Famous People

John
Lennon
In this lesson, you will learn about John Lennon, one of
the members of the Beatles. You will learn and practice
vocabulary and talk about your favorite musicians.

Pre-Reading Quick Facts

A. Warm-Up Questions NAME: John Lennon

MEMBER OF:
1. What kind of music do you like?
ACTIVE IN: movement
2. Do you like the Beatles’ music?
QUOTE: “All you need is love.”
3. Are you a fan of any particular band?

4. D
 o you know when the Beatles
first started to record their music?

B. Vocabulary Preview

Match the words on the left with the correct meanings on the right.

1. contract a)  a set of recorded songs that people can buy

2. album b)  right away
3. instant c)  very large
4. sensation d)  to stop being part of a pairing or group
5. huge e)  to express sadness about the loss of someone or something
6. fan f)  something that amazes many people
7. break up g)  a social or political idea that gains support from many
8. active h)  a signed deal between two people or groups
9. movement i)  participating regulary
10. grieve j)  a person who supports or follows a celebrity

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 John Lennon
Famous People

Reading
1. 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.

2. L
 ennon 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.

3. 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.

 he Beatles’ records and albums were instant best sellers in

4. T
Britain and Europe, and the group became a sensation. In 1964,
they performed on US television and were a huge hit. After that,
they were followed everywhere by screaming fans. It was known
as Beatlemania.

5. T
 he Beatles performed together for the last time in
San Francisco on August 29, 1966. The band later broke up.

6. 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.

7. A
 fter 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.

8. O
 n 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.

Copyright 2015, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL Library in accordance with membership terms. 2
 John Lennon
Famous People

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 and 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.

B. Ask and Answer

Practice asking and answering the following questions with

your partner. Then write your answers in complete sentences.

1. W
 ho were the members of the Beatles and 5. What did Lennon do after the Beatles broke up?
what instrument did each of them play?

2. What was the original name of Lennon’s band? 6. In addition to recording music, what
did Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, do?

3. What was Beatlemania? 7. When and how did John Lennon die?

4. When did Beatlemania really begin? 8. What was the reaction to his death?

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 John Lennon
Famous People

Vocabulary Review
Choose the word or phrase with the closest meaning to
the underlined word or phrase in the following sentences.

1. T
 he Beatles got a contract with 5. W
 hen they performed on 9. He became active in
a British recording company. American television, they the peace movement.
were a huge hit.
  a) meeting   a) very involved
  b) legal agreement   a) loud sound   b) a singer
  c) album   b) success   c) against
  c) happy
2. T
 heir albums were 10. He became active in
instant best sellers. 6. They were a huge hit. the peace movement.

  a) big   a) happy   a) parades

  b) expensive   b) really popular   b) music industry
  c) immediate   c) very big   c) joint efforts of a group

3. Their albums were 7. T

 hey were followed 11. People around the
instant best sellers. everywhere by screaming fans. world grieved his death.

  a) books   a) admirers   a) heard about

  b) collections of songs   b) teenagers   b) felt sadness about
  c)  photographs   c) children   c) told each other about

4. The group became a sensation. 8. Lennon

 continued to record
music after the Beatles broke up.
  a) citizen
  b) a touring group   a) had an accident
  c) something that causes   b) separated
    great excitement   c) became rich

Discussion
1. Do you have a favorite Beatles song? If so, what is it?

2. H
 ave you ever been to a concert and seen fans? Why do you
think certain bands cause so much excitement in their fans?

3. W
 hy do you think the Beatles’ music is still so popular today,
almost 50 years after they first started playing their music?

Copyright 2015, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL Library in accordance with membership terms. 4