104. Read the essay an American teenager Darren, 16, wrote to an online teen magazine and answer the questions. 1. What does Darren enjoy about music? 2. How long has Darren been playing the drums? 3. Who taught Darren to play? 4. How has Darren changed since he started playing? 5. What is the name of Darren’s band? 6. What kind of music do they play? 7. What else does Darren do for his band, besides playing the drums? 8. What is Darren’s dream? Essay: My life is full of many meaningful activities but mostly revolves around music. While playing my drum set or listening to the latest hits, I am transferred to my own world of music, which makes me forget about everything. I have been a fan of music since I was ten. At that time I preferred to listen to Bryan Adams and such bands as U2. I have been playing drums almost every day for four years, and I even have the calluses on my hands. It was my older brothers who taught me almost everything I know about music. They taught me to drum and developed my life skills. My brothers are the true reason why I am so interested in starting a career in music although later my tastes in music changed and matured. I can’t imagine my life without music, it would not be complete. After several years of playing drums on my own, I decided to organise a punk band called Star Lads. We have just started to practise and have only played together for two months, but we are working hard. I don’t only do the percussion, I also write lyrics for our songs. This helps me to reveal my bottled-up emotions and express myself. Music has become the focus of my life. Composing, practising and writing lyrics for my band has occupied all my time. I imagine that my dream will come true soon, I see Star Lads playing in front of thousands of fans in a sold-out stadium where our songs will be heard by everyone.

Перевод задания: Прочитайте эссе американского подростка Даррена, которому 16 лет и который написал его для онлайн-журнала для подростков, и ответьте на вопросы.

1. What does Darren enjoy about music? (Что Даррену нравится в музыке?)
   Playing his drum set or listening to the latest hits takes him into his own world of music and makes him forget about everything. (Игра на барабанной установке или прослушивание последних хитов погружает его в собственный музыкальный мир и помогает забыть обо всём.)
2. How long has Darren been playing the drums? (Как долго Даррен играет на барабанах?)
   He has been playing the drums for four years. (Он играет на барабанах четыре года.)
3. Who taught Darren to play? (Кто научил Даррена играть?)
   His older brothers taught him. (Его научили старшие братья.)
4. How has Darren changed since he started playing? (Как изменился Даррен с тех пор, как начал играть?)
   His brothers helped him develop life skills, and his musical tastes changed and matured. (Братья помогли ему развить жизненные навыки, а его музыкальные вкусы изменились и стали более зрелыми.)
5. What is the name of Darren’s band? (Как называется группа Даррена?)
   It is called Star Lads. (Она называется Star Lads.)
6. What kind of music do they play? (Какую музыку они играют?)
   They play punk music. (Они играют панк-музыку.)
7. What else does Darren do for his band, besides playing the drums? (Что ещё Даррен делает для своей группы, кроме игры на барабанах?)
   He writes lyrics for their songs. (Он пишет тексты песен для группы.)
8. What is Darren’s dream? (О чём мечтает Даррен?)
   He dreams of Star Lads playing in front of thousands of fans in a sold-out stadium, where everyone can hear their songs. (Он мечтает, чтобы Star Lads выступали перед тысячами поклонников на стадионе, где все билеты распроданы, и их песни услышали все.)