Famous People
John Lennon
John Lennon
Pre-Reading Warm Up Questions ☀
1. What kind of music do you like?
John Lennon was a member of The Beatles, one of the world’s most
famous bands. The other band members were Paul McCartney,
George Harrison, and Ringo Starr.
Lennon was born in Liverpool, England, on October 9, 1940. His
2. Do you like the Beatles’ music?
3. Are you a fan of any particular band?
4. Do you know when the Beatles first started to record their
music?
first band was called The Quarrymen. Lennon played the guitar and
the keyboard and sang vocals. In 1957, Paul McCartney joined
Lennon’s band as a guitarist and singer. Later that year, George
Harrison, another guitarist, joined. In 1960, Pete Best became the
band’s drummer. The band changed its name two more times before
it was called The Beatles.
In 1962, The Beatles got a record contract with a British recording
company. Lennon and McCartney wrote the songs that the band
recorded. Just before they made their first record, Ringo Starr
replaced Pete Best on the drums.
The Beatles’ records and albums were instant best-sellers in Britain
and Europe, and the group became a sensation. In 1964, they
performed on U.S. television and were a huge hit. After that, they
were followed everywhere by screaming fans. It was known as
Beatlemania.
The Beatles performed together for the last time in San Francisco on
August 29, 1966. The band later broke up.
John Lennon married Cynthia Powell, an art student, in 1962. They
had a son, John Julian, in 1963 and divorced in 1968. In 1969,
Lennon married Yoko Ono, an artist and a musician. Their son,
Sean, was born in 1975.
After The Beatles broke up, Lennon recorded his own music. He had
hit records in 1970 and 1973. He formed a band with Yoko Ono and
a record album they made in 1980 was a big success. They also
became active in the peace movement.
On December 8, 1980, Lennon was killed by a crazed fan in front of
his New York City apartment building. Millions of people around
the world grieved his death. After he died, his records became even
COMPREHENSION ✍
A. True or False. Read the statements below. If the
statement is true, write T beside the sentence. If it is
false, write F. If it is false, correct the information.
1. John Lennon’s band was always called The Beatles.
2. The Beatles’ original drummer was Ringo Starr.
3. The Beatles’ got their first record contract in 1960.
4. It took a long time for their albums to become popular.
5. Lennon had two sons.
more popular. His music is still popular today.
1
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Famous People
John Lennon
B. Practice asking and answering the following questions with your partner. Then write the answers in complete sentences.
1. Who were the members of The Beatles and what instrument did each of them play?
2. What was the original name of Lennon’s band?
3. What was Beatlemania?
4. When did Beatlemania really begin?
5. What did Lennon do after The Beatles broke up?
6. In addition to recording music, what did Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, do?
7. When and how did John Lennon die?
8. What was the reaction to his death?
DISCUSS
VOCABULARY REVIEW ✍
1. Do you have a favorite Beatle song?
If so, what is it?
Choose the word(s) with the closest meaning to the underlined words in the
following sentences.
1. The Beatles got a contract with a British recording company.
a) meeting
b) legal agreement
c) album
c) immediate
b) collection of songs
c) photographs
50 years after they first started playing
their music?
b) a touring group
c) something that causes great excitement
b) expensive
3. Their albums were instant best-sellers.
a) books
seen screaming fans? Why do you think
certain bands can cause so much
excitement in their fans?
3. Why do you think The Beatles’
music is still so popular today, almost
2. Their records were instant best-sellers.
a) big
2. Have you ever been to a concert and
4. The group became a sensation.
a) citizen
5. When they performed on American television, they were a huge hit.
a) loud
b) success
c) happy
b) popular
c) very big
6. They were a huge hit.
a) happy
7. They were followed everywhere by screaming fans.
a) admirers
b) teenagers
c) children
8. Lennon continued to record music after The Beatles broke up.
a) had an accident
b) separated
c) became rich
9. He became active in the peace movement.
a) very involved
b) singer
c)against
10. He became active in the peace movement.
a) parades
b) music industry
c) joint efforts of a group
11. People around the world grieved his death.
a) heard about
b) felt sadness about
c) told each other
2
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Famous People
John Lennon
ANSWER KEY
Please note:
The reading for this topic is also available in full-page format at the end of the lesson (page 4).
PRE-READING QUESTIONS
1. Individual answer (and)
4. The Beatles first started to record their music in 1962.
READING COMPREHENSION
A. True or False
1. F
2. F
3. F
4. F
5. T
B. Written Answers
1. The Beatles were made up of Paul McCartney on vocals and guitar, John Lennon on guitar, keyboard and vocals,
George Harrison on guitar and Ringo Starr on drums.
2. The original name of John Lennon’s band was The Quarrymen.
3. Beatlemania was the sensation of screaming fans who followed them everywhere they went.
4. Beatlemania began in 1964, after they appeared live on U.S. television.
5. After the Beatles broke up, John Lennon recorded his own music.
6. In addition to recording music, Lennon and Yoko Ono became active in the peace movement.
7. John Lennon was killed by a crazed fan in front of his New York City apartment building on December 8, 1980.
VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT
A. Choose the word...
1. b
2. c
3. b
9. a
10. c
11. b
4. c
5. b
6. c
7. a
3
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8. b
Famous People
John Lennon
John Lennon
John Lennon was a member of The Beatles, one of the world’s most famous bands. The other band members were
Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr.
Lennon was born in Liverpool, England, on October 9, 1940. His first band was called The Quarrymen. Lennon
played the guitar and the keyboard and sang vocals. In 1957, Paul McCartney joined Lennon’s band as a guitarist
and singer. Later that year, George Harrison, another guitarist, joined. In 1960, Pete Best became the band’s
drummer. The band changed its name two more times before it was called The Beatles.
In 1962, The Beatles got a record contract with a British recording company. Lennon and McCartney wrote the
songs that the band recorded. Just before they made their first record, Ringo Starr replaced Pete Best on the drums.
The Beatles’ records and albums were instant best-sellers in Britain and Europe, and the group became a sensation.
In 1964, they performed on U.S. television and were a huge hit. After that, they were followed everywhere by
screaming fans. It was known as Beatlemania.
The Beatles performed together for the last time in San Francisco on August 29, 1966. The band later broke up.
John Lennon married Cynthia Powell, an art student, in 1962. They had a son, John Julian, in 1963 and divorced in
1968. In 1969, Lennon married Yoko Ono, an artist and a musician. Their son, Sean, was born in 1975.
After The Beatles broke up, Lennon recorded his own music. He had hit records in 1970 and 1973. He formed a
band with Yoko Ono and a record album they made in 1980 was a big success. They also became active in the
peace movement.
On December 8, 1980, Lennon was killed by a crazed fan in front of his New York City apartment building.
Millions of people around the world grieved his death. After he died, his records became even more popular. His
music is still popular today.
4
Copyright 2009. This eBook is produced and distributed by Red River Press Inc. All rights reserved. The contents within this e-book/document may only be
photocopied by members of ESL-Llibrary.com in accordance with membership terms and conditions. Contact info@esl-library.com for complete details.