Prime Time 8. Coursebook plus Semester Self-checks, Schulbuch

S Semester self-checks Tip • • This section helps you to find out if you have acquired the competences which you should have learned in each unit. • • In order to do the tasks successfully you have to combine the four skills (listening, reading, speaking, writing). • • Take your time. It is important that you find out what you are able to do and what you need to work on. • • Useful tips, the keys and the audio scripts can be found on the CDROM in your textbook. T Unit 1: Ireland Reading–writing: Irish rock band U2 (B2) a) First, read the following article about U2, one of the world’s most successful rock bands. 1 One of only a few bands to achieve consistent commercial and critical success across three decades , U2 has perhaps been the biggest music act in the world. The group consists of Bono (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), The Edge (lead guitar, keyboards and backing vocals), Adam Clayton (bass guitar) and Larry Mullen Jr. (drums and percussion). Brought together after Larry Mullen Jr. posted an ad on the school bulletin board, the band members began rehearsing together at Dublin’s Mount Temple Comprehensive. The musicians quickly developed a following in Ireland and found a manager, Paul McGuinness, who has remained with them to this day. They recorded independently before signing to Island Records in 1980. Their reputation for electrifying live performances meant that U2 soon built up a dedicated fan base throughout Ireland. The Joshua Tree was released in March 1987. This was to be their most successful record to date, becoming the fastest selling record ever in the UK on its release, and reaching number one in 22 countries. So far, U2 have released 14 studio albums and are one of the world’s best-selling music artists in history, having sold more than 170 million records worldwide. They have won 22 Grammy Awards, more than any other band, and in 2005, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. Throughout U2’s career, Bono has written most of the band’s lyrics, often focusing on untraditional themes like politics and religion. In fact , social activism has always been close to the singer’s heart, and he has used his music to raise consciousness with performances at Band Aid, Live 8 and Net Aid. He is particularly active in campaigning for Africa, for which he co-founded DATA, EDUN, the ONE Campaign and Product Red. Over the years, he has met with world leaders and many US politicians to discuss such issues as debt relief for developing countries, world poverty and AIDS. Bono has lobbied tirelessly on behalf of many causes. He was granted an honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II for “his services to the music industry and for his humanitarian work”, and has been made a Commandeur of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters). In 2005, Bono was named one of the Time Persons of the Year. Today, Bono is still a leading voice for the world’s poor, particularly those in Africa, and devotes a lot of time to philanthropic causes. b) Go through the article again and underline/highlight synonyms in the text for the words and phrases below. 1. to practise (a play, piece of music or other work) for later public performance 2. a widespread belief that someone or something has a particular characteristic 3. the action of making a film, recording or other product available to the public 4. poor agricultural countries 5. to seek to influence (a legislator) on an issue 6. to give (money or goods) for a good cause c) TEEN MAG is looking for articles that answer the following question: “If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?” The main prize is a twoweek internship at the UN headquarters in New York. You have decided to participate. Write around 250 words . 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 124 Semester self-checks Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv