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Entertainment127 words1 min read

Italian Singer Iva Zanicchi, 86, Speaks Out About Getting Older

woman in red dress holding microphone
Photo by Elizeu Dias on Unsplash
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Iva Zanicchi is an Italian singer. She is 86 years old.

Zanicchi says she stays busy. She likes to be part of everything.

She says she is not foolish. She knows that old age brings pain and wrinkles.

Her daughter tells her not to talk badly about things. But Zanicchi wants to say what she thinks.

She says that at 86 years old, she has the right to speak freely.

Zanicchi wants to do more work. She wants to act in theatre. She also wants to be on TV.

She is writing a book about her memories.

She also talked about other famous singers, Gino Paoli and Ornella Vanoni. She said she felt jealous of them sometimes.

She misses someone called Pippo very much.

Vocabulary15 words

foolish
not smart; silly
theatre
a place where people act plays
memories
things you remember from the past
jealous
wanting what someone else has
wrinkles
lines on skin from getting old
freely
without limits
busy
doing many things
singer
person who sings songs
famous
known by many people
daughter
a person's female child
plans
ideas for the future
age
how many years old someone is
speak
to talk
right
something you are allowed to do
book
pages with writing, together

Quiz

1. How old is Iva Zanicchi?
2. What does Zanicchi say her daughter tells her?
3. What does Zanicchi want to do more of?

Fill-in-the-blank listening

Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.

Iva Zanicchi is an Italian _____. She is 86 years _____.

Zanicchi says she stays _____. She likes to be part of everything.

She says she is not _____. She knows that old age brings pain and _____.

Her _____ tells her not to talk badly about things. But Zanicchi wants to say what she thinks.

She says that at 86 years old, she has the _____ to speak freely.

Zanicchi wants to do more work. She wants to act in _____. She also wants to be on TV.

She is writing a _____ about her _____.

She also talked about other _____ singers, Gino Paoli and Ornella Vanoni. She said she felt _____ of them sometimes.

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