Question

Michael Jackson (1958-2009) spent many of his later years alone in a mansion called Neverland.The name “Neverland” is taken from the children’s story Peter Pan.It’s about boy who never grows up.Cruel critics of Jackson thought he was like Peter Pan,but that he was childish rather than childlike.They laughed at his taste,his clothes and his pet chimpanzee,Bubbles.

But perhaps Jackson acted like a child because he hadn’t had a proper childhood.He began to work as a professional singer at the age of 9,performing with a group made up of his brothers.Besides working with this group. The Jackson Five,be also had a solo career.He didn’t choose to make music like this;he was under a lot of pressure from his father and the music business.He started young and began to sell lots of records while he was still young. With this kind of pressure,who can blame him for living in his own way once he’d become an adult and gotten rich enough lo do what he liked?

His great originality came from the fact that he wrote,performed and recorded music that appealed to different communities.Before there had been “white” music and “black” music.But Jackson made “crossover” music,songs that had parts of funk,rock ‘n’ roll and disco in them.He broke down a lot of barriers with this approach.A great example of this “crossover” style is the song Beat It.It has guitars like rock music,but it also has a beat like disco music.

If you look up the Beat It video on the Internet,you’ll understand another reason for his fame.He made imaginative music that went well with equally imaginative videos.Beat It is,in part,about a war between young gangs. Jackson and his team made a great job of showing the rival gangs facing each other.You also see great dancing,and Jackson shows off his strong sense of fashion.Jackson was as much a video artist as a music artist.

This is why he was such a hit not just in the United States,but also globally.People loved his music and videos everywhere.He had a great effect on so many household names.Britney Spears,Justin Bieber and many others.In all of them you can find the combination of catchy danceable music and great videos that Jackson started.His music videos were must-see TV,and young would-be artists learned that it took more than just holding a microphone if they really wanted to make it big.

“When I was just starting out,many first producer used to make me listen to Michael Jackson’s live performance of Who’s Loving You (1969).He would make me watch and listen to that for hours back to back,“said American singer Beyonce,just one of many singers to be inspired by Jackson.

He was,for many of the younger generation,the first to cross over and explode onto the pop charts.“ I felt like he set the standard for artists.I don’t care what genre you make music in,you should always try to be like Michael Jackson,”said American singer Bruno Mars.That is why was called “The King of Pop” and why he lives on in the hearts of hundreds of millions.

1.Why did Michael Jackson act like a child?

A. Because he liked Peter Pan so much.

B. Because he was childlike and childish.

C. Because he lived in a mansion called Neverland.

D. Because he didn’t live a proper life in his childhood.

2.What can we learn from the comments of Beyonce and Bruno Mars?

A. Beyonce and Bruno Mars were asked to exactly what Michael Jackson did.

B. Beyonce and Bruno Mars attach great importance to becoming famous.

C. Michael Jackson lives in the heart of millions of fans.

D. Michael Jackson is a very influential super star.

3.How can we describe Michael Jackson?

A. Childlike and popular. B. Creative and talented.

C. Influential and responsible. D. Imaginative and generous.

Answer 1