Celebrities

                  

Read the following biography about Avril Lavigne and do the reading comprehension exercises below:

She can be “Anything” but not ordinary. That’s one way to describe Avril Lavigne. A skater-punk,  a dynamic spirit.
 As a child, she was restless in class but the dream of becoming popular in New York City and Los Angeles walked into her head. At the age of 17 she declared: “I’m just coming out and I’m going to clearly be myself - I write what I feel, and I never worry what others think,” Avril says. “I’m going to dress what’s me, I’m gonna act what’s me and I’m gonna sing what’s me.” Avril does exactly that on her debut CD, Let Go, combining lively vocals, a crystal-clear voice and real-girl lyrical style. “Anything But Ordinary ” is a rocking’ composition about individuality.

Right now I am everywhere, I fly here and there, doing different things everyday,” she explains. “This is my lifestyle. I get up early but I never know what activities I’m going to do each day. I don’t want a normal life. It’s boring for me.”

 She was born for fame in Ontario. A middle child who “always wanted to be the centre of attention”.  She says “I always knew this was what I had to do,” she says. “I remember when I was really young, standing on my bed thinking I was at a theatre, singing at the top of my voice and visualizing thousands of people around me.” She progressed from her bedroom to singing from gospel music in church to country music at parks - until Arista Records discovered her.  At 16, she moved to Manhattan and started to work on her debut CD.

 “I love writing,” she explains. “When I get upset and really need to get it out of me, I go to my guitar. Sometimes I feel like my guitar is my therapist.”  Avril can’t wait to get out and play. She says touring with her own “skater-punk band of rocker boys” probably isn’t going to be   all that different from her childhood. “I wasn’t always very feminine. I played hockey during the autumn and winter and baseball in the summer. I loved playing with the boys.” Of course, both boys and girls like her music (not to mention some adventurous adults) “I can’t wait to be out there - I want to rock the world! I want people to know that my music is real and honest and it came from my heart. I was just being true to myself.” Avril’s real, all right. And ordinary? Anything but.

Write True or False:

1-As a child she wanted to become a popular singer.

2-She likes expressing herself

3-“Anything But Ordinary” is connected with teenagers’ interests.

4-She likes the life she has.

5-When she was 16, she left Ontario.

6-She started to work on her first album in her country.

7-She sometimes needs therapy.

8-She’s a typical girl.

9-Only teenagers enjoy her music.

10-She wants to tell real stories with her songs.

Complete the following chart about her:

Name:	1)…………………………….
Hometown:	2)…………………………….
Likes :	3)……………………………. 4)…………………………….
Dislikes:	5)……………………………. 6)…………………………….
Sports she played:	7)……………………………. 8)……………………………. 9)…………………………….
People who like her music:	10)……………………………. 11)…………………………….
How did her career develop?	12)……………………………. 13)…………………………….
Why is she a good artist?	14)……………………………. 15)…………………………….