www.FAMOUS PEOPLE LESSONS.

com

MICHAEL
JACKSON
http://www.famouspeoplelessons.com/m/michael_jackson.html

CONTENTS:
The Reading / Tapescript 2
Synonym Match and Phrase Match 3
Listening Gap Fill 4
Choose the Correct Word 5
Spelling 6
Put the Text Back Together 7
Scrambled Sentences 8
Discussion 9
Student Survey 10
Writing 11
Homework 12
Answers 13
 MICHAEL JACKSON

THE READING / TAPESCRIPT

Michael Joseph Jackson (born 1958) is truly a music legend. He
became a superstar at the age of eleven as a member of his family
band The Jackson 5. His solo career earned him the title "King of
Pop". His studio albums have all become classics. Jackson is equally
famous for his high energy and complicated dance techniques such
as the Moonwalk. He died in 2009 at the age of 50.
Jackson dominated the music charts throughout the 1970s, 80s and
90s. His distinctive vocal style, rhythm and fashion were perfect for
the new music video age. MTV enthusiastically played his videos to
the world. His ‘Thriller’ video had all the excitement of a major
movie release. Jackson became a true icon of pop culture and
influenced dozens of today’s top stars.
Jackson’s personal life created significant controversy and earned
him a nickname he hated, ‘Wacko Jacko’. He angered many by
having plastic surgery and lightening his skin to look white. His
reputation was badly damaged in several high-profile child sexual
abuse cases in 2003 and 2005. The courts cleared him on both
occasions.
His awards and records are proof of the phenomenal success he
achieved. He won World Music Award's Best-Selling Pop Male Artist
of the Millennium, and was the American Music Award's Artist of the
Century. ‘Thriller’ remains the best selling album of all time. ‘Vanity
Fair’ magazine named him the "Most popular artist in the history of
show business".

247 words

Copyright © www.FamousPeopleLessons.com 2
 MICHAEL JACKSON

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. truly a. difficult
2 earned b. symbol
3. complicated c. ruled
4. dominated d. passionately
5. enthusiastically e. beyond doubt
6. icon f. got

Paragraphs 3 and 4
7. significant g. times
8. reputation h. major
9. occasions i. evidence
10. proof j. extraordinary
11 phenomenal k continues as
12 remains l image

PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article.

1. truly a a. dance techniques

2 earned him the title b. vocal style
3. complicated c. success he achieved
4. His distinctive d. music legend
5. influenced dozens e. selling album of all time
6. earned him a f. show business
7. His reputation was g. "King of Pop"
8. proof of the phenomenal h. badly damaged
9. remains the best i. of today’s top stars
10. in the history of j. nickname he hated

Copyright © www.FamousPeopleLessons.com 3
 MICHAEL JACKSON

LISTENING GAP FILL:

Michael Joseph Jackson (born 1958) __________________ legend. He
became a superstar at the age of eleven as a member of his family band
The Jackson 5. His __________________ him the title "King of Pop". His
studio albums have all become classics. Jackson __________________
for his high energy and complicated dance __________________ the
Moonwalk. He died in 2009 at the age of 50.

Jackson dominated the music charts __________________, 80s and 90s.

His distinctive vocal style, rhythm and fashion __________________ new
music video age. MTV enthusiastically played his videos to the world. His
‘Thriller’ video had all the excitement of a major movie release. Jackson
became __________________ culture and influenced dozens of today’s
top stars.

Jackson’s personal __________________ significant controversy and

earned him a nickname he hated, ‘Wacko Jacko’. He angered many by
having plastic surgery and lightening his __________________. His
reputation ____________________ several high-profile child sexual
abuse cases in 2003 and 2005. The courts __________________
occasions.

His awards and records are proof of the __________________ he

achieved. He won World Music Award's Best-Selling Pop Male Artist of the
Millennium, and was the American Music Award's Artist of the Century.
‘Thriller’ __________________ selling album of all time. ‘Vanity Fair’
magazine named him the "Most popular artist __________________
business".

Copyright © www.FamousPeopleLessons.com 4
 MICHAEL JACKSON

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD:

Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.

Michael Joseph Jackson (born 1958) is truly / true a music legend. He

became a superstar at the age / ages of eleven as a member of his
family band The Jackson 5. His solo career earned him the title "King
of Pop". His studio albums have all become / became classics. Jackson
is equally famous for his high energy and complication / complicated
dance techniques such as the Moonwalk. He died in 2009 at the age of
50.

Jackson dominated the music charts throughout the 1970s, 80s and
90s. His distinctive vocal stylish / style, rhythm and fashion were
perfect for the new music video age. MTV enthusiastically playing /
played his videos to the world. His ‘Thriller’ video had every / all the
excitement of a major movie release. Jackson became a truly / true
icon of pop culture and influenced dozens of today’s top stars.

Jackson’s personal life creation / created significant controversy and

earned him a nickname he hated, ‘Wacko Jacko’. He angry / angered
many by having plastic surgery and lightening / lightning his skin to
look white. His reputation was badly / bad damaged in several high-
profile child sexual abuse cases in 2003 and 2005. The courts cleared
him on both occasions.

His awards and records are prove / proof of the phenomenal success
he achievement / achieved. He won World Music Award's Best-Selling
Pop Male Artist of the Millennium, and was the American Music Award's
Artist of the Century. ‘Thriller’ remains the best / most selling album of
all time. ‘Vanity Fair’ magazine named him the "Most popular artist in
the history of / for show business".

Copyright © www.FamousPeopleLessons.com 5
 MICHAEL JACKSON

SPELLING:
These jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.

Paragraph 1
1. truly a music ngedel
2. a rmmeeb of his family
3. His studio albums have all become scssicla
4. complicated dance esniqecuth

Paragraph 2
5. thurugooth the 1970s, 80s and 90s
6. ecteprf for the new music video age
7. all the excitement of a oamrj movie release
8. a true icon of pop teurclu

Paragraph 3
9. earned him a amcinnke he hated
10. silpcat surgery
11. His reputation was badly aedamgd
12. The courts areledc him on both occasions

Paragraph 4
13. proof of the phenomenal ecscsus he achieved
14. Artist of the Crnuety
15. ‘Thriller’ senairm the best selling album of all time
16. show essbnsui

Copyright © www.FamousPeopleLessons.com 6
 MICHAEL JACKSON

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( ) the Century. ‘Thriller’ remains the best selling album of all time.
‘Vanity Fair’ magazine named

( ) Jackson dominated the music charts throughout the 1970s, 80s

and 90s. His distinctive vocal

( 1) Michael Joseph Jackson (born 1958) is truly a music legend. He

became a superstar at the age of eleven as a

( ) cleared him on both occasions.

( ) world. His ‘Thriller’ video had all the excitement of a major movie
release. Jackson became a true icon

( ) member of his family band The Jackson 5. His solo career earned
him the title "King of Pop". His studio albums have all

( ) style, rhythm and fashion were perfect for the new music video
age. MTV enthusiastically played his videos to the

( ) become classics. Jackson is equally famous for his high energy and
complicated dance techniques such as the Moonwalk. He died in
2009 at the age of 50.

( ) His awards and records are proof of the phenomenal success he

achieved. He won

( ) was badly damaged in several high-profile child sexual abuse cases

in 2003 and 2005. The courts

( ) Jackson’s personal life created significant controversy and earned

him a nickname

( ) of pop culture and influenced dozens of today’s top stars

( ) he hated, ‘Wacko Jacko’. He angered many by having plastic

surgery and lightening his skin to look white. His reputation

( ) World Music Award's Best-Selling Pop Male Artist of the Millennium,

and was the American Music Award's Artist of

( ) him the "Most popular artist in the history of show business".

Copyright © www.FamousPeopleLessons.com 7
 MICHAEL JACKSON

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.

1. at He the became age a of superstar eleven

2. classics studio have become His albums all

3. the dominated Jackson 1970s the throughout charts music

4. MTV world the to videos his played enthusiastically

5. became Jackson culture pop of icon true a

6. having by many angered He surgery plastic

7. reputation damaged was His badly

8. phenomenal the of proof achieved he success

9. album time remains selling all ‘Thriller’ best of the

10. history the in business show of

Copyright © www.FamousPeopleLessons.com 8
 MICHAEL JACKSON

MICHAEL JACKSON DISCUSSION:

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

1. What do you know about Michael Jackson?

2. Would you like to meet Michael Jackson?
3. What would you like to know about Michael Jackson and why?

4. ___________________________________________________

5. ___________________________________________________

6. ___________________________________________________

7. ___________________________________________________

8. ___________________________________________________

Copyright © www.FamousPeopleLessons.com

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MICHAEL JACKSON

MICHAEL JACKSON DISCUSSION:

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

1. What did you learn from this text about Michael Jackson?
2. What questions would you like to ask Michael Jackson?
3. What would his answers be to those questions?

4. ___________________________________________________

5. ___________________________________________________

6. ___________________________________________________

7. ___________________________________________________

8. ___________________________________________________

Copyright © www.FamousPeopleLessons.com 9
 MICHAEL JACKSON

MICHAEL JACKSON SURVEY:

Write five questions about Michael Jackson in the table. Do this in pairs/groups. Each
student must write the questions on his / her own paper.
Without your partner, interview other students. Write down their answers.

STUDENT 1 STUDENT 2 STUDENT 3

_____________ _____________ _____________

Q.1.

Q.2.

Q.3.

Q.4.

Q.5.

Return to your original partner(s) and share and talk about what you found out.
Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

Copyright © www.FamousPeopleLessons.com 10
 MICHAEL JACKSON

WRITING:
Write about Michael Jackson for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper.
Correct each other’s work.

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Copyright © www.FamousPeopleLessons.com 11
 MICHAEL JACKSON

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 more information

about Michael Jackson. Talk about what you discover with your
partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MICHAEL JACKSON POSTER: Make a poster showing the

different stages of the life of Michael Jackson. 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 Michael

Jackson. Include an imaginary interview with him. Write about
what he does every day and what he 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 Michael Jackson. Ask him three

questions about his life. Give him three suggestions on what he
should do in his future. Read your letter to your partner(s) in
your next lesson. Your “Michael Jackson expert” partner(s) will
try and answer your questions.

Copyright © www.FamousPeopleLessons.com 12
 MICHAEL JACKSON

ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1. truly a. beyond doubt
2 earned b. got
3. complicated c. difficult
4. dominated d. ruled
5. enthusiastically e. passionately
6. icon f. symbol
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7. significant g. major
8. reputation h. image
9. occasions i. times
10. proof j. evidence
11 phenomenal k extraordinary
12 remains l continues as

PHRASE MATCH:
1. truly a a. music legend
2 earned him the title b. "King of Pop"
3. complicated c. dance techniques
4. His distinctive d. vocal style
5. influenced dozens e. of today’s top stars
6. earned him a f. nickname he hates
7. His reputation was g. badly damaged
8. proof of the phenomenal h. success he has achieved
9. remains the best i. selling album of all time
10. in the history of j. show business

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Look at the text on page 2.

Copyright © www.FamousPeopleLessons.com 13