

7.

What did he want to popularise?

8.

What did he have an enormous impact on?

9.

What part of his fame didn't he like?

10.

Who described him as a "national treasure"?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.

Where did Ravi Shankar die?

6.

In which city was Ravi Shankar born?

 

a) at a nursing home
b) in a hospital
c) on stage
d) at home

 

a) Varanasi
b) Paris
c) Denpasar
d) Varadero

2.

What musical instrument does his daughter play?

7.

How old was he when he took up the sitar?

 

a) violin
b) guitar
c) sitar
d) piano

 

a) 6 months
b) 6
c) 16
d) 26

3.

What could his body not withstand?

8.

Why did he tour the USA and Europe?

 

a) shock
b) picking up a sitar
c) years of sitar playing
d) an operation

 

a) he was invited to do so by presidents
    and prime ministers
b) he wanted to meet Western rock
    musicians
c) to make Indian classical music more
    popular
d) he didn't like India

4.

What are his daughter and wife grateful for?

9.

What part of his fame didn't he like?

 

a) that they were with him when he
    died
b) that he was a part of their lives
c) his music
d) his laughter

 

a) the constant touring
b) screaming fans
c) signing autographs
d) being recognised everywhere he
    went

5.

Where will he live forever?

10.

Who described him as a "global ambassador"?

 

a) in his family's hearts
b) on the banks of the River Ganges
c) in his sitar
d) in the USA

 

a) Barack Obama
b) the Indian Prime Minister
c) his daughter
d) the chief of the U.N.


 
 

ROLE PLAY

Role  A – Sitar player

You believe Indian classical music should be more popular. Tell the others three reasons why. Ravi Shankar was the greatest musician ever. He still gave concerts in his 90s. Western rock stars wanted to learn from him. Western music is full of silly songs by people who can't sing or play an instrument.

Role  B – Rock guitarist

You believe rock music is a great gift to the world. Tell the others three reasons why. You think Indian classical music is OK but if it was great, why isn't it popular worldwide. Rock music gets to the heart and makes you want to dance. Rock guitarists and drummers rock!

Role  C – Concert pianist

You believe the classical music of Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, etc. is the best music in history. Tell the others three reasons why. Rock music is ridiculous. They are not musicians – they did not attend music school. They have no talent. They cannot sing like opera singers. All classical musicians are geniuses.

Role  D – Drummer

You hate all rock, classical, folk, jazz…music. Tell the others three reasons why. The only true music is drumming. It's the original music. It comes from the heart. It's the soul of rhythm. Just drums. All other music is noise. All other music has drums but they are not used well.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'legend' and 'maestro'.

legend

maestro

 

 

 

  • Share your findings with your partners.
  • Make questions using the words you found.
  • Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

  • Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
  • Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

  • ever
  • fully
  • passed
  • able
  • sorrow
  • forever
  • banks
  • 26
  • break
  • huge
  • interview
  • global

RAVI SHANKAR SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about Ravi Shankar 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.

 

 

 

 

  • Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
  • Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

RAVI SHANKAR DISCUSSION

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

a)

What did you think when you read the headline?

b)

What springs to mind when you hear the name Ravi Shankar?

c)

What do you know about Ravi Shankar?

d)

What would you like to know about him?

e)

What do you know about the sitar?

f)

What do you think it's like to be the greatest musician playing an instrument?

g)

What do you think of sitar music?

h)

What instrument would you like to be a maestro at? Why?

i)

What kind of musicians continue to be top stars at the age of 90?

j)

What do you think other musicians will say about him?

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

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

a)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

b)

Why do you think he changed his birth name?

c)

Do you think it's amazing he became the world's best when he only started learning the sitar when he was 26?

d)

How has Indian classical music influenced world music?

e)

Would you like to be famous and recognized everywhere you go?

f)

What do you think it means to his family for India's prime minister to call him a "national treasure"?

g)

Will you now go and find or buy Ravi Shankar's music?

h)

Do you know enough about world music?

i)

What should the music world do to celebrate Shankar's life and music?

j)

What questions would you like to ask a Ravi Shankar expert?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

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

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

MULTIPLE CHOICE - LANGUAGE

The world's greatest ever sitar player Ravi Shankar has died in a hospital in the USA, aged 92. The (1) ____ maestro was (2) ____ last week to have an operation, but never fully recovered. His wife Sukanya and daughter Anoushka, also an (3) ____ sitarist, were by his side when he passed away. They issued a statement to say: "Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the surgeons and doctors taking care of him, his body was not able to withstand the (4) ____ of the surgery." They added: "Although it is a time for (5) ____ and sadness, it is also a time for all of us to give thanks and to be grateful that we were able to have him as a part of our lives. He will (6) ____ forever in our hearts and in his music."

Ravi Shankar was born Robindro Shaunkor Chowdhury on 7 April 1920 in Varanasi on the (7) ____ of the River Ganges. He started learning the sitar when he was 26. Sixteen years later he was touring Europe and the USA helping to increase the (8) ____ of Indian classical music. His major (9) ____ came when he taught George Harrison of The Beatles to play the sitar. He went on to have a huge (10) ____ on Western popular music and became an international superstar. He said in an interview in 2011: "Everywhere I went, I was (11) ____. I didn't like that at all." Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described him as a "national treasure and global ambassador of India's cultural (12) ____ ".

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.

(a)

legendary

(b)

contents

(c)

index

(d)

key

2.

(a)

ambulatory

(b)

doctored

(c)

hospitalized

(d)

operated

3.

(a)

accomplishing

(b)

accomplishment

(c)

accomplished

(d)

accompany

4.

(a)

strength

(b)

strenuous

(c)

straits

(d)

strain

5.

(a)

borrow

(b)

morrow

(c)

sorrow

(d)

arrow

6.

(a)

alive

(b)

live

(c)

lively

(d)

living

7.

(a)

bed

(b)

banks

(c)

source

(d)

curve

8.

(a)

liked

(b)

popularity

(c)

commonness

(d)

favouritism

9.

(a)

breakage

(b)

breaker

(c)

break

(d)

breaking

10.

(a)

compact

(b)

affect

(c)

guidance

(d)

influence

11.

(a)

recognition

(b)

cognition

(c)

cognitive

(d)

recognised

12.

(a)

hermitage

(b)

arbitrage

(c)

triage

(d)

heritage

SPELLING

Paragraph 1

1.

The legendary meoatsr

2.

never fully ecdeerrvo

3.

also an icaplomsdehc sitarist

4.

the nsugseor and doctors

5.

ihtdswnta the strain of the surgery

Paragraph 2

6.

increase the aiolptpyur of Indian classical music

7.

have a huge enuelicfn

8.

Everywhere I went, I was isdrngoece

9.

global adsobrsmaa

10.

India's cultural ghiraete

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

(    )

Ravi Shankar was born Robindro Shaunkor Chowdhury on 7 April 1920 in Varanasi on the

(    )

recovered. His wife Sukanya and daughter Anoushka, also an accomplished sitarist, were by

(    )

aged 92. The legendary maestro was hospitalized last week to have an operation, but never fully

(    )

interview in 2011: "Everywhere I went, I was recognised. I didn't like that

(    )

his side when he passed away. They issued a statement to say: "Unfortunately, despite the best

(    )

of the surgery." They added: "Although it is a time for sorrow and sadness, it is also a time for all of us to give

1  )

The world's greatest ever sitar player Ravi Shankar has died in a hospital in the USA,

(    )

at all." Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described him as a "national treasure and global ambassador of India's cultural heritage".

(    )

break came when he taught George Harrison of The Beatles to play the sitar. He went on to have a huge

(    )

Europe and the USA helping to increase the popularity of Indian classical music. His major

(    )

thanks and to be grateful that we were able to have him as a part of our lives. He will live forever in our hearts and in his music."

(    )

influence on Western popular music and became an international superstar. He said in an

(    )

banks of the River Ganges. He started learning the sitar when he was 26. Sixteen years later he was touring

(    )

efforts of the surgeons and doctors taking care of him, his body was not able to withstand the strain

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.

week    last    hospitalized    was    maestro    legendary    the.   

2.

the   withstand   to    able    not   was   body   his   surgery   of   strain.

3.

us    for    also    to    all    a    it    give    of    time    is    thanks.   

4.

grateful    were    have    be    we    to    that    able    him.   

5.

forever    live    will    he    hearts    our    in.   

6.

started    sitar    was    he    the    he    learning    when    26.   

7.

Indian    of    popularity    the    increase    music    classical.   

8.

a    have   to   on   went   he    music   Western   on   influence    huge.   

9.

treasure    as    ".    a    Singh    "    described    national    him

10.

cultural    ambassador    India's    heritage    global    of.   

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

The world's greatest ever / even sitar player Ravi Shankar has died in a hospital in the USA, aged 92. The legendary / legend maestro was hospitalized last week to have an operation, but never fully recovering / recovered. His wife Sukanya and daughter Anoushka, also an accomplishment / accomplished sitarist, were by his side when he past / passed away. They issued a statement to say: "Unfortunately, spite / despite the best efforts of the surgeons and doctors taking care of him, his body was not able to withstand / withhold the strain / straits of the surgery." They added: "Although it is a time for sorrow / sorrowful and sadness, it is also a time for all of us to give thanks and to be grateful that we were able to have him as a part / party of our lives. He will live forever in our hearts and in his / our music."

Ravi Shankar was born Robindro Shaunkor Chowdhury on 7 April 1920 in Varanasi on the banks / banking of the River Ganges. He started learning the sitar when he was 26. Sixteen years later he was toured / touring Europe and the USA helping to increase the favourites / popularity of Indian classical music. His major break-up / break came when he taught George Harrison of The Beatles to play the sitar. He went on to have a huge / enormous influence on Western popular music and became an international superstar. He said in / on an interview in 2011: "Everywhere I went, I was recognised / recognition. I didn't like that at every / all." Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described him as a "national / nationality treasure and global ambassador of India's cultural hermitage / heritage".

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

Th_ w_rld's gr__t_st _v_r s_t_r pl_y_r R_v_ Sh_nk_r h_s d__d _n _ h_sp_t_l _n th_ _S_, _g_d 92. Th_ l_g_nd_ry m__str_ w_s h_sp_t_l_z_d l_st w__k t_ h_v_ _n _p_r_t__n, b_t n_v_r f_lly r_c_v_r_d. H_s w_f_ S_k_ny_ _nd d__ght_r _n__shk_, _ls_ _n _cc_mpl_sh_d s_t_r_st, w_r_ by h_s s_d_ wh_n h_ p_ss_d _w_y. Th_y _ss__d _ st_t_m_nt t_ s_y: "_nf_rt_n_t_ly, d_sp_t_ th_ b_st _ff_rts _f th_ s_rg__ns _nd d_ct_rs t_k_ng c_r_ _f h_m, h_s b_dy w_s n_t _bl_ t_ w_thst_nd th_ str__n _f th_ s_rg_ry." Th_y _dd_d: "_lth__gh _t _s _ t_m_ f_r s_rr_w _nd s_dn_ss, _t _s _ls_ _ t_m_ f_r _ll _f _s t_ g_v_ th_nks _nd t_ b_ gr_t_f_l th_t w_ w_r_ _bl_ t_ h_v_ h_m _s _ p_rt _f __r l_v_s. H_ w_ll l_v_ f_r_v_r _n __r h__rts _nd _n h_s m_s_c."

R_v_ Sh_nk_r w_s b_rn R_b_ndr_ Sh__nk_r Ch_wdh_ry _n 7 _pr_l 1920 _n V_r_n_s_ _n th_ b_nks _f th_ R_v_r G_ng_s. H_ st_rt_d l__rn_ng th_ s_t_r wh_n h_ w_s 26. S_xt__n y__rs l_t_r h_ w_s t__r_ng __r_p_ _nd th_ _S_ h_lp_ng t_ _ncr__s_ th_ p_p_l_r_ty _f _nd__n cl_ss_c_l m_s_c. H_s m_j_r br__k c_m_ wh_n h_ t__ght G__rg_ H_rr_s_n _f Th_ B__tl_s t_ pl_y th_ s_t_r. H_ w_nt _n t_ h_v_ _ h_g_ _nfl__nc_ _n W_st_rn p_p_l_r m_s_c _nd b_c_m_ _n _nt_rn_t__n_l s_p_rst_r. H_ s__d _n _n _nt_rv__w _n 2011: "_v_rywh_r_ _ w_nt, _ w_s r_c_gn_s_d. _ d_dn't l_k_ th_t _t _ll." _nd__n Pr_m_ M_n_st_r M_nm_h_n S_ngh d_scr_b_d h_m _s _ "n_t__n_l tr__s_r_ _nd gl_b_l _mb_ss_d_r _f _nd__'s c_lt_r_l h_r_t_g_".

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

the world's greatest ever sitar player ravi shankar has died in a hospital in the usa aged 92 the legendary maestro was hospitalized last week to have an operation but never fully recovered his wife sukanya and daughter anoushka also an accomplished sitarist were by his side when he passed away they issued a statement to say "unfortunately despite the best efforts of the surgeons and doctors taking care of him his body was not able to withstand the strain of the surgery" they added "although it is a time for sorrow and sadness it is also a time for all of us to give thanks and to be grateful that we were able to have him as a part of our lives he will live forever in our hearts and in his music"

ravi shankar was born robindro shaunkor chowdhury on 7 april 1920 in varanasi on the banks of the river ganges he started learning the sitar when he was 26 sixteen years later he was touring europe and the usa helping to increase the popularity of indian classical music his major break came when he taught george harrison of the beatles to play the sitar he went on to have a huge influence on western popular music and became an international superstar he said in an interview in 2011 "everywhere i went i was recognised i didn't like that at all" indian prime minister manmohan singh described him as a "national treasure and global ambassador of india's cultural heritage"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Theworld'sgreatesteversitarplayerRaviShankarhasdiedinahospitalintheUSA,

aged92.Thelegendarymaestrowashospitalizedlastweektohaveanoperation,but

neverfullyrecovered.HiswifeSukanyaanddaughterAnoushka,alsoanaccomplished

sitarist,werebyhissidewhenhepassedaway.Theyissuedastatementtosay:

"Unfortunately,despitethebesteffortsofthesurgeonsanddoctorstakingcareofhim,

hisbodywasnotabletowithstandthestrainofthesurgery."Theyadded:"Althoughit

isatimeforsorrowandsadness,itisalsoatimeforallofustogivethanksandtobegrateful

thatwewereabletohavehimasapartofourlives.Hewillliveforeverinourheartsandin

hismusic."RaviShankarwasbornRobindroShaunkorChowdhuryon7April1920in

VaranasionthebanksoftheRiverGanges.Hestartedlearningthesitarwhenhewas

26.SixteenyearslaterhewastouringEuropeandtheUSAhelpingtoincreasethe

popularityofIndianclassicalmusic.HismajorbreakcamewhenhetaughtGeorge

HarrisonofTheBeatlestoplaythesitar.HewentontohaveahugeinfluenceonWestern

popularmusicandbecameaninternationalsuperstar.Hesaidinaninterviewin

2011:"EverywhereIwent,Iwasrecognised.Ididn'tlikethatatall."IndianPrime

MinisterManmohanSinghdescribedhimasa"nationaltreasureandglobal

ambassadorofIndia'sculturalheritage".

FREE WRITING

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

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ACADEMIC WRITING

Western pop and rock music is not the best in the world.  Discuss.

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HOMEWORK

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 out more about the sitar legend Ravi Shankar. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. RAVI SHANKAR: Make a poster about Ravi Shankar. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. MAESTRO: Write a magazine article about Ravi Shankar and the influence he had on world music. Include imaginary interviews with people who met him.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to a world music expert. Ask him/her three questions about Ravi Shankar. Give him/her three ideas on what to do to commemorate Shankar's life. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

F

b

F

c

T

d

F

e

T

f

F

g

T

h

T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.

legendary

a.

renowned

2.

maestro

b.

virtuoso

3.

accomplished

c.

expert

4.

despite

d.

regardless of

5.

withstand

e.

survive

6.

break

f.

opportunity

7.

influence

g.

impact

8.

treasure

h.

one of a kind

9.

ambassador

i.

representative

10.

heritage

j.

tradition

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.

In a hospital in the USA

2.

To have an operation

3.

His wife and daughter

4.

His body

5.

In their hearts and in his music

6.

When he was 26

7.

Indian classical music

8.

Western popular music

9.

Being recognized

10.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

b

2.

c

3.

d

4.

b

5.

a

6.

a

7.

d

8.

c

9.

d

10.

b

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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