I`ve always loved dressing up and being glamorous. My first 1 performance (perform) was when I was aged 10 at stage school. Then when I was a teenager, I spent a few years in a girl band, but we didn`t get anywhere. I`d always believed that having 2 ability (able) and a 3 belief (believe) in yourself would be enough, but it isn`t. You need a formidable team of people behind you and you also need a lot of money. 4 Luckily (lucky), I got the chance to audition for a role in a famous soup opera and since then I`ve been working non-stop. I think I am 5 successful (success) for my age because I`ve worked very hard. I think you need dedication, 6 confidence (confident) and 7 ambition (ambitious) to be an actor. You also need to be able to accept rejection and 8 criticism (criticise) – and that can be frustrating. I think the secret to success is being happy in your career. You spend most of your time working so you should have lots of 9 enthusiasm (enthusiastic) for it. I may feel nervous when I go on in front of the cameras, but each time I see it as a new 10 achievement (achieve), a new conquest.

Give the opposites of the following words: succeed in; be dependent (on); get into trouble; get the green light; be your own boss; be a lazy bone; push yourself; fail; be broke; an official Red tape; feel easy-going, relaxed; have big bank accounts; feel as fresh as a new paint; feel knackered; get a lucky break; be bundle of nerves; failure lucky break fail;

1) If you are dying to be a success you should be …… (capable, creative, patient, energetic, flexible, diplomatic, sociable) 2) Its impossible to get to the top unless you are extremely …….. (intelligent, hard-working, open-minded, imaginative) 3) Bill Gates is a great success because he is exclusively ……. (hard-working, ambitious and optimistic) 4) When you want to set up your own business and be your own boss you should be exceptionally ……… (capable and good at what you do) 5) Its ridiculous to reach the heights of the profession without having ……… (a sense of responsibility, a perfect memory, astonishing talent, definite backgrounds, useful contacts, back-up team, confidence)

We tend to think that successful people deserve their success. They probably studied hard at school, they worked hard every day or they took a lot of risks. 1 In fact, many successful people simply got a «lucky break»: something happened that gave them a chance to be successful; they took the opportunity and the rest, as they say, is history. Some people just fell into fame. Aretha Franklin, the legendary Queen of Soul, was singing in her church choir when a record company executive heard her voice. Sarah Michelle Gellar, star of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, was in a restaurant when a TV executive saw her. She was four. 2 A week later she had a part in a film. A month later she was in an advert for Burger King. Other people were lucky because someone else was unlucky. In 1963 the very famous Italian opera singer Giuseppe di Stefano had a throat problem while he was singing in the opera La Boheme. 3 A young, relatively unknown singer was asked to take over. His name? Luciano Pavarotti. Some people are just very lucky. Mel Gibson was born in New York. In 1968 his dad won a lot of money on a quiz show. 4 He decided to move the family to Australia. In Sydney Mel studied drama because his sister sent off his application form. Then the night before one of his first auditions, Mel had a fight at a party. And when the unheard-of actor arrived at the audition, he looked awful – but perfect for the role of Mad Max. He got the part. Sometimes lucky breaks lead to a new invention. When that happens, it`s called serendipity. The discovery of Post-It TM notes were an accident. In 1970 Spencer Silver was attempting to make a strong type of glue. He failed. Then four years later, Spencer`s colleague was trying to mark the songs in a hymn book at his local church. 5 But the pieces of paper he used kept falling out. He remembered Spencer`s glue and the Post-It TM was born. Last year 3M sold over $100 million worth of the notes. In life, it seems, sometimes you need a little luck. But while you are waiting, it`s probably safer to keep working hard.

a) In fact, many successful people simply got a «lucky break». b) But the pieces of paper he used kept falling out. c) A young, relatively unknown singer was asked to take over. d) He decided to move the family to Australia. e) A week later she had a part in a film.

1) break a) role 2) legendary b) opportunity 3) part c) discovery 4) unknown d) trying 5) invention e) unheard of 6) attempting f) very famous

If I got me a wealthy man - If I got myself a wealthy man Have a ball - have a very good time Fancy me - find me attractive Win a fortune in a game - win a fortune by gambling (азартные игры)

1) What kind of life do the singers have? 2) What way of making money have they dreamed of? 3) Why would the idea probably not work? 4) Do you agree with the statement: «Its a rich mans world»?

I think being successful is ………….. Having big bank accounts; Having insecure income; Being a bundle of nerves; Going on a luxury cruise; Making sensible investments; The lack of free time; Having an easy-going life; Feel exhausted/knackered; Red tape; Increasing savings; Stressful life; Long hours of work; A great responsibility.

M ay the road rise to meet you, M ay the wind be always at your back, M ay the sun shine warm upon your face, M ay the rain fall short upon your fields, A nd, until we meet again M ay God hold you in the palm of his hand.

«God Helps Those Who Help Themselves» (Write a composition referring to the proverb)

Matrix Upper – Intermediate Anne Conybeare Kathy Gude and Jayne Wildman (Oxford University Press, 2007)