A growing library of level-graded English lessons for classroom or self-study, with reading, listening, vocabulary, activities, and discussion practice from A1 to B2.
Lesson Info
In this lesson:
- Warm-up Prediction task and general discussion questions.
- Vocab List Useful words and meanings.
- Reading Read the main text.
- Listen and Fill Gaps Listen for missing words.
- True or False Check understanding.
- Vocab Match Connect words to meanings.
- Discussion Questions Open speaking questions for discussion (or writing practice).
- Answers Answer key for the printed tasks.
Think Ahead: What do you think the story shows about Ozzy Osbourne's life?
a) He was only famous because of television.
b) He avoided performing in his hometown.
c) He became famous after a difficult beginning.
Ask: (1) What types of music do you know? (2) Do you know any rock or metal bands?
VOCAB LIST
Reading
Ozzy Osbourne died on Tuesday. He was 76 years old. People called him the "Prince of Darkness." He was a pioneer of heavy metal music and a TV star.
This month, Ozzy gave his last concert in Birmingham, England. Birmingham was his hometown. He sat on a black throne and sang with his old band, Black Sabbath. The crowd was very excited.
Ozzy was born John Michael Osbourne in 1948. He had a hard time at school and left when he was 15. He worked many jobs. One job was at a place that killed animals for meat.
After he lost his job, Ozzy started stealing things. The police caught him. His father didn't pay the fine, so Ozzy went to prison for three months. In prison, he decided to change his life.
When Ozzy left prison, his father helped him. He bought Ozzy equipment to become a singer. In 1968, Ozzy met three other musicians. They started a band together.
The band took the name Black Sabbath from a horror movie. They made very loud music with heavy sounds. Ozzy sang about dark things. This was a new type of music - heavy metal.
Black Sabbath became very successful. They made eight albums in the 1970s. Young people loved songs like "Paranoid" and "Iron Man." Ozzy was the lead singer of the band.
Later, Ozzy left Black Sabbath and sang alone. He made 13 platinum albums. Many people bought his music. But Ozzy said his scary image was just for the stage.
"All the stuff onstage, the craziness, it's all just a role that I play, my work," Ozzy said in 1992. "I am not the Antichrist. I am a family man."
In 2002, MTV made a reality show called "The Osbournes." The show was about Ozzy and his family at home. People saw that Ozzy was a loving father. A new generation of fans liked him.
Ozzy went into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame two times. First with Black Sabbath in 2006, then by himself in 2024. He was very important to rock music.
Ozzy Osbourne, Heavy Metal Pioneer, Dies at 76
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
Think Ahead: What do you think the story shows about Ozzy Osbourne's life?
a) He was only famous because of television.
b) He avoided performing in his hometown.
c) He became famous after a difficult beginning.
Ask: (1) What types of music do you know? (2) Do you know any rock or metal bands?
-
Pioneer (n.)
-
Throne (n.)
-
Equipment (n.)
-
Crowd (n.)
-
Fine (n.)
-
Image (n.)
-
Generation (n.)
-
Platinum (adj.)
Ozzy Osbourne died on Tuesday. He was 76 years old. People called him the "Prince of Darkness." He was a pioneer of heavy metal music and a TV star.
This month, Ozzy gave his last concert in Birmingham, England. Birmingham was his hometown. He sat on a black throne and sang with his old band, Black Sabbath. The crowd was very excited.
Ozzy was born John Michael Osbourne in 1948. He had a hard time at school and left when he was 15. He worked many jobs. One job was at a place that killed animals for meat.
After he lost his job, Ozzy started stealing things. The police caught him. His father didn't pay the fine, so Ozzy went to prison for three months. In prison, he decided to change his life.
When Ozzy left prison, his father helped him. He bought Ozzy equipment to become a singer. In 1968, Ozzy met three other musicians. They started a band together.
The band took the name Black Sabbath from a horror movie. They made very loud music with heavy sounds. Ozzy sang about dark things. This was a new type of music - heavy metal.
Black Sabbath became very successful. They made eight albums in the 1970s. Young people loved songs like "Paranoid" and "Iron Man." Ozzy was the lead singer of the band.
Later, Ozzy left Black Sabbath and sang alone. He made 13 platinum albums. Many people bought his music. But Ozzy said his scary image was just for the stage.
"All the stuff onstage, the craziness, it's all just a role that I play, my work," Ozzy said in 1992. "I am not the Antichrist. I am a family man."
In 2002, MTV made a reality show called "The Osbournes." The show was about Ozzy and his family at home. People saw that Ozzy was a loving father. A new generation of fans liked him.
Ozzy went into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame two times. First with Black Sabbath in 2006, then by himself in 2024. He was very important to rock music.
Two ways to use this audio:
- Method 1: Listen for the main idea: what is the article about in one sentence? Listen a second time for more details, then try the Understanding activities below.
- Method 2: Read the article first to learn the vocabulary and ideas. Then look at the gap-fill sentences to see what to listen for, and listen to fill them in.
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio and complete the gaps below:
Loading listening activity...
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:
Ozzy Osbourne died on Tuesday. He was 76 years old. People called him the "Prince of Darkness." He was a (1) of heavy metal music and a TV star.
This month, Ozzy gave his last concert in Birmingham, England. Birmingham was his hometown. He sat on a black throne and sang with his old band, Black Sabbath. The (2) was very excited.
Ozzy was born John Michael Osbourne in 1948. He had a hard time at school and left when he was 15. He worked many jobs. One job was at a place that killed animals for meat.
After he lost his job, Ozzy started stealing things. The police caught him. His father didn't pay the (3) , so Ozzy went to prison for three months. In prison, he decided to change his life.
When Ozzy left prison, his father helped him. He bought Ozzy (4) to become a singer. In 1968, Ozzy met three other musicians. They started a band together.
The band took the name Black Sabbath from a horror movie. They made very loud music with heavy sounds. Ozzy sang about dark things. This was a new type of music - heavy metal.
Black Sabbath became very successful. They made eight albums in the 1970s. Young people loved songs like "Paranoid" and "Iron Man." Ozzy was the lead singer of the band.
Later, Ozzy left Black Sabbath and sang alone. He made 13 platinum albums. Many people bought his music. But Ozzy said his scary (5) was just for the stage.
"All the stuff onstage, the craziness, it's all just a role that I play, my work," Ozzy said in 1992. "I am not the Antichrist. I am a family man."
In 2002, MTV made a reality show called "The Osbournes." The show was about Ozzy and his family at home. People saw that Ozzy was a loving father. A new generation of fans liked him.
Ozzy went into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame two times. First with Black Sabbath in 2006, then by himself in 2024. He was very important to rock music.
True or False
Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.
True or False
1. Ozzy Osbourne gave his final concert in London. TRUEFALSE False
2. Ozzy was the lead singer of Black Sabbath. TRUEFALSE True
3. Ozzy spent time in prison when he was young. TRUEFALSE True
4. Ozzy had 13 successful albums as a solo artist. TRUEFALSE True
Vocab Match
Drag each vocabulary word to its matching definition:
Loading vocabulary activity...
Vocab Match
Write each vocabulary word next to its matching definition.
1. Pioneerf) A person who is one of the first to do something new.
2. Equipmente) Things you need to do a job or activity.
3. Fined) Money you must pay as punishment for breaking the law.
4. Imagec) The way people see or think about someone.
5. Generationb) All the people born around the same time.
6. Platinuma) A special award for selling many copies of an album.
a) A special award for selling many copies of an album.
b) All the people born around the same time.
c) The way people see or think about someone.
d) Money you must pay as punishment for breaking the law.
e) Things you need to do a job or activity.
f) A person who is one of the first to do something new.
Discussion Questions
- What surprised you about Ozzy Osbourne's life?
- Why do you think heavy metal music became popular?
- Have you been to any concerts? Who was performing?
- Do you think musicians should have a different image on stage? Why?
- How can going to prison change someone's life?
- Have you watched any reality shows? Give some examples.
- Is it hard to be famous and have a normal family life?
- Do you like horror movies? Why or why not?
- Do you prefer solo artists or bands? Why?
- What kind of music is popular in your country now?
Discussion Questions
- What surprised you about Ozzy Osbourne's life?
- Why do you think heavy metal music became popular?
- Have you been to any concerts? Who was performing?
- Do you think musicians should have a different image on stage? Why?
- How can going to prison change someone's life?
- Have you watched any reality shows? Give some examples.
- Is it hard to be famous and have a normal family life?
- Do you like horror movies? Why or why not?
- Do you prefer solo artists or bands? Why?
- What kind of music is popular in your country now?
Answers
Think Ahead: c
Listening: (1) pioneer, (2) crowd, (3) fine, (4) equipment, (5) image
True or False:
- False. He gave his final concert in Birmingham, his hometown.
- True. The article says he was the lead singer of the heavy metal group Black Sabbath.
- True. He spent three months in prison after his father didn't pay his fine.
- True. The article says he had 13 platinum albums in his solo career.
Vocabulary:
- Pioneer: A person who is one of the first to do something new.
- Equipment: Things you need to do a job or activity.
- Fine: Money you must pay as punishment for breaking the law.
- Image: The way people see or think about someone.
- Generation: All the people born around the same time.
- Platinum: A special award for selling many copies of an album.