4

Grammar: Synonyms and

antonyms 1
Vocabulary: Discourse
markers

Celebrity
Everyday English: Tags
and replies

Starter 1 Match the lines to make quotations about fame and success.

1 “A celebrity is a person who works must come down.” Anonymous

hard all his life to become well known,
like success.” Proverb
2 “I don’t want to achieve immortality
through my work. a little something in me dies.” Gore Vidal
3 “There is only one thing worse than and that is not being talked about.” Oscar Wilde
being talked about,
I want to achieve it through not dying.”
4 “What goes up, Woody Allen
5 “Whenever a friend succeeds, and then wears dark glasses to avoid being
recognized.” Fred Allen
6 “Genius is one percent inspiration,
try, try again.” Robert Bruce
7 “If at first you don’t succeed,
ninety-nine percent perspiration.” Thomas Edison
8 “Nothing succeeds
They are different from you and me.”
9 “Let me tell you about the rich. F. Scott Fitzgerald

2 CD1 25 Listen and check. Do you agree with any of them?

What is your recipe for success?

Unit 4 . Celebrity 33
 READING AND SPEAKING
The cult of celebrity

1 Discuss the questions as a class.

1. Which celebrities are in the news at the moment?
What is the gossip about them? What is their claim to fame?
How do they spend their days? Which trendy places do they
go to? Where can you find out about them?
2. “We cannot avoid becoming entangled in what is called
The cult of celebrity
We are fascinated by their every move, and we want to know
everything about them. Jack Delaney asks why we are obsessed with
‘the cult of celebrity.’ The only question is to what degree
the rich and famous.

S
we want to pretend to resist.”
1 ome are born famous (like royalty), 4 It is now possible for people who are form of interviews, profiles, gossip
What do you think the term the “cult of celebrity” means? some achieve fame (like movie living ordinary private lives to become columns, photo shoots at gatherings,
Do you pretend to resist, or do you indulge your fascination stars), and some have fame thrust famous, for at least a short time, through and soundbites by or about people who
with celebrities? Who are you most interested in? upon them (like crime victims). Sometimes the media – by appearing on game are celebrated for something they have
2 Check that you know these words and phrases. their celebrity is short-lived, (1) . In shows or talk shows, for instance, or done, or for a position they occupy in
some rare cases, for example Diana, (4) of a fly-on-the-wall documentary. society, or in some cases for just being
• an icon • fair game for criticism Princess of Wales, and Marilyn Monroe, The readiness of people to let program- a celebrity. There are some totally
• a sitcom • to scrutinize something/one it can be transformed by death into a sort makers into their homes, to answer the talentless people who are simply famous
• a talk show • to bestow fame on somebody of iconic status. But whatever the causes most intimate questions about their lives, for being famous. As Andy Warhol said,
• the afterlife • a fly-on-the-wall documentary or circumstances, being a celebrity changes and to allow themselves to be filmed in “In the future, everyone will be famous
• to ogle something/one • like a lamb to the slaughter your relationship with the world. From the most (5) situations, never ceases for fifteen minutes.”
being a private person, you become public to amaze.
3 Read the article and put these phrases in the correct place. property, and (2) . You are the object of Love it or loathe it?
a. this life is our only one 5 Given this ghastly invasion of one’s life, 8 The American writer Jay McInerney
envy as well as admiration, fair game for
b. are no more special than the rest of us why is fame so desirable? Ask an average commented, “I have enjoyed a little
criticism, interrogation, ridicule, and spite.
c. an endless supply of human-interest stories bunch of 10-year-olds what (6) , and a celebrity in my time, and I have ogled any
d. everybody wants to claim a bit of you We make ’em, we break ’em large proportion of them will say that they number of models, (9) about popular
e. I have indulged in small talk 2 We treat the famous with a mixture of would like to be famous. Not for anything film stars. But at least I hate myself in the
f. by volunteering to be the subject reverence and brutality. We adore them, in particular. Just famous. Period. In morning. I fear as a nation we’re losing
g. sometimes it lasts a lifetime praise them, scrutinize them, and destroy the adult population, otherwise perfectly our sense of shame in this regard.”
h. What can be done them. We make them unable to tell normal people think nothing of confessing
all about their personal tragedies on 9 So how do you feel when you read
i. undignified and unflattering where their real selves end and the a gossip magazine, or tune into a talk
j. they want to do with their lives PR-manufactured images begin. We daytime TV.
show? Do you love it or loathe it?
4 Would Jack Delaney agree or disagree with these viewpoints? have no mercy, we show no shame. It Why are we so obsessed? (10) to curb our fascination,
Find evidence in the article. is easy to assume that all aspects of a 6 The American writer Norman Mailer particularly when the glittery sacrificial
celebrity life are free to be examined said that in an age without religion, lambs go so willingly to slaughter?
• Most fame is undeserved. because he or she is on display, which celebrities are our new gods. If we have Probably not a lot. But perhaps we
• It is possible to survive fame intact. means he or she doesn’t have the no faith in an afterlife and (7) , then should be more aware of the viciousness
• The public is consistent in the way it treats celebrities. same reality as everyone else. And celebrity is the nearest any of us will get to of voyeurism and the myths we too
• Newspapers used to be more respectful. it is precisely because many modern immortality, and the pursuit of it becomes readily absorb.
• Television subjects ordinary people to humiliation. celebrities (3) that we feel justified in more urgent. At the pathological extreme
• Most people want to be famous. treating them with such contempt. We of this motivation are murderers like Mark
• The cult of celebrity should make us feel ashamed. build them up and knock them down. Chapman, who assassinated John Lennon
Do your views differ? So who are the famous? partly, he said, to make himself famous.
5 Answer the questions. 3 It used to be the case that fame was 7 Another feature of modern society is
1. Think of celebrities currently in the news who fit the bestowed only as a consequence of the power and omnipresence of the
three categories of fame mentioned in the first paragraph. some mighty achievement or gruesome mass media. Its explosive expansion in
2. What two reasons does the writer provide to explain our misdeed, when newspapers were filled the past couple of decades has created
obsession? Do you agree? largely with accounts of such things as an insatiable need for new material. All
3. Why does Jay McInerney hate himself in the morning? earthquakes and wars, and when it was the newspapers, magazines, television
4. What do you think the “viciousness of voyeurism” means? deemed contemptible for journalists to shows, and blogs require (8) .
What are the “myths we too readily absorb”? delve into the private lives of famous These are increasingly delivered in the
people, even the very famous.
34 Unit 4 . Celebrity Unit 4 . Celebrity 35
 What do you think? VOCABULARY
1 Discuss the questions. Synonyms Antonyms
• W hy do we want to hear bad news about famous people more than good
news? In what ways are celebrities unreal? 1 Find words in the article on page 35 that mean Look at these examples of antonyms from the article on
approximately the same as these. page 35.
• What do you know about “reality TV”? Are there TV shows in your
country like the ones described in the article? What are they like? Sometimes their celebrity is short-lived, sometimes
paragraph 1 forced it lasts a lifetime.
• What is the mentality of stalkers? What makes someone want to kill the
fame
From being a private person, you become
object of their obsession?
public property.
2 Read what celebrities themselves say on the subject of fame. What do you respect (noun)
think each quote means, and do you agree with it? It wasn’t my choice to be an paragraph 2 great respect and 3 Complete the sentences with a word that has the
open book, but when people admiration opposite meaning of the words in italics. Sometimes the
found out what my life was part of speech changes. The first three words appear in
like when I was 14 or 15, I cruelty the article on page 35.
didn’t deny it. I think the more worship (verb)
imperfect you are, the more 1. You thought those stories about her were real, but
human you are. examine she them all.
Drew Barrymore actor and director ruin (verb) 2. His ability to make money is admirable. However, I
compassion, sympathy have nothing but for the appalling way he
deals with his employees.
guilt
3. I know most people love traveling, but I it.
suppose
I’d rather stay at home.
For years I’ve been popular in exactly
4. I’ve always been successful at work, but my private
America – not because of my
paragraph 3 result (noun) life is a total .
talent, but because I’m famous.
Cher singer and actor mainly 5. At first people thought it was a genuine Van Gogh,
but later it turned out to be a .

celebrities on celebrity
considered
6. I find it difficult to relax. There is so much
paragraph 6 belief in my life. So much to do, so little time to do it.
killers 7. I was sure I had seen her before. I didn’t recognize her
face, but her voice was .
If you were me for a month, killed
8. This road is straight for a few miles, but then there
Fame, celebrity - it’s not such you might change it to
two weeks. are a lot of tight , so be careful.
a big deal in Europe. People 2 Complete the sentences with a synonym of the words
Robert Redford actor and director in italics. Often the part of speech changes. The words 9. One of my cats is quite tame and domesticated. The
seem to understand that you
just have a weird job. It’s appear in the article on page 35 and the paragraph has other is totally .
strange in the States. Most been given. 10. You thought she dropped the vase accidentally, but
fans here are great, but there’s 1. She succeeded in building up a $50 million company. believe me, it was .
a handful who have seen the This won her many awards. (1)
movies and feel they know 2. She’s always finding fault with her kids. She
People want you to be a crazy, you. They think it’s all right them for their appearance, their laziness, everything. (1)
out-of-control teen brat. They to touch you and ask personal
questions. Johnny Depp actor 3. He admitted murdering his employer. This
want you miserable, just like
came after days of interrogation. (5)
them. Leonardo DiCaprio actor
4. His recovery after the operation was astonishing.
3 Do you know … I was to see him sitting up in bed when
The nice thing about being I visited him in hospital. (4)
• any other icons? What do they represent?
• someone who the press has built up and knocked down? a celebrity is that when you 5. You simply must control your finances better.
• an ordinary person who has become a celebrity? bore people, they think it’s If you don’t your spending, you’ll be
• anyone who is famous simply for being famous? their fault. in serious trouble (9).
• any children of celebrities who have had problems? Henry Kissinger American diplomat
“It’s not enough that we succeed. Cats must also fail.”

36 Unit 4 . Celebrity Unit 4 . Celebrity 37

 LANGUAGE FOCUS 1 There are many adverbs and expressions that show the speaker’s 4 Complete the conversation, either with a discourse marker from Exercise 3, or with appropriate words.
attitude about what he or she is saying.
Discourse markers

1 A CD1 26 Listen carefully to a woman

speaking, and decide what she’s talking
Honestly, I think you should quit your job.
Admittedly, you’d lose a lot of money.
Surely job satisfaction is more important than money?
HAVE YOU HEARD …?
2 These expressions can also structure and direct a piece of discourse.
about. Answer the questions. As I was saying, I’m still enjoying the work. Ana Have you heard that Jan is thinking of marrying Paul?
1. What was the most important aspect of As a matter of fact, I earn very little in my job. Ben (1) Really? I don’t know what she sees in him.
the occasion for the speaker? Anyway, who cares about money?
2. What was special about the dresses? By the way, do you know how much Lara earns now? Ana I know what you mean. Mind you, (2) .
OH
3. How were the people from the Ben Yes, I suppose having all that money does help.
Grammar Reference p. 147
press behaving? Ana Where did he get his money from?
LLY
4. What wasn’t so important Ben Apparently, (3) . REA
to the speaker? 3 Complete the monologue with expressions from the box. Ana He’s been married three times before. Did you know that?
5. What was the occasion?
anyway apparently mind you as I was saying Ben (4) , it’s just once, I think.
2 A CD1 27 Listen to another version of the at least   all in all, though admittedly of course Ana They’ll have a big wedding.
monologue. What are the differences? naturally by the way to tell you the truth
Can you remember any? still no doubt I mean
Ben Of course (5) .
obviously so to speak quite honestly Ana Oh, well. Good luck to them.
actually guess what? as a matter of fact Ben Absolutely. (6) , did you hear
that Jenny and Mario had a car accident?
Ana Oh no! What happened?
“

GO
All the A-list stars were there. That model, Angeline, Ben It wasn’t serious. They skidded into a tree, but

OD
(1) I think it was Angeline, was there with her
apparently (7) they weren’t going fast. The

LU
boyfriend. (2) they’ve been going out for months.
, it was a glittering occasion. Stars everywhere and car’s destroyed , but (8) no one

CK
(3)
the crowds outside just begging for autographs. (4) , was injured.

DI

TO
Ana Thank goodness for that. I should get in touch with them,

d you
I couldn’t believe my eyes. And the dresses! (5) ,I

THE
don’t know how much they would have cost – a fortune, I but I don’t have their number.

REI ALLY? . Ben As a matter of fact, (9)

T

M.
imagine. All designer labels, (6) . The photographers .

know
E A

.
R

EM
G
were (7) having a field day, and (8) there I’ll give it to you.

KNOW Y E I G H T

TH
RS
were reporters everywhere, falling over each other, Ana Great. Thanks a lot. (10)

B
,

E
U
that
ORHIGNHATOB.SO!THLAUNTKESLAYLWOT.HAT HAPPiE SRUEAPPLRLIYGHT.

TO
S
(9) , to interview the biggest names. (10) , we I have to get going. I’m meeting Jan for lunch.

CK
didn’t have the best seats— (11) we were in the back Ben OK. See you later. Bye.

LU
row. (12) , we could still see everything. (13) ,

B .KeDgoodness
E

OD
Y ?G REAT
I was so busy star-watching that I didn’t pay attention to the

GO
plot. (14) you would’ve done the same. Mind you
(15) , I’m not too keen on thrillers, but it must have N apparently
been good, because at the end the whole audience stood up
and clapped. (16) , I’m not so sure what the story was
A CD1 28 Listen and compare your answers.
5 Complete the sentences with your ideas. THAN
about, but you really should go and see it when it comes out. 1. A Excuse me, you look familiar. Have we met before? 6. I wish I were famous. All that money, all those
(17) , it was an amazing evening, and to top it off we B Actually, . parties every night. Mind you, .
went to Quaglino’s for dinner afterwards, and (18) 2. A Why has your business been so successful? 7. A Wasn’t that a great play last night!
Sarah Jane Fox and Brad Brat were at the next table! How B Basically, . B To tell you the truth, .
cool is that? (19) , Sarah Jane Fox has terrible skin 3. Why did the CEO award himself a 50 percent pay 8. I agree, it was a great game, and they deserved to
problems. (20) , who cares about that when you win it. By the way, .
raise? Surely ?
have that much money!

”
4. Have you heard the latest about Mei-lin and Eric? 9. Why doesn’t James ever call me? Why is it always me
Apparently, . who calls him? After all, .
A CD1 27 Listen again and check. Which expressions could be used in 5. I don’t think Marco and Linda should get married. I 10. I don’t have a clue what to do about all these
more than one place? Where? mean, . problems. Anyway, .

38 Unit 4 . Celebrity Unit 4 . Celebrity 39

 SPEAKING LISTENING Language work
How to become a celebrity An interview with a Hollywood star 5 Listen again to part one of the interview. Complete
Drew’s answer.
1 Work in small groups. You have decided that it is 1 Drew Barrymore was born into an American acting 1. One is I cosmically and , with all of the
your destiny in life to be famous. You want to get dynasty. Her grandfather was the famous theater and running through my , felt
on the list of celebrities who are invited to all the film actor John Barrymore. Oscar-winning actors Lionel this connection to this family that I was born into,
best parties, opening nights, and social events. Barrymore and Ethel Barrymore were her great uncle the Barrymores.
and great aunt. Work with a partner. What do you 2. I felt a real desire to act.
2 Read the situation in the box below and talk
know about Drew Barrymore? How do you think her
together until you all agree on what to do. 3. I felt it because they instilled it in my
famous family influenced her?
3 Each student comes up with ideas for how to and I never wanted to myself of that.
proceed. Keep discussing each idea and scenario 2 A CD1 29 Listen to part one of the interview. Are these 4. In fact, I was very and
until you have mapped out a detailed plan or until statements true or false? Correct the false ones. of the fact that at such a young age that I was
you have decided that your plan to hit the big time 1. Drew became famous when she was 6 years old. and with that connection
can’t (or won’t) work. 2. Her famous family members forced her into an with them and wanted to them and
acting career. and and .
3. She has close relationships with her family. I them.

H! It is time to start your journey on the

road to fame and fortune. You want
to make it to the big time as quickly
4. She acts because she loves to act.
5. Her first important acting job was in the
movie “E.T.”
What do you think?
• Drew says she belongs to “another kind of tribe.”
as possible. You have identified two 6. Steven Spielberg is her father. Who are the people she refers to? Why does she feel
routes that could help you to join 3 A CD1 30 Listen to part two. Answer the questions. connected to them?
the rich and famous. • Was her family the only reason she became an actor?
1. What does the interviewer say is the “inherent
contradiction” of Drew’s life? • Does Drew make excuses for her family? Why
Invent an interesting new past for yourself or why not?
– become a new person! –one that would 2. Why would Drew feel sorry for herself? Does she?
3. Why is “A Bill of Divorcement” an emotional movie • Why is it so important to her to keep her family
make you newsworthy. Will you lie, or just
for her? tradition alive?
stretch the truth? Will you treat people with
respect, or will you stop at nothing to get to 4. Why does Drew say that watching her family’s old
the top? What are your limits? movies is like a “warm fireplace”?

Work your way into the elite group of

4 A CD1 31  Listen to part three. How does Drew explain . . .
famous people by hanging out in the 1. her desire to have a family?
right places. Basically, you will party your 2. how damage and pain can teach you?
way to the top! Where will you go? How 3. how her mother’s “unorthodox” behavior helped
will you dress? Who will you try to get her career?
4. why people should forgive her mother?
to know? Will your efforts be enough to
5. her reaction to being exposed to adult experiences
make you famous?
as a child?

What do you think?

When you have finished, discuss these questions.
• In retrospect, did you make any bad decisions?
What should you have done?
• How did you make your decisions? Was everybody
involved? Did one person dominate? Were your
decisions democratic?
• Games such as these are used in management
training to practice qualities of good leadership.
What are the qualities of a good leader?

40 Unit 4 . Celebrity Unit 4 . Celebrity 41

 EVERYDAY ENGLISH
You did, did you?

1 Read the exchange below. A Cesária Evora is just fantastic! Her concert was amazing.
B It was, wasn’t it? And she puts so much energy into her songs, doesn’t she?
A I love your movies.
A Yes, she does. I love that song about missing home. It’s so beautiful, isn’t it?
B Oh, you do, do you?
B It is. It was her first big hit. She wrote it about Cape Verde, her home country, I
What kind of question tag is this? think.
What is the second speaker A So she can write as well as sing, can she? What a talent!
expressing? B Yeah. She writes most of her songs.
A She’s playing again tomorrow, isn’t she?
2 A CD1 32 Listen and underline the
tags and replies in the conversation B Yes, I think so. Let’s go again, shall we?
on the right. Do they rise or fall? A Sure, why not?

Grammar Reference p. 147

3 Work with a partner. Decide where tags and replies can naturally go
in these conversations. Do they rise or fall?

1. A You haven’t seen my car keys. 2. A You didn’t like that meal. You 3. A You forgot the map?
B No. You had them this were pushing it around the plate. B Uh-oh. Yes.
morning. B No. Well, it hadn’t been cooked A But I put it next to the
A Yes. If I can’t find them, I’ll be properly. Your steak was OK? car keys.
late for work. A Yes. It was fine. Let’s get the check B Well, I didn’t see it.
B Panic over. Here they are! and go home. A You’re blind.
A Great. You’re the best! B OK. We won’t be coming back B Oh, and you’re perfect?
here anytime soon.

A CD1 33 Listen and compare. Practice the conversations with your partner.
4 Respond to these statements in different ways.
1. Jeremy makes an absolute fortune! 3. Lisa and Kevin are going to Florida on vacation. They’re
He does, doesn’t he? so lucky.
Does he? I had no idea. How much? 4. Zidane played really well in the game on Sunday, didn’t he?
So, he’s rich, is he? Wow. I didn’t know. 5. Target is a great store. You can buy everything there.
6. I think our teacher is the best.
2. Peter’s new Brazilian girlfriend, Ana, is very beautiful. 7. Carlos is a very experienced traveler. He’s been
everywhere.
CD1 34 Listen and compare.

42 Unit 4 . Celebrity Writing Expressing a personal opinion p. 118