Reading 8 Form

Do you want to be on TV or in a film? Well, if you do, then why not become an extra? Extras play a very small part in a film or TV programme. They don’t usually speak. However, they may have to walk across the set or stand with other extras as part of a crowd.

There are many agencies that are always looking for extras and some of them are online, so it’s easy to apply wherever you live. You usually just need to fill in an application form and send in some photos. TV and film directors often want extras who have a particular look. For example, they may want women with long hair for period dramas and people who look a bit scary for horror films, so try to think about the kind of programme that you’d like to be in when you’re choosing which photos to send.

So imagine you get a call to say a director wants you in their next film. You’re really excited, but what happens next? Well, don’t be anxious about how you’ll look on screen, as the company will do lots of work on you when you arrive on the set. You might have to wear your own clothes, but don’t worry about your hair and make-up as there will be staff to make you look perfect for the role.

Now, although it all sounds really exciting, be prepared to sit around for a lot of the day, waiting until you are needed for your scene. The time can go very slowly if you don’t have anything to do, so it’s a good idea to take a book with you on any job that you get. Take some food and drink, too – you’ll probably get lunch, but remember it’ll be a long day!

Most extras can earn about £90 to £110 a day. This isn’t very good for the number of hours that you need to be available, but for the actual work that you do, it’s OK. However, people usually become an extra for the chance to be on the big screen rather than for the money. Some people hope that it may lead to a real acting part. This doesn’t happen very often, but there are some stories of extras becoming famous because a director saw them on a film set. However, even if you continue to just be an extra, you might get to see one of your favourite Hollywood actors one day, and it will definitely be something to tell all your friends about!

      1   What is the best title for the article?

            a   What to expect as a film and TV extra

            b   My life as a film and TV extra

            c   From TV extra to film star

Do you want to be on TV or in a film? Well, if you do, then why not become an extra? Extras play a very small part in a film or TV programme. They don’t usually speak. However, they may have to walk across the set or stand with other extras as part of a crowd.

There are many agencies that are always looking for extras and some of them are online, so it’s easy to apply wherever you live. You usually just need to fill in an application form and send in some photos. TV and film directors often want extras who have a particular look. For example, they may want women with long hair for period dramas and people who look a bit scary for horror films, so try to think about the kind of programme that you’d like to be in when you’re choosing which photos to send.

So imagine you get a call to say a director wants you in their next film. You’re really excited, but what happens next? Well, don’t be anxious about how you’ll look on screen, as the company will do lots of work on you when you arrive on the set. You might have to wear your own clothes, but don’t worry about your hair and make-up as there will be staff to make you look perfect for the role.

Now, although it all sounds really exciting, be prepared to sit around for a lot of the day, waiting until you are needed for your scene. The time can go very slowly if you don’t have anything to do, so it’s a good idea to take a book with you on any job that you get. Take some food and drink, too – you’ll probably get lunch, but remember it’ll be a long day!

Most extras can earn about £90 to £110 a day. This isn’t very good for the number of hours that you need to be available, but for the actual work that you do, it’s OK. However, people usually become an extra for the chance to be on the big screen rather than for the money. Some people hope that it may lead to a real acting part. This doesn’t happen very often, but there are some stories of extras becoming famous because a director saw them on a film set. However, even if you continue to just be an extra, you might get to see one of your favourite Hollywood actors one day, and it will definitely be something to tell all your friends about!

   The writer suggests that you will get an ‘extra’ job if

            a   you have the right clothes.

            b   you are in the right place.

            c   your appearance is right.

    Do you want to be on TV or in a film? Well, if you do, then why not become an extra? Extras play a very small part in a film or TV programme. They don’t usually speak. However, they may have to walk across the set or stand with other extras as part of a crowd.

There are many agencies that are always looking for extras and some of them are online, so it’s easy to apply wherever you live. You usually just need to fill in an application form and send in some photos. TV and film directors often want extras who have a particular look. For example, they may want women with long hair for period dramas and people who look a bit scary for horror films, so try to think about the kind of programme that you’d like to be in when you’re choosing which photos to send.

So imagine you get a call to say a director wants you in their next film. You’re really excited, but what happens next? Well, don’t be anxious about how you’ll look on screen, as the company will do lots of work on you when you arrive on the set. You might have to wear your own clothes, but don’t worry about your hair and make-up as there will be staff to make you look perfect for the role.

Now, although it all sounds really exciting, be prepared to sit around for a lot of the day, waiting until you are needed for your scene. The time can go very slowly if you don’t have anything to do, so it’s a good idea to take a book with you on any job that you get. Take some food and drink, too – you’ll probably get lunch, but remember it’ll be a long day!

Most extras can earn about £90 to £110 a day. This isn’t very good for the number of hours that you need to be available, but for the actual work that you do, it’s OK. However, people usually become an extra for the chance to be on the big screen rather than for the money. Some people hope that it may lead to a real acting part. This doesn’t happen very often, but there are some stories of extras becoming famous because a director saw them on a film set. However, even if you continue to just be an extra, you might get to see one of your favourite Hollywood actors one day, and it will definitely be something to tell all your friends about! 

    The writer says that if you get a part, you may need to

            a   do something with your hair.

            b   find something to wear.

            c   practise doing your make-up.

Do you want to be on TV or in a film? Well, if you do, then why not become an extra? Extras play a very small part in a film or TV programme. They don’t usually speak. However, they may have to walk across the set or stand with other extras as part of a crowd.

There are many agencies that are always looking for extras and some of them are online, so it’s easy to apply wherever you live. You usually just need to fill in an application form and send in some photos. TV and film directors often want extras who have a particular look. For example, they may want women with long hair for period dramas and people who look a bit scary for horror films, so try to think about the kind of programme that you’d like to be in when you’re choosing which photos to send.

So imagine you get a call to say a director wants you in their next film. You’re really excited, but what happens next? Well, don’t be anxious about how you’ll look on screen, as the company will do lots of work on you when you arrive on the set. You might have to wear your own clothes, but don’t worry about your hair and make-up as there will be staff to make you look perfect for the role.

Now, although it all sounds really exciting, be prepared to sit around for a lot of the day, waiting until you are needed for your scene. The time can go very slowly if you don’t have anything to do, so it’s a good idea to take a book with you on any job that you get. Take some food and drink, too – you’ll probably get lunch, but remember it’ll be a long day!

Most extras can earn about £90 to £110 a day. This isn’t very good for the number of hours that you need to be available, but for the actual work that you do, it’s OK. However, people usually become an extra for the chance to be on the big screen rather than for the money. Some people hope that it may lead to a real acting part. This doesn’t happen very often, but there are some stories of extras becoming famous because a director saw them on a film set. However, even if you continue to just be an extra, you might get to see one of your favourite Hollywood actors one day, and it will definitely be something to tell all your friends about! 

    1   What does the writer think is a benefit of being an extra?

            a   You can meet famous actors.

            b   You will get noticed by the film director.

            c   You might get jobs for your friends.

Do you want to be on TV or in a film? Well, if you do, then why not become an extra? Extras play a very small part in a film or TV programme. They don’t usually speak. However, they may have to walk across the set or stand with other extras as part of a crowd.

There are many agencies that are always looking for extras and some of them are online, so it’s easy to apply wherever you live. You usually just need to fill in an application form and send in some photos. TV and film directors often want extras who have a particular look. For example, they may want women with long hair for period dramas and people who look a bit scary for horror films, so try to think about the kind of programme that you’d like to be in when you’re choosing which photos to send.

So imagine you get a call to say a director wants you in their next film. You’re really excited, but what happens next? Well, don’t be anxious about how you’ll look on screen, as the company will do lots of work on you when you arrive on the set. You might have to wear your own clothes, but don’t worry about your hair and make-up as there will be staff to make you look perfect for the role.

Now, although it all sounds really exciting, be prepared to sit around for a lot of the day, waiting until you are needed for your scene. The time can go very slowly if you don’t have anything to do, so it’s a good idea to take a book with you on any job that you get. Take some food and drink, too – you’ll probably get lunch, but remember it’ll be a long day!

Most extras can earn about £90 to £110 a day. This isn’t very good for the number of hours that you need to be available, but for the actual work that you do, it’s OK. However, people usually become an extra for the chance to be on the big screen rather than for the money. Some people hope that it may lead to a real acting part. This doesn’t happen very often, but there are some stories of extras becoming famous because a director saw them on a film set. However, even if you continue to just be an extra, you might get to see one of your favourite Hollywood actors one day, and it will definitely be something to tell all your friends about! 

    1   What does the writer think about the job of an extra?

            a   It is very popular with actors.

            b   It can be a bit boring.

            c   It is always well paid.

Read the text. Are the sentences true -T / false -F ?

Sporting heroes

What makes someone a sporting hero? Millions of spectators watched Usain Bolt running in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. He broke the world record in three athletics events. At the same Olympic Games, the American swimmer Michael Phelps won eight gold medals and broke seven world records. The world media went crazy! Everyone loves a champion.

But at the Olympics there is also another kind of hero. Have you ever seen the film Cool Runnings? It’s a funny film about a bobsleigh team from Jamaica. It’s based on the true story of a Jamaican team who competed in the Winter Olympics in 1988. They lived in a country with no snow, they had nowhere to train and no money from the government or big businesses to help them, but they made it to the Olympics and they raced for their country. The Olympic Games have many stories like this.

When Eric Moussambani, from Equatorial Guinea in central Africa, swam in the 100 m freestyle in Sydney in the 2000 Olympic Games, the international media reported it around the world. He didn’t win a gold medal. He didn’t break any records. In fact, his time at one minute and fifty-two seconds was more than twice the time of Pieter van den Hoogenband, who broke the world record with a time of 47.84 seconds. Before the Olympics, Moussambani trained in a twenty-metre hotel pool. He only started swimming eight months before the Olympic Games. The race was his first time in an Olympic-sized fifty-metre swimming pool. And the crowd clapped and cheered for Moussambani until he reached the finish line.

These people are not champions and they do not go back to their countries with a handful of medals, but they are heroes because they try.

1            The Jamaican government gave the bobsleigh team money to compete.

Read the text. Are the sentences true -T / false -F ?

Sporting heroes

What makes someone a sporting hero? Millions of spectators watched Usain Bolt running in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. He broke the world record in three athletics events. At the same Olympic Games, the American swimmer Michael Phelps won eight gold medals and broke seven world records. The world media went crazy! Everyone loves a champion.

But at the Olympics there is also another kind of hero. Have you ever seen the film Cool Runnings? It’s a funny film about a bobsleigh team from Jamaica. It’s based on the true story of a Jamaican team who competed in the Winter Olympics in 1988. They lived in a country with no snow, they had nowhere to train and no money from the government or big businesses to help them, but they made it to the Olympics and they raced for their country. The Olympic Games have many stories like this.

When Eric Moussambani, from Equatorial Guinea in central Africa, swam in the 100 m freestyle in Sydney in the 2000 Olympic Games, the international media reported it around the world. He didn’t win a gold medal. He didn’t break any records. In fact, his time at one minute and fifty-two seconds was more than twice the time of Pieter van den Hoogenband, who broke the world record with a time of 47.84 seconds. Before the Olympics, Moussambani trained in a twenty-metre hotel pool. He only started swimming eight months before the Olympic Games. The race was his first time in an Olympic-sized fifty-metre swimming pool. And the crowd clapped and cheered for Moussambani until he reached the finish line.

These people are not champions and they do not go back to their countries with a handful of medals, but they are heroes because they try. 

2 The team from Jamaica tried to compete in the Olympics, but they failed.

Read the text. Are the sentences true -T / false -F ?

Sporting heroes

What makes someone a sporting hero? Millions of spectators watched Usain Bolt running in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. He broke the world record in three athletics events. At the same Olympic Games, the American swimmer Michael Phelps won eight gold medals and broke seven world records. The world media went crazy! Everyone loves a champion.

But at the Olympics there is also another kind of hero. Have you ever seen the film Cool Runnings? It’s a funny film about a bobsleigh team from Jamaica. It’s based on the true story of a Jamaican team who competed in the Winter Olympics in 1988. They lived in a country with no snow, they had nowhere to train and no money from the government or big businesses to help them, but they made it to the Olympics and they raced for their country. The Olympic Games have many stories like this.

When Eric Moussambani, from Equatorial Guinea in central Africa, swam in the 100 m freestyle in Sydney in the 2000 Olympic Games, the international media reported it around the world. He didn’t win a gold medal. He didn’t break any records. In fact, his time at one minute and fifty-two seconds was more than twice the time of Pieter van den Hoogenband, who broke the world record with a time of 47.84 seconds. Before the Olympics, Moussambani trained in a twenty-metre hotel pool. He only started swimming eight months before the Olympic Games. The race was his first time in an Olympic-sized fifty-metre swimming pool. And the crowd clapped and cheered for Moussambani until he reached the finish line.

These people are not champions and they do not go back to their countries with a handful of medals, but they are heroes because they try. 

3. The newspapers and TV journalists were interested in Moussambani.

Read the text. Are the sentences true -T / false -F?

Sporting heroes

What makes someone a sporting hero? Millions of spectators watched Usain Bolt running in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. He broke the world record in three athletics events. At the same Olympic Games, the American swimmer Michael Phelps won eight gold medals and broke seven world records. The world media went crazy! Everyone loves a champion.

But at the Olympics there is also another kind of hero. Have you ever seen the film Cool Runnings? It’s a funny film about a bobsleigh team from Jamaica. It’s based on the true story of a Jamaican team who competed in the Winter Olympics in 1988. They lived in a country with no snow, they had nowhere to train and no money from the government or big businesses to help them, but they made it to the Olympics and they raced for their country. The Olympic Games have many stories like this.

When Eric Moussambani, from Equatorial Guinea in central Africa, swam in the 100 m freestyle in Sydney in the 2000 Olympic Games, the international media reported it around the world. He didn’t win a gold medal. He didn’t break any records. In fact, his time at one minute and fifty-two seconds was more than twice the time of Pieter van den Hoogenband, who broke the world record with a time of 47.84 seconds. Before the Olympics, Moussambani trained in a twenty-metre hotel pool. He only started swimming eight months before the Olympic Games. The race was his first time in an Olympic-sized fifty-metre swimming pool. And the crowd clapped and cheered for Moussambani until he reached the finish line.

These people are not champions and they do not go back to their countries with a handful of medals, but they are heroes because they try. 

4. Moussambani swam in a fifty-metre pool for the first time at the Olympics. 

Read the text. Are the sentences true -T / false -F ?

Sporting heroes

What makes someone a sporting hero? Millions of spectators watched Usain Bolt running in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. He broke the world record in three athletics events. At the same Olympic Games, the American swimmer Michael Phelps won eight gold medals and broke seven world records. The world media went crazy! Everyone loves a champion.

But at the Olympics there is also another kind of hero. Have you ever seen the film Cool Runnings? It’s a funny film about a bobsleigh team from Jamaica. It’s based on the true story of a Jamaican team who competed in the Winter Olympics in 1988. They lived in a country with no snow, they had nowhere to train and no money from the government or big businesses to help them, but they made it to the Olympics and they raced for their country. The Olympic Games have many stories like this.

When Eric Moussambani, from Equatorial Guinea in central Africa, swam in the 100 m freestyle in Sydney in the 2000 Olympic Games, the international media reported it around the world. He didn’t win a gold medal. He didn’t break any records. In fact, his time at one minute and fifty-two seconds was more than twice the time of Pieter van den Hoogenband, who broke the world record with a time of 47.84 seconds. Before the Olympics, Moussambani trained in a twenty-metre hotel pool. He only started swimming eight months before the Olympic Games. The race was his first time in an Olympic-sized fifty-metre swimming pool. And the crowd clapped and cheered for Moussambani until he reached the finish line.

These people are not champions and they do not go back to their countries with a handful of medals, but they are heroes because they try. 

5. Moussambani didn’t finish the race. 

Read the text. Are the sentences true -T / false -F ?

Sporting heroes

What makes someone a sporting hero? Millions of spectators watched Usain Bolt running in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. He broke the world record in three athletics events. At the same Olympic Games, the American swimmer Michael Phelps won eight gold medals and broke seven world records. The world media went crazy! Everyone loves a champion.

But at the Olympics there is also another kind of hero. Have you ever seen the film Cool Runnings? It’s a funny film about a bobsleigh team from Jamaica. It’s based on the true story of a Jamaican team who competed in the Winter Olympics in 1988. They lived in a country with no snow, they had nowhere to train and no money from the government or big businesses to help them, but they made it to the Olympics and they raced for their country. The Olympic Games have many stories like this.

When Eric Moussambani, from Equatorial Guinea in central Africa, swam in the 100 m freestyle in Sydney in the 2000 Olympic Games, the international media reported it around the world. He didn’t win a gold medal. He didn’t break any records. In fact, his time at one minute and fifty-two seconds was more than twice the time of Pieter van den Hoogenband, who broke the world record with a time of 47.84 seconds. Before the Olympics, Moussambani trained in a twenty-metre hotel pool. He only started swimming eight months before the Olympic Games. The race was his first time in an Olympic-sized fifty-metre swimming pool. And the crowd clapped and cheered for Moussambani until he reached the finish line.

These people are not champions and they do not go back to their countries with a handful of medals, but they are heroes because they try. 

6. This story tells about the ancient history of Olympic Games

Read the text. Are the sentences true -T / false -F ?

Sporting heroes

What makes someone a sporting hero? Millions of spectators watched Usain Bolt running in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. He broke the world record in three athletics events. At the same Olympic Games, the American swimmer Michael Phelps won eight gold medals and broke seven world records. The world media went crazy! Everyone loves a champion.

But at the Olympics there is also another kind of hero. Have you ever seen the film Cool Runnings? It’s a funny film about a bobsleigh team from Jamaica. It’s based on the true story of a Jamaican team who competed in the Winter Olympics in 1988. They lived in a country with no snow, they had nowhere to train and no money from the government or big businesses to help them, but they made it to the Olympics and they raced for their country. The Olympic Games have many stories like this.

When Eric Moussambani, from Equatorial Guinea in central Africa, swam in the 100 m freestyle in Sydney in the 2000 Olympic Games, the international media reported it around the world. He didn’t win a gold medal. He didn’t break any records. In fact, his time at one minute and fifty-two seconds was more than twice the time of Pieter van den Hoogenband, who broke the world record with a time of 47.84 seconds. Before the Olympics, Moussambani trained in a twenty-metre hotel pool. He only started swimming eight months before the Olympic Games. The race was his first time in an Olympic-sized fifty-metre swimming pool. And the crowd clapped and cheered for Moussambani until he reached the finish line.

These people are not champions and they do not go back to their countries with a handful of medals, but they are heroes because they try.

1            Bobsleigh is a summer kind of sport