Reading & Real Talk: A History of Special Effects

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Lesson idea

Read about how special effects in movies developed from simple camera tricks to computer-generated images, and use expressions for greeting old friends and talking about recent news.

Key points

• Early filmmakers used simple camera tricks and models; today, computers create realistic images and creatures.
• take over = replace or gain control: Digital cameras have taken over from film cameras.
• Real Talk: Long time no see! / What have you been up to? / Congratulations!

Vocabulary

Lesson questions (12)

1. Movies about dinosaurs use ____ to make the animals look real.
   Answer: special effects
2. Today, most monsters in films are ____ images, not real models.
   Answer: computer-generated
3. The photographer was able to ____ the moment the bird caught the fish.
   Answer: capture
4. Digital cameras have ____ from film cameras; very few people use film now.
   Answer: taken over
5. Meeting a friend after five years: "____! How are you?"
   Answer: Long time no see
6. "What have you been ____ to?" – "I've just finished university."
   Answer: up
7. "I've just moved to Riyadh and started a new job." – "Great! Have you ____ down yet?"
   Answer: settled
8. "Our trip to AlUla is next week." – "I can't ____!"
   Answer: wait
9. In early films, filmmakers used small ____ of cities and ships to create big scenes.
   Answer: models
10. The writer says special effects have become more ____ over the years.
    Answer: realistic
11. Write about your important possessions: "I've had my watch ____ my 12th birthday."
    Answer: since
12. "Er... let me think. Oh yes, I remember!" The word "er" is used when you ____.
    Answer: hesitate

More lessons in Unit 5: Since When?

• Unit 5 Vocabulary: Inventions
• Grammar: Present Perfect vs. Simple Past, For/Since & the Passive
• Unit 5 Test