Who are the famous people in the twenty-first century? They are film stars, pop stars, politicians, sportsmen and sportswomen. It’s interesting that most people know of some pop stars, film stars, sportsmen and women. However, fewer people know of politicians, writers, poets and artists. Most young people know Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, David Beckham and Madonna, and of course, even ten years after her death, Princess Diana. What makes these people famous? Of course, newspapers and magazines, television, cinema and the Internet. It’s interesting that most of the famous people are in the world of show business. You can see stars on the covers of many magazines. Many magazines tell only about the lives of pop stars or film stars. Of course, being famous means money, a beautiful lifestyle and power. You can get a lot of money for your job. Can you imagine how much money Tom Cruise gets to make just one film? But what about the associated problems? Being famous means that you don’t have a private life. If you go shopping or to a restaurant everybody knows you. And, of course, there is always the paparazzi. These are photographers of famous people. They always follow you and wait outside your house just to take photographs. If you are famous, you don’t know who your real friends are and who are not. Perhaps the most famous person in the world was Princess Diana. But during her lifetime many newspapers and people criticised her. She couldn’t live a normal life. And there is no better story for a newspaper or magazine than a scandal about a famous person. Scandals sell newspapers and magazines. So, the next time you dream about being famous, just remember all the problems that it can bring.
1. Who are the famous people in the twenty-first century?
2. Most people don’t know pop stars and film stars, do they?
3. Do a lot of people know politicians and writers?
4. What famous people are known all over the world?
5. What makes these people famous?
6. Most of the famous people are in banking business, aren’t they?
7. Where can you often see stars?
8. What do many magazines like to tell about?
9. What does being famous mean?
10. Do famous people get a lot of money?
11. What sort of problems do famous people have?
12. What are the photographers that follow famous people called?
13. What happens when a famous person goes shopping?
14. Why can’t a famous person have a quiet meal in a restaurant?
15. Can famous people distinguish between a real friend and an enemy?
16. Who is one of the most famous people in the world?
17. Did many newspapers criticize Diana during her lifetime?
18. Could Diana lead a normal life?
19. Why do the press like scandals about a famous person?
20. What should you remember when you dream about being famous?
Training 1
Most famous people are in the world of show business. These are pop stars, film stars and TV presenters. You can see show-business stars on the covers of many magazines. Newspapers, magazines and the Internet tell about the lives of famous people. Famous people get a lot of money for their work. Being famous means wealth, an enviable life style and power.
Training 2
Being a famous person means that you don’t have a private life. If you go shopping or to a restaurant everybody knows you. There are a lot of photographers that follow you around. The most annoying ones are paparazzi. Paparazzi always wait outside your house just to take photographs and then sell them to a newspaper. And there is no better story for the tabloid press than a scandal about a famous person!