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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. According to George Martin in Chapter 2, what was the great challenge faced by classical composers in the late twentieth century?
(a) Making a living.
(b) Finding enough talented musicians to form an orchestra.
(c) They must create a new sound, or else risk being categorized by the style they emulate.
(d) Not being influenced by pop music.

2. What two career paths did George Martin consider before joining the Fleet Air Arm?
(a) Aircraft design and baking.
(b) Baking and woodworking.
(c) Architecture and woodworking.
(d) Architecture and aircraft design.

3. At the time George Martin took over Parlophone, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Stan Kenton, and Peggy Lee were signed with which American label?
(a) Capitol.
(b) Parlophone.
(c) RCA.
(d) Apple.

4. What was the cause of death of George Martin's mother?
(a) Suicide.
(b) Heart attack.
(c) Pneumonia.
(d) Cerebral hemorrhage.

5. Chapter 4 opens with George Martin's discussion of what, and its relationship to sound and music?
(a) The economy.
(b) Art.
(c) Pop culture.
(d) Architecture.

Short Answer Questions

1. Unbeknownst to George Martin, the Beatles wanted to replace one of their musicians with what new man?

2. Why did George Martin stop taking piano lessons after only eight lessons?

3. When George Martin took over Parlophone, what was the job description of Shirley Spence?

4. During their first meeting with George Martin, which Beatle did not speak a word?

5. During their first meeting with George Martin, who was the most talkative Beatle?

Short Essay Questions

1. Relate one anecdote from George Martin's early career at Parlophone, as described in Chapter 3.

2. How, according to George Martin in Chapter 6, did the role of a producer change from the 1950s to the time "All You Need Is Ears" was published, in 1979?

3. What is the strong warning behind George Martin's pun on a Beatles song, "All You Need Is Ears"?

4. Why did George Martin have trouble plugging "Love Me Do", which only reached number 17 on the charts?

5. Why did the Beatles stand up George Martin in 1964, as described in Chapter 1?

6. How does George Martin describe the collaborative writing style of John Lennon and Paul McCartney?

7. What events led to the purchase of Capitol Records by Sir Joseph Lockwood, and what artists did EMI gain as a result of the purchase?

8. How does George Martin compare the nature of singer/songwriters in the 1950s, when he started at Parlophone, with the situation in 1979, when "All You Need Is Ears" was published?

9. Briefly describe George Martin's first meeting with the Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein, in 1962.

10. Why, according to George Martin in Chapter 2, is pop music not a step down from classical?

(see the answer keys)

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