Read the text and choose the correct answer.
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. But the pieces of paper he used kept falling out. He remembered
Spencer’s glue and the Post-It™ 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’re waiting, it’s probably safer to keep
working hard.
Are these sentences true (T), false (F) or the article doesn’t say (DS)?
61. The article says that people become successful because they work hard. ....................
62. Aretha Franklin used to sing in her church. ....................
63. Sarah Michelle Gellars acting career started slowly at first. ....................
64. Luciano Pavarotti became world-famous in 1963. ....................
65. Mel Gibsons parents were millionaires. ....................
66. Mel Gibson had a fight at the audition for Mad Max. ....................
67. Post-It™ notes were invented in 1974. ....................
68. Spencer Silver invented Post-It™ notes by himself. ....................
61. The article says that people become successful because they work hard. ..........F..........
62. Aretha Franklin used to sing in her church. ..........T..........
63. Sarah Michelle Gellars acting career started slowly at first. ........DS............
64. Luciano Pavarotti became world-famous in 1963. ..........F..........
65. Mel Gibsons parents were millionaires. .........DS...........
66. Mel Gibson had a fight at the audition for Mad Max. ......T..............
67. Post-It™ notes were invented in 1974. ...........F.........
68. Spencer Silver invented Post-It™ notes by himself. ..........F..........
61. The article says that people become successful because they work hard. ..F..
62. Aretha Franklin used to sing in her church. ..T..
63. Sarah Michelle Gellars acting career started slowly at first. ..DS..
64. Luciano Pavarotti became world-famous in 1963. ..F..
65. Mel Gibsons parents were millionaires. ...DS...
66. Mel Gibson had a fight at the audition for Mad Max. ..T..
67. Post-It™ notes were invented in 1974. .. F ..
68. Spencer Silver invented Post-It™ notes by himself. ..F..
