A text about John Lennon and the Beatles

1. The Beatles was a music band. It emerged in England. The Beatles became the
most successful and best known band of the twentieth century. In 1956, a
Liverpool local named John Lennon formed the Quarrymen. At one of their first
performances, John met another guitarist, Paul McCartney. The two hit it off
immediately: Paul was impressed by John's energetic performance, and John
wasimpressed that Paul knewhowtotune aguitar, knewmore thanthree chords, andcould memorize lyrics.
John and Paul developed a close friendship based on their enthusiasm for rock'n'roll.
The Quarrymen later changed their name to the Silver Beatles and then the Beatles. In 1960 the band
members recruited drummer Pete Best. Between 1958 and 1962 the group played in night clubs in Liverpool
andHamburg,Germany. Then the Beatlesmade arecordcalled 'I WannaHold Your Hand' andhad theirfirstbig
success in Britain. 'Please Please Me' came a short time after that and it became number one.
Lennon was both a singer and a songwriter. He wrote many of the Beatles' songs and most of these
songs became number one all over the world. They were romantic and intelligent, and today's musicians still
play them. Lennon did not only make music and films with the Beatles. He also wrote two books, the first one
in 1964 and the second one a year after that. In 1967 he acted in a film called How I Won The War. On December
8, 1980 John Lennon died in New York, shot dead outside his apartment building. Every year thousands of
people come together in New York's Central Park to remember him. For many people in the world, he was
someone very special.
A. Choose the correct answer.
1. John Lennon ---- .
a) was originally German
b) fought in war
c) changed his name to Beatles
d) was the founder of Quarrymen.
2. One of the things about Paul McCartney that impressed John Lennon was that he ---- .
a) knew how to tune a guitar
b) was a song writer
c) sang song very well
d) acted in a film
3. One year before John Lennon died, he ---- .
a) wrote a book
b) played music in night clubs
c) married
d) played in a film
JOHN LENNON

2. B. Find the word that has the closest meaning.
emerged changed was born found
named thought sold called
immediately right away particularly indirectly
recruited took looked saw
acted sang became played
C. Fill in the gaps, using the correct form of the words from Exercise B.
a) We ---- our dogs Shandy and Belle.
b) Have you ever ---- in a play before?
c) I'll call you ---- I hear anything.
d) The company ---- 20 new staff each year.
e) New business opportunities will ---- with advances in technology.
f) He ---- very strangely in the party yesterday.
g) I did not understand the topic ---- .
h) After the collapse of USSR, new countries ---- .
i) Turkish military ---- citizens at the age of 20 or older.
D. Find the statement that has the closest meaning.
1. Lennon wrote many of the Beatles' songs and most of these songs became number one all over the
world.
a) The songs of the Beatles that Lennon wrote was always number one all around the world.
b) Lennon was the most successful songwriter of the Beatles and became globally famous.
c) The majority of the songs that Lennon wrote for the Beatles became hit all around the world.
2. For many people in the world, Lennon was someone very special.
a) For Lennon, many people in the world were very extraordinary.
b) Many people think that Lennon was a special man.
c) Lennon thought he was an unusual person.
3. The Beatles made arecord called 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand' and had their first big success in Britain.
a) 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand' was the Beatle’s first music and it became number one in Britain.
b) The record 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand' became famous all around the world.
c) The Beatles caught their first success with 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand'.

3. E. Discussion.
Student A’s Questions Student B’s Questions
Did you like reading about the Beatles?
Have you ever listened to their songs? Why/Why
not?
What kind of music do you like listening to?
What are the Turkish music bands that you like
most? Why?
Did you like reading about John Lennon?
What do you think about his death?
Have you ever listened to one of John Lennon’s
songs? Why/Why not?
How do you find rock music?
What kind of music do you like?
F. Fill in the blanks, using the information in the text.
The first group, John Lannon formed was called __________ . This name for the band finally changed
__________. The two, __________ and __________ came together and recruited the drummer, __________ in
1960. The Beatles became very __________ around world. John Lennon wrote many __________ for the
band and these songs became number __________ . Lennon was not only a __________ but he was also
__________ and __________ . On __________ 8, 1980 someone __________ him in New York. Today, people still
__________ him.
G. Cloze Test.
Born on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis Presley (1)____ from very
humble family and grew up to become one (2)____the biggest names in rock 'n' roll.
Presleyreceivedhis(3)____guitarasagiftfromhismotheronhis11thbirthdayin1946
and had his first taste of musical (4)____a few years later when he won a talent
show at Humes High School in Memphis. Presley (5)____Priscilla Beaulieu in 1967 but later divorced
(6)____1973. The couple had one daughter together, Lisa Marie, who (7)____born in 1968. By the mid-
1950s, he (8)____on the radio, television and the silver screen. (9)____August 16, 1977, at age 42, he died
of heart failure. Since his death, Presley has remained one of the world's most popular music (10)____.
1.
a) is coming b)hascome c)willcomed)came
2.
a) of b) in c) at d)from
3.
a) first b) the first c) one d) the one
4.
a) love b) fun c) success d) failure
5.
a) married b) took
c) stopped d) saw
6.
a) on b) about c) off d) in
7.
a) had b) is c) was d) does
8.
a) appeared b) appears
c) appearing d) to appear
9.
a) on b) about c) off d) in
10.
a) style b) fashion c) icon d) image

4. Sir Paul McCartney was a
(1)____oftheBeatlesandis
still one of the most
popular solo performers
of all time.
Paul McCartney was born
June 18, 1942, in Liverpool,
England. His career as a singer/songwriter
with the Beatles in the 1960s helped transform
popular music into a creative art form. He had
an(2)____abilitytoblendthetwo.Heisalsoone
of the most (3)____solo performers of all time.
OnJuly6,1957,hemet JohnLennon atWoolton
Village Fete and joined his group, the
Quarrymen. After several name changes, the
group (4)____the Beatles. McCartney and
Lennon quickly established themselves as
songwriters for the group. They(5)____most of
their own material.
1.
a) head b) member
c) candidate d) referee
2.
a) uncanny b) ordinary
c) usual d) similar
3.
a) disliked b) hated
c) obscure d) popular
4.
a) found b) replaced
c) became d) disappeared
5.
a) wrote b) called
c) sold d) told
Charlie Chaplin was born in
London in 1889. He first (1)____in
music halls and then acted on the
London stage. In 1910 he (2)____to
the USA with Fred Karno's
company, but he didn't stay with
Karno very long. In 1913 he started
toworkattheKeystoneCompanyinHollywood.There
he made his first film, Making A Living, in 1914. In his
second film, Kid Auto Races at Venice (1914), he
(3)____the little tramp. This character made him
famous. Chaplin got married several times. He met
his last wife, Oona O'Neill in 1942 and married her a
year later. Chaplinwas then 54 years old and Oona 18.
He (4)____the USA in 1952 for political reasons and
lived with his family in
Switzerland for the (5)____of his life. He died in 1977.
1.
a) appears b) appearing
c) appeared d) will appear
2.
a) left b) went
c) sent d) saw
3.
a) introduced b) loved
c) revived d) ended
4.
a) stopped b) left
c) flew d) understood
5.
a) time b) rest
c) aim d) goal

5. H. Logical Sequence
Mark the alternative which best completes each sentence or thought.
1. Plastic furniture is light-weight and comfortable. Furthermore, _______________ .
a) it is less expensive than wood furniture
b) it is rarely used for interior decoration
c) detergents change its color
d) it breaks under excessive weight
2. Tea is rich with antioxidants. It prevents inflammation and blood vessel hardening. It’s also an anti-
aging agent. However, tea _______________ .
a) may also a have a negative effect on your iron levels
b) has less caffeine than coffee
c) may help you with weight loss
d) may help protect your bones
3. About 4000 families are teaching their children at home, _______________ .
a) the children love books
b) and they are doing very well
c) some friends are also thinking about teaching their children at home.
d) one example is the Tanner family from Hertfordshire
4. For many British people, a house is the most important thing in their lives. They would rather have
their own houses, but prices are going up all the time, and many young people have not got enough
money to buy a house. So, _______________ .
a) In fact, 60% of the population doesn't live in rented housing
b) prices are especially high in the southeast of England.
c) they have to spend a lot of time and money on repairs and decoration.
d) They live in small flats or in their parents' house.