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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. As described in Chapter 10, the British Post Office prevented the Mastersingers from singing a choral version of what?
(a) Postal employee regulations.
(b) The history of British stamps.
(c) Addresses of government officials.
(d) The telephone directory.

2. What was the first difference George Martin noticed at Capitol Studios in America, as compared to Abbey Road, as described in Chapter 8?
(a) Capitol had no compressors.
(b) The monitor level in the Capitol control room was much louder than at Abbey Road.
(c) Capitol had better compressors.
(d) The monitor level in the Capitol control room was much lower than at Abbey Road.

3. While recording the twenty-four-bar climax for "A Day in the Life", George Martin told the orchestra to disobey a fundamental rule by doing what?
(a) He did not tell them to disobey a fundamental rule.
(b) They were told not to sit in their usual seats, but to mix the different sections of the orchestra.
(c) They were told not to tune their instruments.
(d) They were told not to listen to their neighbors.

4. What was the dream of George Martin's childhood, as revealed in Chapter 12?
(a) Painting like the Impressionists.
(b) Writing music for films.
(c) Becoming an architect.
(d) Becoming a rock star.

5. In what year was "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" recorded?
(a) 1970.
(b) 1967.
(c) 1969.
(d) 1968.

6. During the Beatles' first trip to America, why did Alan Livingston attempt to keep George Martin away from press conferences and the limelight?
(a) Alan Livingston had turned the Beatles down four separate times.
(b) Alan Livingston had turned the Beatles down three separate times.
(c) Alan Livingston wanted to woo the Beatles away from George Martin.
(d) Alan Livingston thought George Martin's accent was too thick.

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

8. Regarding orchestration, what does George Martin offer as the secret to good string writing?
(a) Writing for four parts, as if for four human voices.
(b) Writing as if for a piano, with parts for left and right hands.
(c) Writing a separate part for each musician.
(d) Writing all parts close to the piano's middle C.

9. In the movie, "Yellow Submarine", what sound effect did George Martin contrive for the enormous monster that sucked up the yellow submarine and, eventually, the movie screen?
(a) A dilruba.
(b) Orchestral music played backwards.
(c) Piccolo trumpets.
(d) Small strips of tape, cut apart and spliced in random order.

10. What is George Martin's explanation for the song title, "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"?
(a) John Lennon's son, Julian, had drawn a picture of his friend, Lucy, floating in a black sky full of stars.
(b) The song was a tribute to John Lennon's mother, Lucy, who often wished for a diamond ring.
(c) Lysergic acid diethylamide, or LSD, an illegal psychedelic drug.
(d) Lucy was a stewardess on a flight taken by John Lennon shortly before he wrote the lyrics.

11. Which group of painters is George Martin's favorite?
(a) The Impressionists.
(b) The Realists.
(c) The Humanists.
(d) The Expressionists.

12. As described early in Chapter 8, what was one of the main reasons George Martin enjoyed working with the Beatles?
(a) Their success allowed him to retire early.
(b) Their success won him artistic freedom.
(c) He earned the respect of his mentors.
(d) He became a multi-millionaire.

13. What password did the Beatles invent, to warn each other about dubious fans approaching?
(a) Gizmo.
(b) Cripples.
(c) Meanies.
(d) Pepper.

14. At the time "All You Need Is Ears" was written, anyone wanting to become a professional record producer had what two options, according to George Martin in Chapter 12?
(a) Becoming a staff producer with a large company or becoming an independent producer.
(b) Attending music school or becoming an independent producer.
(c) Attending production school or becoming an independent producer.
(d) Becoming a staff producer with a large company or attending music school.

15. Which small American record label released "She Loves You" after Capitol Records refused?
(a) VJ Records.
(b) Swan Records.
(c) EMI Records.
(d) Decca Records.

Short Answer Questions

1. George Martin describes John Lennon and Paul McCartney as the main talent of the Beatles, and describes George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and himself as what?

2. How does George Martin describe the result, when a recording is overcompressed?

3. What album does George Martin cite, in Chapter 12, as the classic example of what a talented amateur can achieve with multi-track recording?

4. Which Beatles associate died from an accidental overdose in August 1967?

5. What, for George Martin, was the main advantage of recording on two tracks instead of one?

(see the answer keys)

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