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.
If you’re a fan of drums, here is a festival that can’t be beat. The first International Drum Festival will take place at the Bangkok National Theatre on July 5 and 6.
EXOTIC EVENT
The National Theatre, Bangkok will host the International Drum Festival, which brings together different percussion instruments in a display of exotic rhythms on July 5 and 6.
Organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the two-day event will have performances and drum demonstrations by musicians from Taiwan, South Korea, India, Africa and Thailand.
The festival aims to promote global friendship and cultural harmony through drum music. It will also demonstrate how drums have been used for festivals, weddings, processions and other events. The instruments will include the tabla from India, cajon drums from Peru, taiko drums from Japan and more.
SHOW TIMES
There will be two daily performances inside the National Theatre at 2 pm and 7 pm, plus many shows on the mini stage in front of the theatre from 4 pm to 8:30 pm on both days. There will also be demonstrations of drum making in grounds of the theatre.
In addition, food and beverage stalls will offer ASEAN delicacies at 6 pm on July 5 and 2 pm on July 6. Admission to the festival is free. For tickets, contact the National Theatre on 02 224 1342.
Exercises
Section 1
Read the story. Then, answer the following multiple choice questions.
1. Before this latest event, how many International Drum Festivals had already taken place in Bangkok?
a. None.
b. One.
c. Two.
2. When was the International Drum Festival held?
a. July 3 and 4.
b. July 5 and 6.
c. July 15 and 16.
3. How many performances were planned each day inside the National Theatre?
a. One.
b. Two.
c. Three.
4. Where do taiko drums come from?
a. India.
b. Peru.
c. Japan.
5. According to the announcement, what does TAT stand for?
a. Tactical Airlift Technology.
b. Tourism Authority of Thailand.
c. Thematic Appreciation Test.
Section 2
Read the story again. Then, decide whether the following statements are true or false.
6. There were only Thai drums and musicians at the festival.
………………………….
7. The food and beverage stalls offered ASEAN delicacies at 6 pm on July 5 and 2 pm on July 6.
………………………….
8. The first International Drum Festival was held on July 5 and July 6.
………………………….
9. The first International Drum Festival was held at the National Stadium.
………………………….
10. During the festival, many shows were planned for the mini stage in front of the theatre.
………………………….
Section 3
Underline the grammatically correct preposition in each sentence from the choices given.
11. You will be able to buy rare delicacies from Asia at/on/into the Food and beverage stalls.
12. You do not have to pay to go at/from/to the festival.
13. You will learn how drums can be used for/to/above various ceremonies, processions and other festivities.
14. There will be an International Drum Festival at the National Theatre in Bangkok onto/in/from July 5 to 6.
15. The event features performances and drum demonstrations beside/by/with Korean musicians.
Section 4
Specify whether each of the following words in the story is used as a verb, noun or adjective.
16. daily ………………
17. rhythms ………………
18. host ………………
19. global ………………
20. contact ………………
Section 5
Read the following passage. Then, fill in the blanks with the correct words from the choices given.
Taiko in general often refers to the relatively modern art of …..21….. drum performances (kumi-daiko), but the …..22….. actually refers to the taiko drums themselves. Literally, taiko means a big drum, …..23….. there are …..24….. shapes and sizes of taiko.
21.
a. Japan
b. Japans
c. Japanese
22.
a. word
b. words
c. wording
23.
a. because
b. despite
c. although
24.
a. much
b. many
c. plenty
Vocabulary
- percussion (n): musical instruments that you play by hitting them with your hand or with a stick, for example drums
harmony (n): a state of peaceful existence and agreement
delicacy (n): a type of food considered to be very special in a particular place
