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>> TEXT:

WALT DISNEY

He was born in 1901 in Chicago, Illinois. In 1923, Walt Disney moved to Hollywood, California. He hoped to become a movie producer or director. However, he could not find a job. So he decided to make animated movies or cartoons. Walt Disney was an artist.
He wanted to bring his pictures to life. Walt Disney believed that animated movies could be just as popular as movies made with real people. He decided he needed a cartoon hero. So he created Mickey Mouse.
This cartoon mouse had big eyes and ears. He stood on two legs like a human. He wore white gloves on his hands. Disney's first short cartoon films starring Mickey Mouse gained great success. Both the mouse and his creator became famous.
In 1932, Disney produced the first cartoon filmed in the full-color process called Technicolor. Mickey Mouse was the main character in this movie, called "Flowers and Trees." Disney served as the voice of his mouse.
Disney created cartoons with other characters including Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Pluto the dog. These cartoons were very popular. But Walt Disney wanted to make other kinds of animated movies too.

Disney's first full-length cartoon movie was completed in 1937. It was "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" became one of Hollywood's most successful movies.
Disney made a number of other extremely popular cartoon films during the 1940s and 1950s. They include "Fantasia," "Cinderella," "Pinocchio," "Dumbo" and "Bambi."
Disney's skills in this animation process made him one of the world's most successful movie artists. Film experts say that without Walt Disney, the art of animation would not have developed so fully.
In the 1950s, Disney started producing live-action films with actors. He also started producing several popular television series.

In 1964, Disney made a popular film called "Mary Poppins." It told about a woman who cares for other people's children. Human actors shared the action with cartoon characters. "Mary Poppins" was one of Disney's last productions.
For about forty years, other filmmakers praised and honored the work of Walt Disney. He won thirty-two Academy Awards for his movies. He also received honors for scientific and technical inventions in filmmaking.

 

>> QUESTIONS:
1. Where was Walt Disney born?
a) In Australia
b) In the USA
c) In England

2. Walt decided to make cartoons because he couldn't find a job.
a) TRUE
b) FALSE

3. What is the name of Disney's first cartoon hero?
a) Pluto
b) Mickey Mouse
c) Cinderella

4. Mickey Mouse has no leg.
a) TRUE
b) FALSE

5. What is the title of Disney's first full-length movie?
a) Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
b) Mary Poppins
c) Dumbo

6. Walt Disney has never made films with real actors.
a) TRUE
b) FALSE

7. What is the movie "Mary Poppins"?
a) A movie with real actors (only)
b) A movie with cartoon characters and real characters
c) A movie with cartoon characters (only)

8. Walt Disney was very famous but he never won a prize.
a) TRUE
b) FALSE

 

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III) ORAL COMPREHENSION

Here is the script of the tape. Fill in the gaps with the missing words:

died, Disneyland, future, movies, park, profits, project, stations, Tokyo, town, traditions

Disney parks

In 1955, Walt Disney opened an entertainment __________ (1) in Anaheim, California, near Los Angeles. He called the park __________ (2). He wanted it to be the happiest place on Earth. It re-created places from Disney __________(3). It also showed real places as Disney imagined them. For example, one area looked like a nineteenth-century __________ (4) in the American West. Another area looked like the world of the __________(5). Disneyland had many exciting rides for children of all ages and for adults too.
Disneyland was so successful that Walt Disney developed plans for a second entertainment and educational park. The __________ (6) was called Walt Disney World. It opened near Orlando, Florida in 1971, five years after Disney __________ (7). It was larger than Disneyland and had many more activities.

Today, the Disney Company continues Walt Disney's work and __________ (8). Michael Eisner became the company chief in 1984. At the time, the company was not making successful films. It was depending on the entertainment parks for much of its __________ (9).
Mister Eisner changed that situation. He ordered that old Disney cartoons, programs and films be sold to television __________ (10). He approved the production of programs and movies for adults. He expanded the idea of the Disney parks to Japan and France. Disney parks opened in __________ (11) in 1984 and in Paris in 1992.

 

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IV) GRAMMAR

> Possessive adjectives and pronouns

He wanted to bring his pictures to life... Disney was depending on the entertainment parks for much of its profits...

Possessive adjectives are used here. Possessive pronouns could also be used:

 

 

 

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V) VOCABULARY

 

Find the correct definitions.

 

 

 

 

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VI) ANSWERS

> Reading Comprehension: 1. (b) 2. (a) 3. (b) 4. (b) 5. (a) 6. (b) 7. (b) 8. (b)

> Oral Comprehension: 1. park - 2. Disneyland - 3. movies - 4. century - 5. future - 6. project - 7. died - 8. traditions - 9. profits - 10. stations - 11. Tokyo

> Grammar: Walt Disney's movies > his movies > his
Disneyland's rides > its rides > its own
Mickey's adventures > his adventures > his
Daisy's house > her house > hers
Pluto's and Donald's adventures > their adventures > theirs

> Vocabulary: a4 - b7 - c10 - d1 - e2 - f8 - g3 - h6 - i5 - j9