Opción B
Fascinating facts about ‘E.T. The extra-Terrestrial’
— Steven Spielberg’s original concept for the movie was the story of a family, that was terrorized in their home by aliens. He instead decided to go with a family-friendly movie and the family-in-jeopardy (1) concept was developed into Poltergeist.
…Most of the ‘E.T.’ script was written while filming ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark. Spielberg dictated the story to screenwriter Melissa Mathison, who was the their girlfriend and future wife of Harrison Ford.
… Harrison Ford himself was animally intended to have a cameo in the film as Elliot’s school principal, but the scene was cut. Spielberg felt that he would people from the film.
.,..Elliott was originally supposed to lure (2) E.T. into the house with M&M, but Mars, INC. turned down the request to use their candy. Reese’s Pieces were used instead, and its placement resulted in a 65% surge (3) insales.
… E.T.’s face was modeled after the poet Carl Sandburg, a pug, and Albert Einstein.
… All the puppetry was performed by an 86cm tall stuntman, except for the scenes in the kitchen, which were done by a 10-years-old boy who was born without legs but was an expert on walking on his hands.
… To ensure realistic responses from the actors, Spielberg shot (4) the film in chronological order (something that is rarely done). And it worked! All the emotional responses from the actors in the final scene real.
… Spielberg came up with the concept for a sequel called E.T.II: Nocturnal Fears, where Elliott and his friends are kidnapped (5) by other aliens and E.T. would come to their rescue. It would also be revealed that E.T.’s real name is Zrek.
1. Link each of the words/expressions below with a word/expression in the column (is numbered in the text). Copy the correct pair of words on your answer sheet.
(1) jeopardy and…
(2) lure and…
(3) surge and…
(4) shoot and…
(5) kidnap and…
2. Reading comphrension
2.1. Choose the best option.
a. Spielberg shot ‘E.T.’ after ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’.
b. Spielberg wrote ‘E.T.’ after filming ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’.
c. Spielberg shot ‘Poltergeist’ while writing ‘E.T.’.
d. ‘Poltergeist’ was not originally conceived as a horror story.
2.2. Choose the best option.
a. Mars, Inc. most likey regretted not having allowed Spielberg to use M&M in his movie.
b. Reese’s Pieces experienced a huge drop in their sales after appearing in ‘E.T’.
c. An 86cm tall stuntman performed the entire puppetry in ‘E.T.’.
d. In ‘E.T. II: Nocturnal Fears’, Elliot has nighmares that he and his friends are kidnapped by aliens and E.T.
3. Complete the sentences using information from the text.
a. Originally, ‘E.T.’…
b. Melissa Mathison,…
c. Spielberg rejected Harrison Ford…
d. E.T.’s…
4. Complete each gap with one or more adequate words.
…The doctors and nurses who worked on E.T. were (a) ____ actors; they were all real emergency-room technicians and were told (b) ____ treat E.T. the same way they would trear a real person.
The film (c) ____ nominated for nine Oscars at the 55th Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, (d)_____it lost both to Gandhi. Even the director of Gandhi, Sir R. Attenborough, (e) ____ ‘E.T.’ should have won the Oscar: “I was certain that not only would E.T. win, but that it (f) ____ win. It was inventive, powerful, and wonderful. I make more mundane movies”.
5. Why did Spielberg decide to film the movie in chronological order? Was it a good idea? Explain.
6. What was your favorite movie when you were little? Explain what happened and why you like it so much.