SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT FOR THE SECTION
Subject: English
Grade: 9
Section: Music and films
Learning Objectives: 9.2.4.1, 9.5.3.1, 9.5.6.1
Total: 10 points
VARIANT 1
Task 1. Reading (5 points)
Read the text about the history of film music. Complete the tasks.
The role of music in cinema has evolved dramatically. In the silent film era, live pianists or small orchestras provided accompaniment to set the mood and cover the noise of projectors. With the arrival of "talkies" in the late 1920s, music became an integrated part of the soundtrack. Composers like Max Steiner pioneered the use of "leitmotifs" – recurring musical themes associated with specific characters, ideas, or situations. This technique, borrowed from opera, helped audiences connect emotionally with the story. Today, film scores can range from full symphonic orchestras to electronic music and popular songs, shaping our emotional response and becoming iconic cultural pieces themselves.
A. Choose the correct answer (1 point).
The main purpose of music in silent films was to:
a) introduce the actors.
b) set the mood and cover projector noise.
c) replace dialogue.
d) advertise the film.
B. Answer the questions (4 points).
1. What technological development changed how music was used in films? (1 point)
2. What is a "leitmotif" and where did this technique originate? (2 points)
3. How do modern film scores differ from early ones? (1 point)