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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 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.


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 1, what is the meaning of the word “release”?
(A) distribute
(B) pay for
(C) overturn
(D) itemize
3. The phrase “an intricate” in line 3 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 9 could be best replaced by which of the following?
(A) commence
(B) respond
(C) practice
(D) confirm
6. The word “investigation” in line 9 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 11?
(A) touch
(B) control
(C) manipulate
(D) protect
8. As used in line 14, 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 16 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
XEM ĐÁP ÁN :1.B

2.A

3.D

4.C

5.B

6.D

7.B

8.A

9.D

10.A

11.C

12.C