Unit 1 LIFE STORIES

A. PRONUNCIATION
1. Complete each gap with one suitable homophone.
1. here
2. meat
3. weather
4. piece
5. ate
6. by
7. there
8. no
9. way
10. bored
2. Check the homophone (A, or B) of each of the words in bold below.
A B
1. bare bear bar
2. two too tune
3. new knew knee
4. weak week wet
5. there theirs their
6. write right ride
7. saw sour sore
8. whose who who's
9. fair far fare
10. you're your yours
3. Write the two homophones which are pronounced as shown.
1. /hɔːs/
2. /θru:/
3. /aʊ(r)/
4. /saɪt/
5. /flu:/
6. /bi:n/
7. /reɪz/
8. /seɪl/
9. /əlaʊd/
10. /eə(r)/
4. Practice saying these exchanges with your friend.
1. A: What are you doing this weekend?
B: I'm visiting my grandmother. She's too weak to walk now.
2. A. You should write to Mr Silverman to say sorry.
 B. OK. I'll do that tonight.
3. A. You're not allowed to eat or drink here.
B. I know. We are supposed not to read aloud, either.
4. A: Whose novel is this?
B: I'm not sure. By the way, let me see who the author is.
5. A: Would you like to try some bean soup?
B: I'd love to! I haven't been able to make any bean soup these days.
6. A: Our train was half an hour late.
B: Oh, that was bad.
7. A: Do you know how to ride a horse?
B: No, but I can ride a camel.
8. A: You look bored.
B: I am. I need to board a plane to go somewhere for a change.
9. A: I haven't heard from him for two months. I really miss him.
B: I miss him, too.
10. A: I'm not quite sure whether to go swimming in the beach or not.
B: You should, for a change, if the weather is good.
B. VOCABULARY & GRAMMAR
1. Choose the word (a or b) which has the meaning provided.
1. Having strong will to do something
a. influential b. determined
2. Show great respect for somebody
a. inspire b. admire
3. Having a natural ability or skill
a. talented b. hard-working
4. The quality of being kind and generous
a. generosity b. perseverance
5. A brief statement showing one's goal, ideal or principle
a. goal b. motto
6. Intended to help those in need
a. humble b. charitable
7. Make something start
a. share b. initiate
8. Who you are or who you are associated with
a. identity b. mission
9. Poor people
a. the needy b. the disabled
10. Cannot be seen
a. hidden b. alive
11. Athletes with disabilities
a. hardships b. parathletes
12. A woman who looks after a child as a mother
a. foster mother b. adopted mother
13. Teach a child to behave in a particular way or believe in something
a. bring up b. feed
14. Bad luck
a. orphanage b. misfortune
15. Unable to do anything
a. obsessed b. helpless
2. Complete each sentence with one suitable word from the box.
misfortune hidden brought up charitable foster
identity persistence perform initiated the needy
motto helpless away admire talented
1. Jim and Sam had been to believe that borrowing money was bad.
2. After his biological mother passed away, the child was looked after by an American woman who acted
as his mother.
3. Despite the , the man never gave up his hopes and dreams to improve human lives.
4. Some people believe that only rich people are capable of doing work, but I don't think so.
5. She stood there, and depressed, looking at her poor little thing taking his last breaths.
6. Liam didn't reveal his talent as a singer until he came for an audition on the Voice.
7. Mr Jackson has recently given a great deal of money through various scholarships and
charity programs.
8. His success was largely a result of hard work and .
9. I greatly Jordan Nguyen, an Australian Vietnamese engineer, whose research focuses on
enhancing the mobility of disabled people.
10. Although the Tran's have been living in the US for years, they always keep their as
Vietnamese people.
11. Jamie Pugh, who came on a Britain's Got Talent audition as a humble pizza man, overcame his fears
to „Bring him home‟ with success.
12. Mr Boers gave half of the profit to an orphanage. His in life is to give as much as he can.
13. David a joint music project with his brother for school children in different states of the
country.
14. The highly young designer has been awarded with a prestigious prize for his newly created
model of robots.
15. There are problems getting food and money for in these deprived areas.
3. Complete each gap with one suitable word from the box.
first earned lady party in
appointed against when then married
Hillary Clinton was born on October 26, 1947, in Chicago, Illinois. She (1) her law
degree from Yale University. She (2) fellow law school graduate Bill Clinton in 1975. She later
served as first (3) from 1993 to 2001, and (4) as a U.S. senator from 2001 to 2009.
In early 2007, Clinton announced her plans to run for the presidency. During the 2008 Democratic
primaries, she conceded the nomination (5) it became apparent that Barack Obama held a
majority of the delegate votes. After winning the national election, Obama (6) Clinton
secretary of state. She was sworn in as part of his cabinet in January 2009 and served until 2013.
(7) the spring of 2015, she announced her plans to run again for the U.S. presidency. In 2016,
she became the (8) woman in U.S. history to become the presidential nominee of a major
political (9) . After a polarizing campaign (10) Donald Trump, Clinton was defeated
in the general election that November.
(Text adapted from https://www.biography.com/people/hillary-clinton-9251306)
4. Read the text and complete each gap with the correct form of the word provided.
Scottish celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has opened restaurants around the world and (1. HOST)
such popular TV programs as „Hell's Kitchen‟ and „Master Chef.‟
Born in Scotland in 1966, Gordon Ramsay left behind an early (2. ATHLETE) career to
become a renowned chef in London. By the early 2000s he was making his mark on British TV as the
temperamental host of Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares and Hell's Kitchen, shows that made a (3.
SUCCEED) transition to American audiences. The award-winning chef has since (4.
EXPAND) his celebrity brand via such programs as Master Chef and Hotel Hell and opening
more (5. RESTAURANT) around the globe.
(Text adapted from https://www.biography.com/people/gordon-ramsay-17169720)
Shakespeare occupies a position unique in world literature. Other poets, such as Homer and Dante,
and (6. NOVEL) , such as Leo Tolstoy and Charles Dickens, have transcended national barriers;
but no writer's living (7. REPUTE) can compare to that of Shakespeare, whose plays, written in
the late 16th and early 17th centuries for a small repertory theatre, are now (8. PERFORM) and
read more often and in more countries than ever before. The prophecy of his great contemporary, the poet
and (9. DRAMA) Ben Jonson, that Shakespeare “was not of an age, but for all time,” has been
(10. FULFIL) .
(Text adapted from https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-Shakespeare)
5. Complete each gap with a(n), the or no article (x).
1. My next destination will be Amsterdam, the capital of Netherlands.
2. In an article appearing in Washington Post recently, the man talked about how he initiated
the project and sticked to it through ups and downs.
3. Jane was born in Indonesia, but she migrated to United States with her family
when she was ten.
4. „Do you play any sports?‟ „Yes, I play badminton and tennis.
5. I wish I would climb Mt Everest one day. Many mountaineers have set their foot there,
which is an inspiration for me.
6. At school we learn maths, history, geography and other subjects.
7. Louvre is one of the most visited art museums in the world. It is located on the the Right
Bank of Seine, a famous river in Paris, France.
8. „How does your father get to work every day?‟ „Most days he travels by train and he
occasionally goes by bus.
9. My daughter can now play guitar quite well. She has guitar lessons twice a week.
10. kangaroos are my favourite animals. They look gentle and friendly to me.
11. Located in North Africa, Sahara Desert, the world's largest hot deserts, stretches from
Red Sea to Atlantic Ocean.
12. I bumped into old friend of mine when I was walking down the market area yesterday.
13. “Con duong cai quan” is one of greatest music works by Pham Duy.
14. He's scientist I told you about that helped me a lot during my research process.
15. My brother in law works in Japan. He learned Japanese when he was a
university student.
6. Read the text and use the verb in brackets in the simple past tense.
Steven Paul Jobs was an American inventor, designer and entrepreneur who (1. be) the
co-founder, chief executive and chairman of Apple Computer. Apple's revolutionary products, which
include the iPod, iPhone and iPad, are now seen as dictating the evolution of modern technology. Born in
1955 to two University of Wisconsin graduate students who (2. give) him up for adoption, Jobs
(3. be) smart but directionless, dropping out of college and experimenting with different
pursuits before co-founding Apple with Steve Wozniak in 1976. Jobs (4. leave) the company in
1985, launching Pixar Animation Studios, then (5. return) to Apple more than a decade later.
Jobs (6. die) in 2011 following a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
(Text adapted from https://www.biography.com/people/steve-jobs-9354805)
Born Diana Spencer on July 1, 1961, Princess Diana (7. become) Lady Diana Spencer
after her father (8. inherit) the title of Earl Spencer in 1975. She (9. marry) the heir
to the British throne, Prince Charles, on July 29, 1981. They (10. have) two sons and later
(11. divorce) in 1996. Diana (12. die) on August 31, 1997, from injuries she
(13.sustain) in a car crash in Paris. She is remembered as the "People's Princess" because of her
widespread popularity and global humanitarian.
(Text adapted from https://www.biography.com/people/princess-diana-9273782)
7. Complete the story with the correct tense of the verb. Choose A or B.
Jimmy was reading a novel in his bedroom. It (1) dark. He (2) a strange noise.
Jimmy (3) around his room. He (4) anything unusual. His mother (5) in
the kitchen. His father (6) his brother with a maths problem. His sisters (7) in the
backyard. He (8) the noise again. This time it was louder. All of a sudden, Jimmy (9)
something on his back. His parents and sisters all (10) into his room and (11) on the
light. „What's wrong?‟ they yelled. Jimmy turned around and (12) his dog, Moon! He (13)
and said he was sorry. His parents and sisters (14) , too.
1. A. was being B. was
2. A. was hearing B. heard
3. A. was looking B. looked
4. A. was not seeing B. didn't see
5. A. was cooking B. cooked
6. A. was helping B. helped
7. A. were playing B. played
8. A. was hearing B. heard
9. A. was feeling B. felt
10. A. were pouring B. poured
11. A. were turning B. turned
12. A. was seeing B. saw
13. A. was laughing B. laughed
14. A. was laughing B. laughed
8. Choose the best answer (A, B, or C) that best fits each gap.
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (July 18, 1918 to December 5, 2013) was a nonviolence anti-apartheid
activist, politician and philanthropist (1) became South Africa's first black president from 1994
to 1999. Becoming actively (2) in the anti-apartheid movement in his 20s, Mandela joined the
African National Congress in 1942. (3) 20 years, he directed a campaign of peaceful,
nonviolent defiance against the South African government and its racist policies. Beginning in 1962,
Mandela (4) 27 years in prison for political offenses. In 1993, Mandela and South African
President F.W. de Klerk were (5) awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to end the
country's apartheid system. For generations to come, Nelson Mandela will continue to be a (6)
of inspiration for activists worldwide.
On December 5, 2013, at the (7) of 95, Nelson Mandela died at his home in
Johannesburg, South Africa. After (8) a lung infection in January 2011, Mandela was briefly
hospitalized in Johannesburg to undergo surgery for a stomach ailment in early 2012. He was released
after (9) few days, later returning to Qunu. Mandela would be hospitalized many times over the
next several years - in December 2012, March 2013 and June 2013 - for further testing and medical
treatment relating (10) his recurrent lung infection.
(Text adapted from https://www.biography.com/people/nelson-mandela-9397017)
1. A. who B. whose C. he
2. A. enjoyed B. involved C. participated
3. A. Since B. As C. For
4. A. sent B. went C. spent
5. A. jointly B. mutually C. bilaterally
6. A. cause B. record C. source
7. A. age B. birth C. year
8. A. going B. attaching C. suffering

9. A. a B. many C. a lot
10. A. with B. in C. to
9. Choose the word or phrase (A, B, C or D) that needs correction.
1. Beethoven, a gifted German pianist, composed many great works of music that have had great impacts
A B C
on the Western Europe's music landscape.
D
2. Bill Gates and Steve Jobs are two influence figures in my brother's life that have shaped his career
A B C D
path in many ways.
3. Poor in this area need more support on how to lead a better life and learn new life skills.
A B C D
4. My uncle travels by the underground to work every day, but his wife goes to work by bus.
A B C D
5. I am playing basketball with my sister when I fell down and broke my leg.
A B C D
6. Two days ago we were buying our tickets for the concert which will be held on Friday night 12
A B C D
August.
7. When my mother had lived in that apartment with her uncle, she was always complaining about the
A B C D
neighbour's rude behaviour.
8. United Nations was founded in 1945 to create and maintain international peace and order.
A B C D
9. A tragic event happened to her family while she had a holiday in the Philippines with her fiancée.
A B C D
10. Sadly the boy wastes all the hard-earned money that his mother had saved up throughout her life on
A B C D
gambling.
11. I tell him the truth when he asked me what had happened.
A B C D
12. I never listen to the radio. In fact, I don't have the radio.
A B C D
13. Can you turn television down, please. It's a little loud.
A B C D
14. Last semester he reads two novels and wrote two journal articles.
A B C D
15. We did enjoy ourselves. We went to most expensive restaurant in town.
A B C D
16. It was a beautiful day. The sun shone brightly in a sky.
A B C D
17. Because her application had been rejected, she is depressed.
A B C D
18. I looked for somewhere to have a snack when I bumped into you.
A B C D
19. We often have the dinner without dad because he goes home late.
A B C D
20. When I looked out of the window, I realised that it snowed.
A B C D
C. READING
1. Read the passage and decide whether each statement is true, or false. Chose a or b.
British cosmologist Stephen William Hawking was born in England on Jan. 8, 1942 - 300 years to
the day after the death of the astronomer Galileo Galilei. He attended University College, Oxford, where
he studied physics, despite his father's urging to focus on medicine. Hawking went on to Cambridge to
research cosmology, the study of the universe as a whole.
In early 1963, just shy of his 21st birthday, Hawking was diagnosed with motor neuron disease,
more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He was not
expected to live more than two years. Completing his doctorate did not appear likely. Yet, Hawking
defied the odds, not only attaining his Ph.D. but also forging new roads into the understanding of the
universe in the decades since.
As the disease spread, Hawking became less mobile and began using a wheelchair. Talking grew
more challenging and, in 1985, an emergency tracheotomy caused his total loss of speech. A speech-
generating device constructed at Cambridge, combined with a software program, served as his electronic
voice, allowing Hawking to select his words by moving the muscles in his cheek. He died on 14 March
2018 at the age of 76.
(Text adapted https://www.space. com/15923-stephen-hawking.html)
1. Stephen Hawking was a British cosmologist.
a. True b. False
2. Stephen Hawking studied physics at Oxford because his father wanted him to.
a. True b. False
3. He researched cosmology at Cambridge.
a. True b. False
4. Hawking was diagnosed with motor neuron disease when he was 21 years old.
a. True b. False
5. Another common name for motor neuron disease is Lou Gehrig's disease.
a. True b. False
6. The phrase „Hawking defied the odds...‟ means „Hawking was an exception.‟
a. True b. False
7. The word „forging‟ in paragraph 2 most closely means „creating.‟
a. True b. False
8. Hawking never completed his PhD.
a. True b. False
9. Hawking never used a wheel chair even when his disease became worse.
a. True b. False
10. He lost his speech in 1985 due to an emergency tracheotomy.
a. True b. False
11. An electronic voice developed for Hawking at Cambridge enabled him to communicate by selecting
words using the muscles in his lips.
a. True b. False
12. Hawking died 376 years after the death of the astronomer Galileo Galilei.
a. True b. False
2. Read the passage and choose the best answer (A, B, C or D) to each question.
The incredible Elvis Presley life story began when Elvis Aaron Presley was born to Vernon and
Gladys Presley in a two-room house in Tupelo, Mississippi, on January 8, 1935. His twin brother, Jessie
Garon, was stillborn, leaving Elvis to grow up as an only child. He and his parents moved to Memphis,
Tennessee, in 1948, and Elvis graduated from Humes High School there in 1953.
Elvis' musical influences were the pop and country music of the time, the gospel music he heard in
church and at the all-night gospel sings he frequently attended, and the black R&B he absorbed on
historic Beale Street as a Memphis teenager.
In 1954, Elvis began his singing career with the legendary Sun Records label in Memphis. In late
1955, his recording contract was sold to RCA Victor. By 1956, he was an international sensation. With a
sound and style that uniquely combined his diverse musical influences and blurred and challenged the
social and racial barriers of the time, he ushered in a whole new era of American music and popular
culture.
Here are a few Elvis Presley facts: he starred in 33 successful films, made history with his television
appearances and specials, and knew great acclaim through his many, often record-breaking, live concert
performances on tour and in Las Vegas. Globally, he has sold over one billion records, more than any
other artist. His American sales have earned him gold, platinum or multi-platinum awards. Among his
many achievements were 14 Grammy nominations (3 wins) from the National Academy of Recording
Arts & Sciences, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award which he received at age 36, and his being
named One of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation for 1970 by the United States Jaycees.
Without any of the special privileges his celebrity status might have afforded him, Elvis honorably served
his country in the U.S. Army.
His talent, good looks, sensuality, charisma, and good humor endeared him to millions, as did the
humility and human kindness he demonstrated throughout his life. Known all over the world by his first
name, he is regarded as one of the most important figures of twentieth century popular culture. Elvis died
at his Memphis home, Graceland, on August 16,1977.
(Text adapted from https://www.graceIand.com/elvis/biography.aspx)
1. As in paragraph 1, what is NOT true about Elvis Presley?
A. Vernon and Gladys are his parents.
B. Elvis was born in Memphis, Tennessee.
C. Elvis was the only child in his family.
D. His high school was in Memphis, Tennessee.
2. What does the word „stillborn‟ in paragraph 1 mean?
A. dead when born B. not born yet C. to be born soon D. still alive
3. When did Elvis graduate from high school?
A. 1935 B. 1953 C. 1954 D. 1955
4. The word „legendary‟ most closely means .
A. important B. rich C. famous D. heart-breaking
5. What was one of Elvis's life events in late 1955?
A. He became an international sensation.
B. He signed a contract with Sun Records.
C. He combined different musical influences to assert his music style.
D. His recording contract was sold to RCA Victor.
6. The phrase „ushered in‟ in the third paragraph could be best replaced by .
A. opened up B. criticised C. discussed D. concluded
7. Which is NOT mentioned as Elvis's musical influences?
A. pop music B. country music C. Memphis arts D. gospel music
8. What could be inferred from paragraph 2 about Elvis Presley?
A. He lived on Beale Street.
B. Beale Street was in Memphis.
C. There was a black R & B music shop on Beale Street.
D. Elvis played black R & B music during his teenage years.
9. Which is true about Elvis's career?
A. He starred in 34 successful films.
B. He won the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at the age of 36.
C. He won 14 Grammy awards.
D. He was named the youngest man for 1970.
10. What did Elvis do in Las Vegas?
A. He performed live there.
B. He died there.
C. He appeared on a local television there.
D. He sold his albums there.
11. He was best known as .
A. Presley B. Elvis C. a Memphis local D. a soldier
12. How old was Elvis when he died?
A. 42 B. 32 C. 41 D. 40
D. WRITING
1. Complete each sentence with one suitable preposition.
1. Mr Ritch was five years younger than his wife. He was born 1908.
2. The boy was born a poor family with both his parents being jobless for an extended period
of time.
3. During her teenage years she worked a waitress at a famous Italian restaurant.
4. the age of twenty, the younger brother move Auckland, New Zealand and studied
biochemistry at Auckland University.
5. 1997 and 2001, the couple worked for a software company in the local area.
6. 15 January, 2010, my sister was granted a scholarship to do an Engineering course in the
US.
7. June, 2016, the ever energetic female writer passed away at her home in the presence of her
beloved children.
8. As time passed, he moved from one place another, running literacy programs for
disadvantaged children where he arrived.
9. one of his missions in Japan, John fell in love with a local girl whom he married and had one
son.
10. the next few years, the young leader aims to open more restaurants in Central Vietnam.
2. Rewrite each sentence below. Keep the meaning the same.
1. I haven't written to him for eight months.
I ago.
2. She told Jane that she was leaving the next day.
She said, “ ”
3. It's almost two years since she last talked to her niece.
She hasn't
4. If we had booked the tickets, we could have seen the film.
We couldn't see
5. When my brother wanted to buy an iPhone, he had to save up for two years.
It took
3. Write a bibliography of a person you know/like in about 150 words.
 ANSWER KEY
A. PRONUNCIATION
1 1. hear 2. meet 3. whether 4. peace 5. eight
6. buy 7. their/they‟re 8. know 9. weigh 10. board
2 1. A 2. A 3. A 4. A 5. B 6. A 7. B 8. B 9. B 10. A
3 1. horse - hoarse 2. through - threw 3. our - hour 4. site - cite
5. flew - flu 6. been - bean 7. rays – raise 8. sale - sail
9. aloud - allowed 10. heir - air
4 Students' answers
B. VOCABULARY & GRAMMAR
1 1. b 2. b 3. a 4. a 5. b 6. b 7. b 8. a
9. a 10. A 11. b 12. a 13. a 14. b 15. b
2 1. brought up 2. foster 3. misfortune 4. charitable 5. helpless
6. hidden 7. away 8. persistence 9. admire 10. identity
11. perform 12. motto 13. initiated 14. talented 15. the needy
3 1. earned 2. married 3. lady 4. then 5. when
6. appointed 7. In 8. first 9. party 10. against
4 1. hosted 2. athletic 3. successful 4. expanded 5. Restaurants
6. novelists 7. reputation 8. performed 9. dramatist 10. Fulfilled
5 1. the 2. the 3. x, the 4. x, x 5. x
6. x, x, x 7. The, the, x 8. x, x 9. the/x 10.x
11. the, the, the 12. an 13. the 14. the 15. x, x
6 1. was 2. gave 3. was 4. left 5. returned
6. died 7. became 8. inherited 9. married 10. had
11. divorced 12. died 13. sustained
7 1. B 2. B 3. B 4. B 5. A 6. A 7. A 8. B
9. B 10. B 11. B 12. B 13. B 14. B
8 1. A 2. B 3. C 4. C 5. A 6. C 7. A 8. C 9. A 10. C
9 1. D (Western Europe) 2. C (influential) 3. A (The poor)
4. B (underground) 5. A (was playing) 6. A (bought)
7. A (lived) 8. A (The United Nations) 9. B (was having a holiday)
10. A (wasted) 11. A (told) 12. D (a/any radio)
13. B (the television) 14. A (read) 15. C (the most expensive)
16. D (the sky) 17. D (was) 18. A (was looking)
19. A (dinner) 20. D (was snowing)
C. READING
1 1. a 2. b 3. a 4. a 5. a 6. a
7. a 8. b 9. b 10. a 11. b 12. a
2 1. B 2. A 3. B 4. C 5. D 6. A
7. C 8. B 9. B 10. A 11. B 12. A
D. WRITING
1 1. in 2. into 3. as 4. At, to 5. Between
6. On 7. In 8. to 9. During/In 10. Over/In
2
1. last wrote to him eight months.
2. I'm leaving tomorrow, Jane.
3. talked to her niece for almost two years.
4. the film because we didn't book the tickets.
5. my brother two years to save up to buy an iPhone.
3 Model answer
Ludwig van Beethoven was born on or about December 16, 1770 in the city of Bonn, Germany. His
mother, Maria Magdalena van Beethoven, was a slender, genteel, and deeply moralistic woman. His
father, Johann van Beethoven, was a mediocre court singer better known for his alcoholism than any
musical ability. Beethoven had two younger brothers who survived into adulthood, Caspar, born in 1774,
and Johann, born in 1776.
Beethoven is the crucial transitional figure connecting the Classical and Romantic ages of Western
music. His personal life was marked by a struggle against deafness, and some of his most important
works were composed during the last 10 years of his life, when he was quite unable to hear. Almost
miraculously, despite his rapidly progressing deafness, Beethoven continued to compose at a furious
pace. From 1803 to 1812, what is known as his "middle" or "heroic" period, he composed an opera, six
symphonies, four solo concerti, five string quartets, six string sonatas, seven piano sonatas, five sets of
piano variations, four overtures, four trios, two sextets and 72 songs. The most famous among these were
symphonies No. 3-8, the "Moonlight Sonata," the "Kreutzer" violin sonata and Fidelio, his only opera. In
terms of the astonishing output of superlatively complex, original and beautiful music, this period in
Beethoven's life is unrivaled by any of any other composer in history.
For a variety of reasons that included his shyness and unfortunate physical appearance, Beethoven
never married or had children. He was, however, desperately in love with a married woman named
Antonie Brentano. Over the course of two days in July of 1812, Beethoven wrote her a long and beautiful
love letter that he never sent.
Beethoven died in Vienna, Austria on 26 March, 1827, at the age of 56.
(Text adapted from https://www.biography.com/people/Iudwig-van-beethoven-9204862)