TEST IN READING II SEMESTER 8 FORM Great Entertainers A Audiences around the world consider David Copperfield to be the greatest magician of our time. Copperfield was born in the United States in 1956. He began performing magic at the age of 12 and became the youngest person ever admitted to the Society of American Magicians. At 16, he was teaching a magic course at New York University. He then began singing and performing magic on stage in Chicago. At the age of 19, he was given a break in television with his own show. His career in the world of entertainment was taking off. Since the 1970s, Copperfield has performed in Emmy award-winning television programmes, stage plays, films and personal tours. He has travelled around the world and has elevated the art of magic to new heights. In addition to performing, he created a critically acclaimed Broadway show, Dreams & Nightmares, which broke all box-office records during its run in New York City. "The secret, " says David, "is to consider nothing impossible, then start treating possibilities as probabilities. If I am in the impossible business - and I am - then I want to go beyond impossible." B Jim Henson will forever be remembered as the person behind some of the most famous puppets in the world. His best-known creations include such characters as Elmo, Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, Miss Piggy and especially Kermit the Frog. Born in 1936 in the United States, Henson grew up loving puppets. In those days, most puppets were simply painted wood with no actual character or emotion. Henson designed puppets made of flexible, fabric-covered foam rubber, with big soft bodies and large mouths, which made them more realistic. He was given an opportunity to perform on a local television show, which quickly launched his career. By 1970, Henson had developed a popular children's educational television programme, called Sesame Street. The programme became an instant success and led to his next top production, The Muppet Show. Over the years, Henson expanded his company to include a wide variety of children's programmes and educational materials, including books, music, television shows and feature films. His work is known and loved worldwide. Jim Henson died in 1990, after devoting more than 30 years of his life to his craft. C We have all been amazed and impressed by acrobats and jugglers, mostly men, tossing around a variety of objects. However, a woman has recently taken centre stage in this male-dominated form of entertainment. Her name is Meike Fromm and she is from Germany, though she left there many years ago. Her stage name is Mika, and she is considered the best female juggler in the world. As a dancer, Mika trained in modern dance, jazz and belly dancing. She holds a Master's degree in Physical Education and is a certified teacher. She has worked with children with special needs in the New York City public school system. Since 1995, Mika has performed in circuses and live shows as an entertainer around Europe as well as the United States. Her unique style has allowed her to move beyond the standard style of juggling and add a theatrical touch to her performances. "I love my art, and I am just so very pleased to have the opportunity to share it with others, " says Mika. Statements 1 through 12 – choose from the people (A-C) which performer: 1. taught their craft to other people 2. made their creations more entertaining and lifelike 3. is/was not the same as most people in their profession 4. wants/wanted to do things people think cannot be done 5. has entertained and educated children around the world 6. does/did not live in the country where they were born 7. has/had an educational background unrelated to entertainment 8. had a record-breaking show 9. devoted most of their life to their craft 10. was allowed to become a member of a special group 11. worked with disabled children 12. is/was not known for appearing on television