Watch with your teacher. Don't worry about understanding everything the first time.
Section 1
Warm-Up
Before you watch — talk with your teacher
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Do you think it's ever okay to keep a secret from someone you love? Why or why not?
Section 2
Vocabulary
Words from the episode
A group of wealthy teenagers in Manhattan can never quite escape their own secrets — someone always seems to find out, and an anonymous blogger makes sure everyone else finds out too. Friendships, plans, and family loyalty are tested as old secrets come back to cause new problems.
M — Meaning
Read each sentence. Choose the best meaning for the highlighted word.
1. The senator's scandal made headlines for weeks.
2. She loves to gossip about her neighbors' personal lives.
3. They live in a wealthy neighborhood full of huge houses.
4. He felt betrayed when his best friend told everyone his secret.
5. They came up with a clever scheme to win the contest unfairly.
6. She threatened to blackmail him unless he paid her money.
7. As the only child, she will become the heiress to her family's fortune.
8. After years apart, the two sisters finally reconciled.
"a political scandal"/ˈskæn.dəl/nouna public event that shocks people, often involving bad behavior
gossipiNoun and verb"to gossip" (verb) / "some juicy gossip" (noun)/ˈɡɑː.sɪp/noun / verbto talk about other people's private business, often unkindly
wealthyiSynonymswealthy = rich, well-off, affluent/ˈwɛl.θi/adjectivehaving a lot of money
betrayiWord familybetray (verb) → betrayal (noun)/bɪˈtreɪ/verbto be disloyal to someone who trusted you
schemeiTonescheme often suggests something secretive or slightly dishonest./skiːm/nouna clever and often secret plan
blackmailiLegal termBlackmail is a crime in most countries./ˈblæk.meɪl/verb / nounto threaten to reveal someone's secret unless they do what you want
heiressiRelated wordheir = male, heiress = female. Both inherit wealth or a title./ˈɛr.ɪs/nouna woman who inherits wealth or a title
reconcileiWord familyreconcile (verb) → reconciliation (noun)/ˈrɛk.ən.saɪl/verbto become friends again after a disagreement
F — Form/Fill: Fill in the Gaps
Click a word from the bank, then click the blank.
1.The actor's secret ___________ was the talk of the entire city.
2.The neighbors love to ___________ about who is dating whom.
3.Her family is one of the most ___________ in the city.
4.He couldn't believe his closest friend would ___________ him like that.
5.The two rivals planned a secret ___________ to ruin the party.
6.Someone tried to ___________ her with old photos.
7.As the only child, she became the sole ___________ to the company.
8.After months of silence, the two friends finally decided to ___________.
Word Bank
U — Use
Answer with your teacher, using the word in your response.
1
Do you think scandals affecting celebrities are usually fair or exaggerated by the media?
2
Do you enjoy gossip, or do you try to avoid it?
3
If you suddenly became wealthy, what is the first thing you would do?
4
Have you ever felt betrayed by someone close to you? How did you handle it?
5
Have you ever been part of a scheme to surprise someone — a good one!?
6
Why do you think people sometimes try to blackmail others in movies and shows?
7
If you were the heiress or heir to a large fortune, how do you think it would change your life?
8
Is it always possible to reconcile after a serious argument? Why or why not?
Section 3
Discussion
Talk about the episode
1
Gossip Girl is narrated by an anonymous blogger who reveals everyone's secrets. Do you think anonymous gossip like this exists in real life, maybe on social media?
2
The show focuses on extremely wealthy teenagers in Manhattan. Do you think money changes how people treat each other in relationships?
3
Many characters keep secrets from their friends and family. Do you think secrets always cause problems eventually?
4
If your private life were broadcast publicly like in the show, how would you feel?
5
Which character do you think you would trust the least in this kind of social circle, and why?