TERRIFIC TERRY DEARY

Terry Deary is a British children´s author. He was born in 1946 in Sunderland, England. He is one of Britain´s best-selling authors and was voted Outstanding Children´s Non-Fiction Author of the 20th century. He is famous among childdren and adults for being the main author of the "Horrible Histories" series of books. Terry Deary is nowadays retired from writing  and lives in Burnhope, County Durham, England.

Now, read the following excerpts borrowed from two of Terry Deary´s "Horrible Histories" books and complete the activities about INCAN TEMPLES and AZTEC SUPERSTITIONS: (My sincere thanks to the authors for these fantabulous materials, which have only been used for didactic purposes)

INCAN TEMPLES

 Now, answer the following questions using your own words:

1. Who was Pedro de Cieza de Leon and what did he write?

2. Were the Spanish conquistadors surprised when they saw the Incan temple? How do we know?

3. Do you think the conquistadors were really interested in Incan art? Explain your answer.

4. Describe the temple using your own words in no more than three lines.

Find synonyms in the text for the following words and expressions:

1. baby llamas:

2. enormous:

3. piece:

4. had the intention:

Find a Passive structure in the text: ________________________________________________

Turn the following sentence into Reported Speech: 
 "If I wrote down everything I saw then no one would believe me" , Cieza de Leon said.
____________________________________________________________________

(excerpt borrowed and adapted from "The Incredible Incas" by Terry Deary, Martin Brown and Philip Reeve)

AZTEC SUPERSTITIONS

When the Spanish first arrived in Mexico, they discovered a fabulous civilization: the Aztecs. But, what did Aztec explorers said  to their Emperor Motecuhzoma about the strange people they had seen? Read the following speech bubbles and find out:

 Now turn the bubbles into Reported Speech and try to join them using the appropriate sequencers and connectors.

Would you like to know what really happened? Read about it and write a summary in three or four lines.

(excerpt borrowed and adapted from "The Angry Aztecs" by Terry Deary and Martin Brown)

Avril Lavigne: Sk8er Boi (Skater Boy)

Avril Lavigne was born in Ontario (Canada). She began her career in 2002 with the album "Let Go", where the song "Sk8er Boi" appeared. Avril reached Nº2 on the Billboard 200 with only 17 years old.

Now, watch the clip, listen to the song and answer to the questions about it; then, listen to the song once more and complete the lyrics. Please, pay attention to Avril's non-verbal language, rhyme, and the bottom glossary, as they may help you to fill in the blank spaces. Leave your comments. Enjoy!!!

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CLIP

1. Describe Avril's physical appearance in the clip (two lines).
2.  Where are Avril and her band playing?
3. What kind of place is it?
4. Do they have problems at the end of the clip? How do we know?
5. What do you think is going to happen next? Make up an alternative ending for the clip in no more than three lines.

"Sk8er Boi" Lyrics

He was a boy

She was a girl

Can I make it anymore 1._____________?

He was a punk.

She did 2.____________.

What more can I say?

He 3.___________ her.

She'd never tell.

Secretly she wanted him as 4.__________.

And all of her friends

Stuck up their 5.__________.

And they had a problem with his 6.___________ clothes.

He was a skater boy, she said see ya later boy.

He wasn't good 7.____________ for her.

She had a 8.___________ face but her head was up in space.

She needed to come back down to 9.__________.

Five years from now, she sits at home 10._____________ the baby, she's all alone.

She turns on TV and 11.___________ who she sees?

Skater boy rockin' up MTV.

She calls up her friends.

They 12.___________ know

And they've all got 13.__________ to see his show.

She tags along, stands in the 14.__________.

Looks up at the man that she turned down.

He was a skater boy, she said see ya later boy.

He wasn't good 15.___________ for her.

Now he's a superstar

Slammin' on his 16.________

Does your pretty face see what he's 17.___________?

He was a skater boy, she said see ya later boy.
He wasn't good 18.__________ for her.
Now he's a superstar
Slammin' on his 19._________
Does your pretty face see what he's 20.___________?

Sorry girl but you missed out.

Well tough luck that boy's 21.__________ now.

We are more than just good friends.

This is how the story 22.__________.

Too bad that you couldn't see...

See the man that boy 23.__________ be.

There is more than meets the eye,

I see the 24._________ that is inside.

He's just a boy, and I'm just a girl.

Can I make it anymore 25.____________?

We are in love.

Haven't you 26._________ how we rock each other's world?

I met the skater boy I said see ya later boy.

I'll be backstage after the 27.___________.

I'll be at the studio singing the song he wrote about a girl he 28.__________ to know

I met the skater boy I said see ya later boy.

I'll be backstage after the 29.___________.

I'll be at the studio singing the song we wrote about a girl he 30.__________ to know

GLOSSARY

tag along: accompany somebody without invitation.

slam on: put into action suddenly or forcefully.

ya: you

tough luck: bad luck.

meet the eye: see at first sight.

miss out: fail to include.

turn down: reject an offer or proposal or someone making one.