Unit 2 Behind the Camera

Simple Present

Grammar Model

A
Read the passage. Then answer the questions.

This is Steven Spielberg—a very famous movie director. In this picture he is making one of his movies. Spielberg always makes amazing movies. He really likes to create adventure or science fiction movies. Millions of people watch his movies, so he makes a lot of money, but he has also won many awards. Many famous actors want to work with Spielberg because he is such a successful director.

1 What kinds of movies does Steven Spielberg like to make?
2 Why do many famous actors want to work with Spielberg?

B
For each statement, check [✓] if it is something that is happening now or happening generally.

He makes a lot of money. (✓ Generally)

Spielberg always makes amazing movies. (✓ Generally)

In this picture he is making one of his movies. (Now)

Millions of people watch his movies. (✓ Generally)

Grammar Skill
Simple Present

The simple present is used for things we do in general. We use it to talk about jobs, habits, hobbies, routines, or how often we do something.

Negatives

NOTE: Verbs that end with y get -ies in singular form (study → studies, fly → flies).

Practice C

Complete the passage using the correct form of the verbs given. Then listen and check your answers.

Verbs: care, live, get, enjoy, star, earn

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are famous actors. Pitt (1) stars in a lot of different kinds of movies and (2) earns more than $20 million per movie. He (3) enjoys paid a lot of money because his movies are very popular. Jolie (4) enjoys making action movies like Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, but she also (5) cares a lot about important problems in the world. Jolie and Pitt (6) live in the United States.

D
Work with a classmate and say each sentence. Then say it again using the words given and by changing the verb forms where needed.

1. Michael watches movies at home.
   • He/They/Michael and his family
2. Susan works at home.
   • Read/eat/study/cook
3. I study after school every day.
   • He/They/Tina/You
4. She plays tennis on weekends.
   • Go swimming/watch TV/sleep late/relax
5. He usually catches the bus.
   • We/She/Tony/I

E
Pretend you are a famous movie actor. Write a blog entry about some of the things you do on weekends and present it to the class.

Useful words: attend movie premiere / go sailing / practice lines / go to the beach / exercise / volunteer

On Saturdays

F-8 Listen and complete the passage.

Jessica Alba is an American actress. She (1) _____ as Sue Storm in the Fantastic Four movies. Alba’s father is Mexican, but she (2) _____ very little Spanish. She (3) _____ to cook Mexican food, however. Alba also (4) _____ motorcycles and (5) _____ golf and the violin. She (6) _____ two dogs and (7) _____ in California in the United States.

G-9 Listen to the passage and take notes.

Notes

• Brandon Routh, Hollywood actor

H Use your notes from Activity G to present the passage to the class.

Review 1

A. Circle the correct answer.

1. It’s Tuesday and Rob _____ his bike to school.
   a. riding
   b. is rideing
   c. is riding
   d. ride
2. He _____ to school every day, but not on Saturday or Sunday.
   a. going
   b. goes
   c. go
   d. is go
3. Julia often _____ adventure stories in the library.
   a. reads
   b. reading
   c. is reading
   d. readding
4. Right now she _____ a new book to read.
   a. chooses
   b. choose
   c. are chooseing
   d. is choosing
5. Tim and Ann _____ to the movies with their parents.
   a. goes
   b. are going
   c. is going
   d. going
6. They _____ to watch action movies or comedy movies.
   a. like
   b. are liking
   c. likes
   d. is liking

B. Circle the correct pair of answers.

1. Tom usually _____ after school but today he _____ basketball.
   a. studying, play
   b. study, play
   c. studies, is playing
   d. studies, plays
2. Fred _____ to art class on Thursday and _____ baseball on Friday.
   a. is going, play
   b. goes, plays
   c. go, play
   d. going, plays
3. Tina _____ a TV show and she _____ because it is a comedy.
   a. is watching, is laughing
   b. watch, laugh
   c. watching, laughs
   d. is watching, laughing
4. Sherry and Paul _____ their rooms today because they always _____ a mess and never clean up.
   a. cleans, makes
   b. is cleaning, make
   c. clean, making
   d. are cleaning, make

C
Complete the passage using the correct form of the verbs given. Then listen and check your answers.

(is, make, enjoy, like, create, get)

This (1) ______________ George Lucas. He is a famous movie director and producer. He (2) ______________ making science fiction movies. He (3) ______________ amazing aliens for his movies, like Ewoks and Wookies. He (4) ______________ great actors to work with him, too. Lucas always (5) ______________ exciting movies that people (6) ______________ watching.

D
Look at the pictures from Star Mission 2055. Write a description for each picture using the tense given.

1. (simple present)
2. (present continuous)