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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. Bangs argues that in order to make rock and roll good again, musicians have to stop trying to respect ______ styles.

2. The narrator begins the story by talking about how great the music was in the year ______, particularly the Yardbirds.

3. When the confrontation escalates, Bangs is arrested by a tenant in the building and charged with _____.

4. Rock crowds had become convinced that bands were supposed to be objects of ______.

5. When Bangs takes the instrument home with him and attempts to play it, a dispute with ______ erupts.

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Bangs claim is the inspiration for the band name, The Troggs, though some aren't sure this is the case?

2. What does Bangs believe is the benefit of not knowing how to play an instrument, as he notes the Stooges were unable to do at first?

3. What does Bang argue is the recipe for making rock and roll good again, according to his essay?

4. What does Clark believe about the trend of glam rock when it is discussed with Bangs?

5. What is the observation that Bangs makes about the rock bands of the time and how they were seen by crowds?

6. What does Jon Landau do in response to the way that Lester Bangs writes about music, according to the essay?

7. What happens when Bangs decides to chase his landlady back to her apartment as he is playing the saxophone?

8. What does Bangs explain to be the meaning of the band name, The Troggs, when he starts this section?

9. What does Bangs believe to be the meaning of the song "Give It To Me" by The Troggs?

10. What does Bangs believe is the reason why The Guess Who are so popular and so effective with their audience?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Reed and Bangs are insulting each other when they are first talking to each other the interview they have in the book.

Part 1: Why do you think the two men decide to insult each other when they are talking?

Part 2: Do you think it's good form to insult another person you are interviewing?

Part 3: How do you think Bangs should have treated Reed in that particular interview?

Essay Topic 2

Dick Clark is a surprising figure in this story, sounding as though he doesn't agree with pop music, even though he seems to celebrate it.

Part 1: How do you think Bangs feels about Clark before and after their meeting?

Part 2: Why do you think Clark points out that music is not original?

Part 3: Why do you think popular culture tends to enjoy the same sort of music over and over?

Essay Topic 3

Bangs seems to be irreverent in much of his writing, deciding to use different voices for different topics.

Part 1: Why do you think Bangs uses different voices in different columns?

Part 2: Do you think it's better to have a consistent voice or to have different voices?

Part 3: How do you think you would speak if you were writing a music column versus a traditional column?

(see the answer keys)

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