PASSAGE It is very difficult to succeed in the music business; nine out to 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 spend 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 their recordings Once a band has signed the contract and has finished recording an album, the Publicity and Promotions department takes 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 Question Which of the following statements best expresses the main idea of the passage? A Nine out of ten bands fail to produce a second record B It is important for a band to have an intricate knowledge of how a recording company works C Making personal connections will help the band in the final decisions about the promotion of their album D The main factors in a band's success are luck and patience Question The phrase "an intricate" in line could be best replaced by which of the following? A a fleeting B a straightforward C an extraneous D a detailed Question 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 an AR representative D the Publicity and Promotions department Question The word "reciprocate" as used in line 10 could be best replaced by which of the following? A commence B respond C practice D confirm Question The word "investigation" in line 11 is closest in meaning to which of the following? A production B betrothal C credential D examination Question As used in line 18, what is the meaning of "takes over"? A takes charge B takes pleasure C takes advice D takes blame Question 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 ban Question According to the passage, the Publicity and Promotions department Page 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 Question The author uses the phrase "losing their voice" in lines 17 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 Question 10 It can be inferred from the passage that A the music industry is full of opportunities for young bands B the AR department has a very large staff C most bands not fully understand how record companies operate D the cost of recording an album is very expensive ĐÁP ÁN 1-A 2-D 3-C 4-B 5-A 6-C 7-D 8-C 9-C 10C LỜI GIẢI CHI TIẾT Question 1: Nine out of ten bands fail to produce a second record Câu đầu khái quát ý bài: “It is very difficult to succeed in the music business; nine out to ten bands that release a first record fail to produce a second.” (Thật khó để thành cơng ngành âm nhạc, chin mười nhóm nhạc cho thu thất bại việc sản xuất thứ hai.) Question 2: detailed = chi tiết Intricate (adj) = phức tạp, chi tiết Các lựa chọn khác bị loại: fleeting (adj) = lướt qua, extraneous = không liên quan, straightforward Question 3: an AR representative Đoạn sau nói đến hợp đồng nhóm nhạc công ty thu âm: “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 ” (Q trình bắt đầu đại diện phịng Nghệ sĩ biểu diễn (AR)của công ty đến thăm quán bar hộp đêm, quan sát nhóm nhạc trẻ, tài Sau người đại diện nhận định nhóm nhạc tiềm năng, ơng bà ta làm việc để thương thảo hợp đồng với nhóm nhạc đó.) Question 4: respond = đáp lại, đồng nghĩa với reciprocate = đền đáp Question 5: production = sản xuất, chế tác, đồng nghĩa với investigation = điều tra, nghiên cứu Các lựa chọn khác bị loại vì: betrothal = hứa hơn; credential (v) = ủy nhiệm ủy thác, examination (n) = kiểm tra Question 6: Page take charge đồng nghĩa với take over = giám sát quản lý, chịu trách nhiệm với Question 7: playing music that sounds like music of famous bands Câu sau nói đến yếu tố dẫn đến thành công ban nhạc: “ 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.” (Sinh tồn ngành giải trí yêu cầu may mắn kiên trì, tất hiểu biết kĩ lưỡng cách công ty thu âm hoạt động Quá trình bắt đầu đại diện phịng Nghệ sĩ biểu diễn (AR)của cơng ty đến thăm quán bar hộp đêm, quan sát nhóm nhạc trẻ, tài Sau người đại diện nhận định nhóm nhạc tiềm năng, ông bà ta làm việc để thương thảo hợp đồng với nhóm nhạc đó) “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.” (Hầu hết ban nhạc thất bại việc liên lạc cá nhân phòng thứ hai này, nên họ tiếng nói trình quan trọng cuối việc sản xuất quảng bá cho album mình.) Question 8: sends representatives to look for new talent Đoạn sau giải thích cho lựa chọn này: “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 ” (Quá trình bắt đầu đại diện phịng Nghệ sĩ biểu diễn (AR)của cơng ty đến thăm quán bar hộp đêm, quan sát nhóm nhạc trẻ, tài Sau người đại diện nhận định nhóm nhạc tiềm năng, ông bà ta làm việc để thương thảo hợp đồng với nhóm nhạc đó.) Question 9: have no representation = khơng có đại diện đồng nghĩa với cụm "losing their voice" (mất tiếng nói) Question 10: most bands not fully understand how record companies operate Đoạn sau nói việc nhóm nhạc thành công ngành âm nhạc: “ It is very difficult to succeed in the music business; nine out to ten bands that release a first record fail to produce a second.” (Thật khó để thành cơng ngành âm nhạc, chin mười nhóm nhạc cho thu thất bại việc sản xuất thứ hai.) Sau đưa yếu tố định thành cơng nhóm nhạc nhấn mạnh vào hiểu biết kĩ lưỡng cách làm việc công ty thu âm: “Surviving in the music industry requires luck and patience, but most of all it requires an intricate knowledge of how a record company functions.” (Sinh tồn ngành giải trí yêu cầu may mắn kiên trì, tất hiểu biết kĩ lưỡng cách công ty thu âm hoạt động) Từ đó, suy ra, nguyên nhân khiến nhiều nhóm nhạc khơng thành cơng họ khơng có hiểu biết đầy đủ cách công ty thu âm hoạt động Page Page ... lines 17 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 Question 10 It can be inferred from the passage. .. operate D the cost of recording an album is very expensive ĐÁP ÁN 1- A 2-D 3-C 4-B 5-A 6-C 7-D 8-C 9-C 10 C LỜI GIẢI CHI TIẾT Question 1: Nine out of ten bands fail to produce a second record Câu đầu... representation = khơng có đại diện đồng nghĩa với cụm "losing their voice" (mất tiếng nói) Question 10 : most bands not fully understand how record companies operate Đoạn sau nói việc nhóm nhạc thành