Apr 25, 2014

The Great Gatsby: Simple Past



This used to be one of my favorite books. The book's first adaptation for the big screen was amazing, with outstanding actors. I confess I was not expecting much of this new version, but I really liked it. DiCaprio is an excellent actor and the story is very close to the original one. It is a must-see.


I. Read the story below. Complete the blanks with the simple past of the verbs in parentheses. Then watch the movie segment and check your answers.





It ______________ (be) the day I got my new English golf shoes. Daisy _____________ (be) by far the most popular girl with the officers from Camp David.One of them ___________ (be) in the car with her. It ______________ (be) Gatsby. The way he ___________ (look) at her is the way all girls want to be looked at. Gatsby was sent off to war. When the war ____________ (end), Daisy _____________ (wait). But for some unknown reason, Gatsby couldn't return. A year later, Tom Buchanan of Chicago ____________ (sweep) in and _________________ (steal) her away. He ___________ (give) her a string of pearls worth $350,000. But the morning of the wedding.- Daisy ____________ (receive) a letter.  But it was too late. That day at 5:00, Daisy Fay _____________ (marry) Tom Buchanan with more pomp and circumstance than Louisville had ever seen. After the honeymoon, I ______________ (see) them in Santa Barbara.Well, it was touching, really. I'd never seen a girl so in love with her husband. A week later, Tom _____________________ (crash) his car. The girl with him _____________ (be) a chambermaid at the Santa Barbara Hotel. It __________________ (get) into all the papers.








II. Discuss in pairs.
 
1. Retell the story using your own words.
 
2. Why didn't her love for Gatsby work out?
 
3. Why didn't her marriage with Tom work out?
 
4. Was Tom's love for Daisy true? Why (not)?
 
5. Would you go to Gatsby house to have tea if you were Daisy? Why (not)?
 
WORKSHEET

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - THE GREAT GATSBY



 Answer key:
 
It was the day I got my new English golf shoes. Daisy was by far the most popular girl with the officers from Camp David.One of them was in the car with her. It was Gatsby. The way he looked at her is the way all girls want to be looked at. Gatsby was sent off to war. When the war ended. Daisy waited. But for some unknown reason, Gatsby couldn't return. A year later, Tom Buchanan of Chicago swept in and stole her away. He gave her a string of pearls worth $350,000.But the morning of the wedding.- Daisy received a letter.Tell them. Daisy's changed her mind! But the morning of the wedding.- Daisy received a letter. Daisy's changed her mind! But it was too late. That day at 5:00, Daisy Fay married Tom Buchanan with with more pomp and circumstance than Louisville had ever seen. After the honeymoon,I saw them in Santa Barbara.Well, it was touching, really. I'd never seen a girl so in love with her husband.A week later, Tom crashed his car. The girl with him was a chambermaid at the Santa Barbara Hotel. It got into all the papers.

3 comments:

Garden said...

Great activity! Thanks for sharing it.

Unknown said...

Thank you very much for this excellent resource. You are a star!

Huma said...

Thanks a million! This is very useful indeed!