THE CULT OF CELEBRITY

Student:___________________________

THE TASK IS TO:

1. read the text The Cult of Celebrity on p39

2. complete task 3 on p38
3. think about the answers to the questions in tasks 2, 4 and 5
since we will talk about them right after the holidays
4. think about the answers to the questions in the What do you
think? (1-3) section on p40
5. find translations and synonyms to the words on pages 3 and 4
6. complete the tasks on p5-6.

UNIT 4: THE CULT OF CELEBRITY wordlist

synonyms

translation

achieve (v.)

__________________________________

________________________

thrust (v.)

__________________________________

________________________

short-lived (adj.)

__________________________________

________________________

iconic (adj.)

__________________________________

________________________

transform (v.)

__________________________________

________________________

claim (v.)

__________________________________

________________________

envy (n.)

__________________________________

________________________

admiration (n.)

__________________________________

________________________

fair game (n.)

__________________________________

________________________

ridicule (n.)

__________________________________

________________________

spite (n.)

__________________________________

________________________

reverence (n.)

__________________________________

________________________

scrutinize (v.)

__________________________________

________________________

PR (n.)

__________________________________

________________________

assume (v.)

__________________________________

________________________

to be on show (v.)

__________________________________

________________________

contempt (n.)

__________________________________

________________________

bestow (v.)

__________________________________

________________________

mighty (adj.)

__________________________________

________________________

gruesome (adj.)

__________________________________

________________________

misdeed (n.)

__________________________________

________________________

account (n.)

__________________________________

________________________

deem (v.)

__________________________________

________________________

contemptible (adj.)

__________________________________

________________________

delve (v.)

__________________________________

________________________

game show (n.)

__________________________________

________________________

confessional TV (n.)

__________________________________

________________________

a fly on the wall

__________________________________

________________________

readiness (n.)

__________________________________

________________________

cease (v.)

__________________________________

________________________

it never ceases to
amaze

__________________________________

________________________

undignified (adj.)

__________________________________

________________________

unflattering (adj.)

__________________________________

________________________

ghastly (adj.)

__________________________________

________________________

proportion (n.)

__________________________________

________________________

otherwise (adv.)

__________________________________

________________________

__________________________________

________________________

daytime television (n.)

__________________________________

________________________

afterlife (n.)

__________________________________

________________________

pursuit (n.)

__________________________________

________________________

pathological (adj.)

__________________________________

________________________

feature (n.)

__________________________________

________________________

omnipresence (n.)

__________________________________

________________________

insatiable (adj.)

__________________________________

________________________

human-interest (adj.)

__________________________________

________________________

gossip column (n.)

__________________________________

________________________

gathering (n.)

__________________________________

________________________

soundbite (n.)

__________________________________

________________________

ogle (v.)

__________________________________

________________________

indulge (v.)

__________________________________

________________________

in this regard

__________________________________

________________________

tune into (v.)

__________________________________

________________________

loathe (v.)

__________________________________

________________________

curb (v.)

__________________________________

________________________

glittery (adj.)

__________________________________

________________________

sacrificial lamb (n.)

__________________________________

________________________

willingly (adv.)

__________________________________

________________________

viciousness (n.)

__________________________________

________________________

voyeurism (n.)

__________________________________

________________________

readily (adv.)

__________________________________

________________________

absorb (v.)

__________________________________

________________________

to think nothing of
doing something

A. Fill in the gaps with appropriate prepositions.

1. There are some totally talentless people who are simply famous _______ being famous.
2. Many modern celebrities are no different than the rest of us and we feel justified _____
treating them ________ such contempt.
3. Perhaps we should be more aware ______ the viciousness of voyeurism and the myths we
too readily absorb.
4. We build them up and knock them _______ .
5. Some have fame thrust __________ them, like crime victims.
6. In the adult population, otherwise normal people think nothing________ confessing all about
their personal tragedies _______ daytime TV.

B. Choose only one word for the gaps.

1. I have enjoyed a little celebrity in my life and I have _______ any number of models.
a) hated

b) ogled

c) delivered

2. What can be done to ______ our fascination?

a) treat

b) deem

c) curb

3. You are the object of envy and a fair _______ for criticism.
a) game

b) object

c) account

C. Match the synonyms.

analyze
delve into
loathe

hate
scrutinize
dig into

D. WORD FORMATION: Complete the table.

Noun

Adjective
contemptible

famous
royal
icon
brutal
glitter
ready
destroy
viciuos

E. Match the words on the left with appropriate definitions.

a. indulge

___ the state of being everywhere at once

(or seeming to be everywhere at once)

b. account

___ a very short speech; usually on radio or television

c. deem

___ television programme from 9am to 5pm

d. daytime TV

___ a short account of the news

e. omnipresence

___ enjoy to excess

f. sound bite

___ keep in mind or convey as a conviction or view

F. Add -less, in-, im- or un- to make new words.

mortality

_________________

willingness
dignified

_________________

flattering
satiable
end
talent

_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________