Pen pictures are a very modern type of writing. These are short pieces that tell you all the relevant facts about a person - sometimes a famous one. You will often find these in magazines or on websites. By writing pen pictures, you can practise getting a lot of information into very few sentences. Pen pictures are designed to be read quickly and to stimulate the reader's interest in the subject. After that, readers may go to find out more details elsewhere if they need to. Read the pen pictures below and see how the writer tries to highlight parts of the subject's life that might be of most interest rather than trying to say absolutely everything about the person. Vivian Chow Wai-man Vivian entertained Hong Kong audiences for nearly a decade before she retired at the age of 30. This made her many fans extremely sad. Thought by many observers to be one of the most beautiful women in the Chinese entertainment industry, she began her career as a disc jockey in 1987. Later, she decided to become a singer and signed a contract with a famous record company. Vivian made many popular records that became hit songs and was most admired in the early 1990s. One of her greatest achievements was in 1994, when the tickets to her concerts sold out for 10 days in a row. This was unusual for a female singer at that time in Hong Kong. Jacky Cheung Hok-yau Jacky's hit record that most people know is Love You More and More Every Day. Although most of his records are in Cantonese, he was one of the first Hong Kong singers to have success singing in Mandarin. His album Goodbye Kiss sold more than a million copies in Taiwan alone. He was also one of the first Hong Kong singers to produce an album in the US. It was called A Sensitive World. Jacky also starred in a very successful musical produced in Hong Kong called Snow, Wolf, Lake. Leon Lai Ming Leon is one of the youngest and tallest of Hong Kong's popular singers, with millions of fans throughout the world. One of the highlights of his career so far was his best-selling song Words That Have Not Been Said in the late 1990s. Leon has also done acting in films and on television. Coco Lee Man Coco has sold millions of albums in Asia. Her career kicked off when she entered a talent contest held at TVB. To her surprise, this led to a recording contract with a major studio and later with Sony Music. Her English-language album Just No Other Way was an international success. Some people call her the Mariah Carey of Asia. Her favourite interests include poetry and biology. Glossary audience (n) - people who watch a show or performance entertainment (n) - something that amuses, pleases, or diverts, especially a performance or show album (n) - set of songs on one disc career (n) - a profession or occupation handsome (adj) - (of men) very attractive, good-looking international (adj) - two or more countries Comprehension 1. Which singer retired at the age of 30? 2. Who sang Love You More and More Every Day? 3. In which year did Vivian Chow sell all the tickets for her concerts 10 days in succession? 4. Where did Jacky Cheung's album Goodbye Kiss sell more than a million copies? 5. Who began her career by singing in a talent contest? 6. Name the musical that Jacky Cheung starred in. 7. Which entertainer sang Words That Have Not Been Said? Spot the pen picture Read the short pen pictures below and see if you can recognise which person or character they describe. 8. This man is the leader of the United States. He is a member of the Republican Party. 9. This cartoon character has large black ears. He was invented by Walt Disney and has been popular for more than 50 years. 10. This famous English footballer used to play for Manchester United. He now plays for Real Madrid. 11. These television characters have television screens on their stomachs. They make funny noises. Crossword There are lots of different types of entertainers. They perform in many different places. Read the clues below and see if you can fit the correct answers in the grid. List: singer, actor, juggler, musician, magician, dancer, acrobat 1. Somebody who plays music 2. An entertainer who throws objects in the air and catches them 3. This person performs songs 4. Somebody who can walk on a tightrope and do backflips 5. Somebody who entertains with tricks and illusions 6. A person who makes beautiful movements with their body 7. Somebody who stars in a play Answers: 1. Vivian Chow 2. Jacky Cheung 3. 1994 4. Taiwan 5. Coco Lee 6. Snow, Wolf, Lake 7. Leon Lai 8. US President George W. Bush 9. Mickey Mouse 10. David Beckham 11. Teletubbies Crossword 1. musician 2. juggler 3. singer 4. acrobat 5. magician 6. dancer 7. actor