2. Read the text. Are the sentences true (T) or false (F)?

(Đọc văn bản. Các câu này đúng (T) hay sai (F)?)

1   Łódź was famous before the work of the Urban Forms Foundation. ☐

2   The Foundation’s art project didn’t cost anything. ☐

3   The project is now completed. ☐

A BRIGHTER CITY!

The city of Łódź in Poland was another unremarkable industrial city until a few years ago. In 2009, an organisation called the Urban Forms Foundation was set up by a well-known art historian and an actress. Their idea was to bring the tired urban landscape to life again.

The Foundation planned an art project that would change the city’s image and regenerate the centre, and presented it to the city council. It wanted the council to ask street artists to paint on walls around the city centre as a permanent outdoor exhibition. The mayor of the city supported the idea and the Foundation was given permission to go ahead and raise the money needed. Famous street artists from all over the world were invited by the Foundation to come to Poland to work, including Os Gemeos from Brazil, Aryz from Spain and Remed from France, as well as local talent like M-City and Etam Cru. In total, artists from eight countries took part in the project over the next few years, and more than twenty huge murals were created on the sides of buildings in public spaces.

Łódź is now the second city in the world for street art after New York, and people visit there especially to see the amazing artworks. With a special map, tourists can walk round the city and view them all in a couple of hours. Now, once a year, the Foundation organises an art festival which attracts participants from all over the world. And in the future, the project will be continued with other pieces of urban art – statues, sculptures and ‘street jewellery’. The transformation goes on!

2 Read and listen to the poem. Do you think its message is optimistic or pessimistic? What do you think the last line is telling us to do?

(Đọc và nghe bài thơ. Bạn nghĩ thông điệp của nó là lạc quan hay bi quan? Bạn nghĩ dòng cuối cùng bảo chúng ta làm gì?)

3 Match the underlined words in the poem with definitions a-h.

(Nối các từ được gạch chân trong bài thơ với các định nghĩa a-h.)

a a period of time in history

b not interested in anything

c in the right order

d people who are the same age

e an easy solution, but not a good one

f not clever or intelligent

g something that is typical or usual

h lazy-not wanting to do anything

The Lost Generation

by Jonathan Reed

I am part of a lost generation.

And I refuse to believe that

I can change the world.

I realize this may be a shock, but

'Happiness comes from within'

Is a lie, and

'Money will make me happy'

So in 30 years, I will tell my children

They are not the most important thing in my life.

My employer will know that

I have my priorities straight because

Work

Is more important than

Family

I tell you this:

Once upon a time

Families stayed together

But this will not be true in my era.

This is a quick fix society

Experts tell me

Thirty years from now, I will be celebrating the tenth anniversary of my divorce.

I do not concede that

I will live in a country of my own making.

In the future,

Environmental destruction will be the norm.

No longer can it be said that

My peers and I care about this Earth.

It will be evident that

My generation is apathetic and lethargic.

It is foolish to presume that

There is hope.

And all of this will come true unless we reverse it.

4. Listen to the poem again. How does starting with the last line change the meaning? Which version of the poem do you agree with more?

(Nghe lại bài thơ. Bắt đầu với dòng cuối cùng thay đổi ý nghĩa như thế nào? Bạn đồng ý với phiên bản nào của bài thơ hơn?)

2 Read the article. Why do some people think it is necessary to hide their tattoos when they have an interview?

(Đọc bài báo. Tại sao một số người nghĩ rằng cần phải che hình xăm của họ khi họ phỏng vấn?)

Amanda recently had a colourful butterfly tattooed on her wrist. Brad had the names of his two daughters tattooed on his neck under his hair. His friend Doug had his back decorated with a large tattoo of a shield. For the people themselves, these examples of body art are meaningful and important. Nevertheless, they deliberately had them done in places that can easily be hidden. Why? Because they want to give themselves the best possible chance of getting a job, and many employers have a negative attitude towards tattoos and other forms of body art (piercings, body painting, etc.). That is because many employers do not think that decorating yourself with tattoos is acceptable. But when these employers were young themselves, back in the 1980s, they probably had their hair dyed a bright colour to shock their parents! Fashions change, but younger generations always have the desire to be different.

LEARN THIS! have something done

a You can use the structure have + object + past participle to say that you arranged for somebody to do something for you. (You did not do it yourself.)

She had her hair dyed.

I haven't had my eyes tested for years.

b You can also use the structure for unpleasant things that somebody or something has done to you.

He had his nose broken in a rugby game.

(LEARN THIS! have something done

a Bạn có thể sử dụng cấu trúc have + tân ngữ + quá khứ phân từ để nói rằng bạn đã sắp xếp để ai đó làm gì cho bạn. (Bạn đã không tự mình làm điều đó.)

Cô ấy đã nhuộm tóc.

Tôi đã không kiểm tra mắt trong nhiều năm.

b Bạn cũng có thể dùng cấu trúc này cho những điều khó chịu mà ai đó hoặc điều gì đó đã làm với bạn.

Anh ấy bị gãy mũi trong một trận đấu bóng bầu dục.)

3 Read the Learn this! box. What examples of have something done can you find in the article in exercise 2?

(Đọc khung Learn this! Bạn có thể tìm thấy ví dụ nào về have something done trong bài viết ở bài tập 2?)

2 Read the article. What is unusual about John Cage's most famous composition?

(Đọc bài viết. Điều gì là bất thường về sáng tác nổi tiếng nhất của John Cage?)

Experimental music by John Cage

Most composers want their music to contain something different - a distinctive melody or rhythm, or an unusual harmony which no one has thought of before. But has anyone gone further than composer John Cage in the search for originality?

In 1951, John Cage wanted to find somewhere he could experience complete silence. He went inside a special soundproof room and expected to hear nothing, but instead heard two sounds, one high-pitched and one low-pitched. Later, the sound engineer explained that the first was the sound of his nervous system and the second was the sound of his blood circulating. Cage realised that nowhere is completely silent - you can always hear something. A year later, he composed his most famous piece: 4'33" ('four minutes and thirty-three seconds"). In this piece, the performer walks on stage and then... nothing happens. He or she does not play anything at all. Everybody in the audience listens to nothing for exactly four minutes and 33 seconds. Then the performer bows and everyone applauds!

2 Read the article and match the photos (A-C) with two of the artists.

(Đọc bài báo và nối các bức ảnh (A-C) với hai trong số các nghệ sĩ.)

Jessie Hemmons

Magda Sayeg

GRANNY GRAFFITI

The statue of Rocky outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art is very popular with tourists, who often stop to take their photo in front of it without bothering to visit the museum itself. This irritated the artist Jessie Hemmons, who knitted a bright pink jacket and put it on the statue of the boxer. On the front of the jacket, Jessie knitted the words 'Go see the art'. Jessie hopes that more people will visit the gallery. This form of street art has become known as 'yarn bombing'.

The craze is believed to have started in 2005 by Magda Sayeg in Houston, Texas. One day Magda decided, just for fun, to knit a blue-and-pink cover for her shop's door handle. She loved it, and unexpectedly, so did her customers. Pedestrians stopped outside the shop to photograph it. Motorists slowed down to take a closer look. Their reaction inspired Magda to make covers for other objects in the street, such as a stop sign, a lamp post, a parking meter - and even an entire bus, which took a whole week to complete!

There are now yarn bombing groups in dozens of countries. They photograph and film their works and upload them to the internet.

Jessie believes that most street art is done by men and that yarn bombing is a more feminine activity. But not everyone approves of the new form of street art. Some people argue that covering public objects in wool is vandalism and littering, but the police appear to have a relatively relaxed attitude towards yarn bombers. They might interrupt them if they see them at work in the street, but they do not often view them as criminals.

Whether you see yarn bombing as a bit of fun that brightens up drab cities, or as a form of high culture with a serious message, it is a craze that is likely to continue.

Reading Strategy

1 Multiple-choice questions are always in the same order as the information in the text.

2 If there is a question testing the main idea of the text, or the writer's overall opinion, it will come last.

3 The correct option will match the meaning of the text but use different words. Make sure the other options are not right or are not mentioned in the text.

4 If you can't decide between the options, an intelligent guess is better than no answer.

(Chiến lược đọc

1 Các câu hỏi trắc nghiệm luôn theo thứ tự thông tin trong văn bản.

2 Nếu có một câu hỏi kiểm tra ý chính của văn bản, hoặc ý kiến chung của người viết, nó sẽ xuất hiện cuối cùng.

3 Phương án đúng sẽ phù hợp với nghĩa của văn bản nhưng sử dụng các từ khác nhau. Đảm bảo rằng các tùy chọn khác không đúng hoặc không được đề cập trong văn bản.

4 Nếu bạn không thể quyết định giữa các lựa chọn, thì một suy đoán thông minh sẽ tốt hơn là không có câu trả lời.)

3 Read the Reading Strategy. Is there a question about the main idea or the writer's overall opinion in the questions in exercise 4?

(Đọc Chiến lược đọc. Có câu hỏi nào về ý chính hoặc ý kiến chung của người viết trong các câu hỏi ở bài tập 4 không?)

4 For questions 1-5, circle the correct answers (a–c).

(Đối với các câu hỏi 1-5, hãy khoanh tròn các câu trả lời đúng (a–c).)

1 Jessie Hemmons 'yarn bombed' the statue of Rocky because

a she wants people to take photos of it.

b she thinks too many tourists come and see it.

c she wants more people to go and see the paintings in the museum.

2 Why did Magda Sayeg knit a cover for the door handle of her shop?

a For her own amusement

b To attract customers

c Because someone passing the shop suggested it

3 Jessie thinks that yarn bombing is different from other forms of street art because

a its popularity has spread via the internet.

b it's temporary and soon disappears.

c it's less masculine.

4 What is the police's usual attitude to yarn bombing?

a They make it clear that it is against the law.

b They think that yarn bombers are strange people.

c They hardly ever try to arrest yarn bombers.

5 What is the writer's overall opinion of yarn bombing?

a The writer doesn't express a personal view.

b It's a more feminine version of graffiti.

c It deserves to be called 'art'.

5 VOCABULARY In paragraphs 1 and 2, underline four things (excluding vehicles) that you might find in the street. How many more items can you add to the list?

(Trong đoạn 1 và 2, hãy gạch chân bốn thứ (không bao gồm xe cộ) mà bạn có thể tìm thấy trên đường phố. Bạn có thể thêm bao nhiêu mục nữa vào danh sách?)

2 Read the text. Match the headings with the paragraphs A-C.

(Đọc văn bản. Nối các tiêu đề với các đoạn A-C.)

- The artist                         Paragraph ____________

- The process                     Paragraph ____________

- The tradition                    Paragraph ____________

Many of children's toys are perfect craftwork. To he, Vietnamese folk art, is a typical example.

A

To he is made from dough into different little things or animals which Vietnamese children love to keep as toys. Interesting shapes can be created to the wish of the children. It could be an animal like a chicken, a monkey or some fruits like a hand of bananas. The dough can be made from flour taken from ground rice or sticky rice, but the amount of sticky rice should be restricted to just 10 percent of the dough. Besides making nice dough, the artist prepares natural colours, which are usually made from leaves, vegetables or fruits. Sometimes paint is used, but traditionally natural items are preferred because they will make safe edible toys. The artist may creatively use leaves or small twigs to make further decorations. [1]

B

To he can be made by anyone who is creative and skillful enough, so parents can become favourite to he artists of their children. However, great artists of to he can be found in many Vietnamese villages. They can make extraordinary artworks with beautiful shapes, harmonious combination of colours, and lifelike features. The artists usually travel through villages or come to local fairs and festivals selling toys to children and their artworks play an important role in folk decorations. [2]

C

Nobody knows exactly when to he came into being, but it is believed to come from the north of Viet Nam. Xuan La village in Ha Noi is famous for this traditional art. Devoted artists have brought this beautiful art to everywhere in Viet Nam. Outside a schoolgate or on the pavement of a crowded street, a to he artist can be found passionately creating little colourful toys for some young children. [3] To he remains an interesting feature of Vietnamese culture.

3 Read the text again and write True or False to the statements 1-5.

(Đọc văn bản một lần nữa và viết Đúng hoặc Sai cho các câu 1-5.)

1. To he is creatively produced from a combination of flour and colour.

2. Sticky rice can make better dough for to he than rice.

3. To he products are mainly sold at village fairs.

4. Villagers can use to he as decorators.

5. To he is created as toys but it is edible.

5 Match the highlighted words in the text with the following words or phrases.

(Nối các từ được đánh dấu trong văn bản với các từ hoặc cụm từ sau.)

- limited to an amount

- exactly like a real thing

- a mixture of flour and water

- showing strong feeling of love

- unbelievable

Read the article about a type of art. Are the sentences true or false? Write T or F.

(Đọc bài viết về một loại hình nghệ thuật. Những câu sau đúng hay sai? Viết T hoặc F.)

When we think of art, we normally picture something which can exist for centuries. But there has always been a type of art which doesn't last. This is often referred to as 'temporary' art. Sculptures which are made of snow or ice, paintings in coloured sand, chalk drawings done on public pavements: it's not that these don't have artistic value, but they are designed to disappear.

Jorge Rodríguez-Gerada is a modern 'temporary' artist, and one who gets a lot of attention for his work. He uses groups of volunteers to help him, and his pieces take a long time to plan and create. But they are mostly talked about because the final results are so impressive. For the past few years, Rodríguez-Gerada has been creating gigantic faces in empty spaces in cities. To people on the ground, it looks like a garden, and it is hard to see any kind of design in it. In fact, GPS mapping is used to set out the design. Then an army of workers use this master plan to create the image which the artist has planned.

In 2014, the artist created an astonishing face on the National Mall in Washington, DC. It covered an area of 25,000 square metres, and it was created because the mall was getting new gardens, and the land wasn't going to be used for a while. The portrait was of a young man of mixed race, and was called Of the Many, One. The artist says that it showed one of the millions of faces that represent the American people. After a while, the sand and soil of the portrait were mixed together, and new lawns were planted in its place. The portrait has disappeared, but it will not easily be forgotten.

1 Temporary art is a new kind of art.

2 Artists use sand or chalk in their artwork so that it will exist for a long time.

3 Jorge Rodríguez-Gerada is an important artist in the field of temporary art.

4 His work is very quick to create.

5 He uses maps to plan his artwork.

6 A lot of people help him to create his art.

7 Jorge's artwork called Of the Many, One was part of a new garden design for the National Mall.

8 The artwork does not exist anymore.

4. Read the poem and listen to three speakers talking about poetry. Which speaker is talking about the poem below?

(Đọc bài thơ và nghe ba diễn giả nói về thơ. Người nói nào đang nói về bài thơ dưới đây?)

Speaker ____ is talking about this poem.

Our Meetings

BY ANDREW WATERMAN

As in the Underground there’s no mistaking the train’s approach, it pushes air ahead, whirls paper, the line sings, a sort-of dread suffusing longing and my platform shaking – so it is before our every meeting, till you arrive. Hear how my heart is beating.

3. Read the Reading Strategy. Circle the correct answers.

(Đọc Chiến lược đọc. Hãy khoanh tròn những câu trả lời đúng.)

1   Two people started an organisation in Łódź to

a   provide more industry in the city.

b   rebuild the city centre.

c   hold more art exhibitions.

d   improve the look of the city.

2   The Urban Forms Foundation.

a   asked the mayor to help.

b   needed the city council to agree to the project.

c   asked the council for money for their idea.

d   told the city council what to do.

3   Famous street artists

a   weren’t interested at first in the project.

b   from abroad only were invited.

c   were asked to take part in the project.

d   asked the Foundation for work.

4   Because of the Foundation’s work,

a   the city has become famous in the art world.

b   the city now has more street art then New York.

c   tourists are allowed to paint on the city walls.

d   there is no need for more artwork in the city.

1. Read the task above. Then read Writing Strategy 1 and the review below. Answer the questions.

(Đọc nhiệm vụ trên. Sau đó đọc Chiến lược viết 1 và phần đánh giá bên dưới. Trả lời các câu hỏi.)

a Where does each paragraph end?

Paragraph 1: A ☐ or B ☐

Paragraph 2: C ☐ or D ☐

Paragraph 3: E ☐ or F ☐

b Has the writer followed the second piece of advice in the Strategy? Yes ☐ No ☐

Writing Strategy 1

1 Give your entry a logical structure. Divide it into paragraphs, each with its own topic or focus.

2 The conclusion should restate the main idea given in the introduction, but using different words. It should also include the writer's opinion and, if appropriate, a recommendation.

(Chiến lược viết 1

1 Cung cấp cho mục mô tả của bạn một cấu trúc hợp lý. Chia nó thành các đoạn văn, mỗi đoạn có chủ đề hoặc trọng tâm riêng.

2 Phần kết luận nên trình bày lại ý chính được đưa ra trong phần giới thiệu nhưng sử dụng từ ngữ khác. Nó cũng nên bao gồm ý kiến của người viết và nếu thích hợp, một khuyến nghị.)

An extraordinary film about an extraordinary man!

If you're looking for a film that has romance and drama, this is the one for you! I loved The Theory of Everything, from start to finish. [A] And I have no doubt that it'll remain one of my favourite films for many years to come! I'd definitely recommend It. [B] it is set in Cambridge, England, and it tells the story of Stephen Hawking, a physicist at Cambridge University, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease while still in his early twenties. We see how, with the help of Jane - his girlfriend and then wife - he overcame great physical disabilities to become probably the world's most famous scientist. [C] What I really loved about the film is the incredibly moving story. [D] I thought the acting was first-class, with superb performances from Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones. The film was also beautifully filmed, with lots of atmospheric shots of Cambridge. [E] have only one small criticism. We learn a lot about Jane and Stephen's relationship, but we learn nothing about Stephen Hawking the sdentist. [F] Overall, however, this is a fantastic film. Watch it. You won't be disappointed! I guarantee it.

Reading

4. Read three texts connected with films and choose the correct answers.

(Đọc ba đoạn văn có liên quan đến phim và chọn câu trả lời đúng.)

56 Up

On ITV tonight, there's another chance to see part of the latest documentary in the Up series. Since the first instalment in 1964, director Michael Apted has been following the lives of fourteen British citizens from all walks of life, catching up with them every seven years to see what has changed. The participants were first filmed aged seven, when their social differences were already noticeable: some were living in children's homes while others were attending expensive private schools. The aim of the documentary has been to explore the idea that a child's future is already decided by the time he or she is seven years old. To find out how far the theory is true, you will have to watch tonight's programme, which shows the participants aged 56. Viewers who have seen the previous documentary may be in for some surprises!

1 The author of the text wants to

a encourage readers to watch a TV programme.

b find out if children's backgrounds affect their futures.

c explore the differences between the classes in the UK.

Tạm dịch

56 Up

Trên ITV tối nay, có một cơ hội khác để xem một phần của bộ phim tài liệu mới nhất trong loạt phim Up. Kể từ phần đầu tiên vào năm 1964, đạo diễn Michael Apted đã theo dõi cuộc sống của 14 công dân Anh thuộc mọi tầng lớp xã hội, theo dõi họ bảy năm một lần để xem điều gì đã thay đổi. Những người tham gia được quay phim lần đầu tiên vào lúc 7 tuổi, khi sự khác biệt xã hội của họ đã lộ rõ: một số sống trong nhà trẻ trong khi những người khác đang theo học tại các trường tư đắt tiền. Mục đích của bộ phim tài liệu này là khám phá ý tưởng rằng tương lai của một đứa trẻ đã được quyết định khi trẻ lên 7 tuổi. Để biết lý thuyết này đúng đến mức nào, bạn sẽ phải xem chương trình tối nay, chiếu những người tham gia ở độ tuổi 56. Những khán giả đã xem bộ phim tài liệu trước đó có thể sẽ ngạc nhiên!

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.

In the 1960s, The Beatles were probably the most famous pop group in the whole world. Since then, there have been a great many groups that have achieved enormous fame, so it is perhaps difficult now to imagine how sensational The Beatles were at that time. They were four boys from the north of England and none of them had any training in music. They started by performing and recording songs by black Americans and they had some success with these songs. Then they started writing their own songs and that was when they became really popular. The Beatles changed pop music. They were the first pop group to achieve great success from songs they had written themselves. After that it became common for groups and singers to write their own songs. The Beatles did not have a long career. Their first hit record was in 1963 and they split up in 1970. They stopped doing live performances in 1966 because it had become too dangerous for them – their fans were so excited that they surrounded them and tried to take their clothes as souvenirs! However, today some of their songs remain as famous as they were when they first came out. Throughout the world many people can sing part of a Beatles song if you ask them.

The passage is mainly about __________.

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.

In the 1960s, The Beatles were probably the most famous pop group in the whole world. Since then, there have been a great many groups that have achieved enormous fame, so it is perhaps difficult now to imagine how sensational The Beatles were at that time. They were four boys from the north of England and none of them had any training in music. They started by performing and recording songs by black Americans and they had some success with these songs. Then they started writing their own songs and that was when they became really popular. The Beatles changed pop music. They were the first pop group to achieve great success from songs they had written themselves. After that it became common for groups and singers to write their own songs. The Beatles did not have a long career. Their first hit record was in 1963 and they split up in 1970. They stopped doing live performances in 1966 because it had become too dangerous for them – their fans were so excited that they surrounded them and tried to take their clothes as souvenirs! However, today some of their songs remain as famous as they were when they first came out. Throughout the world many people can sing part of a Beatles song if you ask them.

The four boys of the Beatles ____________.

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.

In the 1960s, The Beatles were probably the most famous pop group in the whole world. Since then, there have been a great many groups that have achieved enormous fame, so it is perhaps difficult now to imagine how sensational The Beatles were at that time. They were four boys from the north of England and none of them had any training in music. They started by performing and recording songs by black Americans and they had some success with these songs. Then they started writing their own songs and that was when they became really popular. The Beatles changed pop music. They were the first pop group to achieve great success from songs they had written themselves. After that it became common for groups and singers to write their own songs. The Beatles did not have a long career. Their first hit record was in 1963 and they split up in 1970. They stopped doing live performances in 1966 because it had become too dangerous for them – their fans were so excited that they surrounded them and tried to take their clothes as souvenirs! However, today some of their songs remain as famous as they were when they first came out. Throughout the world many people can sing part of a Beatles song if you ask them.

The word “sensational” is closest in meaning to __________.

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.

In the 1960s, The Beatles were probably the most famous pop group in the whole world. Since then, there have been a great many groups that have achieved enormous fame, so it is perhaps difficult now to imagine how sensational The Beatles were at that time. They were four boys from the north of England and none of them had any training in music. They started by performing and recording songs by black Americans and they had some success with these songs. Then they started writing their own songs and that was when they became really popular. The Beatles changed pop music. They were the first pop group to achieve great success from songs they had written themselves. After that it became common for groups and singers to write their own songs. The Beatles did not have a long career. Their first hit record was in 1963 and they split up in 1970. They stopped doing live performances in 1966 because it had become too dangerous for them – their fans were so excited that they surrounded them and tried to take their clothes as souvenirs! However, today some of their songs remain as famous as they were when they first came out. Throughout the world many people can sing part of a Beatles song if you ask them.

What is not true about the Beatles?

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.

In the 1960s, The Beatles were probably the most famous pop group in the whole world. Since then, there have been a great many groups that have achieved enormous fame, so it is perhaps difficult now to imagine how sensational The Beatles were at that time. They were four boys from the north of England and none of them had any training in music. They started by performing and recording songs by black Americans and they had some success with these songs. Then they started writing their own songs and that was when they became really popular. The Beatles changed pop music. They were the first pop group to achieve great success from songs they had written themselves. After that it became common for groups and singers to write their own songs. The Beatles did not have a long career. Their first hit record was in 1963 and they split up in 1970. They stopped doing live performances in 1966 because it had become too dangerous for them – their fans were so excited that they surrounded them and tried to take their clothes as souvenirs! However, today some of their songs remain as famous as they were when they first came out. Throughout the world many people can sing part of a Beatles song if you ask them.

The Beatles stopped their live performances because ____________.

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.

In the 1960s, The Beatles were probably the most famous pop group in the whole world. Since then, there have been a great many groups that have achieved enormous fame, so it is perhaps difficult now to imagine how sensational The Beatles were at that time. They were four boys from the north of England and none of them had any training in music. They started by performing and recording songs by black Americans and they had some success with these songs. Then they started writing their own songs and that was when they became really popular. The Beatles changed pop music. They were the first pop group to achieve great success from songs they had written themselves. After that it became common for groups and singers to write their own songs. The Beatles did not have a long career. Their first hit record was in 1963 and they split up in 1970. They stopped doing live performances in 1966 because it had become too dangerous for them – their fans were so excited that they surrounded them and tried to take their clothes as souvenirs! However, today some of their songs remain as famous as they were when they first came out. Throughout the world many people can sing part of a Beatles song if you ask them.

The tone of the passage is that of________________.

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.

In the 1960s, The Beatles were probably the most famous pop group in the whole world. Since then, there have been a great many groups that have achieved enormous fame, so it is perhaps difficult now to imagine how sensational The Beatles were at that time. They were four boys from the north of England and none of them had any training in music. They started by performing and recording songs by black Americans and they had some success with these songs. Then they started writing their own songs and that was when they became really popular. The Beatles changed pop music. They were the first pop group to achieve great success from songs they had written themselves. After that it became common for groups and singers to write their own songs. The Beatles did not have a long career. Their first hit record was in 1963 and they split up in 1970. They stopped doing live performances in 1966 because it had become too dangerous for them – their fans were so excited that they surrounded them and tried to take their clothes as souvenirs! However, today some of their songs remain as famous as they were when they first came out. Throughout the world many people can sing part of a Beatles song if you ask them.

The first songs of the Beatles were __________.