Page 113 - READING COMPANION TO ENGLISH EXAMS

Answer the questions 21–23 according to the
passage below.

An opera is a form of staged drama that consists 22. According to the passage, why is Florence
of vocal pieces accompanied by instrumental considered the birthplace of opera?
components. It is a theatrical work made up of
a dramatic text or libretto which has been set A) Greek and Latin mythology impacted the
Florentine intellectuals, who followed trends
to music and staged with costumes, scenery, in the arts and guided composers to write
and movement. It usually takes its subject from operas.
history, legends, mythology, or current events.
Opera’s earliest universally accepted ancestors B) Jacopo Corsi, Jacopo Peri, and Ottavio
emerged in the 16 century in Italy. Florence Rinuccini, from elite groups in Florence,
th
became the cradle of opera, with its set theatrical combined their literary works with music.
tradition, a strong sense of civic humanism, and C) Florentine intellectuals were pioneers of the
a distinctly Florentine view of music and music’s arts and wanted to take a step forward in art
relation to the cosmos. The earliest composition by combining music and drama.
considered an opera, Dafne, the story of a Greek
myth, was written around 1597. It was largely D) The stories in the history, legends, and
inspired by an exclusive group of intellectual mythology of Florence were appropriate for
Florentine humanists, musicians, and poets who comprising the elements of the theatrical
gathered as ‘The Florentine Camerata.’ These tradition.
intellectuals focused on the study and discussion E) The established dramatic tradition, civic
of ancient Greek and Latin literature, and they humanism, and Florentine attitudes towards
influenced trends in the arts, particularly music music laid the groundwork for opera.
and drama. Dafne was composed with the
collaboration of Jacopo Corsi, a noble person
sponsoring the opera; Ottavio Rinuccini, the first
opera librettist; and Jacopo Peri, a singer and
composer. However, Dafne could not survive
because most of its pieces had been lost.

21. We can infer from the passage that an opera 23. It can be understood from the passage that
----. Dafne was the ----.
A) traces back to the 16 century, when A) first opera comprised of the efforts of three
th
theatrical works were performed for elite intellectuals; it, however, could not wholly
Florentine intellectuals survive to our time
B) has been performed on stage, telling a B) story of a Greek myth that was entirely
historical narrative with costumes, scenery, inspired by an elite circle of people in the
and movement Florentine Camerata
C) is a form of theatrical work on stage in which C) use of music that conveyed the emotions and
singing with instrumental accompaniment is messages in the entire story of Florentine
fundamental
D) earliest composition regarded as an opera
D) could have made great progress, just like because it was composed by three talented
other branches of art, if the first opera had intellectuals
not been lost
E) first musical piece of an opera composed by
E) is a type of the performing art in which all or three intellectuals that had disappeared and
most of its words are composed with ritual could not survive
music

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