Easy English: p.2: Hollywood Stars

42 Pages·2006·0.278 MB·Russian

by  Мещеряков В. Б.

ФЕДЕРАЛЬНОЕ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОЕ ОБРАЗОВАТЕЛЬНОЕ
УЧРЕЖДЕНИЕ ВЫСШЕГО ПРОФЕССИОНАЛЬНОГО ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ
«ЧЕЛЯБИНСКАЯ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННАЯ АКАДЕМИЯ
КУЛЬТУРЫ И ИСКУССТВ»

КАФЕДРА ИНОСТРАННЫХ ЯЗЫКОВ

В. Б. Мещеряков

Easy English

Part two

Hollywood Stars

СБОРНИК ТЕКСТОВ
ДЛЯ ОЗНАКОМИТЕЛЬНОГО ЧТЕНИЯ
ПО АНГЛИЙСКОМУ ЯЗЫКУ
ДЛЯ СТУДЕНТОВ ВУЗОВ КУЛЬТУРЫ И ИСКУССТВ

Челябинск
2006
ББК 81.2 (Англ.)
М 56

Утвержден на заседании кафедры иностранных языков 29.11. 2006,
протокол № 3

Мещеряков, В. Б. Easy English: p.2: Hollywood Stars: сб. текстов для
ознаком. чтения по англ. яз. / В. Б. Мещеряков; Челяб. гос. акад. культуры
и искусств. – Челябинск, 2006. – 41с.

Сборник содержит оригинальные тексты, посвященные знаменитым
английским и американским актерам и режиссерам современности,
истинным звездам Голливуда, и задания к ним. Каждый английский текст
сопровождается фонограммой, записанной носителями языка и дающей
возможность прослушать его на языке оригинала. Сборник текстов
направлен на формирование слуховых навыков и навыков извлечения
информации из прослушанного и прочитанного текста. Предназначен для
студентов дневного и заочного отделений вузов культуры и искусств.
Может быть использован как в аудиторной работе, так и в
самостоятельных занятиях дома широким кругом читателей, изучающих
английский язык.

Печатается по решению редакционно-издательского совета ЧГАКИ

© Мещеряков В. Б., 2006
© Челябинская государственная
академия культуры и искусств,
2006
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CONTENTS
The genius of Charlie Chaplin 4
Robert De Niro 4
Dustin Hoffman 5
Bruce Willis 6
Kevin Costner 7

Al Pacino 8
Rowan Atkinson alias Mr. Bean 9
Benny Hill 10
Meg Ryan 11
Tom Hanks 12
Julia Roberts 13
Andie Macdowell 14
Sharon Stone 15
Leslie Nielsen 15

Mel Gibson 16
Keanu Reeves 17
Sandra Bullock 18
Billy Cristal 19
Nicolas Cage 19
Calista Flockhart 20
Tom Cruise 21
Pierce Brosnan 22
Audrey Hepburn 22
Cameron Diaz 23
Steven Spielberg 24
Glen Close 25
Sean Connery 26
QuentinTarantino 27
Michelle Pfeiffer 28
Liv Tyler 29
Eddie Murphy 29
George Clooney 30
Jack Lemmon 31
Brad Pitt 32
Marilyn Monroe 33
Harrison Ford 34
Jeff Bridges 35
Gwyneth Paltrow 36
Nick Nolte 37
Meryl Streep 38
Jack Nicholson 39
Anthony Hopkins 40

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THE GENIUS OF CHARLIE CHAPLIN
Charlie Chaplin was a man of many talents; he was one of the best actors
and directors in the world. He was the first man to treat films as works of art.
Fame
When Chaplin became well known in America, he started to get fed up
with what others told him to do, so he decided to work on his own. With a few
friends he created United Artists, a film company managed only by actors and
directors. Working in this company Chaplin made his most popular films such
as “The Gold Rush” («Золотая лихорадка»), “The Circus” («Цирк»), “City
Lights” («Огни большого города»), “The Great Dictator” («Великий
диктатор»). He was not only an actor and director but he also wrote screenplays
and composed music to his films.
Private life
Chaplin had many wives but only the last one, Oona, brought him real

happiness. They had eight children. But there were also some tragic moments in
Chaplin’s life. He was accused of being a communist and had many problems
with the FBI. In spite of his great success, he had to leave America. He spent the
rest of his life in Switzerland with his wife and children.

WORD LIST
be fed up - надоедать
director - режиссер
fame - слава, известность
film company - кинокомпания
screenplay - сценарий
treat - обращаться, обходиться
work of art - произведение искусств

QUESTIONS:

1. What was the name of the company Chaplin created?

2. What are the titles of his most famous films?

3. Why did he have to leave America?

4. Where did he spend the rest of his life?

ROBERT DE NIRO
Robert De Niro is a kind of actor who appears to be different in every
film. He spends a lot of time and effort preparing for each role. Not only
learning the script by heart but also, if necessary, changing his physical
appearance.
The first big roles
His big roles came in the 1970s. The first was in 1973 in Martin
Scorsese’s “Mean Street” («Злые улицы») while a year later he played the
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young Don Vito Corleone in Francis Coppola’s “Godfather II” («Крестный
отец 2»). For the latter he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
This was his great beginning and later films only confirmed his talent and
mastery.
Other films
Throughout his career he has played in many films. The most famous
ones were “Taxi Driver” («Таксист»), “Cape Fear” («Мыс страха»), and more
recently “Wag the Dog” («Плутовство») and “Great Expectations” («Большие
надежды»). His roles are always complex, difficult and very ambitious, as if
they were created just for him. Today Robert De Niro is considered to be the
number one actor in America and maybe in the world.

WORD LIST
ambitious - честолюбивый
appear - выступать, исполнять роль
complex - сложный, трудный
confirm - подтверждать
is considered to be - считается
later - поздний
latter - последний
learn by heart - учить наизусть
mastery - мастерство
number one - номер один
script - сценарий, текст

QUESTIONS:

1. When did his first role come?

2. What are the other films he played in?

3. What famous directors films did he take part in?

4. What kind of actor is Robert De Niro considered to be today?

5. Are his roles easy?

DUSTIN HOFFMAN
Dustin Hoffman is one of the most famous Hollywood actors. He is very
talented and has played in over 30 films, most of which were blockbusters.
Breakthrough
For ten years Dustin Hoffman played in New York theaters, remaining
one of many other young actors waiting for their big chance. It came in 1967.
Dustin Hoffman took part in an audition for a film, and got the role. The film
“The Graduate” («Выпускник») marked the beginning of his career. For this
role he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor.

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Best films
One of his best comedies was “Tootsie” («Тутси»), where he made us
laugh dressed as a woman. He also had memorable roles in such psychological
films as “Kramer vs. Kramer” («Крамер против Крамера»), where he costarred
with Meryl Streep, or “Rain Man” («Человек дождя»), in which he perfectly
played a disabled man living in a world of his own. Dustin Hoffman makes
every film a masterpiece.

WORD LIST
audition - прослушивание, проба актеров на
исполнение ролей
award - награда
be nominated - быть выдвинутым, быть номинированным
dressed as - переодетый
mark - отмечать
masterpiece - шедевр
memorable - незабываемый
perfectly - совершенно, великолепно
remain - оставаться

QUESTIONS:

1. What was his first important film?

2. In what film did he play a woman?

3. Why did he make us laugh in the film “Tootsie”?

4. Who did he play in “Rain Man”?

5. What role was he nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor?

BRUCE WILLIS
Bruce Willis is one of the richest and most popular actors of today’s
cinema. He likes what he does and claims that he is completely satisfied with his
life and job. He is in the top-ten of the most desired men in the world.
The beginnings
He was born in Idar-Oberstein in Germany, on March 19, 1955. When he
told his parents that he was going to be an actor, they did not take him seriously.
He did not even finish his drama course at university. When he was 20, he went
to New York where he wanted to try his luck. Unfortunately, to begin with he
was only a bartender and a security guard.
Films
After many castings and TV spots, he finally got his first chance. He took
part in a TV series called “Moonlighting” («Лунный свет») in which he co-
starred with Cybill Shepherd. In 1988 he starred in the blockbuster movie “Die
Hard” («Крепкий орешек») which quickly brought him popularity. Another
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famous film he took part in was “Pulp Fiction” («Криминальное чтиво») by
Quentin Tarantino.
When asked what is most important for him now, Bruce always answers:
“My three daughters”. He is still a loving father and he spends a lot of time with
them.

WORD LIST
bartender - бармен
cinema - кино
claim - утверждать, заявлять
completely - совершенно, полностью
desired - желанный
security guard - охранник
seriously - серьезно, всерьез
TV series - телевизионный сериал
TV spot - телевизионная реклама

QUESTIONS:

1. Where was Bruce Willis born?

2. How old was he when he went to New York?

3. What film brought him popularity?

4. What film by Quentin Tarantino did he take part in?

5. How many children does he have?

KEVIN COSTNER
Kevin Costner is a very famous actor, producer and director. He has been
in many films, but his most successful one was “Dances With Wolves” («Танцы
с волками»), which won seven Oscars in 1991, including the best film and the
best director.
His private life
Costner was born on January 18, 1955 in Lynwood, California. His
background is a mixture of Irish, German and Cherokee Indian. Costner’s
mother was a social worker and his father worked for an electrical company. As
far as Kevin’s private life is concerned, he was married to Cindy Silva for 16
years, but they divorced in 1994. They have three children: Annie, Lily and Joe.
His films
Costner likes to keep in good shape and enjoys sport, especially fishing,
football and baseball. No wonder he likes roles, which involve sport as in “Tin
Cup” («Жестяной кубок»), where he played golf or “Bull Durham”
(«Дархэмский бык») where he was a baseball player.
He has also always liked dangerous challenges. When he was 18, he built
a canoe and paddled down the river, which many years previously Lewis and
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Clark had crossed on their way to the Pacific. He also has to face difficult
situations in his films as in “The Bodyguard” («Телохранитель») and “JFK”
(«Дж.Ф.К.).

WORD LIST
background - происхождение, прошлое
be in shape - быть в форме
canoe - каноэ, байдарка
challenge - вызов, испытание
no wonder - неудивительно
paddle down - плыть на байдарке, вниз (по реке)
producer - продюсер
social worker - социальный работник

QUESTIONS:

1. Which Costner’s film was the most successful?

2. What is his background?

3. How many children does he have?

4. What film did he take part in together with the famous singer Whitney
Houston?

5. What does he enjoy?

AL PACINO
Al Pacino is one of the most famous and successful actors in the world.
He has been in 27 films, two of which he has directed himself. His presence
in any film guarantees success.
The beginnings.
Born on the 25th of April 1940 in New York, Al Pacino grew up in a poor
family. His parents divorced when he was small, and he lived with his
grandmother. As a boy he used to imitate the scenes from films he had seen
and later decided to follow this path. He studied acting at the Herbert
Berghof Studio in New York.
“The Godfather”
Probably his most famous role was that of Michael Corleone in Francis
Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather” («Крестный отец»). The story of an Italian
family made him famous not only in America but also internationally. Maybe
because of this first important role, Al Pacino went on to play gangsters and
mafia members in many of his other films.

WORD LIST
follow - следовать, идти за
gangster - гангстер
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godfather - крестный отец
grow (grew, grown) up - расти
imitate - подражать
path - путь, дорога, тропа
presence - присутствие
scene - сцена
used to - иметь привычку

QUESTIONS:

1. Where was Al Pacino born?

2. Was his family rich?

3. What was his most famous role?

4. How many films did he take part in and direct?

5. Where did he study acting?

ROWAN ATKINSON ALIAS Mr. BEAN
For someone who originally trained to be an electrical engineer, Rowan
Atkinson really is a comedy revelation. He was born in Newcastle in 1955 and
during his early years he planned to base his career on his hobby, which was
electronics. However, while he was studying at Oxford University he changed
his mind and decided to enter show business. He first became famous in
England during the early 1980s with series like: “Canned Laughter”, “Not The
Nine O’Clock News” and “The Black Adder”, but international stardom arrived
with the creation of Mr. Bean in 1990.
Mr. Bean was and still is a walking disaster and he manages to wreak
havoc wherever he goes. In one famous episode the loveable fool visits the
dentist. During the visit he manages to fix his own teeth, make a complete mess
of all the equipment and finally anaesthetize the dentist. Such chaotic behavior
is typical of him. Thankfully, in real life, Rowan Atkinson is not like the
character he plays, which means the world is a much safer place.

WORD LIST
adder - змея
alias - иначе, псевдоним, прозвище, кличка
anaesthetize - подать наркоз, обезболивать
base - опираться, базировать
bean - фасоль, боб
behavior - поведение
canned - консервированный
career - карьера, профессия
changed his mind - передумать, изменить решение
chaotic - хаотический, хаотичный
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disaster - бедствие, несчастье, катастрофа
electrical manager - инженер-электрик
enter - входить, вступить
equipment - оборудование, снаряжение
fix - чинить, исправлять
laughter - смех
loveable - милый, симпатичный
make a mess - набалаганить, напутать
plan - планировать
revelation - открытие, раскрытие
safer - более безопасный / не так опасен
stardom - слава, положение звезды
thankfully - к счастью, благодаря
walking disaster - ходячее несчастье
wreak havoc - сеять опустошение

TRUE OR FALSE?
Say if the following sentences are true (T) or false (F).

1. Mr. Bean is a real person.

2. Rowan Atkinson always wanted to be an actor.

3. He decided to become a comedy actor when he was at Oxford University.

4. He wasn’t famous before he started playing Mr. Bean.

5. Rowan Atkinson is a very chaotic person in real life.

BENNY HILL
The man called the “Master Comic”, Benny Hill, was born Alfred
Hawthorn Hill in Southampton on the 21st January 1924. Alfred or “Alfie”, as
he was affectionately called, came from a family that had links with the circus
and this is probably what started his fascination with show business and in
particular with comedy.
When he was a teenager, Benny worked as a clerk, a shop assistant, and a
milkman, but after moving to London in 1942 he got his first job in the
entertainment business as an assistant stage manager. After a lot of theatre work
and a stint as a presenter of a talent show, Benny had some lucky breaks. In
1955 the BBC gave him his own show, which started his television career.
Benny’s particular brand of comedy was slapstick and full of cheek and
innuendo. This made him very popular, especially in countries like Japan and
Russia. Although he died in 1992, worldwide he is as popular now as he was
during the 1970s.

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