Electrifying lady

By Ajarn Helen Jandamit
Photos courtesy of AP

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 by Chanun Poomsawai from the Bangkok Post. Then, answer the questions that follow.

Compared to Janelle Monae’s debut album, the American R&B songstress’s second album is a tamer affair, but it’s still bursting with exhilaration and flair.

When people hear the name Janelle Monae, many might think of her guest vocals on Fun’s Grammy Award-winning hit from 2011, “We Are Young”. In 2010, Monae’s debut studio album, The ArchAndroid, instantly became a modern classic, thanks largely to its single, “Tightrope,” which featured popular rapper Big Boi.

The album was a refreshing mix of musical genres including jazz, funk and glam rock. ArchAndroid received six Grammy nominations and was named one of the best records of the year by many leading publications.

Janelle’s second album is called The Electric Lady, and it picks up where her debut left off. The album is divided into two halves. The first half is called Suite IV: Electric Overture and the second is Suite V: Electric Overture.

The first track on the first half is “Givin’ Em What They Love,” which features veteran star Prince on guest vocals. Some of the dance tracks on the album are reminiscent of “Tightrope.”

The album’s second half is less frantic than the first. The gorgeous soul ballads, “It’s Code” and “Can’t Live Without Your Love,” allow Monae to show off her sultry vocals better than on the uptempo tracks.

The Electric Lady is an electrifying album. At the same time, it’s a lot more relaxed than its predecessor. Thankfully, on this album Janelle Monae continues to give listeners the essence of what makes her a great artist.

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Exercises

Section 1

Read the story. Then, answer the following multiple choice questions.

1. What nationality is Janelle Monae?

a. Australian.
b. American.
c. Algerian.

2. What was Janelle Monae’s first album called?

a. The ArchAndroid.
b. The Electric Lady.
c. We Are Young.

3. According to the story, how many Grammy nominations did The ArchAndroid receive?

a. None.
b. Six.
c. Two.

4. What musical genres were included on The ArchAndroid, according to the writer?
a. Jazz and opera.
b. Funk and hip-hop.
c. Jazz, funk and glam rock.

5. Who was Janelle Monae’s guest singer on “Givin' Em What They Love”?

a. Big Boi.
b. Fun.
c. Prince.

Section 2

Read through the story again. Then, decide whether the following statements are true or false.

6. Janelle Monae sings R&B music.

………………….

7. The ArchAndroid is an album.

………………….

8. The Electric Lady was Janelle Monae’s first single.

………………….

9. The second half of The Electric Lady is less frantic than the first.

………………….

10. The writer of this feature thinks that Janelle Monae is a great artist.

………………….

Section 3

Read the following sentences and underline the grammatically correct words in each from the choices given.

11. Some off/of/in the dance tracks might remind listeners of “Tightrope.”

12. The Electric Lady is/am/are the title of Janelle’s second album.

13. The American R&B songstress's second album is not as exciting than/more/as her first.

14. The ArchAndroid, which/who/whose was Monae's debut album, became a modern classic.

15. The album was a refreshing mix of musical/musician/musically genres.

Section 4

Find words in the story that are antonyms of the following words.

16. worst ………………

17. successor ………………

18. old ………………

19. last ………………

Section 5

Find words in the story that are synonyms of the following words.

20. finest ………………

21. styles ………………

22. combination ………………

23. beautiful ………………

24. fortunately ………………

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