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
- Vocab List
- Reading and Audio
- Main Idea Choose the overall message of the text.
- True or False Check understanding.
- Put Events in Order Arrange events from the story into the order they happened.
- Multiple Choice Check understanding.
- Words That Go Together Connect words and collocated phrases from the lesson.
- New Sentences Choose words to complete sentences in new contexts.
- Discussion Builder Choose connecting expressions for discussion ideas.
- Discussion Questions Open speaking questions for discussion (or writing practice).
- Answers Answer key for the printed tasks.
Think Ahead: What do you think was an important part of Dolly Parton's life outside music?
a) She became a professional athlete after leaving music.
b) She opened a school where she taught music herself.
c) She created a program that gave free books to children.
VOCAB LIST
Reading
Country music star Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80 after a brief battle with cancer. Her death brought tributes from people across the United States and the entertainment world.
Parton grew up poor in East Tennessee as one of 12 children. She started performing when she was young, and after finishing high school, she moved to Nashville to build a music career.
She later became famous around the world. During a career of more than 60 years, Parton sold over 100 million records and won 11 Grammy Awards. Her best-known songs included "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You."
Parton was also known for helping others. She created the Imagination Library, a program that gives away free books to children. The idea was inspired by her father, who could not read or write. The program has now sent more than 300 million books to children in several countries.
Parton grew up with little money, but she became one of the world's most famous country singers. For many people, however, her legacy also includes the children and families she helped.
Remembering Dolly Parton
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
Think Ahead: What do you think was an important part of Dolly Parton's life outside music?
a) She became a professional athlete after leaving music.
b) She opened a school where she taught music herself.
c) She created a program that gave free books to children.
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battle (n.)
-
tribute (n.)
-
perform (v.)
-
career (n.)
-
award (n.)
-
give away (phr. v.)
-
inspire (v.)
-
legacy (n.)
Country music star Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80 after a brief battle with cancer. Her death brought tributes from people across the United States and the entertainment world.
Parton grew up poor in East Tennessee as one of 12 children. She started performing when she was young, and after finishing high school, she moved to Nashville to build a music career.
She later became famous around the world. During a career of more than 60 years, Parton sold over 100 million records and won 11 Grammy Awards. Her best-known songs included "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You."
Parton was also known for helping others. She created the Imagination Library, a program that gives away free books to children. The idea was inspired by her father, who could not read or write. The program has now sent more than 300 million books to children in several countries.
Parton grew up with little money, but she became one of the world's most famous country singers. For many people, however, her legacy also includes the children and families she helped.
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio and complete the gaps below:
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Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:
Country music star Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80 after a brief (1) with cancer. Her death brought tributes from people across the United States and the entertainment world.
Parton grew up poor in East Tennessee as one of 12 children. She started (2) when she was young, and after finishing high school, she moved to Nashville to build a music career.
She later became (3) around the world. During a career of more than 60 years, Parton sold over 100 million records and won 11 Grammy Awards. Her best-known songs included "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You."
Parton was also known for helping others. She created the Imagination Library, a program that gives away free books to (4) . The idea was inspired by her father, who could not read or write. The program has now sent more than 300 million books to children in several countries.
Parton grew up with little money, but she became one of the world's most famous country (5) . For many people, however, her legacy also includes the children and (6) she helped.
Main Idea
Choose one answer, then click CHECK to see your result.
Main Idea
Choose one:
- Dolly Parton became famous through country music, but she is also known for helping others. Correct answer
- Dolly Parton became famous because she grew up poor and worked hard to become a singer.
- Dolly Parton is best known for her successful music career and famous songs.
True or False
Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.
True or False
1. Parton began performing before she moved to Nashville. TRUEFALSE True
2. Parton had a successful music career, but it lasted only a few years. TRUEFALSE False
3. Parton's father's difficulty with reading helped inspire one of her projects for children. TRUEFALSE True
4. The story suggests that people remember Parton only because of her music. TRUEFALSE False
Put Events in Order
Put the events in the order they happened, from first to last.
- 1 Parton grew up poor in East Tennessee.
- 2 She moved to Nashville after finishing high school.
- 3 She became a famous and successful country singer.
- 4 She created the Imagination Library to give free books to children.
- 5 Parton died at the age of 80, and people shared tributes.
Put Events in Order
Put the events from the story in the correct order from first (1) to last (5):
- She created the Imagination Library to give free books to children.
- Parton grew up poor in East Tennessee.
- Parton died at the age of 80, and people shared tributes.
- She moved to Nashville after finishing high school.
- She became a famous and successful country singer.
- Parton grew up poor in East Tennessee.
- She moved to Nashville after finishing high school.
- She became a famous and successful country singer.
- She created the Imagination Library to give free books to children.
- Parton died at the age of 80, and people shared tributes.
Multiple Choice
Answer each question by selecting A, B, or C, then click CHECK to see your results.
Multiple Choice
1. Which detail shows how successful Parton became as a musician?
a) She sold over 100 million records and won 11 Grammy Awards.Correct
b) She became well known after starting the Imagination Library.
c) She was mainly successful because of two famous songs.
2. Who receives books from the Imagination Library?
a) Children only in the part of Tennessee where Parton grew up.
b) Children in several countries.Correct
c) Children who are studying music and performing.
3. What happened after news of Parton's death became public?
a) People began focusing on how her music career started.
b) People began discussing the success of her book program.
c) People across the United States and entertainment world paid tribute to her.Correct
Words That Go Together
Drag each word to its match below, or select a word and then select its match:
Loading vocabulary activity...
Words That Go Together
Match each word with the words it goes with:
1. buildf) a career
2. wine) an award
3. selld) records
4. give awayc) free books
5. helpb) others
6. becomea) famous
a) famous
b) others
c) free books
d) records
e) an award
f) a career
New Sentences
Choose the best word for each new sentence.
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After a long {blank} with illness, he was finally able to return to work.
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The school held a special {blank} to a teacher who had worked there for 40 years.
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The students will {blank} a short play for their families next week.
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She hopes to build a {blank} in computer design after university.
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The shop will {blank} free notebooks to the first 100 customers.
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A good teacher can {blank} students to become more curious about the world.
New Sentences
Use the words in the bank to complete the new sentences.
award / battle / career / give away / inspire / legacy / perform / tribute
- After a long with illness, he was finally able to return to work.
- The school held a special to a teacher who had worked there for 40 years.
- The students will a short play for their families next week.
- She hopes to build a in computer design after university.
- The shop will free notebooks to the first 100 customers.
- A good teacher can students to become more curious about the world.
Discussion Builder
1) Giving an example 2) Giving an opinion 3) Balancing points
Q: The Imagination Library gives free books to children. Why can books be important in a child's life?
A:Q: How important is it for famous people to help others?
A:Q: Dolly Parton was famous for her very distinctive look. How important can appearance and personal style be for a performer?
A:
Discussion Builder
Choose the best phrase for each gap:
Q: The Imagination Library gives free books to children. Why can books be important in a child's life?
A: Books can help children in many ways. they can help children discover new ideas.
For example, / In my opinion, / On the other hand, / As a result,
Books can help children in many ways. For example, they can help children discover new ideas.
Q: How important is it for famous people to help others?
A: famous people should use some of their success to help others.
In my opinion, / For example, / As a result, / On the other hand,
In my opinion, famous people should use some of their success to help others.
Q: Dolly Parton was famous for her very distinctive look. How important can appearance and personal style be for a performer?
A: Talent is important, but personal style can help a performer stand out.
at the same time, / for example, / as a result, / in other words,
Talent is important, but at the same time, personal style can help a performer stand out.
Discussion Questions
- What comes to mind when you think of country music? Is this kind of music popular in your country?
- Have you heard "Jolene" or "I Will Always Love You"? What do you think makes some songs stay popular for many years?
- The Imagination Library gives free books to children. Why can books be important in a child's life?
- How important is it for famous people to help others?
- Dolly Parton was famous for her very distinctive look. How important can appearance and personal style be for a performer?
- Dolly Parton had a strong Southern American accent. Do you enjoy hearing different accents in songs, movies, or interviews? Why?
- Why do you think some musicians are able to become successful actors too?
- Dolly Parton was known for being humorous and not taking herself too seriously. How can a person's character affect their popularity?
- Do you think a difficult childhood can make someone more determined? Why or why not?
Discussion Questions
- What comes to mind when you think of country music? Is this kind of music popular in your country?
- Have you heard "Jolene" or "I Will Always Love You"? What do you think makes some songs stay popular for many years?
- The Imagination Library gives free books to children. Why can books be important in a child's life?
- How important is it for famous people to help others?
- Dolly Parton was famous for her very distinctive look. How important can appearance and personal style be for a performer?
- Dolly Parton had a strong Southern American accent. Do you enjoy hearing different accents in songs, movies, or interviews? Why?
- Why do you think some musicians are able to become successful actors too?
- Dolly Parton was known for being humorous and not taking herself too seriously. How can a person's character affect their popularity?
- Do you think a difficult childhood can make someone more determined? Why or why not?
Answers
Think Ahead: c
Listening: (1) battle, (2) performing, (3) famous, (4) children, (5) singers, (6) families
Main Idea: Dolly Parton became famous through country music, but she is also known for helping others.
True or False:
- True. She started performing when she was young and moved to Nashville after finishing high school.
- False. Her music career lasted for more than 60 years.
- True. The Imagination Library was inspired by her father, who could not read or write.
- False. The story says her legacy also includes the children and families she helped.
Multiple Choice: a, b, c
Put Events in Order:
- Parton grew up poor in East Tennessee.
- She moved to Nashville after finishing high school.
- She became a famous and successful country singer.
- She created the Imagination Library to give free books to children.
- Parton died at the age of 80, and people shared tributes.
Vocabulary:
- build: a career
- win: an award
- sell: records
- give away: free books
- help: others
- become: famous
New Sentences: 1. battle; 2. tribute; 3. perform; 4. career; 5. give away; 6. inspire
Discussion Builder:
Hints: 1) Giving an example. 2) Giving an opinion. 3) Balancing points.
- For example,
- In my opinion,
- at the same time,