miércoles, 27 de febrero de 2008
OSCAR HOPEFULS
Oscar hopefuls
Listen to the story http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/quizzes/quiznet/quiznet_archive.shtml
The British romantic drama Atonement is leading the pack of British hopefuls for this year's Oscars. The film is up for seven gongs including best picture. However, the stars of the movie Keira Knightley from Pirates of the Caribbean and James McEvoy from The Last King of Scotland, haven't been nominated for their acting.
The thirteen-year old Irish actress Saoirse Ronan has eclipsed her Atonement co-stars by picking up a nomination for the best supporting actress.
A British-born Irish actor, Daniel Day-Lewis, has been shortlisted as best actor for his role in the film There Will Blood. In the best actress category the British star Julie Christie is a nominee for playing an Alzheimer's sufferer in Away From Her.
Overall, the American movie No Country For Old Men has topped the list of Oscar nominations with a total of eight.
The Australian actress Cate Blanchett could pick up both the best actress and best supporting actress awards for her parts as Queen Elizabeth the First of England and in the bio-pic of the rock legend Bob Dylan called I'm Not There. Cate, who's a woman, has drawn praise for her portrayal of Dylan, who is, of course, a man.
But the announcement of this year's Oscar nominations has been tainted with sadness at the news that the actor Heath Ledger has died. The body of the 28-year-old co-star of the 2005 Ang Lee film Brokeback Mountain was discovered in his home in New York. Police are investigating if the actor had taken an overdose of prescription pills.
Vocabulary
romantic dramathe type of film about a loving relationship that is exciting and has a strong effect on viewers' emotions
atonementdoing something that shows that you are sorry for something bad that you did
leading the packhere, most likely to get an award
hopefulsactors and/or films that may get an Oscar
gongshonours (here, Oscars) that are given to someone for their outstanding artistic work
nominatedput forward for the award
eclipsedoutshone, did better than
best supporting actressa supporting actor is not the most important actor in a film
shortlistedjudged the most suitable for the prize (from a longer list of people originally considered)
rolean actor's part in a film or play
categoryputting people or things into groups with the same features (e.g. here, all actresses put forward for an Oscar in the best actress category will compete against each other, not with those nominated in another category)
nomineesomeone who is nominated for an award
Alzheimer'sa disease that results in the gradual loss of memory, speech, movement, and the ability to think clearly (especially common among older people)
topped the listhad more nominations than others
bio-pica biographical film (i.e. showing someone's life story)
drawn praisebeen highly spoken of
portrayalrepresentation of someone's character in a film, play or book
tainted with sadnessa partly sad event
overdosetaking too many drugs
Listen to the story http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/quizzes/quiznet/quiznet_archive.shtml
The British romantic drama Atonement is leading the pack of British hopefuls for this year's Oscars. The film is up for seven gongs including best picture. However, the stars of the movie Keira Knightley from Pirates of the Caribbean and James McEvoy from The Last King of Scotland, haven't been nominated for their acting.
The thirteen-year old Irish actress Saoirse Ronan has eclipsed her Atonement co-stars by picking up a nomination for the best supporting actress.
A British-born Irish actor, Daniel Day-Lewis, has been shortlisted as best actor for his role in the film There Will Blood. In the best actress category the British star Julie Christie is a nominee for playing an Alzheimer's sufferer in Away From Her.
Overall, the American movie No Country For Old Men has topped the list of Oscar nominations with a total of eight.
The Australian actress Cate Blanchett could pick up both the best actress and best supporting actress awards for her parts as Queen Elizabeth the First of England and in the bio-pic of the rock legend Bob Dylan called I'm Not There. Cate, who's a woman, has drawn praise for her portrayal of Dylan, who is, of course, a man.
But the announcement of this year's Oscar nominations has been tainted with sadness at the news that the actor Heath Ledger has died. The body of the 28-year-old co-star of the 2005 Ang Lee film Brokeback Mountain was discovered in his home in New York. Police are investigating if the actor had taken an overdose of prescription pills.
Vocabulary
romantic dramathe type of film about a loving relationship that is exciting and has a strong effect on viewers' emotions
atonementdoing something that shows that you are sorry for something bad that you did
leading the packhere, most likely to get an award
hopefulsactors and/or films that may get an Oscar
gongshonours (here, Oscars) that are given to someone for their outstanding artistic work
nominatedput forward for the award
eclipsedoutshone, did better than
best supporting actressa supporting actor is not the most important actor in a film
shortlistedjudged the most suitable for the prize (from a longer list of people originally considered)
rolean actor's part in a film or play
categoryputting people or things into groups with the same features (e.g. here, all actresses put forward for an Oscar in the best actress category will compete against each other, not with those nominated in another category)
nomineesomeone who is nominated for an award
Alzheimer'sa disease that results in the gradual loss of memory, speech, movement, and the ability to think clearly (especially common among older people)
topped the listhad more nominations than others
bio-pica biographical film (i.e. showing someone's life story)
drawn praisebeen highly spoken of
portrayalrepresentation of someone's character in a film, play or book
tainted with sadnessa partly sad event
overdosetaking too many drugs
Aesop´s Fables
The Hart and the Hunter
The Hart was once drinking from a pool and admiring the noble figure he made there. "Ah," said he, "where can you see such noble horns as these, with such antlers! I wish I had legs more worthy to bear such a noble crown; it is a pity they are so slim and slight."At that moment a Hunter approached and sent an arrow whistling after him. Away bounded the Hart, and soon, by the aid of his nimble legs, was nearly out of sight of the Hunter; but not noticing where he was going, he passed under some trees with branches growing low down in which his antlers were caught, so that the Hunter had time to come up. "Alas! alas!" cried the Hart:"We often despise what is most useful to us."
Vocabulary
antlers: cornamenta
worthy: dignas
bear: llevar, portar
nimble: ágiles
despise: despreciar, menospreciar
you can find more short stories and fables HERE
The Hart was once drinking from a pool and admiring the noble figure he made there. "Ah," said he, "where can you see such noble horns as these, with such antlers! I wish I had legs more worthy to bear such a noble crown; it is a pity they are so slim and slight."At that moment a Hunter approached and sent an arrow whistling after him. Away bounded the Hart, and soon, by the aid of his nimble legs, was nearly out of sight of the Hunter; but not noticing where he was going, he passed under some trees with branches growing low down in which his antlers were caught, so that the Hunter had time to come up. "Alas! alas!" cried the Hart:"We often despise what is most useful to us."
Vocabulary
antlers: cornamenta
worthy: dignas
bear: llevar, portar
nimble: ágiles
despise: despreciar, menospreciar
you can find more short stories and fables HERE
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