Listen to News with Tara Benwell - Instructions:
1. Preview the vocabulary and read the gapfill text.
2. Play the news report and try to fill in the blanks.
3. Answer the comprehension questions by writing full sentences.
4. Use the discussion question to write an essay or discuss the story with other students.
5. Click "show Answers" to see the full text.
6. Pretend to be a news anchor by reading each story out loud.
dateline: 14 February 2012
NB! For WEEKLY audio stories check out LISTEN & LEARN ๐
54th Grammys Dedicated To Whitney Houston
Pre-Listening Vocabulary
- Grammys: The Grammy Awards; annual US awards in the recording industry
- dedicate:ย to do something in honour of a person (often a deceased person)
- icon:ย a person who symbolizes something larger
- tribute:ย a demonstration of respect or admiration for someone
- sweep up:ย to take easily
Comprehension Questions
- Why did Grammy organisers have to scramble at the last minute?
- Why does the report mention Jennifer Hudson?
- Whose big night was overshadowed by the sad news?
Discussion Question: Why is it significant that Whitney Houston died right before the Grammy Awards?
show Answershide Answers
54th Grammys Dedicated To Whitney Houston
Organisers of the Grammy Awards scrambled through the weekend to dedicate the 54th show to the late Whitney Houston. The 48-year-old American singing icon was found dead in her Beverly Hills hotel room a day before the awards show. LL Cool J began the awards night with a prayer for Houston, saying that there had been a death in the Grammy family. Houston had won and performed at the Grammys numerous times in the past, and is considered by many to be the greatest female vocalist of all time. With only 24 hours to prepare, Jennifer Hudson fought back tears as she sang a tribute version of “I Will Always Love You”. English singer Adele swept up six awards, including best song for “Rolling In The Deep” and best album for “21”.
- Grammy organisers had to scramble at the last minute because Whitney Houston died a day earlier. They wanted to honour the late singer.
- The report mentions Jennifer Hudson because she sang a heartfelt tribute song for Whitney Houston. She had very little time to prepare.
- Adele’s big night was overshadowed by the sad news. She won six Grammys, including best song and best album.
Written and recorded by Tara Benwell for EnglishClub
Tara Benwell is a Canadian freelance writer and editor who specializes in materials and articles for the ELT industry.
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