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
Saturday, August 6, 2022
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.
Sunday, December 19, 2021
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was born February 12, 1809, and that day was celebrated as a holiday for many years after his death, as he was one of the most important presidents in American history. The 16th president, he served during the Civil War, and used the presidency to lead the North into war against the South to keep the country together.
He was born in Kentucky, but grew up for a while in Indiana and ended up in Illinois. His childhood was famously without electricity, and he was often used as an example to schoolchildren, because he read prolifically in spite of having to do his reading by firelight most of the time. In his childhood he had to cut a lot of wood, but when he had the chance he would read and thus began a career of knowing and using words very well. His most famous speech was the Gettysburg Address. When the Civil War was over, he was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at a theater. He had four sons, but only one lived to maturity.
___ 1. What happened during the Civil War?
a. the North fought the South
b. the US was invaded by another country
c. it was started on February 12
d. nobody was president
___ 2. Why did they tell school children about Lincoln?
a. he was an example of someone who cut a lot of wood
b. he was an example of someone who was killed in a theater
c. he was an example of someone who read a lot because he wanted to
d. he was an example of someone who was born in Kentucky
___ 3. What did John Wilkes Booth do?
a. he gave a famous speech
b. he owned a theater
c. he killed Lincoln
d. he had four sons
___ 4. Why did Lincoln always read by firelight?
a. because he could see better that way
b. becuase his family did not have electricity
c. because he was always behind in his school work
d. because he was a poor reader
He was born in Kentucky, but grew up for a while in Indiana and ended up in Illinois. His childhood was famously without electricity, and he was often used as an example to schoolchildren, because he read prolifically in spite of having to do his reading by firelight most of the time. In his childhood he had to cut a lot of wood, but when he had the chance he would read and thus began a career of knowing and using words very well. His most famous speech was the Gettysburg Address. When the Civil War was over, he was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at a theater. He had four sons, but only one lived to maturity.
___ 1. What happened during the Civil War?
a. the North fought the South
b. the US was invaded by another country
c. it was started on February 12
d. nobody was president
___ 2. Why did they tell school children about Lincoln?
a. he was an example of someone who cut a lot of wood
b. he was an example of someone who was killed in a theater
c. he was an example of someone who read a lot because he wanted to
d. he was an example of someone who was born in Kentucky
___ 3. What did John Wilkes Booth do?
a. he gave a famous speech
b. he owned a theater
c. he killed Lincoln
d. he had four sons
___ 4. Why did Lincoln always read by firelight?
a. because he could see better that way
b. becuase his family did not have electricity
c. because he was always behind in his school work
d. because he was a poor reader
Wednesday, November 17, 2021
Jane Fonda
Jane Fonda was a famous actress and anti-war activist during the Vietnam War. Soldiers and pro-war activists hated "Hanoi Jane" because she allowed herself to be photographed with North Vietnamese, and advocated American withdrawal from the war.
She was born in 1937 in New York City; her father was Henry Fonda, who was also a famous actor. Her mother, however, committed suicide when she was 12. Although her father remarried, this marriage ended in divorce. Jane went into acting and was very successful especially throughout the fifties, sixties and early seventies. with movies like Cat Ballou, Barefoot in the Park, and Klute. She won awards for her acting and was considered one of the best. She is actually still working although she is in her eighties.
She is most famous for her visit to Hanoi during the Vietnam War, which many Americans considered made her a traitor. She spoke to North Vietnamese leaders at a time when no other Americans did, and the government was unwilling to have talks with them. Because the US ultimately withdrew from the war, many people consider her talking to them as signalling Americans' unwillingness to keep fighting the war.
She was married three times, but when asked later what she had learned about love, she said, "Nothing. I'm not cut out for it."
____ 1. When Jane Fonda went to Vietnam, what did she want?
a. She wanted the US to get out of the war.
b. She wanted to get a vacation from acting.
c. She wanted to make the government angry.
d. She wanted to trick them.
___ 2. What is "Klute?"
a. One of her husbands
b. One of her more successful movies
c. Her father's second wife
d. A place where she worked
___ 3. Which is not true about her acting career?
a. She never retired.
b. She won many awards and is considered a good actress.
c. Her political activism hurt her career.
d. She worked in acting for over fifty years.
___ 4. Why are her enemies mad at her?
a. Because she gave secrets to the North Vietnamese.
b. Because talking to the enemy makes her a traitor.
c. Because she got the government to give up on the war.
d. Because she insulted the government.
She was born in 1937 in New York City; her father was Henry Fonda, who was also a famous actor. Her mother, however, committed suicide when she was 12. Although her father remarried, this marriage ended in divorce. Jane went into acting and was very successful especially throughout the fifties, sixties and early seventies. with movies like Cat Ballou, Barefoot in the Park, and Klute. She won awards for her acting and was considered one of the best. She is actually still working although she is in her eighties.
She is most famous for her visit to Hanoi during the Vietnam War, which many Americans considered made her a traitor. She spoke to North Vietnamese leaders at a time when no other Americans did, and the government was unwilling to have talks with them. Because the US ultimately withdrew from the war, many people consider her talking to them as signalling Americans' unwillingness to keep fighting the war.
She was married three times, but when asked later what she had learned about love, she said, "Nothing. I'm not cut out for it."
____ 1. When Jane Fonda went to Vietnam, what did she want?
a. She wanted the US to get out of the war.
b. She wanted to get a vacation from acting.
c. She wanted to make the government angry.
d. She wanted to trick them.
___ 2. What is "Klute?"
a. One of her husbands
b. One of her more successful movies
c. Her father's second wife
d. A place where she worked
___ 3. Which is not true about her acting career?
a. She never retired.
b. She won many awards and is considered a good actress.
c. Her political activism hurt her career.
d. She worked in acting for over fifty years.
___ 4. Why are her enemies mad at her?
a. Because she gave secrets to the North Vietnamese.
b. Because talking to the enemy makes her a traitor.
c. Because she got the government to give up on the war.
d. Because she insulted the government.
Tuesday, October 5, 2021
Tom Petty
Tom Petty was one of the best-selling music artists of all time, making music in a career that lasted from about 1970 to 2017. He was born in Florida in 1950 and had a brother seven years younger than him. He once described his father as a "wild, gambling, drinking guy" who didn't accept the fact that he was mild-mannered and interested in the arts.
He met Elvis Presley in the summer of 1961, and became an instant Presley fan; he went home and traded a slingshot for a collection of Elvis 45's. But when he saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show a few years later, that was when he decided he could be a rock star. He dropped out of high school at age 17 to start a rock band.
He played with a number of bands, but was most famous with the Heartbreakers. His final tour ended in Los Angeles, where he lived. According to friends, he seemed to be in a good mood, but he died of a drug overdose which most people considered accidental. He had apparently been suffering from pain and taking pain medications, so there was great interest in how it happened, but it was taken as a tragedy by the music world, as he was universally popular.
___ 1. Which describes his personality as a kid?
a. wild
b. addicted to drugs
c. serious about studying
d. mild-mannered
___ 2. What performance made him want to be a rock star?
a. a performance of Elvis Presley in the mid-sixties
b. a performance of the Beatles in the mid-sixties
c. a performance of the Heartbreakers
d. a perfomance of Ed Sullivan
___ 3. Why did he drop out of high school?
a. to play music
b. because he didn't get along with his father
c. his father had a rock band
d. he moved to Los Angeles
___ 4. When he traded his slingshot, what did he get in return?
a. Elvis' gun
b. records
c. drugs
d. a fan
He met Elvis Presley in the summer of 1961, and became an instant Presley fan; he went home and traded a slingshot for a collection of Elvis 45's. But when he saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show a few years later, that was when he decided he could be a rock star. He dropped out of high school at age 17 to start a rock band.
He played with a number of bands, but was most famous with the Heartbreakers. His final tour ended in Los Angeles, where he lived. According to friends, he seemed to be in a good mood, but he died of a drug overdose which most people considered accidental. He had apparently been suffering from pain and taking pain medications, so there was great interest in how it happened, but it was taken as a tragedy by the music world, as he was universally popular.
___ 1. Which describes his personality as a kid?
a. wild
b. addicted to drugs
c. serious about studying
d. mild-mannered
___ 2. What performance made him want to be a rock star?
a. a performance of Elvis Presley in the mid-sixties
b. a performance of the Beatles in the mid-sixties
c. a performance of the Heartbreakers
d. a perfomance of Ed Sullivan
___ 3. Why did he drop out of high school?
a. to play music
b. because he didn't get along with his father
c. his father had a rock band
d. he moved to Los Angeles
___ 4. When he traded his slingshot, what did he get in return?
a. Elvis' gun
b. records
c. drugs
d. a fan
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