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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In the 1950s studios had A&R men, meaning what?
(a) Audio and Recording men.
(b) Acoustic and Reverberation men.
(c) Assimilation and Recruitment men.
(d) Artists and Repertoire men.

2. What problem was discovered at AIR, while Laurence Olivier was recording "Julius Caesar"?
(a) Poor air circulation.
(b) Overly sensitive microphones.
(c) The walls weren't soundproof.
(d) A squeaky floorboard.

3. After completion of AIR's first studio, what sort of studio did George Martin next want to create?
(a) A total immersion studio.
(b) A total environment studio.
(c) A traveling immersion studio.
(d) A traveling environment studio.

4. How far above the original floor does the studio floor at AIR's first studio float?
(a) Two inches.
(b) Two feet.
(c) One inch.
(d) One foot.

5. During the Beatles' first visit to America, according to George Martin in Chapter 9, what did some middle-aged men on Fifth Avenue wear to show they were in tune?
(a) Collarless suits.
(b) Beatle wigs.
(c) Skinny-legged pants.
(d) Beatle t-shirts.

6. Where did George Martin build his second AIR studio?
(a) Yugoslavia.
(b) London.
(c) Cape Cod.
(d) Montserrat.

7. George Martin and his second wife, Judy Lockhart-Smith, attended the Beatles' fancy dress party for "Magical Mystery Tour" as what characters?
(a) Prince Philip and the Queen.
(b) A nun and a Cockney costermonger.
(c) Peter Sellers and Cilla Black.
(d) Frank Sinatra and Sophia Loren.

8. Who found a solution to the noise problem caused by extra tracks multiplying hiss and crackle?
(a) George Martin.
(b) Dick James.
(c) Dr. Ray Dolby.
(d) Thomas Dolby.

9. 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 one-inch tape to produce a three-track recording, while Abbey Road used half-inch tape to produce two tracks.
(d) Capitol used quarter-inch tape to produce a two-track recording, while Abbey Road used half-inch tape to produce three tracks.

10. What, for George Martin, was the main advantage of recording on two tracks instead of one?
(a) The rhythms and vocals could be recorded separately.
(b) If a mistake were made on one track, the other track would compensate.
(c) Two vocalists could sing without hearing each other.
(d) Two songs could be recorded on one section of tape.

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

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

14. What did George Martin believe would replace discs played by needles, at the time his book was written?
(a) Tapes scanned by laser beam.
(b) Discs scanned by x-ray.
(c) Discs scanned by laser beam.
(d) Mp3 technology.

15. In what year did George Martin receive the Britannia Award for being the top British record producer of the past twenty-five years?
(a) 1969.
(b) 1979.
(c) 1977.
(d) 1972.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Chapter 8, in George Martin's layer cake metaphor, what was the first layer in a four-track recording?

2. What password did the Beatles invent, to warn each other about dubious fans approaching?

3. For which movie did George Martin receive his first and only Academy Award nomination?

4. 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?

5. Which Beatles song was the first to feature other musicians, in addition to the four Beatles and George Martin?

(see the answer keys)

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