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Teacher: ______________________________ Level: _____________ Date: ____/ ____ / ____

Celebrities from the Past

1. Fill in the blanks with the simple past form of the verb in parenthesis.

be – be – be born – die – graduate – hear – make – move - star - start

Elvis Aaron Presley, in the humblest of circumstances, 1.__________ to Vernon and Gladys Presley in a
two-room house in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8, 1935. He and his parents 2.___________ to Memphis,
Tennessee in 1948, and Elvis 3.__________ from Humes High School
there in 1953.

Elvis’ musical influences 4.__________ the pop and country music of the
time, the gospel music he 5.__________ in church and at the all-night
gospel sings, and the black R&B. In 1954, he 6.__________ his singing
career with the legendary Sun Records label in Memphis. In late 1955, his
recording contract was sold to RCA Victor. By 1956, he 7.__________ an
international sensation.

He 8.__________ in 33 successful films, 9.__________ history with his television appearances and
specials His talent, good looks, sensuality, charisma, and good humor endeared him to millions. He is
regarded as one of the most important figures of twentieth century popular culture. Elvis 10.__________ at his
Memphis home, Graceland, on August 16, 1977.

(Read his whole story at www.elvis.com/elvisology/bio)

2. Who’s your partner’s celebrity?

Question Answer
your celebrity/ be/ she or he? Was your celebrity a she or a he?
where/ be born? Where was he/she born?
what/ do?
where/ start career?
what/ be/ his or her most
representative work?

how/ die?

what/ look like?

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Name: ________________________________________________________________________
Teacher: ______________________________ Level: _____________ Date: ____/ ____ / ____

Celebrities from the Past

1. Fill in the blanks with the simple past form of the verb in parenthesis.

be born – do – die – die – gain – move – participate - play – spend – start

James Dean 1.__________ on a Marion, Indiana family farm to Winton and Mildred Wilson Dean. Dean was
enrolled in Brentwood Public School until his mother 2.__________ of cancer in 1940. In high school, Dean
3.__________ on the school basketball team and 4.__________ in forensics debate and drama.

Following the advice of friends, Dean 5.__________ to New York to pursue a career in live stage acting.
Dean 6.__________ his career with a soft drink commercial. He
7.__________ several episodes of such early-1950s episodic television
programs such as Kraft Television Theater, Studio One, Lux Video
Theatre, Robert Montgomery Presents, Danger, and General Electric
Theater. During his New York period he 8.__________ time in Sayville and
the resort towns of Fire Island. He finally 9.__________ recognition and
success in 1955 in his first starring role, that of Cal Trask in East of Eden.

Dean 10.__________ in a road accident in a Porsche 550 Spyder near

Salinas, California when a car driven by Donald Turnupseed veered into Dean's lane. But people still
remember him, because he epitomized the rebellion of 1950s teens, especially in his most representative
role in Rebel Without a Cause.

(Read his whole story at www.world-of-celebrities.com/james_dean/)

2. Who’s your partner’s celebrity?

Question Answer
your celebrity/ be/ she or he? Was your celebrity a she or a he?
when/ be born? When was he/she born?
where/ live?
what/do?
when/ die?
where/ die?
what/ look like?
Teacher’s guide

Activity: “Simple Past Review” with James Dean and Elvis Presley

Target language: Simple Past

Before you do this: Brush up their irregular verbs and questions (was/were/did) in the Simple Past.

1. Divide your class in two groups. Group A gets Elvis’s worksheet (group A should have a few stronger
students, because Elvis’s text is a little more difficult.). Group B gets James Dean’s. Make sure they
understand the other group can’t see the picture or hear the name of the celebrity.
2. Students do #1 in pairs and check with their groups, negotiating in English.
3. Write on the B: be; be born; do; die; gain; graduate; hear; make; move; participate; play; spend; star;
start. Elicit correction (simple past forms) from the groups.
4. Give them an answer key of the 1st exercise, so that they can correct the order.
5. Elicit the questions from the group. They should write it down.
6. PW or group work: A asks B, B asks A (but they can’t see the picture or the name of the other
group’s celebrity). They write down a short version of the answer. Be sure they know both celebrities
are dead.
7. At the end, check if they found out their partner’s celebrity. You may need to elicit extra information
from their general knowledge so that the other group finds out:

About James Dean:

Describe your celebrity: He had short blond hair and a very famous pompadour/quiff. He was very
handsome.
What’s his most famous outfit?/ What did he usually wear? A jacket, blue jeans and a white T-shirt.
He’s an icon of… Rebel youth.
Was he old when he died? No, he was very young.
Was he famous when he died? Very, very famous.

About Elvis Presley:

Describe your celebrity: He had short black hair and a very famous pompadour/quiff. He was very
handsome.
What kind of music did he play? Rock.
Did he dance well? Yes, he did. When he swung his hips, girls went crazy.
What were/are his most famous songs? “Love Me Tender”, “Don’t Be Cruel”, “(Let me be your)
Teddy Bear”, “Can’t help falling in love”.
How was he known? The king of rock ‘n roll.

Answer Key

Elvis: 1.was born 2.moved 3.graduated 4.were 5.heard 6.started 7.was 8.starred 9.made 10.died

Dean: 1.was born 2.died 3.played 4.participated 5.moved 6.started 7.did 8.spent 9.gained 10.died

(If you find any mistakes or if you’d like to give me your feedback,
please comment on my scribd profile.)