After you have read the text

1. Answer the following questions about the text.

1. How did the European countries label England for centuries?

2. When did the stormy splash of English light music begin?

3. What is Lionel Bart famous for?

4. On whose novel is his musical “Oliver” based?

5. What groups developed the industry of music making in Britain in the 60ies?

6. What was the characteristic feature of their music?

7. What ideas does music of the Beatles express?

8. How did Ray Connolly estimate the contribution of the Beatles to English culture?

9. When did the Beatles become famous?

10. What is the title of their song which entered the Hit Раrade for the first time?

11. Who were the famous four?

12. Where did they play three years before?

13. Where did the Beatles give their lunchtime concerts after they had returned from Germany?

14. Who was the Beatles first manager ?

15. What role did George Martin play in the group?

16. What facts testify to the increasing popularity of the Beatles?

17. How did Epstein's death influence the musical activity of the Beatles?

18. What was the occupation of the four after they went off in different directions ?

19. When was the Beatles song “Love Me Do” in the Top Ten of the British Hit Parade ?

20. What songs of the Beatles do you know ?

2. Insert the words given below in the correct form into the sentences.

1. Our ... do not like light music, they prefer classical music. 2. He was ... the title “Honoured Artist of Russia” for his outstanding merit in the field of culture. 3. It is my.... 4. Richard Strauss wrote his waltzes for ... of the Viennese public. 5. The feeling of homesickness did not ... in spite of immense success of Tchaikovsky abroad. 6. Nowadays there are people who feel ... admiration of the Beatles. 7. The ... is situated in the centre of the stage. 8. After concerts she feels ... . 9. His attention was attracted by a ... in the newspaper. 10. They could not ... each other. 11. The manager had to... him ... because he was always late for concerts. 12. Sometimes the rich people show their … and pay for foreign tours of the most talented musicians. 13. It is not entirely proved that Jimmy Hendrix was ... . 14. The world press ... ... of Michael Jackson's marriage. 15. Unfortunately his playing the piano was not ... .

affair, headline, to give (smb.) the sack, dull, murder, to make a fuss (of smth.), neighbour, drummer, record, award, charity, entertainment, stand, exhausted, unbounded

3. Select the correct meaning of the words.

1. burst a) соглашаться

2. splash b) не соглашаться

3. fusion c) бурный

4. line-up d) взрыв

5. mysterious e) конфликт

6. stormy f) всплеск

7. penniless g) заголовок

8. correspond h) безденежный

9. broaden i) расшярть /ся/

10. disagree j) записывать на пластинку

k) строй, расположение игроков

l) безграничный

m) таинственный

n) соответствовать

o) слияние

4. Annotate text A in written form.

6. Tell what you know about the Beatles.

7. Translate the song giving a poetic version of it. Sing it.

LET IT BE

I. When I find myself in times of trouble

Mother Mary comes to me

Speaking words of wisdom: Let it be.

And in my hour of darkness

She is standing right in front of me

Speaking words of wisdom: Let it be.

Whisper words of wisdom: Let it be.

II. And when the broken hearted people

Living in the world agree

There will be an answer: Let it be.

For though they may be parted

There is still a chance

That they will see.

There will be an answer: Let it be.

III. And when the night is cloudly

There is still a light that shines on me.

Shine until tomorrow: Let it be.

I wake up to the sound of music.

Mother Mary comes to me

Speaking words of wisdom: Let it be.

There will be an answer: Let it be.

7. Read and retell text B.