Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the comet answer to each of the questions.

It is difficult to succeed in the music business; nine out of ten bands that release a first record fail to produce a second. Surviving in the music industry requires luck and patience, but most of all it requires an intricate knowledge of how a record company functions. The process begins when a representative of a company’s Artists and Repertoire (A&R) department visits bars and night clubs, scouting for young, talented bands. After the representative identifies a promising band, he or she will work to negotiate a contract with that band. The signing of this recording contract is a slow process. A company will send a long time investigating the band itself as well as current trends in popular music. During this period, it is important that a band reciprocate with an investigation of its own, learning as much as possible about the record company and making personal connections within the different departments that will handle its recordings.

          Once a band has signed the contract and has finished recording an album, the Publicity and Promotions department take over. This department decides whether or not to mass produce and market the band’s album. Most bands fail to make personal contacts in this second department, thus losing their voice in the important final process of producing and marketing their album. This loss of voice often contributes to the band’s failure as a recording group.

According to the passage, the initial contact between a band and a recording company is made by…………..

A. the band’s manager

B. a band member

C. and (A&R) representative

D. the Publicity and Promotions department

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the comet answer to each of the questions.

It is difficult to succeed in the music business; nine out of ten bands that release a first record fail to produce a second. Surviving in the music industry requires luck and patience, but most of all it requires an intricate knowledge of how a record company functions. The process begins when a representative of a company’s Artists and Repertoire (A&R) department visits bars and night clubs, scouting for young, talented bands. After the representative identifies a promising band, he or she will work to negotiate a contract with that band. The signing of this recording contract is a slow process. A company will send a long time investigating the band itself as well as current trends in popular music. During this period, it is important that a band reciprocate with an investigation of its own, learning as much as possible about the record company and making personal connections within the different departments that will handle its recordings.

          Once a band has signed the contract and has finished recording an album, the Publicity and Promotions department take over. This department decides whether or not to mass produce and market the band’s album. Most bands fail to make personal contacts in this second department, thus losing their voice in the important final process of producing and marketing their album. This loss of voice often contributes to the band’s failure as a recording group.

The author mentions that a band’s success is dependent on all of the following factors EXCEPT………….. 

A. having patience 

B. making personal contacts with people in the company 

C. understanding how a record company functions 

D. playing music that sounds like music of famous bands

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the comet answer to each of the questions.

It is difficult to succeed in the music business; nine out of ten bands that release a first record fail to produce a second. Surviving in the music industry requires luck and patience, but most of all it requires an intricate knowledge of how a record company functions. The process begins when a representative of a company’s Artists and Repertoire (A&R) department visits bars and night clubs, scouting for young, talented bands. After the representative identifies a promising band, he or she will work to negotiate a contract with that band. The signing of this recording contract is a slow process. A company will send a long time investigating the band itself as well as current trends in popular music. During this period, it is important that a band reciprocate with an investigation of its own, learning as much as possible about the record company and making personal connections within the different departments that will handle its recordings.

          Once a band has signed the contract and has finished recording an album, the Publicity and Promotions department take over. This department decides whether or not to mass produce and market the band’s album. Most bands fail to make personal contacts in this second department, thus losing their voice in the important final process of producing and marketing their album. This loss of voice often contributes to the band’s failure as a recording group.

As used in paragraph 1, the word “release” is closest in meaning to ……….

A. distribute

B. pay for

C. overturn

D. itemize

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the comet answer to each of the questions.

It is difficult to succeed in the music business; nine out of ten bands that release a first record fail to produce a second. Surviving in the music industry requires luck and patience, but most of all it requires an intricate knowledge of how a record company functions. The process begins when a representative of a company’s Artists and Repertoire (A&R) department visits bars and night clubs, scouting for young, talented bands. After the representative identifies a promising band, he or she will work to negotiate a contract with that band. The signing of this recording contract is a slow process. A company will send a long time investigating the band itself as well as current trends in popular music. During this period, it is important that a band reciprocate with an investigation of its own, learning as much as possible about the record company and making personal connections within the different departments that will handle its recordings.

          Once a band has signed the contract and has finished recording an album, the Publicity and Promotions department take over. This department decides whether or not to mass produce and market the band’s album. Most bands fail to make personal contacts in this second department, thus losing their voice in the important final process of producing and marketing their album. This loss of voice often contributes to the band’s failure as a recording group.

As used in paragraph 2, the phrase ‘takes over’ is closest in meaning to …….

A. takes charge

B. takes pleasure

C. takes advice

D. takes blame

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the comet answer to each of the questions.

It is difficult to succeed in the music business; nine out of ten bands that release a first record fail to produce a second. Surviving in the music industry requires luck and patience, but most of all it requires an intricate knowledge of how a record company functions. The process begins when a representative of a company’s Artists and Repertoire (A&R) department visits bars and night clubs, scouting for young, talented bands. After the representative identifies a promising band, he or she will work to negotiate a contract with that band. The signing of this recording contract is a slow process. A company will send a long time investigating the band itself as well as current trends in popular music. During this period, it is important that a band reciprocate with an investigation of its own, learning as much as possible about the record company and making personal connections within the different departments that will handle its recordings.

          Once a band has signed the contract and has finished recording an album, the Publicity and Promotions department take over. This department decides whether or not to mass produce and market the band’s album. Most bands fail to make personal contacts in this second department, thus losing their voice in the important final process of producing and marketing their album. This loss of voice often contributes to the band’s failure as a recording group.

The phrase “an intricate” in paragraph 1 could best be replaces by……...

A. a feeling

B. a straightforward

C. an extraneous

D. a detailed

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the comet answer to each of the questions.

It is difficult to succeed in the music business; nine out of ten bands that release a first record fail to produce a second. Surviving in the music industry requires luck and patience, but most of all it requires an intricate knowledge of how a record company functions. The process begins when a representative of a company’s Artists and Repertoire (A&R) department visits bars and night clubs, scouting for young, talented bands. After the representative identifies a promising band, he or she will work to negotiate a contract with that band. The signing of this recording contract is a slow process. A company will send a long time investigating the band itself as well as current trends in popular music. During this period, it is important that a band reciprocate with an investigation of its own, learning as much as possible about the record company and making personal connections within the different departments that will handle its recordings.

          Once a band has signed the contract and has finished recording an album, the Publicity and Promotions department take over. This department decides whether or not to mass produce and market the band’s album. Most bands fail to make personal contacts in this second department, thus losing their voice in the important final process of producing and marketing their album. This loss of voice often contributes to the band’s failure as a recording group.

According to the passage, the Publicity and Promotions department……….

A. has the final decision in producing an album 

B. handles the recording arrangements for the band 

C. sends representatives to look for new talent 

D. visits bars and night clubs

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the comet answer to each of the questions.

It is difficult to succeed in the music business; nine out of ten bands that release a first record fail to produce a second. Surviving in the music industry requires luck and patience, but most of all it requires an intricate knowledge of how a record company functions. The process begins when a representative of a company’s Artists and Repertoire (A&R) department visits bars and night clubs, scouting for young, talented bands. After the representative identifies a promising band, he or she will work to negotiate a contract with that band. The signing of this recording contract is a slow process. A company will send a long time investigating the band itself as well as current trends in popular music. During this period, it is important that a band reciprocate with an investigation of its own, learning as much as possible about the record company and making personal connections within the different departments that will handle its recordings.

          Once a band has signed the contract and has finished recording an album, the Publicity and Promotions department take over. This department decides whether or not to mass produce and market the band’s album. Most bands fail to make personal contacts in this second department, thus losing their voice in the important final process of producing and marketing their album. This loss of voice often contributes to the band’s failure as a recording group.

It can be inferred from the passage that ………..

A. the music industry is full of opportunities for young bands 

B. the (A&R) department has a very large staff 

C. most bands do not fully understand how record companies operate 

D. the cost of recording an album id very expensive

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the comet answer to each of the questions.

It is difficult to succeed in the music business; nine out of ten bands that release a first record fail to produce a second. Surviving in the music industry requires luck and patience, but most of all it requires an intricate knowledge of how a record company functions. The process begins when a representative of a company’s Artists and Repertoire (A&R) department visits bars and night clubs, scouting for young, talented bands. After the representative identifies a promising band, he or she will work to negotiate a contract with that band. The signing of this recording contract is a slow process. A company will send a long time investigating the band itself as well as current trends in popular music. During this period, it is important that a band reciprocate with an investigation of its own, learning as much as possible about the record company and making personal connections within the different departments that will handle its recordings.

          Once a band has signed the contract and has finished recording an album, the Publicity and Promotions department take over. This department decides whether or not to mass produce and market the band’s album. Most bands fail to make personal contacts in this second department, thus losing their voice in the important final process of producing and marketing their album. This loss of voice often contributes to the band’s failure as a recording group.

The author uses the phrase “ losing their voice” in paragraph 2 to illustrate that they …….

A.  are forbidden to speak

B. are unable to visit

C. have no representation

D. are too shy to express their desires

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the comet answer to each of the questions.

It is difficult to succeed in the music business; nine out of ten bands that release a first record fail to produce a second. Surviving in the music industry requires luck and patience, but most of all it requires an intricate knowledge of how a record company functions. The process begins when a representative of a company’s Artists and Repertoire (A&R) department visits bars and night clubs, scouting for young, talented bands. After the representative identifies a promising band, he or she will work to negotiate a contract with that band. The signing of this recording contract is a slow process. A company will send a long time investigating the band itself as well as current trends in popular music. During this period, it is important that a band reciprocate with an investigation of its own, learning as much as possible about the record company and making personal connections within the different departments that will handle its recordings.

          Once a band has signed the contract and has finished recording an album, the Publicity and Promotions department take over. This department decides whether or not to mass produce and market the band’s album. Most bands fail to make personal contacts in this second department, thus losing their voice in the important final process of producing and marketing their album. This loss of voice often contributes to the band’s failure as a recording group.

The word it in paragraph 1 refers to ……………..

A. luck and patience

B. surviving in the music industry

C. producing a first album

D. negotiating a contract