David Beckham to defend

marriage in court

Real Madrid soccer star David Beckham and his wife, former Spice Girl Victoria, are
going to court to defend their image and marriage. The Beckhams are angry that a
British tabloid newspaper printed a story that their “happy marriage” was a lie. The
News of the World wrote an article saying the
Beckhams are just pretending to be happily
married to make more money from their
“Beckham brand”. The newspaper said the
marriage was really “on the rocks” because of
a relationship David had with another woman.
He strongly denies this.

The newspaper article suggested that the

Beckhams’ huge income depended on their
public image. It said the couple tried to
convince the public that their marriage was
happy to get more advertising contracts. The
article also said David almost had a nervous
breakdown because of arguments with his
wife. A lawyer for the newspaper commented
on the high profile marriage, asking: “Is it
unhappy, [full] of rows and tensions because
of David Beckham’s infidelity, or is it happy?
We say unhappy.” The Beckhams, meanwhile,
insist they are a happily married couple.

Idiom:

“on the rocks” (*) on the rocks:

1. 얼음만을 넣어서 2. 좌초하여, 파산하여.
Their marriage went on the rocks.:
그들의 결혼은 파탄을 가져 왔다.
 Activity 1

1. TRUE or FALSE: L ook at the article’s headline and guess whether these
sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a. David Beckham will defend the idea of marriage in a court. T/F

b. Beckham and his wife will sue a British tabloid newspaper. T/F
c. The newspaper said the Beckhams were pretending to be married. T/F
d. The newspaper article reported David had another woman. T/F
e. The article said the Beckhams’ incomes depended on their image. T/F
f. The tabloid suggested David was on the edge of a breakdown. T/F
g. The tabloid’s lawyer believes the Beckham’s marriage is unhappy.. T/F
h. The Beckhams insist they are a happily married couple. T/F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:

a. soccer enormous
b. former in trouble
c. defend unfaithfulness
d. “on the rocks” rejects
e. denies ex
f. huge persuade
g. convince football
h. rows swear
i. infidelity arguments
j. insist protect

Discussion questions:

1. What do you think of David and

Victoria Beckham?
2. What do you think of tabloid newspapers?
3. How would you feel if your private life was in
the newspapers every day?
4. Do you think there should be strict rules for
tabloids to tell the truth?
5. What do you least or most like about
tabloids?
6. Do you believe everything you read in the
newspapers?
7. What would you do if someone lied about
you in public?
8. Do you know any couple whose relationship
is on the rocks?
9. Why are people so interested in celebrities
and gossip?

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/0510/051020-
david_beckham-e.html

lesson prepared by Teacher Aimee