By Ajarn Helen Jandamit
Photos courtesy of Bangkok Post
University Tips is here to help you prepare for the English exams and tests that are coming your way. It gives you practise answering questions similar to those you may have at school and also on the University Entrance Examination.
Read the following story from the Bangkok Post. Then, answer the questions that follow.
Ekachai Jearakul won the GFA International Competition in Los Angeles on Thursday, June 26.
The 27-year-old musician from Ubon Ratchathani province, known to his friends as Bird, was named winner of the contest this year by the Guitar Foundation of America (GFA).
Ekachai had either been the winner or the runner-up in about 30 local and international contests, but the top prize at the GFA is undoubtedly the highest achievement of his music career. The GFA competition is regarded as one of the top contests for classical guitarists.
Ekachai impressed the judges with his skills, stage performance and interpretation of classical music pieces including “Rito de Los Orisha” and “Caprices,” the tune he picked for the final round of the contest in Los Angeles and which carried him to victory over 11 other contestants.
Ekachai has been competing for almost 10 years in competitions ranging from small ones to the world’s greatest contest — the GFA.
“This means a lot, not only for me but also for Thailand, because nobody from Asia had won the first prize before,” Ekachai told the Prachachart Turakij newspaper. The win clears the way for him to sign contracts with global music labels including Naxos Records, according to Prachachart Turakij.
Ekachai graduated with first class honours at Mahidol University’s College of Music in 2010. He then pursued his studies at Mozarteum University of Salzburg in Austria.
Ekachai said that “Chatachivit (H.M. Blues),” a composition by His Majesty the King, inspired him to become a classical guitarist at the age of 13.
Bundit Ungrangsee, a famous conductor, once said that Ekachai is not only an excellent classical guitarist, but one of the finest musicians in Thailand.
Exercises
Section 1
Read the story. Then, answer the following multiple-choice questions.
1. What is Bird’s real name?
a. Bundit Ungrangsee.
b. Prachachart Turakij.
c. Ekachai Jearakul.
2. Where did the GFA International Competition take place?
a. In Ubon Ratchathani.
b. In Austria.
c. In Los Angeles.
3. What does GFA stand for?
a. Greek football Association.
b. Guitar Foundation of America.
c. Austrian Football Association.
4. How many other contestants did Ekachai beat in the GFA competition?
a. 11.
b. 13.
c. 27.
5. How old was Ekachai when he decided to become a guitarist?
a. 13.
b. 27.
c. 11.
6. What style of guitar playing does Ekachai specialise in?
a. Rock guitar.
b. Jazz guitar.
c. Classical guitar.
7. Where did Ekachai study music before he attended Mozarteum University of Salzburg?
a. The story does not say.
b. The College of Music at Mahidol University.
c. A school in Ubon Ratchathani province.
8. For how long has Ekachai been competing in guitar contests?
a. For almost one year.
b. For almost a decade.
c. For about 20 years.
Section 2
Fill in the blanks in the following passage with the correct words from the choices given.
…..9….. his dedication to musical development in classical guitar, Ekachai was …..10….. by the Ministry of Culture to …..11….. a spokesperson for the project entitled “Thai Kids Can Do Anything!”
Ekachai continues to compete …..12….. many international competitions representing Thailand while …..13….. global appreciation and an opportunity for audiences around the world to learn …..14….. Thailand’s contributions …..15….. classical music.
9.
a. Because
b. Because of
c. Beware of
10.
a. selection
b. select
c. selected
11.
a. been
b. be
c. is
12.
a. in
b. on
c. out
13.
a. develop
b. developed
c. developing
14.
a. above
b. about
c. aside
15.
a. from
b. to
c. in
Section 3
Read each of the following sentences and underline the grammatically correct words in each from the choices given.
16. He won the guitar playing competition in Chiang Mai on/in/for January 9.
17. Regular practice helped Ekachai to triumph/triumphant/try in the competition.
18. The judges were impressed for/at/by his musical skills.
19. This is possibly the highest achievement in/for/during Ekachai.
20. Ekachai finished a/the/an Bachelor’s degree at Mahidol University.
Section 4
Read through the story again. Then, decide whether the following statements are true or false.
21. The recent GFA International Competition was held in London.
……………………
22. Bundit Ungrangsee is a famous guitar player.
……………………
23. According to the author, the GFA is the highest achievement of Ekachai’s music career.
……………………
24. Ekachai studied music in both Thailand and Austria.
……………………
Vocabulary
- runner-up (n): a person or team that finishes second in a competition or race
composition (n): a piece of music, art or poetry
conductor (n): a person who stands in front of an orchestra, a group of singers, etc. and directs their performance
