EXTENSION UNIT 7

2 Read the text. Then complete the sentences with the verbs in brackets. Use the Present Perfect Simple affirmative. Then tick (✓) the sentences true (T), false (F) or don’t know (DK) according to the text.

Street Musicians

It’s a typical morning at one of Chicago’s underground stations. People have left home early to get to work on time. There’s a lot of noise from the trains and the crowd. But if you listen carefully, you will hear the sound of a violin. Musician Scott Dusenbery has begun another day of work. He will play for several hours to entertain the underground travellers. If they like Scott’s music, they will throw money in the basket in front of him. It’s hard work but Scott thinks it’s fun.

Street musicians like Scott are serious, talented artists. They are different from ordinary musicians because they have chosen to perform on street corners, in parks and at shopping centre entrances. They perform when they want to and for as long as they want.

Some street performers get a chance to develop their careers. Crystal Bowersox is a good example. After performing as a street musician since the age of 17, she reached second place on the television programme American Idol in 2010.

Playing on the streets isn’t easy. Street musicians say that it is important not to get upset when people don’t listen to you. There is a YouTube video of Crystal Bowersox before she became famous. She was singing beautifully in the underground, but people didn’t even look at her as they hurried to their trains. Another problem is money. You won’t get rich playing on the streets, but these musicians don’t care. They often support themselves with a normal job and play in their free time.

Why do musicians choose this unique lifestyle? They love the adventure and the chance to meet new people. But the best part is the connection with the audience. George Banks, another Chicago street musician, feels the most wonderful part of his music is making another person happy.

                                                                                                                            T      F   DK

 1.Scott …………………… (work) at a normal job to support himself.                    ...... ...... ......

 2.   Some street musicians …………………… (choose) this type of work.              ...... ...... ......

 3.   Crystal Bowersox …………………… (perform) as a street musician.                ...... ...... ......

 4.   The American Idol programme ………………… (make) Crystal famous.       ...... ...... ......

 5.   It ………………… (be) easy for Crystal to make money as a street musician. ...... ...... ......

2 Answer the questions.

    1.   Why is it hard to hear Scott’s music? .............................................................................................

    2.   How are street musicians similar to ordinary musicians? .................................................................

    3.   What is difficult about playing in the street? ...................................................................................

    4.   Why do street musicians enjoy this work? Write two reasons from different paragraphs.

          ...............................................................................................................................................

          ...............................................................................................................................................

    5.   What does George Banks like about his work? ...............................................................................

3 Imagine you are a street musician. Write a blog entry about a day of playing on the street.

ANSWERS

2  1.   has worked – DK           4.  has made – T

    2.   have chosen – T            5.  has been – F

    3.   has performed – T

3  1.   Because there is a lot of noise from trains and the crowd.

    2.   They are serious, talented artists.

    3.   It’s easy to get upset when people don’t listen to you. / You won’t get rich playing on the street.

    4.   They perform when they want to and for
as long as they want to. They love the adventure and the chance to meet new people.

    5.   His music makes people happy.