TOEFL Grammar Exercises

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It is very 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 5 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. 10 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 15 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. 20 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.

1.
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.
2.
As used in line 2, what is the meaning of the word “release”?
(A)
distribute
(B)
pay for
(C)
overturn
(D)
itemize
3. The phrase “an intricate” in line 4 could be best
replaced by which of the following?
(A)
a fleeting
(B)
a straightforward
(C)
an extraneous
(D)
a detailed
4. 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
5. The word
“reciprocate” as used in line 12 could be best replaced by which of the
following?
(A)
commence
(B)
respond
(C)
practice
(D)
confirm
6. The word “investigation” in line 13 is closest in
meaning to which of the following?
(A)
production
(B)
betrothal
(C)
credential
(D)
examination
7. Which of the following words is most similar to
the word “handle” as used in line 14?
(A)
touch
(B)
control
(C)
manipulate
(D)
protect
8. As used in line 18, what is the meaning of “takes
over”?
(A)
takes charge
(B)
takes pleasure
(C)
takes advice
(D)
takes blame
9. 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
10.
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
11. The author uses the phrase
“losing their voice” in lines 21 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
12. 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 do not fully understand how record companies operate
(D)
the cost of recording an album is very expensive