On December 8, 1980, John Lennon –an English musician who rose to fame as one of the founding members of Liverpool pop band The Beatles – was shot dead outside his New York apartment. In the 1960s and 70s, Lennon was one of the most iconic（偶像的）men on the planet. Some 30 years ago on from his death, he is still respected by many people in the West. The Beatles, formed in 1960 in Liverpool, were one of the most commercial successful acts on the history of pop music, with, according to some estimates, global record sales over 1.1 billion. The band conveyed the progressive ideals in which many young people of the time believed. In the 1960s and 70s, widespread tension developed in both British and American society, regarding issues such as women’s rights and the Vietnam War. Lennon in particular became known for his message of peace and for his opposition to the war in Vietnam. This led to an attempt by former US president Richard Nixon to drive him away from the US. Lennon’s second-wife Yoko Ono was also politically active. Lennon was also hugely admired for his musical abilities. Along with fellow-Beatle Paul, Lennon and McCartney were the Beatle’s song-writing team. After Lennon was shot by crazy fan Mark Chapman，one of his most iconic songs, Imagine, became a humanist anthem(颂歌). Lennon’s legacy survived his death and continued till this day. In 2008, he was ranked the fifth greater singer of all time in US-based Rolling Stone magazine. Former possessions of Lennon or furnishings from his homes continue to be sold for vast sums. In an auction(拍卖) to be held next week in London, lines written by Lennon on the back of a demand for an outstanding bill are expected to sell for ￡350,000(3.7 million yuan). In August, a bathroom from his last home in Britain, was auctioned for ￡9,500. And in 2009, a British film describing his early years before the Beatles began, was one of the most successful films of the years in the UK. But do Lennon and his music continue to resonate(共鸣) with the young people of today? 小题1: The passage is written here to show that Lennon has _______.
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