7
7.1 Notice the silent e of the -ed endings: why do these
/əd/ sound different?
1 Amy was born in 1983.
2 She studied at theatre school.
3 She received her first guitar.
4 She got her first piercings and tattoos.
5 She started her professional career.
6 She recorded her first album.
7 She received five Grammy Awards.
8 She got married to Blake.
9 She got divorced in 2009.
10 Amy died at 27.
7.2 Notice the pronunciation of the -ed endings: /d/, /t/
and /ɪd/.
‘I told you I was trouble’
Famous for her great voice, big hair and bad habits, on 23rd
July 2011, Amy Winehouse joined legends Robert Johnson,
Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Kurt
Cobain in the ‘Died at 27 Club’.
Amy Jade Winehouse was born on 14th September 1983, in
London, England. From the age of 12 Amy studied at theatre
school, and at 13, she received her first guitar. Always a rebel,
she got her first piercings and tattoos at 14.
At only 16, she recorded her first demos, and three years
later, she recorded Frank, an album that the critics really
loved. Young Amy lived very fast! Only five years later, in
2008, she received five Grammy Awards, including Best New
Artist and Record of the Year for ‘Rehab’.
Her lifestyle provoked a lot of interest, too. She married Blake
Fielder-Civil, a music video assistant, in May 2007. But their
marriage didn’t last long – they got divorced at the end of 2009.
Amy’s impact was incredible. Millions loved her and copied
her look, but others didn’t accept her because of her drug and
alcohol abuse. Musically, Amy developed a new style, mixing
jazz, soul, pop, reggae, world beat and R & B. She transmitted
incredible emotion.
Amy died of alcohol poisoning alone at home in Camden. ‘We
only said goodbye with words’. Goodbye, Amy.
7.4 Notice the sentence stress.
TtW = Travel the World ML = Ms Lane
TtW And let’s welcome our next guest, Ms Lane, the travel
guide. So, tell us, dear. Have you always been afraid of
flying?
ML Yeah! I’m a very nervous flyer. In fact, I’m terrified of planes.
TtW Really? But you’re a travel guide!
ML Yes, but I prefer city tours. I hate planes.
TtW And when did that start?
ML Well, once I was going from Manila to Hong Kong and
there was a lot of turbulence. I didn’t hold the hand of the
man next to me, but I was so nervous I really wanted to!
TtW Did you say anything to him?
ML No, I didn’t. He never knew!
TtW I see. But did you land safely?
ML Well, at least when we got to Hong Kong airport, we
didn’t crash into the buildings, but for me, erm, that
was a miracle. The turbulence was really strong and the
buildings are so near the airport!
TtW And did the passengers applaud?
ML Yes, some of them. I didn’t. I was just so tense!
TtW Right! How did you feel after that?
ML Well… terrified of planes!
7.5
Where did you go?
Did you relax?
Where did you stay?
Did you watch a lot of TV?
Did you have a good time?
How did you get there?
Did you eat well?
7.6 Notice the connections to prepositions and the pauses
between the dates and the years.
These talented musicians all died at the age of 27. Blues singer
and guitarist Robert Johnson was born on the 8th of May 1911
and died on the 16th of August 1938. The original Rolling Stone
Brian Jones was born on the 28th of February 1942 and died on
the 3rd of July 1969. The incredible Jimi Hendrix was born on
the 27th of November 1942 and died on the 18th of September
1970. The pearl, Janis Joplin, was born on the 19th of January
1943 and died on the 4th of October 1970. Finally, Nirvana
leader Kurt Cobain was born on the 20th of February 1967. And
he died the 5th of on April 1994. A coincidence or a curse?
7.7
Janis Joplin was born in 1943 on the 19th of January. She was
an only child until the age of six.
In 1962, Joplin left home to study at the University of Texas.
She left university in January 1963.
Janis Joplin died at 27, from an overdose, on the 4th of
October 1970.
 7.8
Int = interviewer J = Jay-Z
Int What’s a typical Jay-Z day?
J Mmm… Typical…
Int Obviously… give me your day yesterday. Obviously you
flew out here late last night or early this morning. What
was your day like? From the time you got up to the time
you went to the Nets game last night.
J I got up at around eight, had some breakfast, I ran a mile,
it was really tough.
Int A mile?
J You know, I just wanted to touch it.
Int Quite a marathon. A mile.
J Yeah, one mile. Everyone can’t be like you*, man. Ran a
mile. Then I went to the office, read a bunch of emails, read
some more emails, downloaded some music – legally –
Erm… er… had a meeting with some great people, I don’t
want to say any names yet. After that I listened to some music,
went to the studio, had dinner, went to the Nets game, we
won, we’re up 3-2, thank you very much, went to sleep.
7.9 Notice the intonation in the ‘impressed’ words.
A So, what’s your typical day like? Let’s see. What time did
you get up yesterday morning?
B I got up at about six.
A Wow, so early! Did you have breakfast?
B Yes, I had an egg and some coffee!
A Fantastic! And who did you have breakfast with?
B My mum was with me.
A That’s great! And what did you do after that?
B I took a shower and went to work!
A No! I can’t believe it! And then what happened?
B After work I went back home, played a video game, had
dinner and went to sleep.
A Incredible! What a fantastic routine! Thanks a lot!
7.11 Notice the -ed endings and /ə/ in was.
T = teacher S = student
T So, everyone finished? Time for the answers. Number 1
was in fact Adele.
S Yes! We got that one!
T OK… the Spider-Man musical was composed by the
famous Irish band U2.
S Another one right!
T Madonna did…
S No!
T Madonna did NOT write the song for the 2010 World Cup.
It was in fact Shakira.
S I knew it. Three points!
T OK, question 4. ‘Accidentally in love’ was in the film
Shrek 2.
S That is correct. I love that song.
T OK. A difficult one now. Which of these three recorded
more songs? Was it A) The Beatles, B) Elvis Presley or C)
Michael Jackson?
S I know, I know, I’ve got it, I know the answer! It was
The Beatles – my dad’s got all of their records. He’s got
hundreds of them.
T Well, actually it wasn’t The Beatles. They only recorded
about 250. Elvis recorded between 700 and 1,000 songs.
S I don’t believe it. No. I’m sure it was The Beatles.
T Well, I’m sorry. On to question 6, Flea plays the bass guitar,
and for question 7 – that is Jay-Z.
S Hmm.
T Now, on to famous deaths. Janis Joplin – the great ’60s
singer – died on the bathroom floor. Whitney Houston died
in the bath and Michael Jackson died in his bed.
S I didn’t know that.
T And Bob Marley’s last words were ‘Money can’t buy life’.
S Really?
T Yep. And finally Ricky Martin sang with Menudo before he
went solo.
7.12 Notice the connection between /t/, /d/ at the end of
words and the vowel at the beginning of the next word.
A = assistant C = customer
A Hello, can I help you?
C Yes, I hope so. There’s a problem with my phone. It
doesn’t work.
A I see. What exactly is the problem?
C Well, it’s a new phone, but when I turned it on the battery
died as soon as I started phoning anyone.
A Hmmm… Did you try recharging it?
C Yes, I did that right away, but it didn’t work. I mean, I
phoned a friend, but the phone died again after about
two minutes.
 7.13 Notice the stress in the questions. 7.15 Notice the connections.
A OK. So when did you buy this phone? 1C Oh, no! Look at this mess. Sophie!
C Er… last week. D Yes, Mum?
A Oh, it’s really new. And where did you buy it? C Could you please do the washing up?
C I bought it in this shop. The assistant was very helpful. D Er, sorry, it’s Brian’s turn today.
A That’s good! Well, have you kept the receipt? C Oh, forget it. Brian!!!
C Yes, I think so…. Ah! Here it is!
2 E Excuse me. Er, could you open the door for me, please?
A OK. Can you leave your phone with me? F Oh, sure. There you go.
C Erm…, but, er…, how long? E Thank you so much.
A Maximum two days. We either mend it, or give you a new one.
3 A Dan, there’s someone at the door.
C Phew! Thanks!
B Could you see who it is? I’m busy.
A Don’t worry, I’ll get it.
7.14 Notice the expressions for responding to a story. 4H Jim!
M = Mike C = Chris I Er?
M Hey, Chris! How’s it going? I tried to phone you. H Could you please cut the grass, Jim?
C Hi, Mike, I’m not pleased at all. I Er, but… the match…. Come on, I can do it tomorrow.
M Why? What happened? H Could you do it this afternoon, please? Your mother’s
C Mate! I’m so clumsy. I dropped my mobile phone in coming to visit.
the toilet! I Oh, oh, er, OK, I’ll do it now.
M You’re joking! How did that happen? 5J Could I ask you a favour?
C Well, I was at work, right, and I had my phone in my jacket K Hmmm, that depends. What do you want?
pocket. My manager was – like – ‘Chris, can you clean J Could I leave my son with you this weekend?
the toilet?’. So, I’d cleaned the toilet. But I was like, cleaning K Oh. I’m really sorry, but I can’t. I have two parties to go
behind the toilet when… SPLASH! this weekend so I can’t be with your son. Sorry.
M Oh, no! Disgusting! J Oh, no problem. Thanks anyway!
C Well, at least I’d cleaned the toilet first!
M Phew! Did you get it out?
C Yeah, of course. That phone cost £200.
M What did you do?
C Well, I put it under the hand-dryer in the toilet but it still
doesn’t work.
M Wow! That’s bad luck.