View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. Whom did Bob Dylan claim was "America's greatest poet"?
(a) Smokey Robinson.
(b) Randy Newman.
(c) Bob Dylan.
(d) Sly Stone.

3. What church did Elvis attend as a boy?
(a) Assembly of God.
(b) He did not go to church.
(c) Christ the King.
(d) Seven Day Adventist.

4. In "Elvis," what song does Marcus use to illustrate the work Elvis puts into his music?
(a) "Good Rockin."
(b) "Boy Who Stole the Blues."
(c) "Milkcow Blues Boogie."
(d) "Hound Dog."

5. The Riot album reveals what image that Sly had for himself?
(a) Artist.
(b) Failure.
(c) Success.
(d) Cop out.

6. What is the name of Randy Newman's album that finally gained him a larger audience?
(a) The Godfather.
(b) Sail Away.
(c) Good Old Boys.
(d) Sunny Afternoon.

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

8. What was the original name of the style that Elvis sang?
(a) Country.
(b) Rock 'n' Roll.
(c) Rockabilly.
(d) Rhythm and Blues.

9. What controversial topics are addressed in Randy Newman's song "Sail Away"?
(a) Slavery and the American dream.
(b) Power and politics.
(c) Money and race.
(d) Art and realism.

10. According to Marcus in "Elvis," what was the public unsure about when Elvis' music first came out?
(a) If he was country or rock 'n' roll.
(b) What the music was about.
(c) If he was black or white.
(d) How to listen to him.

11. Staggerlee and Sly Stone are both powerful, but what is different about them?
(a) Sly bought his fame.
(b) Sly did not kill anyone to get power.
(c) Staggerlee worked his way to the top.
(d) Staggerlee had no emotion.

12. What type of Staggerlee does Sly create in Riot?
(a) The baddest.
(b) One that regrets his crimes.
(c) The cruelest.
(d) One that does not get away.

13. According to Marcus, who is the focus in the song "Sail Away"?
(a) The Africans.
(b) The listener.
(c) The slaves.
(d) The confidence man.

14. What did RCA first present Elvis as?
(a) A folksinger.
(b) A hillbilly.
(c) The boy next door.
(d) A country singer.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. In the introduction to "Elvis," Marcus claims that Elvis epitomizes what?

2. Who said "This is the mystery of democracy . . . that its richest fruits spring up out of souls which no man has prepared and in circumstances where they are least expected"?

3. Who wrote "Papa Was a Rolling Stone?'

4. According to Marcus in "Sly Stone," what is the spirit behind Riot?

5. What single did Sly release that was the "most optimistic of all"?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 487 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample