Even if the word ‘pop’ disappears from the English vocabulary, the influence of pop wi

ll remain. Pop has become part of British and American history. There has always been a close cultural link, or tie, between Britain and English-speaking America, not only in literature but also in popular arts, especially music. Before the Second World War the Americans exported jazz and the blues. During the 1950s they exported rock ’n’ roll, and star singers like Elvis Presley were admired by young British and Americans alike. Then in the early 1960s a new sound was heard, very different from anything which had so far come from the American side of the Atlantic. This was the Liverpool, or Merseyside, ‘beat’. The new pop culture, in a few years, swept across Britain and America, and across most of the countries of the western world. The people responsible for the pop revolution were four Liverpool boys who joined together in a group and called themselves The Beatles. They played in small clubs in the back streets of the city. Unlike the famous solo stars, who had their songs written for them, the Beatles wrote their own words and music. They had a close personal relationship with their audience, and they expected them to join in and dance to the ‘beat’ of the music. Audience participation is an essential characteristic of pop culture. Some pop groups, in particular the Rolling Stones, did more than just entertain. They wrote words which were deliberately intended to shock. They represented the anger and bitterness of youth struggling for freedom against authority. The Beatles, on the other hand, finally won the admiration of people. As they developed, their songs became more serious. They wrote not only of love, but of death and poverty and daily life. Largely thanks to the Beatles, pop music had grown into a big and profitable industry. The influence of British pop in America was great. American pop groups soon became as famous as British groups. Both the British and Americans are experimenting with new ideas, and pop is developing and changing, and mixing with modern folk music.

1.When did the British start to export their pop music？

A、 In 1940s

B、 In 1950s

C、 In 1960s

D、 In 1970s

2.Which statement is true？

A、 The pop music comes from American.

B、 The word “pop” would be out of date someday.

C、 The spirit of pop shift from America to Britain.

D、 The spirit of pop music would not disappear.

3.What is the difference between the Beatles and the famous solo stars？

A、 The Beatles has four group members.

B、 The famous solo stars didn’t write songs themselves.

C、 The Beatles welcomed the audience’s participation.

D、 All of the above.

4.The Rolling Stone wrote songs not only to entertain, but also _______________.

A、 make people feel relax

B、 show their love to the world

C、 release their anger and dissatisfaction

D、 fight for the authority

5.In the author’s eyes, which one is more important, English pop and American pop？

A、 None of them

B、 English pop

C、 American pop

D、 Both of them