A

Rock and roll music developed in the United States in the early nineteen-fifties. It was based on the music called rhythm and blues that was performed by African American musicians.

Early rock and roll singers developed their own kinds of music. Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, the Beach Boys, and Bob Dylan were the most popular rock and roll musicians in the early 1960s. All were American. Then, in 1964, a new rock and roll group from England invaded America: the Beatles.

Some people say the Beatles’ music shook America like an earthquake. The Beatles changed rock and roll forever. Their early songs were influenced by American rock and roll musicians, including Chuck Berry. But the Beatles looked different and sounded different from any musical group before them.

The Beatles released their first album in the United States in 1964, when all of the top five records in America were by the Beatles. In 1967, they released an album called “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”. It was one of the first “concept” albums. That is, all the songs were linked by a common story or idea.

The popularity of the Beatles led the way for more rock and roll bands from England to become popular in America. The Rolling Stones was the most important of these bands. The Rolling Stones is one of the few groups from the 1960s that is still performing and recording today. In 1965, the group recorded one of its most famous songs, “Satisfaction”.

By the 1970s, rock and roll music became known as rock music. Experts say rock music regained some of the energy of early rock and roll. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band became popular with their album “Born to Run”. Springsteen’s music was like the lively rock and roll music of the early nineteen-sixties. Many of his songs were about social issues. He sang about the effects of unemployment and the war in Vietnam.

1. The main topic of this passage is _______.

A. the history of American music

B. the development of rock and roll music

C. the famous rock and roll groups

D. the new forms of rock and roll music

2. What does “the Beatles’ music shook America like an earthquake” mean?

A. The Beatle’s music was as violent as an earthquake in America.

B. the Beatles looked differently because an earthquake hit America.

C. The Beatle’s music had great effect on the rock and roll music in America.

D. The Beatle’s music were greatly influenced by American rock and roll music.

3. Whose songs were mainly about social problems like unemployment and war?

A. Elvis Presley’s.                    B. Bob Dylan’s.

C. Chuck Berry’s.                      D. Springsteen’s.

4. From the passage, we can know that _______.

A. one of the Rolling Stones’ albums was called “concept”

B. all of the top five records in America were by the Beatles in 1964

C. the Rolling Stones was the only band that became popular in America

D. all the most popular rock and roll musicians in the 1960s were American