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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How many years after George Martin returned to England from America, did he finally receive his requested studio upgrades from EMI?
(a) Five.
(b) Three.
(c) Four.
(d) Two.

2. Which film won the Oscar for musical direction, in the year George Martin was nominated?
(a) "Mary Poppins".
(b) "The Sound of Music".
(c) "Doctor Zhivago".
(d) "My Fair Lady".

3. Which Beatle sang the title song in the James Bond film scored by George Martin?
(a) George Harrison.
(b) John Lennon.
(c) Ringo Starr.
(d) Paul McCartney.

4. In Chapter 8, in George Martin's layer cake metaphor, what was the third layer in a four-track recording?
(a) The lead voice.
(b) Harmonies, such as piano or guitar.
(c) Rhythm, such as drums and bass.
(d) Extra bits, called sweetening.

5. In Chapter 12, George Martin reveals that he uses his collection of gold, silver, and platinum discs for what purpose?
(a) He sells them in order to maintain and upgrade his studios.
(b) He donates them to music schools to inspire young people.
(c) They paper the walls of one room in his house.
(d) They adorn the side walls of his shelving units.

6. In the recording studio, what is the function of the compressor?
(a) Providing quiet heating and cooling to the studio.
(b) Allowing the use of a smaller studio.
(c) Protecting the hearing of musicians and engineers.
(d) Lowering the volume of the loudest sounds and enhancing the quietest sounds.

7. The Beatles' friend, Magic Alex, came up with what hypothetical invention to replace lights?
(a) A curtain that would glow in the dark.
(b) A spray-on wall paint that would glow in the dark.
(c) A spray-on wall paint that would glow when connected by two anodes.
(d) A curtain that would glow when connected by two anodes.

8. George Martin converted a house in what New England town into a recording studio, to record Sea Train?
(a) Cape Cod.
(b) Plymouth.
(c) Braintree.
(d) Marblehead.

9. In Chapter 10 George Martin describes his disappointment with EMI, due to their unwillingness to pay him a bonus, using what British turn of phrase?
(a) Let's blow this pop-stand.
(b) Sod this for a game of soldiers.
(c) Sod this for a lark.
(d) Blow this for a lark.

10. How did the recording tape used at Capitol in 1958 differ from the tape used at Abbey Road?
(a) Capitol used half-inch tape to produce a three-track recording, while Abbey Road used quarter-inch tape to produce three tracks.
(b) Capitol used half-inch tape to produce a three-track recording, while Abbey Road used quarter-inch tape to produce two tracks.
(c) Capitol used quarter-inch tape to produce a two-track recording, while Abbey Road used half-inch tape to produce three tracks.
(d) Capitol used one-inch tape to produce a three-track recording, while Abbey Road used half-inch tape to produce two tracks.

11. What does George Martin describe as one of his biggest hurts, during the Pepper era?
(a) Paul McCartney found someone else to score "She's Leaving Home", because of a minor scheduling conflict.
(b) He was not invited to be on the cover of the "Sergeant Pepper" album.
(c) He and his first wife divorced.
(d) John Lennon found someone else to score "Day in the Life", because of a minor scheduling conflict.

12. What sound near the end of "Good Morning" sounded remarkably like the guitar at the beginning of "Sergeant Pepper", allowing for an easy fusion of "Good Morning" and the "Sergeant Pepper Reprise"?
(a) A man laughing.
(b) A horse neighing.
(c) A chicken clucking.
(d) A baby crying.

13. Which Beatles song was the first to feature other musicians, in addition to the four Beatles and George Martin?
(a) "Yesterday".
(b) "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds".
(c) "Paperback Writer".
(d) "A Day in the Life".

14. Which Beatles movie was produced with no assistance from George Martin?
(a) "Sergeant Pepper".
(b) "Help!"
(c) "Abbey Road".
(d) "A Hard Day's Night".

15. Why did George Martin leave EMI, even though they ultimately agreed to pay him a commission as he requested?
(a) If he received a commission, he would receive no salary.
(b) The deal was structured in such a sneaky way that, after subtracting overhead, George Martin would actually owe EMI money.
(c) If he received a commission, he would no longer be allowed to work with established artists, including the Beatles.
(d) EMI wanted to tie the commission to a specific profit range.

Short Answer Questions

1. What problem was discovered at AIR, while Laurence Olivier was recording "Julius Caesar"?

2. How, according to George Martin, does a computer multiply 17 by 32?

3. In the 1950s studios had A&R men, meaning what?

4. Who found a solution to the noise problem caused by extra tracks multiplying hiss and crackle?

5. In Chapter 12, what does George Martin refer to as a "golden treadmill?"

(see the answer keys)

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