Star turns

By Ajarn Helen Jandamit
Photos courtesy of Bangkok Post

University Tips is here to help you prepare for the English exams and tests that are coming your way. It gives you practise answering questions similar to those you may have at school and also on the University Entrance Examination.

Read the following news from the Bangkok Post. Then, answer the questions that follow.

Most singers want to be discovered and given a chance to prove their talent. In the past, it took a bit of luck to meet producers who appreciated their talent. Nowadays, however, everything has changed with the emergence of TV singing competitions.

Among the talent shows, The Star is one of the most successful, with its seventh season attracting more than 20,000 applicants. Eight finalists were selected to compete in weekly concerts with elimination determined by voting viewers.

This year, finalists Note and Toomtam performed a 30-minute mini concert at Moonstar Studio. The winner, Toomtam, was announced the following day at The Star 7 closing concert, held at Impact Arena in Muang Thong Thani.

Note Panayanggool, 17, has her own unique look and does everything in her own style. She always looks cute, and everything seems to brighten up when she smiles. With her jazzy voice, Note has shown her flexibility in singing different genres throughout the competition. Her other notable skill is playing the ukulele.

With his attractive looks and sweet voice, Yuttana Puangklang, better known as Toomtam, became a Prince Charming in many women's hearts. During the third week of the contest, his country song performance really won over the audience. Apart from wanting to make his musical dreams come true, the 19-year-old contestant took part in this contest to try to earn money to heal his sick mother.

Finalists from previous seasons of The Star, such as Bie Sukrit, have gone on to become superstars in the local pop music scene.

Section 1

Read the story. Then, answer the following multiple-choice questions.

1. Who was the winner of The Star 7?

a. Note.
b. Toomtam.
c. Bie Sukrit.
d. The story does not say.

2. Where was The Star 7 closing concert held?

a. Moonstar Studio.
b. Kantana Studio.
c. Impact Arena.
d. Thunder Dome.

3. According to the story, what of the following instruments does Note play?

a. The guitar.
b. The piano.
c. The violin.
d. The ukulele.

4. How many applicants applied for The Star 7?

a. 200.
b. More than 2,000.
c. 200,000.
d. More than 20,000.

Section 2

Read the following sentences. Then, choose an appropriate choice that best keeps the meaning of the underlined word or phrase.

5. The contestant took part in this concert to find money to heal his sick mother.

a. help
b. maintain
c. cure
d. hope

6. Eight finalists were selected to compete in weekly concerts.

a. chosen
b. paid
c. hired
d. asked

7. Everything has changed with the emergence of TV singing competitions.

a. ending.
b. appearance.
c. popularity.
d. emergency.

8. The winner was announced the following day.

a. last.
b. other.
c. next.
d. pervious.

Section 3

Read through story. Then decide whether the following statements are true or false.

9. Toomtam wanted money to help his sick grandmother.

..........................................................

10. The elimination of each The Star 7 finalist depended on the judges' decisions.

..........................................................

11. Note can play the ukulele.

..........................................................

12. Toomtam performed a country song in the third week of the contest.

..........................................................

Section 4

Match each of the following terms used in the article with the appropriate description from the choices that follow.

13. Moonstar	a. A finalists of The Star who became a superstar
14. Bie Sukrit	b. Toomtam's singing style
15. Jazzy voice	c. One of Note's musical characteristics
16. Sweet voice	d. Where the last two finalists performed a mini concert

 

Section 5

Find words in the story that are synonyms of the following words.

9. Competitor ..........................................

10. Removal ............................................

11. Ill ..........................................................

12. Styles ..................................................

Section 6

Fill in the blanks in the following passage with the correct words from the choices that follow.

"Pi Boy and Pi Bird made me ....21.... my limitations while performing on the stage and how worrying about my image restricted ....22.... performance," Toomtam said. "Now I am more relaxed onstage. I ....23.... the audience as my friends and family. With this attitude, I can sing to them naturally ....24.... enjoy every moment of it."

21.

a. realise
b. realised
c. realising
d. rely

22.

a. mine
b. my
c. me
d. I

23.

a. picturing
b. pictures
c. picture
d. pictorial

24.

a. and
b. or
c. but
d. whether