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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. During recording sessions, as described in Chapter 5, George Martin and which artist often collapsed into fits of giggles?

2. How long after the wedding of George Martin and Sheena, did his mother pass away?

3. At what age did George Martin join his sister at a convent school?

4. In Chapter 7, George Martin reflects that what decision cost him millions of pounds?

5. During his first meeting with George Martin, the Beatles' manager said that everyone in Liverpool described them in what way?

Short Essay Questions

1. Whom does George Martin consider to be his fairy godfather, and how did the two meet?

2. Early in Chapter 1, why were the Beatles in Paris?

3. What was George Martin's first job at Parlophone, as described in Chapter 3, and what were his primary duties?

4. At the beginning of Chapter 4, what were George Martin's criticisms of what he described as a lovely villa in Portugal?

5. How did the Beatles come to change drummers before achieving success and fame, letting Pete Best go in favor of Ringo Starr?

6. How did George Martin come to record "At the Drop of a Hat" with Donald Swann and Michael Flanders, and what was unusual about the recording method he used?

7. Describe the circumstances that led George Martin to marry his first wife, Sheena, and the tragedy, which occurred shortly thereafter.

8. What was George Martin's first musical love, and what did he do to understand its construction, as described in Chapter 2?

9. Why did George Martin turn down Dick James' offer to take on a share in his company?

10. At the beginning of Chapter 1, why did the Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein, call George Martin?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How did George Martin's fairy godfather, Sidney Harrison, prove to be a major, recurring influence in his life?

Essay Topic 2

Why does George Martin feel that pop music is not a step down from classical music? Why does he think pop musicians find it easier to succeed in modern times than classical musicians?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the phenomenon, as explained by George Martin in Chapter 6, of two stereo speakers creating the illusion of sound emanating from a central point, in addition to the left and right. How did he use this phenomenon to its best advantage in his recordings?

(see the answer keys)

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