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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In what song does Sly Stone mock his own song "Thank you falettinme be mice elf Agin"?
(a) "Bonnie and Clyde."
(b) "Africa Talks to You 'The Asphalt Jungle.'"
(c) "Thank you for talkin' to me Africa."
(d) "Blowin Your Mind."

2. What was Elvis called in the beginning of his career?
(a) A good 'ole boy.
(b) Bilbo.
(c) The King.
(d) Hillbilly Cat.

3. From whom does Marcus quote in the beginning to introduce the myth of Staggerlee in "Sly Stone"?
(a) Sly Stone.
(b) James Brown.
(c) Bobby Seale.
(d) Billy Lyon.

4. Who said "when I was a boy . . . I was the hero in comic books and movies. I grew up believing in a dream"?
(a) Hank Williams.
(b) Johnny Cash.
(c) Elvis Presley.
(d) Greil Marcus.

5. What literary term does Marcus identify with the line "When he died, all he left us was alone"?
(a) Moral.
(b) Theme.
(c) Enigma.
(d) Epitaph.

6. In the introduction to "Elvis," Marcus claims that Elvis epitomizes what?
(a) The best of our culture.
(b) The worst of our culture.
(c) The chaos of Harmonica Frank.
(d) The anger of Robert Johnson.

7. Who claims that "every great artist must create for a great audience"?
(a) Randy Newman.
(b) The Beatles.
(c) Greil Marcus.
(d) Bob Christgau.

8. Who wrote "Little Wing"?
(a) Bob Dylan.
(b) Neil Young.
(c) Jimmy Hendrix.
(d) Sly Stone.

9. Why was Newman's choice of voice "dangerous"?
(a) It was confusing.
(b) Audiences are too literal.
(c) It alienated people.
(d) Audiences are too critical.

10. Who wrote "There's a mickie in the tastin' of disaster" (90)?
(a) Greil Marcus.
(b) Frank Kermode.
(c) Leslie Fiedler.
(d) Sly Stone.

11. What political group does Marcus compare to Sly Stone's music in "Sly Stone"?
(a) Republicans.
(b) Black Panthers.
(c) Fundamentalists.
(d) Democrats.

12. According to Marcus in "Elvis," why does Elvis NOT owe blacks anything?
(a) They gave the style away freely.
(b) They did not copyright the style.
(c) He made the music his own.
(d) The music was a throwaway.

13. Why did political activist, Eldridge Cleaver, not want to go to jail?
(a) He did not want to lose his friends.
(b) He loved freedom too much.
(c) He was afraid to be the next Billy Lyons.
(d) He was innocent.

14. According to Marcus in "Sly Stone," what is the spirit behind Riot?
(a) American pride.
(b) Black self-criticism.
(c) African pride.
(d) White self-criticism.

15. What is the mood in the Riot album?
(a) Oppression.
(b) Joy.
(c) Hope.
(d) Anger.

Short Answer Questions

1. What did Seale attempt to use as a political threat?

2. What does Marcus point out as valuable in the Beach Boys music?

3. What did some bullies call Elvis before he was a star and had grown side burns?

4. What two lines from an Elvis song does Marcus claim are the most perfect lines in blues?

5. Who sang "I tried and I failed / And I feel like going home" (154)?

(see the answer keys)

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