The Reading / Listening - Best Year for Music - Level 3

Many of us have an opinion on what was the best year for music. Some people say it was 1824. This is when the composer Ludwig van Beethoven first performed his Symphony No. 9. Other people say the best year was 1969 because of hit songs by The Beatles, David Bowie and Elvis Presley. The UK radio station Radio X recently conducted a survey and found the best year for music was 1991. This is because of the success of bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, R.E.M., Stone Roses and Nirvana. The reason for 1991 being the Radio X survey's best year for music could be the average age of the listeners of the station. Many of the listeners were teenagers in 1991 and have great memories of that year.

A psychologist believes people tend to stick to the songs they heard when they were teenagers. Dr Catherine Loveday told the BBC why we like songs we first heard in our teens throughout our life. She said: "It is during these [developmental] years that we make many crucial life-changing decisions. We start significant long-term relationships and establish the cultural and political beliefs which form our identity." She added that: "Music has an intrinsic capacity to regulate emotions [so] these songs naturally become embedded in our important memories, both positive and negative." She said: "People in their 80s and 90s show a better memory for things that they first experienced between the ages of 10 and 30."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Best Year for Music - Level 0 Best Year for Music - Level 1   or  Best Year for Music - Level 2

Sources
  • https://www.radiox.co.uk/features/1991-was-actually-the-best-year-for-music/
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-52131818
  • https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/artists/greatest-year-pop-music-history-one-choice/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. THE BEST YEAR FOR MUSIC: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about the best year for music. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       opinion / music / composer / Beethoven / radio / survey / success / average age /
       psychologist / teenagers / developmental / political / beliefs / memories / positive
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. ROCK: Students A strongly believe rock music is the best kind of music; Students B strongly believe it isn't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. HIT: What is the your favourite hits and why? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Favourite Hit

Why?

Song

 

 

Album

 

 

Movie

 

 

TV Show

 

 

Game

 

 

Software

 

 

MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. BEETHOVEN: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "Beethoven". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. MUSIC: Rank these with your partner. Put the best music genre at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • rock
  • classical
  • folk
  • hip-hop
  • electro
  • reggae
  • jazz
  • opera

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. opinion a. The middle number of a group of numbers added together.
      2. composer b. A view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.
      3. performed c. Carried out; did.
      4. hit d. A person who writes music, especially as a job.
      5. conducted e. A very successful film, pop record, or song.
      6. success f. Acted, sang, danced... for people.
      7. average g. Doing very, very well in an aim or goal.

    Paragraph 2

      8. tend h. Likely to have or do something.
      9. teenager i. Put something deep inside something else.
      10. during j. A person between the ages of 13 and 19.
      11. crucial k. Control.
      12. establish l. All through a period of time.
      13. regulate m. Very, very, very important.
      14. embedded n. Start or set up an organization, system, or set of rules.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The article says we all have on opinion on the best year for music.     T / F
  2. Beethoven finished composing Symphony No. 9 in 1842.     T / F
  3. The UK's Radio Z conducted a survey on the best year for music.     T / F
  4. A radio station said the average age of listeners affected the best year.   T / F
  5. A psychologist said music we hear as teenagers stick with us.     T / F
  6. The psychologist says we make life-changing decisions in our teens.     T / F
  7. The psychologist said music can regulate our emotions.     T / F
  8. Ninety-year-olds can remember things they experienced as teens.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. opinion
  2. performed
  3. recently
  4. survey
  5. memories
  6. believes
  7. throughout
  8. crucial
  9. embedded
  10. experienced
  1. questionnaire
  2. not long ago
  3. encountered
  4. for the whole of
  5. belief
  6. key
  7. recollections
  8. implanted
  9. presented
  10. thinks

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. Many of us have an opinion
  2. recently conducted
  3. This is because of the
  4. the average age of
  5. have great memories
  6. people tend
  7. throughout
  8. make many crucial life-
  9. cultural and political
  10. People in their
  1. success of bands
  2. 80s and 90s
  3. of that year
  4. to stick to the songs
  5. a survey
  6. our life
  7. on what was the best
  8. beliefs
  9. the listeners
  10. changing decisions

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
reason
composer
hit
memories
opinion
listeners
conducted
performed

Many of us have an (1) ____________ on what was the best year for music. Some people way it was 1824. This is when the (2) ____________ Ludwig van Beethoven first (3) ____________ his Symphony No. 9. Other people say the best year was 1969 because of (4) ____________ songs by The Beatles, David Bowie and Elvis Presley. The UK radio station Radio X recently (5) ____________ a survey and found the best year for music was 1991. This is because of the success of bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, R.E.M., Stone Roses and Nirvana. The (6) ____________ for 1991 being the Radio X survey's best year for music could be the average age of the (7) ____________ of the station. Many of the listeners were teenagers in 1991 and have great (8) ____________ of that year.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
identity
positive
during
stick
memory
teenagers
regulate
decisions

A psychologist believes people tend to (9) ____________ to the songs they heard when they were (10) ____________. Dr Catherine Loveday told the BBC why we like songs we first heard in our teens throughout our life. She said: "It is (11) ____________ these [developmental] years that we make many crucial life-changing (12) ____________. We start significant long-term relationships and establish the cultural and political beliefs which form our (13) ____________." She added that: "Music has an intrinsic capacity to (14) ____________ emotions [so] these songs naturally become embedded in our important memories, both (15) ____________ and negative." She said: "People in their 80s and 90s show a better (16) ____________ for things that they first experienced between the ages of 10 and 30."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Many of us have an opinion on what was the best ______
     a.  year four music
     b.  year for music
     c.  year from music
     d.  year fore music
2)  This is when the composer Ludwig van Beethoven first ______ Symphony No. 9
     a.  performs this
     b.  perform is
     c.  performer his
     d.  performed his
3) and Elvis Presley. The UK radio station Radio X recently ______
     a.  conduct it a survey
     b.  conductor a survey
     c.  conduct a survey
     d.  conducted a survey
4)  the Radio X survey's best year for music could be ______
     a.  the advice aged
     b.  the averages age
     c.  the average age
     d.  the avarice age
5)  Many of the listeners were teenagers in 1991 and ______
     a.  have grate memories
     b.  have great memories
     c.  have gloat memories
     d.  have grant memories

6)  Loveday told the BBC why we like songs we first heard ______
     a.  in our teens
     b.  in our beans
     c.  in our teams
     d.  in our tunes
7)  We start significant long-term relationships and establish the cultural ______
     a.  and political be leafs
     b.  and political belief
     c.  and political believes
     d.  and political beliefs
8)  She added that music has an intrinsic capacity ______
     a.  to regulate emotions
     b.  to regulate emoticons
     c.  to regulate emotional
     d.  to regulate in motions
9)  so these songs naturally become embedded in our ______
     a.  importance memories
     b.  important memories
     c.  importantly memories
     d.  impotent memories
10)  things that they first experienced between the ______ and 30
     a.  aged of 10
     b.  ageless of 10
     c.  age of 10
     d.  ages of 10

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Many of us have (1) ___________________ what was the best year for music. Some people way it was 1824. This is (2) ___________________ Ludwig van Beethoven first performed his Symphony No. 9. Other people say the best year was 1969 because of (3) ___________________ The Beatles, David Bowie and Elvis Presley. The UK radio station Radio X recently (4) ___________________ and found the best year for music was 1991. This is because of the (5) ___________________ like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, R.E.M., Stone Roses and Nirvana. The reason for 1991 being the Radio X survey's best year for music could be the average age of the listeners of the station. Many of the listeners were teenagers in 1991 and have great (6) ___________________ year.

A psychologist believes people (7) ___________________ to the songs they heard when they were teenagers. Dr Catherine Loveday told the BBC why we like songs we first heard in (8) ___________________ our life. She said: "It is during these [developmental] years that we make many crucial life-changing decisions. (9) ___________________ long-term relationships and establish the cultural and political beliefs which (10) ___________________." She added that: "Music has an intrinsic capacity to regulate emotions [so] these songs naturally become (11) ___________________ important memories, both positive and negative." She said: "People in their 80s and 90s (12) ___________________ memory for things that they first experienced between the ages of 10 and 30."

Comprehension questions

  1. Who has an opinion on what was the best year for music?
  2. When did Beethoven first perform his Symphony No 9?
  3. What is the name of the radio station that conducted a survey?
  4. Why did the station say 1991 might be the best year for music?
  5. What did the radio station say many listeners were in 1991?
  6. Who said songs we first heard as teenagers tend to stick with us?
  7. What kind of decisions did a psychologist say we make as teenagers?
  8. What beliefs do we form when we are teenagers?
  9. What did a psychologist say can regulate our emotions?
  10. Who can remember things they first experienced when they were young?

Multiple choice quiz

1) Who has an opinion on what was the best year for music?
a) most of us
b) all of us
c) many of us
d) half of us
2) When did Beethoven first perform his Symphony No 9?
a) 1824
b) 1842
c) 1862
d) 1826
3) What is the name of the radio station that conducted a survey?
a) Y Radio
b) Radio X
c) X Radio
d) Radio Y
4) Why did the station say 1991 might be the best year for music?
a) because the 80s were so bad
b) it had the best bands
c) hip-hop
d) the average age of listeners
5) What did the radio station say many listeners were in 1991?
a) in their 20s
b) babies
c) teenagers
d) band members

6) Who said songs we first heard as teenagers tend to stick with us?
a) a radio DJ
b) a psychologist
c) a songwriter
d) a music journalist
7) What kind of decisions did a psychologist say we make as teenagers?
a) which hairstyle to have
b) which bands to like
c) which instrument to learn
d) life-changing decisions
8) What beliefs do we form when we are teenagers?
a) religious beliefs
b) political beliefs
c) core beliefs
d) basic beliefs
9) What did a psychologist say can regulate our emotions?
a) a psychologist
b) music
c) a radio
d) a lead guitar
10) Who can remember things they first experienced when they were young?
a) people in their 80s and 90s
b) teenagers
c) middle-aged people
d) thirtysomethings

Role play

Role  A – Rock
You think rock is the best music genre. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their genres. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): classical, hip-hop or jazz.

Role  B – Classical
You think classical is the best music genre. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their genres. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): rock, hip-hop or jazz.

Role  C – Hip-Hop
You think hip-hop is the best music genre. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their genres. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): classical, rock or jazz.

Role  D – Jazz
You think jazz is the best music genre. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their genres. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): classical, hip-hop or rock.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'year'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'music'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • many
    • 9
    • 1969
    • recently
    • reason
    • great
    • stick
    • first
    • start
    • political
    • important
    • ages

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Best Year for Music

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'music'?
    3. What do you think of music?
    4. What do you think was the greatest year for music?
    5. What do you think of this year's music?
    6. What do you think of Beethoven?
    7. Do you have a favourite classical composer?
    8. What do you think of listening to the radio?
    9. What do you think of the music you listened to as a teenager?
    10. What was the best decade for music?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'composer'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How important is music?
    5. How important was music when you were a teenager?
    6. What big decisions did you make when you were a teenager?
    7. How does music change your emotions?
    8. What do you think of the music your parents like?
    9. What is your favourite song and why?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the psychologist?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Many of us have an (1) ____ on what was the best year for music. Some people say it was 1824. This is when the (2) ____ Ludwig van Beethoven first performed his Symphony No. 9. Other people say the best year was 1969 because of (3) ____ songs by The Beatles, David Bowie and Elvis Presley. The UK radio station Radio X recently (4) ____ a survey and found the best year for music was 1991. This is because of the success of bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, R.E.M., Stone Roses and Nirvana. The reason for 1991 (5) ____ the Radio X survey's best year for music could be the average age of the listeners of the station. Many of the listeners were (6) ____ in 1991 and have great memories of that year.

    A psychologist believes people (7) ____ to stick to the songs they heard when they were teenagers. Dr Catherine Loveday told the BBC why we like songs we first heard in our teens throughout our life. She said: "It is (8) ____ these [developmental] years that we make many crucial life-changing decisions. We start significant long-term relationships and establish the cultural and political (9) ____ which form our identity." She added that: "Music has an intrinsic capacity to (10) ____ emotions [so] these songs naturally become embedded in our important memories, (11) ____ positive and negative." She said: "People in their 80s and 90s show a better memory for things that they first experienced between the (12) ____ of 10 and 30."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     opine     (b)     opinion     (c)     onion     (d)     opinionated    
    2. (a)     coder     (b)     composer     (c)     calligrapher     (d)     conductor    
    3. (a)     wit     (b)     fit     (c)     bit     (d)     hit    
    4. (a)     combated     (b)     conducted     (c)     conned     (d)     composed    
    5. (a)     been     (b)     being     (c)     be     (d)     is    
    6. (a)     teen     (b)     between     (c)     teenagers     (d)     teenage    
    7. (a)     fend     (b)     mend     (c)     tend     (d)     send    
    8. (a)     thorough     (b)     between     (c)     during     (d)     under    
    9. (a)     believes     (b)     bellies     (c)     belies     (d)     beliefs    
    10. (a)     regulate     (b)     gate     (c)     rate     (d)     grate    
    11. (a)     both     (b)     all     (c)     every     (d)     whole    
    12. (a)     year     (b)     age     (c)     ages     (d)     birthday

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. Many of us have an inoiopn
    2. the eosprcmo Ludwig van Beethoven
    3. Radio X recently conducted a eyvsru
    4. because of the scecsus of bands
    5. the agveera age of the listeners
    6. have great merosmei of that year

    Paragraph 2

    1. A pgysoolcsiht believes people tend to
    2. heard when they were eentergas
    3. htougoruth our life
    4. crucial life-changing eoscisndi
    5. cultural and political ibfseel
    6. both positive and gviatnee

    Put the text back together

    (...)  of the station. Many of the listeners were teenagers in 1991 and have great memories of that year.
    (...)  for 1991 being the Radio X survey's best year for music could be the average age of the listeners
    (...)  1824. This is when the composer Ludwig van Beethoven first performed his Symphony No. 9. Other people say the best
    (...)  station Radio X recently conducted a survey and found the best year for music was 1991. This is because
    (...)  A psychologist believes people tend to stick to the songs they heard when they were
    (...)  decisions. We start significant long-term relationships and establish the cultural and political beliefs which form our identity." She added
    (...)  and 90s show a better memory for things that they first experienced between the ages of 10 and 30."
    (...)  in our important memories, both positive and negative." She said: "People in their 80s
    (...)  that: "Music has an intrinsic capacity to regulate emotions [so] these songs naturally become embedded
    (...)  year was 1969 because of hit songs by The Beatles, David Bowie and Elvis Presley. The UK radio
    1  ) Many of us have an opinion on what was the best year for music. Some people way it was
    (...)  of the success of bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, R.E.M., Stone Roses and Nirvana. The reason
    (...)  life. She said: "It is during these [developmental] years that we make many crucial life-changing
    (...)  teenagers. Dr Catherine Loveday told the BBC why we like songs we first heard in our teens throughout our

    Put the words in the right order

    1. opinion   on   An   what   best   was   the   year   .
    2. say   year   best   was   Other   people   1969   .   the
    3. the   for   A   year   best   music   .   found   survey
    4. the   station   .   of   average   age   of   listeners   The
    5. in   Many   of   1991   .   teenagers   listeners   were   the
    6. when   heard   they   The   songs   they   were   teenagers   .
    7. heard   first   songs   we   our   Like   in   teens   .
    8. life-changing   crucial   When   decisions   .   make   many   we
    9. an   regulate   capacity   Music   has   emotions   .   to   intrinsic
    10. ages   between   10   of   the   First   30   .   experienced   and

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Many of us have an opinionated / opinion on what was the best year for music. Some people way it was 1824. This is when the composer / composition Ludwig van Beethoven first preformed / performed his Symphony No. 9. Other people say the best year was 1969 because of hit / hitting songs by The Beatles, David Bowie and Elvis Presley. The UK radio station Radio X recently / recent conducted a survey and found the best year for music was 1991. This is because / although of the success of bands like / similar the Red Hot Chili Peppers, R.E.M., Stone Roses and Nirvana. The reason for 1991 being the Radio X survey's best year for music could being / be the average age of the listeners / listener of the station. Many of the listeners were teenagers in 1991 and have great memories of then / that year.

    A psychology / psychologist believes people trend / tend to stick to the songs they heard when they were teenagers. Dr Catherine Loveday told the BBC why we like songs we first heard in our teen / teens throughout our life. She said: "It is during / between these [developmental] years that we make many crucial life-changing decision / decisions. We start significant long-term relationships and establish the cultural and political believes / beliefs which form our identity." She added that: "Music has an intrinsic capable / capacity to regulate emotions [so] these songs natural / naturally become embedded in our important memories, both positive and negative." She said: "People in them / their 80s and 90s show a better memory for things that they first experienced between the aged / ages of 10 and 30."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    M_n y _f _s h_v_ _n _p_n__ n _n w h_t w_s t h_ b_s t y__ r f_r m_s_c . S_m_ p__ p l_ w_y _t w_s 1 8 2 4 . T h_s _s w h_n t h_ c_m p_s_r L_d w_g v_n B__ t h_v_n f_r s t p_r f_r m_d h_s S y m p h_n y N_. 9 . O t h_r p__ p l_ s_y t h_ b_s t y__ r w_s 1 9 6 9 b_c__ s_ _f h_t s_n g s b y T h_ B__ t l_s , D_v_d B_w__ _n d E l v_s P r_s l_y . T h_ U K r_d__ s t_t__ n R_d__ X r_c_n t l y c_n d_c t_d _ s_r v_y _n d f__ n d t h_ b_s t y__ r f_r m_s_c w_s 1 9 9 1 . T h_s _s b_c__ s_ _f t h_ s_c c_s s _f b_n d s l_k_ t h_ R_d H_t C h_l_ P_p p_r s , R E M , S t_n_ R_s_s _n d N_r v_n_. T h_ r__ s_n f_r 1 9 9 1 b__ n g t h_ R_d__ X s_r v_y ' s b_s t y__ r f_r m_s_c c__ l d b_ t h_ _v_r_g_ _g_ _f t h_ l_s t_n_r s _f t h_ s t_t__ n . M_n y _f t h_ l_s t_n_r s w_r_ t__ n_g_r s _n 1 9 9 1 _n d h_v_ g r__ t m_m_r__ s _f t h_t y__ r .

    A p s y c h_l_g_s t b_l__ v_s p__ p l_ t_n d t_ s t_c k t_ t h_ s_n g s t h_y h__ r d w h_n t h_y w_r_ t__ n_g_r s . D r C_t h_r_n_ L_v_d_y t_l d t h_ B B C w h y w_ l_k_ s_n g s w_ f_r s t h__ r d _n __ r t__ n s t h r__ g h__ t __ r l_f_. S h_ s__ d : " I t _s d_r_n g t h_s_ [ d_v_l_p m_n t_l ] y__ r s t h_t w_ m_k_ m_n y c r_c__ l l_f_- c h_n g_n g d_c_s__ n s . W_ s t_r t s_g n_f_c_n t l_n g - t_r m r_l_t__ n s h_p s _n d _s t_b l_s h t h_ c_l t_r_l _n d p_l_t_c_l b_l__ f s w h_c h f_r m __ r _d_n t_t y . " S h_ _d d_d t h_t : " M_s_c h_s _n _n t r_n s_c c_p_c_t y t_ r_g_l_t_ _m_t__ n s [ s_] t h_s_ s_n g s n_t_r_l l y b_c_m_ _m b_d d_d _n __ r _m p_r t_n t m_m_r__ s , b_t h p_s_t_v_ _n d n_g_t_v_. " S h_ s__ d : " P__ p l_ _n t h__ r 8 0 s _n d 9 0 s s h_w _ b_t t_r m_m_r y f_r t h_n g s t h_t t h_y f_r s t _x p_r__ n c_d b_t w__ n t h_ _g_s _f 1 0 _n d 3 0 . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    many of us have an opinion on what was the best year for music some people way it was 1824 this is when the composer ludwig van beethoven first performed his symphony no 9 other people say the best year was 1969 because of hit songs by the beatles david bowie and elvis presley the uk radio station radio x recently conducted a survey and found the best year for music was 1991 this is because of the success of bands like the red hot chili peppers R.E.M. stone roses and nirvana the reason for 1991 being the radio x surveys best year for music could be the average age of the listeners of the station many of the listeners were teenagers in 1991 and have great memories of that year

    a psychologist believes people tend to stick to the songs they heard when they were teenagers dr catherine loveday told the bbc why we like songs we first heard in our teens throughout our life she said it is during these developmental years that we make many crucial lifechanging decisions we start significant longterm relationships and establish the cultural and political beliefs which form our identity she added that music has an intrinsic capacity to regulate emotions so these songs naturally become embedded in our important memories both positive and negative she said people in their 80s and 90s show a better memory for things that they first experienced between the ages of 10 and 30

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Manyofushaveanopiniononwhatwasthebestyearformusic.Somepeo
    plesayitwas1824.ThisiswhenthecomposerLudwigvanBeethovenfirst
    performedhisSymphonyNo.9.Otherpeoplesaythebestyearwas1969
    becauseofhitsongsbyTheBeatles,DavidBowieandElvisPresley.TheU
    KradiostationRadioXrecentlyconductedasurveyandfoundthebestye
    arformusicwas1991.ThisisbecauseofthesuccessofbandsliketheRed
    HotChiliPeppers,R.E.M.,StoneRosesandNirvana.Thereasonfor1991
    beingtheRadioXsurvey'sbestyearformusiccouldbetheaverageageoft
    helistenersofthestation.Manyofthelistenerswereteenagersin1991an
    dhavegreatmemoriesofthatyear.Apsychologistbelievespeopletendt
    osticktothesongstheyheardwhentheywereteenagers.DrCatherineLo
    vedaytoldtheBBCwhywelikesongswefirstheardinourteensthrougho
    utourlife.Shesaid:"Itisduringthese[developmental]yearsthatwema
    kemanycruciallife-changingdecisions.Westartsignificantlong-termr
    elationshipsandestablishtheculturalandpoliticalbeliefswhichformou
    ridentity."Sheaddedthat:"Musichasanintrinsiccapacitytoregulatee
    motions[so]thesesongsnaturallybecomeembeddedinourimportant
    memories,bothpositiveandnegative."Shesaid:"Peopleintheir80san
    d90sshowabettermemoryforthingsthattheyfirstexperiencedbetwee
    ntheagesof10and30."

    Free writing

    Write about best year for music for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    The year 1991 was definitely the best for music. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. THE BEST YEAR FOR MUSIC: Make a poster about the best year for music. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. CLASSICAL MUSIC: Write a magazine article about classical music being the best kind of music. Include imaginary interviews with people who agree and with people who disagree.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on the best year for music. Ask him/her three questions about this. Give him/her three of your ideas on what the best year for music was. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

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    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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