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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. In Chapter 8, in George Martin's layer cake metaphor, what was the third layer in a four-track recording?
(a) Rhythm, such as drums and bass.
(b) The lead voice.
(c) Extra bits, called sweetening.
(d) Harmonies, such as piano or guitar.

2. In filmmaking, what is a click track?
(a) A separate track used to absorb extraneous noises from the soundtrack.
(b) A separate track featuring a click sound every so many frames of film, used to synchronize the musical score.
(c) A technique used to speed up or slow film speed.
(d) A special type of percussion, adding excitement to a scene.

3. For which movie did George Martin receive his first and only Academy Award nomination?
(a) "A Hard Day's Night".
(b) "Help!"
(c) "Live and Let Die".
(d) "Goldfinger".

4. In 1979, George Martin predicted the now-common change from analog to what sort of recording?
(a) Mp3.
(b) Dialog.
(c) Sampling.
(d) Digital.

5. In the recording studio, what is the function of the compressor?
(a) Protecting the hearing of musicians and engineers.
(b) Allowing the use of a smaller studio.
(c) Providing quiet heating and cooling to the studio.
(d) Lowering the volume of the loudest sounds and enhancing the quietest sounds.

Short Answer Questions

1. Engelbert Humperdinck's single, "Release Me," prevented which double-A-side Beatles record from reaching number one?

2. The "Yellow Submarine" story was written by Erich Segal, who later found fame with what novel-turned-film?

3. In what year was "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" recorded?

4. Which small American record label released "She Loves You" after Capitol Records refused?

5. While orchestrating the film, "The Family Way", what compromise did George Martin reach with John Boulting?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did the creators of the James Bond film, "Live and Let Die", want someone other than songwriter Paul McCartney to sing the title song?

2. As explained in Chapter 13, how does George Martin respond when asked how to become a successful record producer?

3. In Chapter 11, George Martin expresses his naivety regarding what activities of the Beatles?

4. For the film, "The Family Way", what sort of tune did George Martin ask Paul McCartney to write, and what strategy did he employ when Paul McCartney was slow to comply?

5. What is George Martin's explanation for the song, "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", contrary to the popular theory that the song is about LSD?

6. Briefly summarize George Martin's predictions for the future, as of 1979, regarding the use of digital recording.

7. Which is the only Beatles film not scored by George Martin, and why?

8. How does George Martin compare multi-track recording to a four-layer cake, as described in Chapter 8?

9. What, according to George Martin, is the best way to orchestrate for strings?

10. How did Capitol Records come to take on the Beatles' records, even though they resisted at first?

(see the answer keys)

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