Liverpool And The Beatles June 2001/02

UNIBERTSTATERA SARTZEKO HAUTAPROBAK. 2001/2002 EKAINA.
PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD
JUNIO. 2001/2002.

On Wednesday 24th October 1962, Love Me Do, entered the British Top Thirty. It was the first single by an unknown group from Liverpool called the Beatles. It was the first of a number of big hits thatwould make John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr the most successful pop group the world has ever known. However, the road to success was not always easy. John and Paul had spent many afternoons listening to American stars like Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley before they were able to write the famous Lennon and McCartney songs.

Although the long evenings spent playing in hot night-clubs in Liverpool and Hamburg in Germany had not earned them much money, they found the experience very useful when playing to huge audiences later on. Not only was their style of singing new and exciting but their unusual haircuts- Beatles 'mops'! - and crazy sense of humour immediately became the latest fashion. One of the most important people at the start of their careers was Brian Epstein, a Liverpudlian record-dealer. He managed to change four ordinary working-class lads into international superstars. George Martin, their record producer, encouraged them the introduce all kinds of unusual instruments on their records and combined popular and classical styles in a new and original way. During' the 1960s the Beatles were always in the news headlines; films, world tours and, sometimes scandal. John once suggested that the Beatles were better known than Jesus Christ. This caused hundreds of young Americans to burn their Beatles records. In addition some people thought there were hidden messages about drugs in some of the songs. After a decade of successful music and films, the Beatles finally decided to break up in the early seventies, after public disagreements about money and personalities

Although many fans hoped there would be a reunion throughout the 1970s, this became impossible with the tragic murder of John Lennon in New York in 1980. The surviving Beatles are still deeply involved in musical and film projects, but many fans still long for the music of the 60s.

"Mops": thick heads of hair like a mop.
Liverpudlian: from Liverpool.
Lads: boys.

1.- ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TEXT IN YOUR OWN WORDS (4 points) (1 each)

1.- Why did the Beatles stop singing together?
2.- Why did the Beatles combine all kind of styles in their songs?
3.- Which were the main factors that made the Beatles be so famous?
4.- Which was the Beatles' previous experience before playing their songs in big places full of people?

2.- ARE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWER WIHT EVIDENCE FROM THE TEXT. (2 points) (1 each)

3.- VOCABULARY (1 point) (0,25 each) - Find words in the text or expressions that have the following meanings:

1.- Failure to agree.
2.- To put an end to something.
3.- Urged.
4.- Words printed at the top of an article in a newspaper etc.

4.- WRITE A SHORT COMPOSITION OF ABOUT 80-100 WORDS. CHOOSE ONE OF THE TOPICS. (3 points):

1.- If you know or have read something about the Beatles, write an essay explaining why do you like or dislike them, their fans, fame, influences, etc.
2.- What kind of local or foreign singer do you like best? Explain why.

	English Department
	BHI Orixe IES
	University Entrance English Test
	JUNE 2001/2002
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UNIBERTSTATERA SARTZEKO HAUTAPROBAK. 2001/2002 EKAINA. PRUEBAS DE ACCESO A LA UNIVERSIDAD JUNIO. 2001/2002. *LIVERPOOL AND THE BEATLES* On Wednesday 24th October 1962, Love Me Do, entered the British Top Thirty. It was the first single by an unknown group from Liverpool called the Beatles. It was the first of a number of big hits thatwould make John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr the most successful pop group the world has ever known. However, the road to success was not always easy. John and Paul had spent many afternoons listening to American stars like Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley before they were able to write the famous Lennon and McCartney songs. Although the long evenings spent playing in hot night-clubs in Liverpool and Hamburg in Germany had not earned them much money, they found the experience very useful when playing to huge audiences later on. Not only was their style of singing new and exciting but their unusual haircuts- Beatles 'mops'! - and crazy sense of humour immediately became the latest fashion. One of the most important people at the start of their careers was Brian Epstein, a Liverpudlian record-dealer. He managed to change four ordinary working-class lads into international superstars. George Martin, their record producer, encouraged them the introduce all kinds of unusual instruments on their records and combined popular and classical styles in a new and original way. During' the 1960s the Beatles were always in the news headlines; films, world tours and, sometimes scandal. John once suggested that the Beatles were better known than Jesus Christ. This caused hundreds of young Americans to burn their Beatles records. In addition some people thought there were hidden messages about drugs in some of the songs. After a decade of successful music and films, the Beatles finally decided to break up in the early seventies, after public disagreements about money and personalities Although many fans hoped there would be a reunion throughout the 1970s, this became impossible with the tragic murder of John Lennon in New York in 1980. The surviving Beatles are still deeply involved in musical and film projects, but many fans still long for the music of the 60s. "Mops": thick heads of hair like a mop. Liverpudlian: from Liverpool. Lads: boys. 1.- ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TEXT IN YOUR OWN WORDS (4 points) (1 each) 1.- Why did the Beatles stop singing together? 2.- Why did the Beatles combine all kind of styles in their songs? 3.- Which were the main factors that made the Beatles be so famous? 4.- Which was the Beatles' previous experience before playing their songs in big places full of people? 2.- ARE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES TRUE OR FALSE? JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWER WIHT EVIDENCE FROM THE TEXT. (2 points) (1 each) 1.- The Beatles transmitted clear messages about drugs in their songs. 2.- The Beatles got their success only due to their own work. 3.- VOCABULARY (1 point) (0,25 each) - Find words in the text or expressions that have the following meanings: 1.- Failure to agree. 2.- To put an end to something. 3.- Urged. 4.- Words printed at the top of an article in a newspaper etc. 4.- WRITE A SHORT COMPOSITION OF ABOUT 80-100 WORDS. CHOOSE ONE OF THE TOPICS. (3 points): 1.- If you know or have read something about the Beatles, write an essay explaining why do you like or dislike them, their fans, fame, influences, etc. 2.- What kind of local or foreign singer do you like best? Explain why.
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