Практический курс английского языка. Семушина Е.Ю. - 47 стр.

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       5. Read the text and choose the correct answer:
       History books record that the first film with sound was The Jazz Singer in
1927. But sound films, or “talkies”, didn’t suddenly appear after years of silent
screening. From the earliest public performances in 1896, films were accompa-
nied by music and sound effects. These were produced by a single pianist, a
small band, or a full-scale orchestra; large movie theatres could buy sound effect
machines. Research into sound that was reproduced at exactly the same time as
the picture – called “synchronized sound” – began soon after the very first films
were shown. With synchronized sound, characters on the movie screen could
sing and speak. As early as 1896, the newly invented gramophone, which played
a large disc carrying music and dialogue, was used as a sound system. The big-
gest disadvantage was that the sound and picture could become unsynchronized
if, for example, the gramophone needle jumped or if the speed of the projector
changed. This system was only effective for a single song or dialogue sequence.
       In the “sound-on-film” system, sounds were recorded as a series of marks
on celluloid which could be read by an optical sensor. These signals would be
placed on the film alongside the image, guaranteeing synchronization. Short fea-
ture films were produced in this way as early as 1922. This system eventually
brought us “talking pictures”.
     1. The passage is mainly about the
           a) history of silent movies
           b) disadvantages of synchronized sound
           c) development of sound with movies
           d) research into sound reproduction
     2. According to the passage, films using sound effects were screened
           a) before 1896
           b) as early as 1896
           c) as early as 1922
           d) in 1927
     3. The word “screenings” in line 3 is closest in meaning to
           a) projections
           b) revelations
           c) demonstrations
           d) diversions
     4. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a producer of sound to ac-
company movies?
           a) A jazz singer
           b) A single pianist
           c) A small band
           d) A gramophone
     5. It can be inferred that
           a) most movie theaters had a pianist
           b) sound-effect machines were not common because they were ex-
pensive
           c) orchestras couldn’t synchronize sound with pictures
           d) gramophones were developed about the same time as a moving pic-
ture
     6. According to the passage, gramophones were ineffective because they