Editorial Development: Bonnie Brook Communications

SKILL PRACTICE
Read each question. Fill in the bubble next to the correct answer.
 1. The key to making a good first impression is to 
.
A 
present the best part of yourself
B 
draw attention away from yourself
C 
act positive and funny at all times
D 
speak with your body, not with words
 2. Which of the following strategies would best help 
someone make a good impression?
A 
telling a long, personal story
B 
using sarcasm to show cleverness
C 
asking questions about the other person
D 
trying to imitate the person being met
 3. Which best describes the passage’s overall theme?
A 
Impressions are important at a job interview.
B 
Impressions are based on appearance and 
personality.
C 
Impressions are easily overcome once you get
to know someone.
D 
To make a good impression, you have to act a 
certain way.
 4. The author discourages complaining when you 
meet someone for the first time because it 
.
A 
sends a strong, energetic message
B 
is likely to seem sarcastic
C 
reflects a lack of attention to others
D 
can make you seem negative
STRATEGY PRACTICE
Imagine you are joining a club or team. Visualize and describe the first time you meet.
 
Theme
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Daily Reading Comprehension • EMC 3458 • © Evan-Moor Corp.
Name: 
WEEK 10
DAY 4
READ THE PASSAGE
Think about how Lee Strasberg changed the art of acting during his lifetime.
The Man Behind “The Method”
“Acting is the most personal of our crafts. The make-up of a human being—his physical, mental and 
emotional habits—influence his acting to a much greater extent than commonly recognized.” These words 
from Lee Strasberg (1901–1982) still inspire actors today. Without a doubt, Strasberg was one of the most 
influential acting teachers of the twentieth century. He popularized an acting technique known as “The 
Method,” which encourages actors to use their own emotional resources to bring characters to life.
Strasberg began his career as an actor and continued it as a director. He helped found The Group 
Theater in 1931, where he developed courses based on the theories of Russian director Constantin 
Stanislavsky. Twenty years later, Strasberg became the artistic director of The Actors Studio. This 
nonprofit workshop encouraged actors to develop their skills in a safe and relaxed environment, away from 
the pressures of commercial productions. Training with Strasberg helped actors drop affectations and give 
more truthful performances. He felt training was especially important for movie actors because “the 
Hollywood actor can’t just be a name anymore...he must be an actor. And because today’s production 
budgets allow for less rehearsal time and retakes, the need for training is more essential than ever.”
Playwright Tennessee Williams admired actors trained by The Actors Studio. A short sampling of 
Strasberg’s students reflects the variety of talents he cultivated: Al Pacino, Marilyn Monroe, Sally Field, 
Dustin Hoffman, and Sidney Poitier. Williams said they have “a more intense and honest style of acting. 
They act from the inside out. They communicate emotions they really feel. They give you a sense of life.”