Elvis Presley Comprehension

The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll

Elvis Aaron Presley was the most popular and famous singer the world has ever known. He was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, on 8th January 1935, the only child of Gladys and Vernon Presley. When he was young, he enjoyed listening to the popular and country music of his time and he was also influenced by gospel music which he heard in his local church. For his 11th birthday he was given a really significant present: a guitar. In 1948 the family moved to Memphis, Tennessee and the young Elvis attended Humes High School, which he graduated from in 1953. A year later, he signed his first recording contract. By 1956 he had become a worldwide singing sensation. He was very good-looking and his amazing dance moves made him very popular with girls. But he was also a very kind and humble man which made him a favourite with many millions of people. In 1956 he made it! Heartbreak Hotel became his first US No 1. He only had to wait another year until All Shook Up became his first UK No 1. In 1958 he was drafted into the US army. But this didn’t stop him from having hits. His manager, Colonel Tom Parker, had made him record lots of tracks which were then released while he was serving in the army in Germany. So, the hits just kept on coming. One evening Elvis went to a party and met the beautiful Priscilla Beaulieu. They got married on 1 May 1967. Elvis was discharged from the army in March 1960 and started recording again. He had many more hits all over the world which made him the biggest-selling solo artist of the 20th century. He won hundreds of awards and sold over 1 billion records. He also became a film star, appearing in 33 films, including probably the most famous and popular, King Creole. On 16 August 1977, the world heard the terrible news: ELVIS IS DEAD. He had died at his home in Graceland, Memphis. The US President, Jimmy Carter, issued a statement which said: ‘Elvis has permanently changed the face of American popular culture.’ Nobody is completely certain how Elvis died, but he had become very unhealthy and it was reported from the USA that he had had a heart attack. For many days, the newspapers were full of speculation and suggestions as to how and why he had died. Some people claim that he is still alive and actually faked his death so that he could go and live a quiet life! He was buried at Graceland on 18 August 1977. Over 80,000 people stood by the road as his funeral procession went past. Since his death, he has sold millions more records. Way Down became a UK No 1 the week after he died and he has had four more No 1s in the UK, making a total of 21 so far. Elvis Presley still earns millions of dollars in record sales and memorabilia even 40 years after his death. His home at Graceland is now an official US national historic landmark and is visited by over half a million people every year.

Name: ...... Date: ......

Activity 1:

Read the text about Elvis Presley carefully then answer the following questions: a. How many children did Gladys and Vernon Presley have?

...... b. What sort of music did Elvis hear as a child?

...... c. Why was Elvis popular with girls?

...... d. What is the name of his famous home?

...... e. Is Elvis still alive? How do you know? Find and copy words from the text that tell you this.

...... f. How many records did Elvis sell?

......

Activity 2:

Read the text again. Identify three facts and three opinions in the text by highlighting them with one colour for facts and another for opinions. Compare your answer with a partner. Can you find six facts and six opinions between you?

Activity 3:

Look at the 10 words marked in bold in the text. Put them in alphabetical order in the space below. (The first one has been done for you.)

Do you know what the words mean? Write a definition for each word. If you’re not sure what it means, use the context to help you work it out before you use a dictionary. Be careful, though, some of the words have more than one meaning:

1. Contract: ......

2......

3......

4......

5......

6......

7......

8......

9......

10......

Activity 4: Elvis timeline

Cut up the dates and the events into separate strips. Now match them together to make an Elvis timeline. Try to only check back with the text if you’re stuck.

8.1.35 Died at home in Graceland

8.1.46 Drafted into US army

1948 First recording contract

1953 Married Priscilla Beaulieu

1954 Given a guitar for his 11th birthday

1957 Born in Tupelo, Mississippi

1958 Discharged from army

March 1960 Graduated from high school

1.5.67 Moved to Memphis, Tennessee

16.8.77 First UK No 1, All Shook Up

Activity 5: The Elvis No 1s puzzle

Starting from the highlighted letter, follow the letters down and up the columns to find out 11 of Elvis’s UK No 1s. The first two have been done for you. Write them on the spaces below:

Start

A O N O W O N E R R O

L K E N O T I D R E F

L C N S R E G N E D Y

S O I T N M H E T N O

H R G I E O T R U O U

O E H I V S W R R W W

O S T S E E O U N E A

K U A A R N O S T H Y

U O F H A O D T O T D

P H O C R L E R S R O

J L O U E U N A E E W

A I L S Y O H E N D N

Finish

ALL/SHOOK/UP

JAILHOUSE/ROCK

5. ______/ _ _ _ _ _ 1. _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ 6. ______2. _ / _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ / _ _ / _ 7. ______/ _ _ / ______3. _ _ ’ _ / _ _ _ / _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ 8. 4. _ _ _ / _ _ _ / ______/ ______/ _ _ / _ _ _

/______? 9. _ _ _ / _ _ _ _

Activity 6:

Fill in the missing vowels to find out what two other famous musicians of the 1960s thought of Elvis:

Keith Richards (from the Rolling John Lennon (from the Beatles) said: Stones) said:

‘B-f-r- -lv-s, -v-ryth-ng w-s ‘B-f-r- -lv-s th-r- w-s n-th- -n bl-ck -nd wh-t-. Th-n c- ng.’ m- -lv-s. Z--m. Gl-r---s t-

chn-c-l—r!’

What do you think? Explain your reasons.

Teaching notes

National Curriculum Links:

Reading and spelling:

Reading and working out the meanings of unfamiliar words from context or a dictionary where necessary. (Activity 3)

Distinguishing between statements of fact and opinion. (Activity 2)

Retrieving information. (Activity 1 and 4)

Writing:

Non-fiction writing: writing an article for a newspaper.

Making judgements and giving reasons for them. (Activity 6)

Identify purpose and use appropriate form (writing a newspaper article). (Extension activity 6)

Extension idea:

Ask children to imagine they are a newspaper editor. They should then write an article for the front page of their paper for 17 August 1977.

Answers:

Activity 1: comprehension

a one; Elvis was an only b popular and country c because of his good looks child music of his time and and dance moves gospel music d Graceland e No. He was buried at f 1 billion. Graceland on 18.8.77

Activity 4: Elvis timeline

8.1.35 Born in Tupelo, Mississippi; 1957 First UK No 1

8.1.46 Given a guitar for his 11th birthday 1958 Drafted into US army; March

1948 Moved to Memphis, Tennessee; 1960 Discharged from army

1953 Graduated from high school 1.5.67 Married Priscilla Beaulieu

1954 First recording contract 16.8.77 Died at Graceland

Activity 5: UK No 1s puzzle

All shook up/Jailhouse rock/One night/ A fool such as I/It’s now or never/Are you lonesome tonight?/Wooden heart/Surrender/Return to sender/The wonder of you/Way down.

Activity 6: Missing vowels

‘Before Elvis, everything was in black and white. Then came Elvis. Zoom. Glorious technicolour.’

‘Before Elvis, there was nothing.’

Image credits

©Elvis Galery, 2014, flic.kr/p/jXekbi ©Sarah W., 2005, flic.kr/p/J8RP – edited from original © Charles LeBlanc, 2008, flic.kr/p/5HjQ8e