ROALD DAHL

Before watching a short video about the magnificent writer Roald Dahl, read a summary of his biography and decide if the statements underneath are TRUE or FALSE. Then check the KEY below.

ROALD DAHL’S BIOGRAPHY

"If you are going to get anywhere in life you have to read a lot of books"

Roald Dahl was born in Wales on 13th September 1916. His parents were from Norway and  they named him after the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen. His father died when he was 3 years old and he lived with his mother and sisters. He had an unhappy time at boarding school, which provided some of the inspiration for his stories.

After leaving school he worked for the Shell Oil Company based in Africa until the start of World War II, when he became a pilot for the Royal Air Force. Unfortunately he was injured in action and returned home as an invalid. He was then sent to Washington DC to work as a diplomat and there, almost by accident, he started his writing career.

In 1943 he wrote his first children’s book, The Gremlins, which was originally intended to become an animated film by Walt Disney. The film was not made and Dahl turned to writing adult fiction.

In the 1960s he was a father himself and started inventing stories to entertain his own children. He wrote 21 children’s books including Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach The BFG, Matilda, and The Witches, all of which were made into successful films. All his books were illustrated by Quentin Blake.

Roald Dahl died at home on 23rd November 1990, at the age of 74 and fifteen years later a museum was opened in Great Missenden to remember his life and his work.

Boarding school = internado

TRUE or FALSE?

1.    He was Norwegian.

2.    His father was an explorer.

3.    He didn’t like school.

4.    His first job was in Africa.

5.    He could fly planes.

6.    He was injured in Washington.

7.    The Gremlins became one of Walt Disney’s films.

8.    He wrote for children again when he had his own children.

9.    His museum opened before his death

Now watch the video and then fill in the blanks in the sentences underneath.

1. He wrote his books in a ______ at the bottom of his _______
2. He always used  ________ and _________ paper.
3. He wrote more than ________ children's classics.
4. Sir Quentin Blake made the drawings for Roald Dahl's _______.
5. Charlie and the chocolate factory and Matilda were turned into huge bolckbuster ________.

Blockbuster = big box office hit = gran éxito de taquilla


KEY:

True False:
1. False
2. False
3. True
4. True
5. True
6. False
7. False
8. True
9. False

FILL IN
1. hut     garden
2. pencil     yellow
3. 20
4. books
5. movies