John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was English, but he was born in South Africa in 1892. Both his parents died when he was a boy, so John went to live with an aunt in England. After he left school, he went to Oxford University and studied English. Then he got a job as a teacher at the university.
Tolkien had four children and he often told them stories. They really enjoyed one story. It started : “ In a hole in the ground lived a hobbit …”. This story became Tolkien’s first book, The Hobbit. He later wrote The Lord of Rings. Both books were popular, especially in the USA. Tolkien became rich and famous, but he hated being well known. Tolkien created an imaginary world called “Middle Earth” and special languages for his stories.
He died in 1973. Thirty years later, the New Zealand film director Peter Jackson made three films of The Lord of the Rings. They were big hits all over the world.

Choose the right answer.
1. Where was Tolkien born?
a) South Africa b) England c) New Zealand
2. Where did he go to Oxford University and studied English?
a)after he left school b) after he left university c) before he left school
3) Where did he get a job as a teacher?
a) at college b) at the university c) at the kindergarden
4. Who was JRR Tolkien?
a) famous writer b)doctor c)driver
5. What was the name of his first book?
a) The Lord of Rings b)Cinderella c)The Hobbit
6. When did he die?
a) 1892 b) 1973 c)2003
7) Who made three films of The Lord of the Rings?
a) the New Zealand teacher Peter Jackson b) the New Zealand film director Peter Jackson c) the New Zealand doctor Peter Jackson