پایگاه آموزش زبان انگليسي معصوم پور

Getting old is bad enough without having to worry about whether or not you’ll lose your job because of a couple of extra wrinkles. But in Hollywood, that’s exactly what can happen.

Actresses in particular have trouble getting roles as they age. Women who were once the stars of everything from dramas to romantic comedies suddenly find that they can only get cast as younger actresses’ mothers.

On the other hand, some stars don’t hit their prime until they become a little more mature. Find out what Marni and Mason think about getting old in Hollywood.

http://www.englishbaby.com/dynamic/standard_lesson/dialog_audio/0000/0000/0005/5572_1301349853_967045.mp3

role n.

Definition

part in a movie or play

Example

Brad Pitt's role in the movie Ocean's Eleven was really cool. He was a good character.

Brad Pitt's role in the movie Ocean's Eleven was really cool. He was a good character.

wrinkles n.

Definition

when skin creases with aging

Example

I couldn't believe he was 58 years old. He didn't have any wrinkles!

craft n.

Definition

talent or skill

Example

Jeff has perfected his craft. He's the best brick layer in town.

exception to the rule expr.

Definition

one thing that is different from the rest

Example

Most sorority girls I know are really annoying, but Michelle is the exception to the rule.

sustain v.

Definition

keep something going

Example

I can run short distances well, but I can't sustain a good speed for more than a couple miles.

age v.

Definition

get older

Example

Marissa has aged really well.

Marni: Mason, do you think it’s true what they say, that you can’t get old in Hollywood?

Mason:  I don’t know. I actually think that some of the people, comedians particularly, that I have been following have not had a lot of success until they’re, you know, almost 40 or so. But what were you thinking about?

Marni:  Well I guess I was thinking of, you know, actresses in particular who find it harder to get roles as they age and start getting wrinkles.

Mason:  I mean, I find it’s really about if you start as a young actor or actress, it is very hard to sustain your career. Like think of Haley Joel Osment, the kid from A.I. and The Sixth Sense. I think he’s kinda done. And I think there are other people who don’t find their real success until later in life. There’s an actress I like a lot named Patricia Clarkson...

Marni:  She’s great.

Mason:  ...Who gets a lot of great work and great roles now, but like didn’t really have anything major until she was in her forties or so.

Marni:  So there’s always those kind of exceptions to the rule, and then you have those classic actresses and actors like Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson who don’t seem to have that problem, I mean they keep getting really interesting roles. So I think it’s all about, you know, the craft and about your talent, I guess.

Marni thinks it is hard to get old in Hollywood, especially if you’re a woman. But Mason disagrees. He thinks that some actors and actresses’ careers get better as they get older. He says that this is especially true for comedians.

Mason also says that aging in Hollywood is harder for actors and actresses who became famous when they were very young. He mentions one actor who was a star as a child and now has a harder time getting good roles.

There are also some actors who are considered classic and who continue to get good roles despite their age. Marni mentions Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson. But she thinks they are exceptions to the rule. In general, getting old in Hollywood isn’t easy.

Do you think Hollywood prefers younger actors and actresses? Is it hard to get old in your profession?

Zero Conditional

Mason thinks that if you start as a young actor or actress, it is very hard to sustain your career. This is an example of the zero conditional.

The zero conditional is used to talk about general truths, or things that are almost always true under certain conditions.

Zero conditional is easy to form because all the verbs are in present tense. You just use two clauses, one with If + simple present verb and the other with another simple present verb, as in, “If you are a woman, it is harder to get old in Hollywood.”

Which is correct, “If he doesn’t get a role, he feels sad” or “If he won’t get a role, he feels sad”?