Page 25 - English Grammar - IX-X

VI. Read the following passage carefully.

JILL
JILL SCOTT SCOTT
(1) Seldom have we come across personalities who are multi-talented in the real sense
and outshine everyone with their brilliance. Jill Scott is one such name. She was a child
prodigy, a truly gifted girl, blessed with talent. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she
was always a bright child. Although Jill Scott always had the talent, she never thought
of taking music as a profession in her early years. She wanted to be a teacher, but
soon got disillusioned by the profession. She went through the regular struggles of
life like doing odd jobs for a living and struggling, before fame struck her.

(2) Multi-talented Jill Scott is today well-known as a singer, songwriter, poet, model, and
an actor. Fame came to her in the year 2000 with the release of her first album, ‘Who
is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds’, and then there was no looking back. She became
an overnight star and her album started rocking the charts. Two more albums in this
series were released in the year 2004 and 2007, respectively, which also did great
business. Jill Scott was also voted among the world’s most beautiful women in 2001.
(3) Jill Scott is from that rare breed of artists who take their art with honesty and have the
courage to speak their hearts out without thinking about fear or favour. This amazing
songwriter and poet uses her talent to express herself with the amazing utilisation of
metaphors and imageries in her writings.
(4) Scott was raised in North Philadelphia by her mother, Joyce Scott, and grandmother,
Blue Babe. Joyce Scott told Toure in RollingStone.com, “She was a very loved child,”
a truth that Jill Scott readily admits. She recalls a group of protective teenage boys
in the neighbourhood keeping an eye out for her and ensuring she returned home
safely. Many of those boys died from bullet wounds, she sadly remembered in Essence.
She later gave money to the elementary school where she was a student to build
a computer lab. Her grandmother used to hum tunes in the kitchen when she was
growing up. Scott has no formal vocal training, but she has spent years listening to
artists who have influenced her singing style.
(5) Jill Scott has worked in several movies, sung numerous songs, performed worldwide and
has a great fan following and persona. However, even after coming so far, she is still
connected to her roots and feels for those things that have always mattered to her.

On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer the following questions.
1. In the line “Although Jill Scott always had the talent, she never thought of taking
music as a profession in her early years,” what can you infer about Jill Scott?

(a) She wanted to be an actor initially. (b) She wanted to be a teacher initially.
(c) She wanted to be a sportswoman. (d) She wanted to be a news anchor initially.

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