Penguin Readers Factsheets the Beatles

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Penguin Readers Factsheets Level 3 – Pre-Intermediate The Beatles Level The 3 – Pre-Intermediate Teacher’s Notes The Beatles by Paul Shipton

gone on to produce many entertainers, including comedians and Summary one of England’s best football teams. But for many people around the world, the city is still most famous as the home of the Beatles. There has never been another band like the Beatles! They arrived And Liverpool is very proud of the Fab Four as they came to be on the music scene just when the world was ready for something known. Liverpool airport has been re-named John Lennon Airport new. Teenagers wanted their own bands and their own music to be and a lifesize statue of him was unveiled in the city centre in 2002 played by people like them. They wanted to experience something by Yoko Ono. that was completely different from anything of their parents’ For western Europe the decade of the 1960s was known as the generation. In the 1960s Beatlemania swept first across Britain and ‘swinging’ decade. The world was waking up from the dark years then the world and in this book we set out with the band from their after the Second World War. The economy was starting to improve early days in Liverpool as they strive and then attain international and people had money to spend. In particular, teenagers were success. We can look at all the important moments in the Beatles’ beginning to experience a new identity. A huge gap opened up colourful life together. between this new generation and their parents. Teenagers wanted At the beginning of their careers, the Beatles learned to play live freedom. They wanted to find out about themselves. They wanted music in Hamburg and in Liverpool’s famous Cavern club. With to be individuals and, above all, they wanted their own culture. At hours of practice and a little help from manager Brian Epstein, they this time many young people believed that love and peace could developed their own style. change the world. Life became much less formal. It was also a time We travel with the Beatles to America, where they were the first when teenagers had money to spend on entertainment and British band to be truly successful. And in the UK even the British clothes. Their entertainment was pop music, so they could afford to government and the Queen wanted to be part of their story. Their buy the Beatles’ records that they wanted. The fashion industry was success continued as their music developed, becoming more quick to provide high fashion at cheap prices. Mary Quant brought sophisticated and original. They upset a lot of people along the way, the mini skirt to the high street. Higher education became available including governments and religious leaders, but they went on to more people and the world was suddenly full of students, making records and films. rejecting their parents way of living and inventing their own. With lyrics like ‘All you need is love’, the Beatles captured the spirit of the Things started to change after their manager died and John met young age and led the teenage revolution. Yoko Ono. George became interested in Eastern philosophy and Paul wanted to develop the business side of the band. John and The relationship between the Beatles, with their very different Paul both had strong characters and their own ideas – the book personalities, is an important theme in this story. Paul and John shows us how it became impossible for them to work together and wrote most of the band’s songs. They were both strong characters stay part of the same group. But while the band lasted, John and and their rich and creative partnership often became stormy as they Paul developed a unique song writing partnership that produced matured in different ways. Their different talents could both some of the world’s most famous songs. Most of their music is still complement and antagonise each other. They produced great popular today, forty years after four young men with short hair and works together when they got on well and great works apart when suits first played on stage at the Cavern Club in Liverpool. they were angry with each other. Many fans would say that the two never produced such good work apart as they did together, despite being together for less than a decade. John’s work was often rough and angry, while Paul’s was sweet and melodic. Under John’s Background and themes influence, Paul searched for lyrics that had more meaning. John was often ready to give up when something wasn’t working, but The Beatles came from Liverpool, a port on the North-West coast Paul would push him to carry on until it did work. Together they of England. This coast looks out to America and in the 1950s when created mainstream rock music. They took ordinary words and the Beatles were growing up, Liverpool was one of the first places ideas, and gave them mystery and magic. in Europe to hear the latest sounds of Buddy Holly and Elvis Touring quickly became increasingly difficult and soon Presley, which were brought in on records by ships from across the impossible for the Beatles. No one had done what they did before Atlantic. As teenagers the Beatles wore American style leather – playing with basic sound equipment in front of thousands of jackets and slicked back hair, like their heroes Marlon Brando and screaming fans. The Beatles loved their early concerts in Hamburg James Dean. when they could play together on stage for hours. They really Following the end of the Second World War there were many learned about music and performing, and got to know poor people in Liverpool as many of its traditional industries, such each other well too. Back in Liverpool they loved as cotton, had gradually gone into decline. However, throughout performing in the Cavern where they knew the the twentieth century things have improved for Liverpool and it has audience. They joked with their friends,

© Pearson Education Limited 2002 Penguin Readers Factsheets Level 3 – Pre-Intermediate The Beatles Level The 3 – Pre-Intermediate Teacher’s Notes improvised and learned to play as they performed. Then the big Pages 12–25 tours started. They played a short set to a different audience every Students work in groups of five. Four are the Beatles. The fifth is night. The songs were always the same so they got bored. And they a television interviewer. It’s the end of 1966. The interviewer can couldn’t hear what they were playing because of the screaming. So use the information on pages 20 and 22 to ask the Beatles they played badly. ‘The noise of the people just drowned individual questions as well as questions about the group. Give everything,’ said Ringo. And they became prisoners wherever they groups time to prepare questions and answers and then act out went. Even the police who were protecting them wanted their their interviews for the rest of the class. autographs. After only 4 years on the road and at the height of their success, they stopped touring. They were the victims of their own Pages 26–41 success. Beatlemania made their lives impossible. Debate: We believe that pop music is bad for young people. Take The Beatles are still popular in the twenty-first century both with a class vote and record the result. Divide the class in two. One musicians and fans. You can hear their influence in the music of half argues for. The other half argues against. They can talk about each new generation of pop stars, today, for example, in the music pop music at the time of the Beatles’ success in the 1960s or pop of Robbie Williams and Oasis. And what about the fans? A survey music today. Give students time to prepare their arguments. After of the top 100 albums of all time by a British music magazine in the debate, take a second class vote. Has anyone changed their May 2000 had the Beatles’ 1966 album Revolver at number one, mind? and four other Beatles albums in the top twenty. When a compilation album of Beatles’ number one hit singles, called 1, was ACTIVITIES AFTER READING THE BOOK released in 2001, it went to number one in the charts and earned Students work in pairs or small groups. They invent a band and millions of pounds. write biographical notes for it – name of band, names of band members, instruments, type of music, hits, stories about their behaviour on and off the stage. In turn, pairs/groups tell the class Communicative activities about their band.

The following teacher-led activities cover the same sections of text as the exercises at the back of the reader, and supplement those Glossary exercises. For supplementary exercises, covering shorter sections of the book, see the photocopiable Student’s Activities pages of this Pages 1–11 mania (n) a very strong feeling of Factsheet. These are primarily for use with class readers but, with album (n) recordings of music interest, excitement and liking for the exception of discussion and pair/group work questions, can someone or something (usually shown also be used by students working alone in a self-access centre. audience (n) the people who watch by a lot of people at the same time) and listen to musicians (or actors) on stage rock and roll (n) a type of popular dance music that is loud and fast ACTIVITIES BEFORE READING THE BOOK band (n) a group of musicians who play together single (n) a musical record (with one What do your students know about the Beatles? Divide the class song on each side) in two. Ask teams alternate questions. Give two points for each bass guitar (n) a musical instrument with strings, a long neck and a wooden studio (n) a room where music is right answer. body which you play by pulling and recorded 1 Which country did the Beatles come from? pressing the strings and which plays trumpet (n) a musical instrument. It is loud repeating notes in a song. often used in jazz 2 Which city did they come from? concert (n) hours of live music that you van (n) a vehicle that can be used for can buy tickets for carrying musical equipment 3 What were their names? drum (n) a round musical instrument Pages 12–25 4 Complete this album title – Sergeant Pepper’s … which you play by hitting it with your hand or a stick award (n) a prize 5 Which Beatle was shot in New York in 1980? fan (n) someone who likes a sport, kind explore (v) to travel through a new 6 When did the Beatles play together – 1950s, 1960s, 1970s or of music, famous person (etc.) very area to find out what it is like 1980s? much instrument (n) something that is used guitar (n) a musical instrument with for producing musical sounds 7 Which Beatle died in 2002? strings, a long neck and a wooden lead (v) [to lead a band] to guide/show body which you play by pulling and the way 8 Which two Beatles wrote most of the Beatles’ songs? pressing the strings string (n) [musical] a long and very thin 9 Which Beatle started the group Wings in 1971? manage (v) to work with the people in piece of metal that is used on some a band to look after business matters musical instruments to produce sound 10 Which Beatle wrote Imagine?

ACTIVITIES AFTER READING A SECTION Pages 1–11 Type out the lyrics to the first verse of five or six Beatles’ songs. Cut each verse up into strips. Divide the class into five or six groups. Give each group a cut-up verse. Groups put their verse into the right order as quickly as possible. Each group can read their verse aloud to the class. Talk about what the words mean.

© Pearson Education Limited 2002 Published and distributed by Pearson Education Factsheet written by Jane Rollason Factsheet series developed by Louise James Penguin Readers Factsheets Level 3 – Pre-Intermediate The Beatles Photocopiable Level The 3 – Pre-Intermediate Student’s activities The Beatles by Paul Shipton

These activities can be done alone or with one or more other (iii) because he was in love with a German photographer. students. Pair/group-only activities are marked. (iv) in Hamburg. (v) in Scotland. ACTIVITIES BEFORE READING THE BOOK (vi) on the top of a bus. Read the introduction on page iv. What was Beatlemania? Close 2 Imagine you are in the audience at The Cavern in the early the book and write a sentence to explain what it was. days. Describe what it is like. Talk to a partner. 3 Why did Decca say no to Brian Epstein and the Beatles? ACTIVITIES WHILE READING THE BOOK Pages 8–11 Pages 1–3 1 Find … 1 All these sentences have mistakes. What’s wrong? (a) the name of the studios where the Beatles recorded their (a) After the end of the Beatles, they always said, ‘We will first song. play together again soon.’ (b) the name of John’s first wife. (b) John Lennon died at his home in New York. (c) the name of the Beatles’ first single. (c) Liverpool is in the centre of the United Kingdom, a long (d) the name of the Beatles’ first number one single. way from the sea. (e) the year they recorded With the Beatles, their second (d) Rock and roll came to Britain from Europe in the 1950s. album. (e) Ringo was the youngest of the four Beatles. (f) John and Paul were at school together. 2 Answer these questions. (g) John grew up in one of Liverpool’s poorest areas. (a) Had George Martin produced a lot of pop bands before (h) John was worried at first because he didn’t think Paul he met the Beatles? was as good as the rest of the band. (b) Why did Martin make Pete Best leave the band? 2 Read pages 1–3 and answer these questions. (c) How did people across the country hear the new Beatles’ song ‘Love Me Do’? Who … (d) The Beatles wanted ‘Please, Please Me’ to get to (a) wanted to be like Elvis Presley? number one. What did they do to make this happen? (b) spent hours drawing pictures of guitars until he got his (e) How many days did the Beatles take to record their first own guitar? album, Please, Please Me? (c) had a trumpet as his first instrument? (d) started playing his instrument when he was ill in Pages 12–15 hospital? 1 Look at the words describing the four Beatles on page 12. (e) started the Quarry Men? Write down words to describe your favourite singer or (f) met at a church garden party? musician. Use a dictionary if you need to. Compare your (g) was with John Lennon when he was shot? notes with a partner’s. 3 Look at the paragraphs about each of the four Beatles on 2 Put these sentences in order. pages 2 and 3. Ask questions to a partner or friend. Find out – when and where he/she was born, what his/her parents did, (a) George met his future wife, Patti Boyd. early interests, musical interests etc. Write a short description (b) President Kennedy was shot. of his or her early life. (c) The Beatles were the most popular band in Britain. (d) The film A Hard Day’s Night was made. Pages 4–7 (e) They made the album Beatles for Sale. 1 Make sentences. (f) They played on the Ed Sullivan show. (g) They went to America again. (a) John listened to George play for the first time (h) They went to America for the first time. (b) Stu Sutcliffe bought a bass guitar (c) They played their first tour 3 Find the right name to complete these sentences. (d) John said that he grew up (a) A British newspaper compared Lennon and McCartney (e) Their first trip to Hamburg ended early with … (f) Stu decided to stay in Hamburg (b) George was worried by the death of … (i) because George was not old enough to play in night (c) A Hard Day’s Night was written by … clubs. (d) People said that Ringo acted like … (ii) and joined the band. (e) John and Paul liked the music of …

Pages 16–19 (b) The last time the Beatles played together was at a big Let It Be concert. 1 Answer these questions. (c) George Martin loved Phil Spector’s work on the Let It Be (a) What was unusual about ‘Yesterday’? album. (b) Why didn’t Ringo enjoy the Beatles’ concert in New York (d) John married an American photographer in Gibraltar. in 1965? (e) John was very pleased with his MBE from the British (c) Why did Elvis want the government to send the Beatles government. back to Britain? (f) Lennon and McCartney wrote ‘Something’, one of the (d) What unusual instrument did George play on ‘Norwegian band’s most famous songs. Wood’? (g) The Beatles didn’t enjoy making Abbey Road. (e) What two different views of life are in the words to ‘We 2Work with a partner. Look at the ‘Paul is dead!’ story on page Can Work It Out’? 35. Write a radio news report about a music star today. Read (f) Which three cities did the Beatles visit on their tour in it out to the class. June 1966? Pages 36–41 2 These sentences all have mistakes. Make them correct. 1 What do you think were the main reasons for the end of the (a) The Beatles were not popular in Japan. Beatles? Talk to a partner. Make a list. (b) They were able to walk around Tokyo freely. (c) They were invited to a party by the president of the 2 Read ‘Life After the Beatles’ on pages 37–39. Close your Philippines. book and answer these questions. (d) They pushed the crowd around at the airport and Which Beatle ... knocked over a policeman. (e) They made a lot of money from their concert in Manila. (a) played with Bob Dylan in the 1980s? (b) had a big success with ‘Mull of Kintyre’? Pages 20–23 (c) had a son called Zak? 1 How did John make people angry in America before their tour (d) became a ‘Sir’ in 1997? in 1966? Read page 21 again and write two sentences to (e) was the voice of a train in a children’s programme? explain what happened. (f) made the American government angry? (g) played small concerts all over Britain with his new band? 2 Why did John think the band was finished after the 1966 (h) became a film producer? tour? Talk to a partner. Write down your ideas. Discuss them (i) wrote ‘Imagine’? with the class. 3 Answer these questions. Pages 24–27 (a) Who attacked who on ‘How Do You Sleep’? 1 Read page 24 and close your book. Put the words of these (b) How did John and Paul feel about each other in the late song titles from Sergeant Pepper in the correct order. 70s? (a) Sixty-Four I’m When (c) How many of the Beatles’ twenty-two singles reached (b) From Little Friends A Help With My number one in Britain? (c) Mr Kite For Of Benefit The Being (d) How many of their albums reached number one? (d) Sky The With Diamonds In Lucy (e) How many Beatles played on the 1995 recordings? (e) Life In The Day A (f) What was on the Beatles’ successful 2000 album? 2 At this time the Beatles were interested in the meaning of life. ACTIVITIES AFTER READING THE BOOK In what ways? Write down some ideas. 1 Can you remember? Which song is it? Choose from the list at Pages 28–31 the bottom. 1 Answer these questions. (a) People like John’s singing on this song from the first (a) Why were the band like ‘chickens without heads’ after album. John said he was just screaming. the death of Brian Epstein? (b) Paul heard this song in a dream and then wrote it down. (b) Why didn’t people like Magical Mystery Tour? (c) Paul wrote the beginning and end of this song in 1965 (c) How do we know that Ringo wasn’t interested in the and John wrote the middle part. Indian way of life? (d) This is a happy song about life in Liverpool. (d) Which Beatle was most interested in the Beatles as a (e) John took this idea for a song from Alice in Wonderland business? by Lewis Carroll. (e) Why do you think that John being with Yoko was a (f) This was the first Beatles’ single written by George problem for the other Beatles? Harrison. (f) How does the White Album show the ‘slow death’ of the ‘I Am The Walrus’ ‘Penny Lane’ ‘Something’ Beatles? ‘Twist and Shout‘ ‘We Can Work It Out’ ‘Yesterday’ 2Work with a partner. One of you is a newspaper reporter. The other is one of the Beatles – choose which one. The reporter 2You are a young reporter following the Beatles in 1963 (see asks the Beatle questions about two things that changed the pages 1 to 11). They have just recorded their second album. Beatles at this time – the death of Brian Epstein and the Write something for your newspaper about the band’s meeting of John and Yoko. success so far. Imagine how exciting this new music was then. Pages 32–35 3You work for the Beatles’ record company. 1 There are mistakes in these sentences. Make them correct. A new Beatles’ album of old songs is coming (a) John had big ideas for the Beatles. out soon. Write something to help sell it.