Page 17 - TOP CLASS TG4 ENG KSSM

UNIT Theme: People and Culture

2 Ready for Anything

Textbook pp. 21 - 36

textbook pp. 14 - 15 PL
Reading
LS: 3.1.2 Understand specific details and information in extended texts on a wide range of familiar topics
LS: 3.1.3 Guess the meaning of unfamiliar words from clues provided by other words and by context on a wide range of familiar topics
LS: 3.1.4 Use independently familiar and some unfamiliar print and digital resources to check meaning and extend understanding
Read the text below. 3.1.2

David Blaine White was born on 4th April, 1973. He has grown to become
an American illusionist, endurance artist and extreme performer. He is
best known for his high-profile feats of endurance. Born and raised in
Brooklyn, New York, Blaine’s lifelong interest in magic was sparked
at the age of four when he saw a magician performing magic in the
subway. When he performs, he has made a slight change in the way
magic is shown on television. What he has done is giving the focus
onto the reactions of the spectators instead of the performer. He would try new feats to be screened
live in front of his audiences as to provide them unforgettable experience that can be both shocking
and fascinating.
Blaine’s first television special, David Blaine: Street Magic was aired On May 19, 1997 on NBC.
He might have started his magic with performing cards but later, appeared with death defying acts
in his shows. His first stunt was “Buried Alive,” where he was entombed in a plastic box placed
underground, beneath a three ton water tank for seven days with no food and little water. Blaine
has performed many other stunts and series of jaw-dropping magic effects. Among which are stunts
called, Frozen in Time, Vertigo, Dive of Death and Drowned Alive.
David began on his first Live tour, travelling and entertaining unsuspecting pedestrians
throughout the country. In one of the shows, “Beyond Magic,” telecast on a TV channel, David
Blaine could be seen on video nearly killing himself as he shoots a bullet into his own throat during
a stunt that has gone wrong. Despite the incident, Blaine said that he has been performing that trick
since 2010.
Blaine may not be the richest magician in the world but he has his share in contributing to
charity. For example, at one of his shows for charity on January 15, 2010, Blaine performed “Magic
for Haiti”, a performance lasting 72 hours which raised almost US$100,000. The fund was meant
for Haiti earthquake relief centre. He also donated two $1 Million Tesla Coils for charity after
performing a massive electricity stunt.
Ever wonder how Blaine is able to perform all those stunts? Most probably there will be no one
who are willing to do them except for Blaine himself.

Source - David Blaine : Wikipedia

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