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Directions: For each of the questions 1–10 decide which of the an‑
swers (a, b, c or d) best complete the statements
Everyone in the world knows The Beatles, a British rock music
group, which revolutionized popular music around the world in the
1960s by leading a movement in rock music known as the British
Invasion. From 1964 through 1969, the Beatles achieved unprecedented
popularity with 30 songs reaching the Billboard magazine top ten
popular music charts.
Formed in 1959, the Beatles were composed of four musicians
born in Liverpool, England: guitarist George Harrison, guitarist John
Lennon, bassist Paul McCartney, and drummer Peter Best. In 1962
drummer Ringo Starr (born Richard Starkey) replaced Best. Influ‑
III. Reading. Читання 89
enced by American rock‑and‑roll artists of the late 1950s, such as Lit‑
tle Richard and Buddy Holly, the Beatles styled their songs in the so‑
phisticated manner of the American tradition of popular‑music
songwriting that peaked in the 1920s and 1930s. From the simple,
fresh style of their early songs, such as “I Want to Hold Your Hand”
(1963) and “A Hard Day’s Night” (1964), the Beatles progressed to in‑
novative, experimental works culminating in the album Sgt. Pepper’s
Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967). Considered the first concept album
(songs unified by a common theme), Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club
Band was also admired for its haunting harmony and lyrics, unconven‑
tional musical phrases and rhythms, and the integrated use of elec‑
tronic music and the Indian sitar. Other Beatles’ albums include With
the Beatles (1963), Beatles for Sale (1964), Abbey Road (1969), and
Let it Be (1970).
In 1970 the Beatles split up and each member pursued another
musical career, either as a solo artist or as bandleader. Despite indi‑
vidual successes, members were often approached with requests to re‑
unite, fueling wide speculation until John Lennon’s murder in 1980.
The Beatles won the Grammy Trustees Award in 1972 and the group
was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. In 1995 the
first volume of a three‑album retrospective of the Beatles, Anthology,
was released, accompanied by a television miniseries of the (same
name. The Anthology album, which includes the previously unrecord‑
ed song “Free as a Bird” (written by Lennon and recorded by the sur‑
viving band members during 1994 and 1995), became one of the fast‑
est‑selling albums in the history of popular music. The second album
of the series, Anthology 2, was released in 1996.
tasks
1. The words “In the British Invasion” in line 3 most probably mean:
2. It may be concluded from the passage that:
3. The composition of the group:
4. It is implied in the passage that the Beatles wouldn’t have become
famous had it not been for:
5. The word “sophisticated” in line 9 can best be replaced with:
6. It took the Beatles about __ years to get to the peak of their artis‑
tic career.
7. The thing that was NOT mentioned as the one that made Sgt. Pep‑
per’s Lonely Hearts Club Band an outstanding event in music was:
8. It is implied that:
9. It can be inferred that the Grammy Trustees Award is given for
achievements:
10. One can make a conclusion that:
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