Universidad del Valle

Reading of academic texts in English

Professor Carlos Martínez

Workshop

John Lennon

Some people called John Lennon the “thinking man’s” Beatle. He was serious and
creative, and many young people of the 1960’s and 1970’s thought he actually spoke
for them.

Lennon was born on October 9, 1940 in Liverpool, England. During his childhood he
listened to the music of rock and roll singers like Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and
Little Richard. At the age of 15, when he attended the art school, Lennon started his
first band, the Quarrymen. The band included Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and
Pete Best, a drummer.

The Quarrymen later changed their name to the Silver Beatles and then to the Beatles.
Between 1958 and 1962 the group played in nightclubs in Liverpool and Hamburg.
Then the Beatles made a record called “I Wanna Hold Your Hand”. It had a great
success and changed the history of rock and roll.

Many people think that Lennon was the most important singer and songwriter of the
Beatles because in general, his songs are sensitive and intelligent, and they still
influence today’s popular musicians. On December 9, 1980, Mark Chapman, a confused
young man shot John Lennon outside his apartment building in New York City. A few
days later, thousands of people gathered in New York Central Park to remember him.
For them, and for many other people in the world, he was someone very special.

Reading Comprehension

1. Circle the best title for the text

a) The Beatles b) Beatles musical importance c) Lennon and the Beatles

Probably this text comes from (source): ___________________________________

2. Complete the following table:

Year(s) Events
1940
 1955

1958-1962

John Lennon died

3. Give the correct meaning of the following false cognates taking into account the text.

 Actually: ______________________

 Attended: ______________________

 Record: ________________________

 Success: _______________________

4. Analyze the words below, are they derived or compound words? Give the
grammatical category (function) of the word and separate each one into its parts. Give
the correct meaning in Spanish. The first one is an example done for you.

Word derived / function parts Meaning

compound
Unforgivable derived adjective un/forgiv/able imperdonable
Childhood
Singer
Musicians
Nightclubs
Songwriter

5. Give the main idea of the text in your own words (in Spanish)