UNIT 07: ARTS Mr.

Essakhi Ayoub
WRITING A BIOGRAPHY

I. Read the sentences below and put the verbs in brackets in the simple past.
1. Charlie Chaplin ……………………….. (be) born in London in 1889.
2. Michael Jackson ………….………. (start) his music career in 1971.
3. Beyoncé …………………….…… (get) married to Jay-Z in 2008.
4. Bob Marley …………..…….…. (die) in the USA in 1981.
II. Read the biography of Michael Jackson and then answer the given comprehension questions.

Michael Jackson was a famous American singer and songwriter. He was born on August 29, 1958,
in Indiana, USA. He started his music career in 1971 as a member of the Jackson 5, a singing group
with his brothers. Michael Jackson later became a solo artist and
released many popular songs such as "Thriller", "Billie Jean" and
"Beat It". He was also known for his incredible dance moves like
the moonwalk and the robot. Michael Jackson got married twice
and had three children. In 1980, he was diagnosed with a skin
condition called vitiligo which caused his skin to change color.
Michael died on June 25, 2009, at the age of 50. It is said that an
overdose of the pain killer Demerol was the cause of his death, but
it is not confirmed.

A. Answer the following questions for the biography ● Useful Language

above. Prepositions of time and place.
1. When and where was Michael Jackson born?
………………………………………………………………………………….. B. Look back at the biography and
2. When did he start his music career? complete these phrases with the correct
……………………………………………….……………………….………..
prepositions.
3. How many times did he married?
……………………………………………….……………………….……….. • ……………….. August 29, 1958
4. What happened to him in 1980? • ……………….. Indiana, USA
……………………………………………….……………………….……….. • ……………….. 1971
5. When did he die? • ……………….. the age of 50
……………………………………………….……………………….………..

C. Complete the sentences below with the correct prepositions. Use in, on or at.

1. Shakira was born ……... Colombia …….. February 2, 1977, but now she lives …….. Spain.
2. ………. the age of 13, Shakira released her first song "Magia".
3. Charlie Chaplin was born …….…. England …….…. 1889.
4. Charlie Chaplin started his career as a comedian …………… the age of 19.
 WRITING PRACTICE

III. Now use the information in the chart below to write a short biography of Bob Marley.
• Full name: Bob Marley
General information • Artistic occupation: Singer and Songwriter
• Date of birth: February 6, 1945
• Place of birth: Jamaica
• 1960: Started his musical career.
• 1962: Recorded his first song ‘Judge not’.
Career • 1963: Formed his own music band ‘The Wailers’.
• 1973: Released his first Album ‘Tirbuto’.
• Between 1964 and 1978: Released more than 20 albums.
• Date of death: May 11, 1981
Other details • Place of death: USA
• Reason: Cancer

Bob Marley’s Biography

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Follow-up activity
IV. Use the internet to do some research about your favourite artist and then write a short biography
about him / her.