Language Skills

Reading

1 You are going to read four extracts from the teenage diaries of people who work in the world of entertainment or the arts. What do you think they will write about? Read the texts and check your answers.

Alice, actress

A We had to pretend to be eggs about to boil in drama class today – not really what I had in mind as my great talent-spotting moment. I wish something really exciting would happen to me, like being chosen for a movie or TV program or something, but I suppose the school drama club will have to do for now. I mean, I know I’m going to be really famous one day and tread the boards at Stratford-upon-Avon or make it big in Hollywood, but for now, I’m stuck with pretending to be an egg!

Samir, writer

C My dad got me some work helping a friend of his write up his new play. I turned up at his office today and I was SO nervous. When I was left alone with this weird-looking guy, I just wanted to get out of there, but his wife was really nice to me and introduced me to their daughter, Mira, who I know from school. She told me just to agree with everything her dad said and he would be fine with me. Anyway, it seemed to work because next day he asked me to bring in a sample of my own work for him to read and comment on. I nearly died of embarrassment while he was reading it, but I learned a lot from his assessment.

2

Which person

1 ’s father found them a job?

2 comfort eats?

3 dislikes their part-time work?

4 dreams of being a famous actor?

5 followed somebody’s advice about how to successfully network?

6 found a professional view of their creative work useful?

Jo, comedian

B Feeling fat again today – so ate some crisps and chocolate to cheer myself up! Then Mom took me to the new hairdresser’s on the main street for a haircut – boy, do I look bad and even fatter! I decided to brave it out in class today and put a sign round my neck saying: please donate some money to help me buy my hair back – got a lot of laughs and detention from the math teacher!

Still, it was worth it because Andrew Ings stopped to talk to me after the lesson and tell me how cool he thought I’d been – boy, is he cute!

Evie, musician

D I sometimes wonder if I will get rich, be a millionaire or something like that. I wonder what it feels like to know you can afford all that money can buy… I think I’ll carry on wondering for a long time to come yet! I have band practice tonight and I’ve written a new song to try out with them –I hope they like it! What if they don’t!?! I hope we get a gig soon and then somebody can spot us and offer us a record deal and… and… I can give up my hideous Saturday job.

7 got into trouble with their teacher?

8 hopes something incredible might happen to them?

9 is worried that their creative work won’t be appreciated?

10 turned an embarrassing situation to their advantage?