EOIDNA/ 2008-09/1º NA/ Reading Comprehension

READING COMPREHENSION (P1): Read the following text. Match up each of the
paragraphs to the questions that were asked. There are TWO extra questions. There is an
example (0) at the beginning.

ELSA PATAKY

Elsa Pataky belongs to a generation of women appearing in TV series who found a path to successful film
careers by working their way through castings. She has grace and beauty, speaks Rumanian and has a
strong desire to be the best actress in her profession. The "golden guerrilla girl" can currently be seen in the
second part of Manual de Amore (Love Manual), a film which confronts different love stories in an
extreme sense. Adrien Brody has also lately been ever-present by her side, escorting her to cities where the
film is being premiered.

0 (She laughs) "Of course he is - the time I spend with people I love. Other moments have to do with
my work, when - for example - I'm given a role I like a lot."

1 "Yes, but always knowing what I want and where I aim to go. I'm like that in a way because I've had
many let-downs, but even so I'm still very open. I usually give myself to people, and sometimes think
maybe I shouldn't. But anyway..."

2 "[…] I don't believe there is one and I don't believe there should be a love guide. You should just be
natural and be yourself, which is how you win a man's heart."

3 (She laughs) "I haven't really thought about it as I've never followed that career. I'm very happy with
what I'm doing. I studied it because my father thought being an actress had no future. My maternal
grandfather was an actor; and my mother was acquainted with the theatre world and gave more
support in this matter."

4 "I've done all kind of things, to pay for my studies, etc. I've been a waitress and a stewardess, I've
handed out flyers and I've worked as a shop assistant in a cake shop. I've always been a bit fanciful
and rebellious, and since I was young I wanted to be independent, have my own money to buy my
own things and pay for my theatre lessons. At 15 years old, I tricked the owners of a cake shop into
believing I was legally old enough to work and they gave me the job. Then my father found out and
came to the shop and made me leave with him. He was very angry because I had lied to him. It was
horrible."

5 "To fight all the way. I've been offered roles, and had others taken away, due to my image. They tend
to offer me more superficial roles. We're in Spain, where it's strange to see a blonde woman with
green eyes. That can be a handicap, as in theory I'm not the classical type of Mediterranean woman.
It's unfair, because what actors like most is to change their image. If you want to change the colour of
my eyes or make me brunette, well let's go for it. But there aren't many directors who make an effort
to transform their actors."

Interviewed in FAMOUS Magazine, 4-07

 EOIDNA/ 2008-09/1º NA/ Reading Comprehension

QUESTIONS:

(0-A) IS ADRIEN BRODY ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS HAPPINESS?

B. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A GIRL WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE AN ACTRESS?
C. WAS IT EASY FOR YOU TO BECOME AN ACTRESS?
D. YOU BOAST ABOUT HAVING DONE MANY THINGS IN LIFE BY NOW. HAVE YOU?
E. HAVE YOU LIVED IN OTHER COUNTRIES OTHER THAN SPAIN AND THE USA?
F. DO YOU HAVE A MANUAL FOR LOVE?
G. DON’T YOU THINK HAPPINESS HAS A LOT TO DO WITH INNOCENCE?
H: WOULD YOU WORK IN JOURNALISM?

KEY TO ELSA PATAKY’S INTERVIEW

G1, D4, H3, F2, B5
 EOIDNA/ 2008-09/1º NA/ Reading Comprehension

KEY TO ELSA PATAKY’S INTERVIEW

G1, D4, H3, F2, B5