Woody Guthrie was born on July 14, 1912 in Okemah, Oklahoma; he was named after Woodrow Wilson, who was president at the time. He would grow up to be one of the nation's most famous folk musicians, but because of his leftist leanings, it took years for Okemah to become proud of him.
He came of age just as the Dust Bowl was reducing Oklahoma and the area to a dry, unproductive and harsh living environment. Like many Oklahomans, he went west to California; he was already a prolific songwriter and played music at every opportunity. He often wrote about labor movements and socialist issues; his most famous song, This Land is Your Land, he considered to be a response to the overplaying of God Bless America during the war years. Having communist tendencies in those years was a problem and he soon had many political enemies. Although he encouraged communism, he never actually joined any Communist parties. Still, his association with communism in general was a problem for his legacy especially after the U.S. turned against communism and came to consider it its mortal enemy.
He was married three times, and had eight children altogether, one of whom, Arlo, is also famous. Musical talent ran in the family. The movie Bound for Glory was made about his life. He died in 1967.
___ 1. What does the passage imply about Okemah?
a. Okemah was a large city.
b. Okemah did not celebrate Woody Guthrie for many years.
c. Okemah was a very pleasant place to live.
d. Okemah was more communist than most places.
___ 2. During the Dust Bowl, what happened in Oklahoma?
a. A lot of people left.
b. It rained a lot.
c. It became productive.
d. Everyone played music.
___ 3. According to the passage, after the war, the U.S.
a. became more communist
b. threw most communists in jail
c. became more and more against communism
d. made the Communist Party illegal.
Thursday, December 8, 2022
Tuesday, November 8, 2022
Woody Allen
Woody Allen was born Allan Stewart Konigsberg on November 30, 1935. He was born in New York City of Jewish immigrants from Austria and Lithuania. Through his remarkable film-making career he came to make many films about being Jewish and about the anxiety of living in New York City; he often starred in his own movies. He wrote for television in the 1950s and 1960s but is most famous for his movies.
In the 1970s he began a professional and personal relationship with Mia Farrow, another famous actress. But his personal life exploded when he fell in love with Soon-Yi Previn, Mia's adopted daughter and his stepdaughter. Many people disagreed with this relationship and Farrow accused him of abuse. He ultimately married Previn and adopted two children with her.
His most famous movies are movies like Annie Hall and Manhattan, movies that were to some degree autobiographical. But the American film audience soured on him after the abuse charges, and people even today don't accept his relationship with his stepdaughter.
___ 1. What did Woody Allen do that was most controversial?
a. he made movies about New York City
b. he had a relationship with Mia Farrow
c. he had a relationship with his step-daughter
d. he adopted two children
___ 2. Which did he not make films about, according to the passage?
a. himself
b. living in New York City
c. Soo-Yi Previn
d. being Jewish
___ 3. Why have his films lost popularity over the years?
a. People are tired of New York City
b. People did not like his personal problems
c. He stopped making them too early
d. They were all about Soon-Yi
In the 1970s he began a professional and personal relationship with Mia Farrow, another famous actress. But his personal life exploded when he fell in love with Soon-Yi Previn, Mia's adopted daughter and his stepdaughter. Many people disagreed with this relationship and Farrow accused him of abuse. He ultimately married Previn and adopted two children with her.
His most famous movies are movies like Annie Hall and Manhattan, movies that were to some degree autobiographical. But the American film audience soured on him after the abuse charges, and people even today don't accept his relationship with his stepdaughter.
___ 1. What did Woody Allen do that was most controversial?
a. he made movies about New York City
b. he had a relationship with Mia Farrow
c. he had a relationship with his step-daughter
d. he adopted two children
___ 2. Which did he not make films about, according to the passage?
a. himself
b. living in New York City
c. Soo-Yi Previn
d. being Jewish
___ 3. Why have his films lost popularity over the years?
a. People are tired of New York City
b. People did not like his personal problems
c. He stopped making them too early
d. They were all about Soon-Yi
Thursday, October 13, 2022
Christo
Christo is one of the most famous of artists worldwide, though he died in 2020, because he made exhibits that were huge spectacles wherever they were, and made good photographs when seen from the air.
Toward the end of his career he made a point to say that the exhibits were done by "Christo and Jeanne Claude," thus giving credit to his wife, who did much of the work, though she died in 2009. Their exhibits were often enormous, and took a lot of planning with zoning commissions and people who didn't want rural land disturbed too greatly.
Christo was born in Bulgaria, while Jeanne Claude was born in Morocco; they met and married in Paris in the late 50's. Unlike most artists, they refused grants and public money, relying entirely on the sale of their own work. Often they would wrap a famous building in cellophane or some other material, and this would make the local fire department very nervous. Their work was almost always huge, visually impressive, and controversial. Once he placed a huge number of umbrellas along the California coast and in Japan at the same time; two people died as a result, one in each exhibit, but that was not unusual. Often his exhibits required huge amounts of fabric and expensive installation. One example was the Running Fence, which ran through California grassland and into the sea, but which was white nylon supported by steel posts and cables.
He became an American citizen in 1984, but continued with international fame and performance. One of his last projects was the wrapping of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris; this project required 30,000 square meters of recyclable polypropyline fabric. It was postponed due to happen in 2020 but was postponed due to the covid pandemic, and then due to Christo's death. But following his death, his followers and workers vowed to continue with the project and did.
___ 1. According to the article, most artists:
a. make exhibits as large as possible
b. do not like Christo and Jeanne Claude
c. live in Paris
d. rely on public aid of some kind
___ 2. Why are fire departments wary of Christo?
a. his exhibits could be a fire hazard
b. he is very critical of fire departments
c. often his exhibits include burning of materials
d. his exhibits prevent them from putting out fires
___ 3. Which is not true of the wrapping of the Arc de Triomphe?
a. it was never finished
b. Christo died before it was done
c. the pandemic upset the schedule for its wrapping
d. it required a huge amount of fabric
___ 4. What were Christo and Jeanne Claude most famous for?
a. exhibits that had bright colors
b. exhibits that were huge and visually impressive
c. exhibits that were intricate and complicated
d. exhibits that brought many people to one place
Toward the end of his career he made a point to say that the exhibits were done by "Christo and Jeanne Claude," thus giving credit to his wife, who did much of the work, though she died in 2009. Their exhibits were often enormous, and took a lot of planning with zoning commissions and people who didn't want rural land disturbed too greatly.
Christo was born in Bulgaria, while Jeanne Claude was born in Morocco; they met and married in Paris in the late 50's. Unlike most artists, they refused grants and public money, relying entirely on the sale of their own work. Often they would wrap a famous building in cellophane or some other material, and this would make the local fire department very nervous. Their work was almost always huge, visually impressive, and controversial. Once he placed a huge number of umbrellas along the California coast and in Japan at the same time; two people died as a result, one in each exhibit, but that was not unusual. Often his exhibits required huge amounts of fabric and expensive installation. One example was the Running Fence, which ran through California grassland and into the sea, but which was white nylon supported by steel posts and cables.
He became an American citizen in 1984, but continued with international fame and performance. One of his last projects was the wrapping of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris; this project required 30,000 square meters of recyclable polypropyline fabric. It was postponed due to happen in 2020 but was postponed due to the covid pandemic, and then due to Christo's death. But following his death, his followers and workers vowed to continue with the project and did.
___ 1. According to the article, most artists:
a. make exhibits as large as possible
b. do not like Christo and Jeanne Claude
c. live in Paris
d. rely on public aid of some kind
___ 2. Why are fire departments wary of Christo?
a. his exhibits could be a fire hazard
b. he is very critical of fire departments
c. often his exhibits include burning of materials
d. his exhibits prevent them from putting out fires
___ 3. Which is not true of the wrapping of the Arc de Triomphe?
a. it was never finished
b. Christo died before it was done
c. the pandemic upset the schedule for its wrapping
d. it required a huge amount of fabric
___ 4. What were Christo and Jeanne Claude most famous for?
a. exhibits that had bright colors
b. exhibits that were huge and visually impressive
c. exhibits that were intricate and complicated
d. exhibits that brought many people to one place
Saturday, August 6, 2022
Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger was born in 1943 in Dartford, Kent, United Kingdom. He grew up to lead the Rolling Stones, a band, for over six decades, and be one of the most prominent rock stars in the world.
In the early 1960's rock 'n' roll was just coming out, led by Americans like Bo Didley and Chuck Berry. Jagger had already teamed up with childhood friend Keith Richard, and soon began making rock 'n' roll in England; he was living in Chelsea, London at the time. His band was named after a Muddy Waters tune. He wrote most songs as a collaboration with Richard, but produced music prolifically throughout the 60's, 70's, and 80's. For a while the Rolling Stones shared the spotlight with the Beatles as most popular bands in the world.
He had many tumultuous relationships over the years, though he was only married and divorced once. He had eight children, altogether, with five women, and now has grandchildren and great grandchildren. His style has been described as "like a male ballet dancer," making men uncomfortable with his fluid sexuality and being attractive in that way to both sexes. Some say he did it mostly to ensure the band's success, but in any case his influence on youth culture and the world is unmistakable.
___ 1. We can infer that a Muddy Waters tune had what words in it?
a. Dartford, Kent
b. Rolling Stone
c. Mick Jagger
d. rock 'n' roll
___ 2. According to the passage, where did rock 'n' roll really start?
a. Chelsea, London
b. Dartford, Kent
c. USA
d. United Kingdom
___ 3. For how long was he a force in the rock world?
a. twenty years
b. thirty years
c. fifty years
d. over sixty years
In the early 1960's rock 'n' roll was just coming out, led by Americans like Bo Didley and Chuck Berry. Jagger had already teamed up with childhood friend Keith Richard, and soon began making rock 'n' roll in England; he was living in Chelsea, London at the time. His band was named after a Muddy Waters tune. He wrote most songs as a collaboration with Richard, but produced music prolifically throughout the 60's, 70's, and 80's. For a while the Rolling Stones shared the spotlight with the Beatles as most popular bands in the world.
He had many tumultuous relationships over the years, though he was only married and divorced once. He had eight children, altogether, with five women, and now has grandchildren and great grandchildren. His style has been described as "like a male ballet dancer," making men uncomfortable with his fluid sexuality and being attractive in that way to both sexes. Some say he did it mostly to ensure the band's success, but in any case his influence on youth culture and the world is unmistakable.
___ 1. We can infer that a Muddy Waters tune had what words in it?
a. Dartford, Kent
b. Rolling Stone
c. Mick Jagger
d. rock 'n' roll
___ 2. According to the passage, where did rock 'n' roll really start?
a. Chelsea, London
b. Dartford, Kent
c. USA
d. United Kingdom
___ 3. For how long was he a force in the rock world?
a. twenty years
b. thirty years
c. fifty years
d. over sixty years
Saturday, June 4, 2022
Elon Musk
Elon Musk is a prominent entrepreneur and probably is the wealthiest man in the world, with a net worth of $265 billion. He is outspoken about his beliefs on government and laws, and is taken seriously because he can take his companies wherever he wants.
He was born in Pretoria, South Africa, on June 28th, 1971, and grew up there, but moved to Canada when he was 17. His mother had been born in Canada, so he was able to become a Canadian citizen. But he went to the University of Pennsylvania, and then Stanford, in California, where he began to start businesses instead of finishing his advanced degree.
His two most famous enterprises are SpaceX, which focuses on space transport, and Tesla, which is developing the new electric cars. Both involve research into AI, or Artificial Intelligence, and he has also been involved in projects to integrate AI with the human brain. He started a company that eventually turned into PayPal, and has been involved in various other innovative projects over the course of his life.
He married several times, and lived mostly in California, until recently when he moved to Texas, complaining that California had become complacent with its success.
___ 1. Elon Musk is most famous for:
a. going to space
b. being against the government
c. starting innovative businesses
d. moving to Canada
___ 2. What is Tesla?
a. a company that makes spaceships
b. an electric car company
c. a friend of Elon Musk's
d. a person who develops cars
___ 3. Why did he move to Texas?
a. He felt that Califonia didn't value his residence
b. he felt that California was unsuccessful.
c. he felt that Texas had more room for spaceships
d. he felt that Texas was better for AI.
___ 4. Which could be an example of integrating AI and the human brain?
a. a self-driving car
b. having a self-driving car be controled by a person who is not in it
c. a private spaceship going to the moon by itself
d. a private spaceship helping the government
He was born in Pretoria, South Africa, on June 28th, 1971, and grew up there, but moved to Canada when he was 17. His mother had been born in Canada, so he was able to become a Canadian citizen. But he went to the University of Pennsylvania, and then Stanford, in California, where he began to start businesses instead of finishing his advanced degree.
His two most famous enterprises are SpaceX, which focuses on space transport, and Tesla, which is developing the new electric cars. Both involve research into AI, or Artificial Intelligence, and he has also been involved in projects to integrate AI with the human brain. He started a company that eventually turned into PayPal, and has been involved in various other innovative projects over the course of his life.
He married several times, and lived mostly in California, until recently when he moved to Texas, complaining that California had become complacent with its success.
___ 1. Elon Musk is most famous for:
a. going to space
b. being against the government
c. starting innovative businesses
d. moving to Canada
___ 2. What is Tesla?
a. a company that makes spaceships
b. an electric car company
c. a friend of Elon Musk's
d. a person who develops cars
___ 3. Why did he move to Texas?
a. He felt that Califonia didn't value his residence
b. he felt that California was unsuccessful.
c. he felt that Texas had more room for spaceships
d. he felt that Texas was better for AI.
___ 4. Which could be an example of integrating AI and the human brain?
a. a self-driving car
b. having a self-driving car be controled by a person who is not in it
c. a private spaceship going to the moon by itself
d. a private spaceship helping the government
Sunday, February 20, 2022
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin was born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) on October 7, 1952. His grandfather was personal cook to both Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin. He was the youngest of three children. His older brothers, born in the mid-thirties, had both died; one in infancy, the other in the seige of Leningrad during the war. He entered the KGB soon after graduating from law school and, working for them, was transferred to Moscow.
He became acting president of Russia and then president in 2004. He was prime minister from 2008 to 2012, but then became president again in 2012. His popularity as president was based partly on the fact that the Russian economy grew significantly in the times when he was president, with wages increasing and unemployment and poverty decreasing sharply. He is also known for reforming the military, winning the Second Chechen War and annexing the Crimea. He is strongly criticized for corruption and for making Russia more authoritarian - he has strengthened his own position over the years - but he has given Russians a sense of pride in resisting the forces of the west in Ukraine and other places, and is in general still popular as a leader.
___ 1. Which of the following is Putin not known for?
a. being a strong leader
b. strengthening the Russian economy
c. being hated by his people
d. having some corruption in his administration
___ 2. In the first paragraph, fourth sentence, "during the war" probably refers to:
a. the Second Chechen War
b. World War II
c. World War I
d. the annexation of the Crimea
___ 3. From the passage, what can we infer about Russians' feelings about the Ukraine?
a. They detest Putin and his military actions
b. They distrust the west and support Putin
c. They dislike Ukrainians and don't care what happens to them
d. They are eager to make Russia larger
He became acting president of Russia and then president in 2004. He was prime minister from 2008 to 2012, but then became president again in 2012. His popularity as president was based partly on the fact that the Russian economy grew significantly in the times when he was president, with wages increasing and unemployment and poverty decreasing sharply. He is also known for reforming the military, winning the Second Chechen War and annexing the Crimea. He is strongly criticized for corruption and for making Russia more authoritarian - he has strengthened his own position over the years - but he has given Russians a sense of pride in resisting the forces of the west in Ukraine and other places, and is in general still popular as a leader.
___ 1. Which of the following is Putin not known for?
a. being a strong leader
b. strengthening the Russian economy
c. being hated by his people
d. having some corruption in his administration
___ 2. In the first paragraph, fourth sentence, "during the war" probably refers to:
a. the Second Chechen War
b. World War II
c. World War I
d. the annexation of the Crimea
___ 3. From the passage, what can we infer about Russians' feelings about the Ukraine?
a. They detest Putin and his military actions
b. They distrust the west and support Putin
c. They dislike Ukrainians and don't care what happens to them
d. They are eager to make Russia larger
Tuesday, January 18, 2022
Kinky Friedman
Richard "Kinky" Friedman was born November 1, 1944 in Chicago, but his parents moved when he was young to a ranch near Kerrville, Texas, in the heart of Hill Country. Both his parents were the children of Russian Jewish immigrants, and he always felt a strong sense of being different as he grew up in Texas.
He wanted to be a country music singer, but from the beginning he preferred satire and making fun of everyone. His songs featured political commentary and sharp-edged humor. His first band was called King Arthur and the Carrots. Finally his band Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys became well known, but it was known more for making fun of people and making people mad than anything else. His father and many other people objected to the use of "Jewboys" in the name as that had always been an insult to Jews.
He became well known in Texas and had a lot of important allies. When his music wasn't doing too well he started writing novels and using his friends and people he knew as main characters. Finally he turned his parents' ranch into a shelter for animals, the Utopia Ranch. He ran for many political offices, but never won; still, he was very popular and well known around Texas at least, if not the rest of the country.
___ 1. What does "sharp-edged humor" mean in par. 2, second sentence?
a. It was extremely funny.
b. It hurt some people.
c. There was a large number of jokes.
d. It was racist in nature.
___ 2. Why did his father object to the name "Jewboys?"
a. Because he wasn't Jewish.
b. Because he didn't want people to know he was Jewish.
c. Because "Jewboys" was a slur.
d. Because his father liked "King Arthur and the Carrots" better.
___ 3. What is a feature of his novels?
a. They are best sellers.
b. They are all about country music.
c. Somebody else actually wrote them.
d. The characters are real people who he knew.
He wanted to be a country music singer, but from the beginning he preferred satire and making fun of everyone. His songs featured political commentary and sharp-edged humor. His first band was called King Arthur and the Carrots. Finally his band Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys became well known, but it was known more for making fun of people and making people mad than anything else. His father and many other people objected to the use of "Jewboys" in the name as that had always been an insult to Jews.
He became well known in Texas and had a lot of important allies. When his music wasn't doing too well he started writing novels and using his friends and people he knew as main characters. Finally he turned his parents' ranch into a shelter for animals, the Utopia Ranch. He ran for many political offices, but never won; still, he was very popular and well known around Texas at least, if not the rest of the country.
___ 1. What does "sharp-edged humor" mean in par. 2, second sentence?
a. It was extremely funny.
b. It hurt some people.
c. There was a large number of jokes.
d. It was racist in nature.
___ 2. Why did his father object to the name "Jewboys?"
a. Because he wasn't Jewish.
b. Because he didn't want people to know he was Jewish.
c. Because "Jewboys" was a slur.
d. Because his father liked "King Arthur and the Carrots" better.
___ 3. What is a feature of his novels?
a. They are best sellers.
b. They are all about country music.
c. Somebody else actually wrote them.
d. The characters are real people who he knew.
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