Tony Parker Visits the Ovakuvale People in Angola
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Former basketball star Tony Parker travelled to Angola for the French TV show "Rendez-vous en terre inconnue," which means "Meeting in an unknown land." During the trip, he met the Ovakuvale, a community living in Angola, a country in southern Africa.
Parker explained that the journey allowed him to take a step back from his busy life. This expression means to pause and think calmly about important things. He used the trip as a chance to reflect on his past.
During the programme, Parker spoke openly about his life before he became rich and successful. He said things were not always easy for his family when he was young.
Parker recalled that a bailiff once came to his family's home. A bailiff is an official who takes belongings from people who fail to pay their debts. In Parker's case, the bailiff took the family's television.
This story surprised many people, since Parker is now known worldwide for his success. He became one of the most famous French basketball players in history, playing many years in the NBA, the top professional basketball league in the United States.
Despite his fame and fortune, meaning great wealth, Parker has not forgotten his difficult beginnings. His comments during the show offered a rare, personal look at his life before basketball made him famous.
Vocabulary7 words
- Ovakuvale
- a group of people living in Angola
- bailiff
- an official who takes things from people who do not pay money they owe
- take a step back
- to stop and calmly think about your life
- fortune
- a very large amount of money
- NBA
- the main professional basketball league in the United States
- reflect
- to think carefully about something
- debts
- money that a person owes to someone else
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Quiz
Answer key
1. Meeting in an unknown land 2. Because they could not pay money owed 3. True
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Former basketball star Tony Parker travelled to _____ for the French TV show "Rendez-vous en terre inconnue," which means "Meeting in an _____ land." During the trip, he met the _____, a community living in Angola.
Parker explained that the journey allowed him to _____ from his busy life. He used the trip as a chance to _____ on his past.
During the programme, Parker spoke openly about his life before he became rich and _____.
Parker recalled that a _____ once came to his family's home. In Parker's case, the bailiff took the family's _____.
He became one of the most famous French basketball players in history, playing many years in the _____, the top professional basketball league in the United States.
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