The Beatles

Unidad 2, tarea 1.

1. Watch this video to get an idea about the Beatles:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjfAXCKLcfk

[pic]



2. Now you are going to read a text about John Lennon and the Beatles and answer the following questions:

1__________________________________________________________________

John Lennon died on 8th December 1980 when Mark Chapman, a mentally illman who called himself a ‘fan’ of the ex-Beatle, shot him at the entrance to the building where Lennon lived in New York. The news of Lennon’s death caused great sadness around the World.

2__________________________________________________________________

The main reason for Lennon’s popularity was, of course, his work with the Beatles in the 1960s. As well as being a singer and guitarist, hewas a gifted songwriter who wrote most of the Beatles’ lyrics in partnership with Paul McCartney. Lennon and McCartney also wrote some songs individually – Lennon’s included Day in the Life and Come Together.


3___________________________________________________________________

In the 1950s, as a teenager in Liverpool, in the north-west of England, Lennon was a big fan of American rock ’n’roll music. His aunt bought him a guitar, but then began to worry that he was spending too much time playing it. She said, ‘The guitar’s all very well, John, but you’ll never make a living out of it.’ In 1957, aged sixteen, Lennon decided to form a band called The Quarrymen, and invited Paul McCartney to join him. George Harrison was the next to join. Pete Best, the drummer, was the fourth memberof the band before Ringo Starr replaced him. The band changed its name the Silver Beetles, then to the Beatles. Worldwide fame was just around the corner.

4____________________________________________________________________

When the Beatles split up in 1970, John began a solo career. By then he was married to his second wife, the Japanese artist Yoko Ono. He and Ono became campaigners forWorld peace (the Vietnam War was still going on), and also supported new ideas such as feminism. Some people thought Lennon’s ideas were naïve, but others admired him for using his fame to highlight important issues.

5_____________________________________________________________________

Lennon’s beliefs also led him to write two of his most popular songs: Imagine and Happy Xmas (War isOver). Imagine has become extremely well-known, and in December 2005 it was the song people played at almost all the events that took place to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Lennon’s death.

1. Are these statements True or False? Justify the answer with your own words.

a) The Silver Beetles had not yet become famous when they changed their name to The Beatles.

False, Lennondecided to form a band called the Quarrymen, and invited Paul McCartney to join him.

b) Lennon didn’t like foreign music when he was a teenager.

False, Lennon was a big fan of American rock ´n´ roll music.

c) Lennon’s aunt didn’t think he should waste his time trying to become a professional guitarist.

True. She said the guitar's all very well; John, butyou'll never make a living out of it.

d) John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote all the Beatles’ songs together.

True, he was a gifted songwriter and McCartney also wrote some songs individually - Lennon's included Day in the life and Come together.

2. Match these titles with the paragraphs above:

a) Lennon´s most famous works. fifth paragraph

b) Formation of theBeatles and Lennon´s initiative. third paragraph

c) Lennon´s end. first paragraph

d) Lennon´s own career and personal life. fourth paragraph and

e) Lennon´s good qualities for music. second paragraph




3. Find in the text synonyms of the following words and give a definition for each word (with your own words, do not copy from a dictionary):

a)...