By Ajarn Helen Jandamit
Photos courtesy of Bangkok Post
and https://www.facebook.com/muse
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 Melanin Mahavongtrakul from the Bangkok Post. Then, answer the questions that follow.
The concert by British rock band Muse did not have as much advertising as shows by Maroon 5 or Bon Jovi, but Impact Arena was packed with fans on the night of September 23 for the band's first ever concert in Thailand.
RUSE BEFORE MUSE
Despite the heavy rain and bad traffic, people were partying even before the concert started. At 8:19 pm, Muse's opening act, The Ruse, came onstage. This was their second tour with Muse and they were successful in getting the crowd excited. At one point, lead singer John Dauer even jumped into the crowd. The four-man band left the stage just a few minutes before 9 pm.
The three members of Muse took the stage 30 minutes later. Lead singer and guitarist Matt Bellamy, bassist Christopher Wolstenholme and drummer Dominic Howard were accompanied by Morgan Nicholls, their touring keyboardist.
SUPERMASSIVE SHOW
They began their set with “Psycho,” a single from their latest album Drones, which was released in June this year. A screen lit with scenes from their video served as the stage backdrop. It showed a mixture of cool graphics interspersed with the actual onstage performance.
"Sawasdee Bangkok!" called out frontman Matt Bellamy. Well, technically, Impact Arena is in Nonthaburi province, but I guess nobody has ever named their concert "Live in Nonthaburi.”
The band's energy and their alternative rock music was intense. Nobody could stay still through the 90-minute concert. There was dancing, swaying, headbanging and foot-tapping.
Songs like “Resistance” and “Feeling Good” were some of the fan’s favourites that night. But it wasn't until “Supermassive Black Hole” — the hit song from the band's 2006 album Black Holes and Revelations — was performed that the crowd went wild.
KILLER SOUND
During the song “Starlight,” giant balloons were released into the hall and they bounced on the crowd. Audience members then waved their lit-up phones, turning Impact Arena into a starry sea of light.
"This is our first time in Thailand. We had a great time here. Thanks for coming!" said Bellamy. Muse got the crowd jumping until the last minute at 11 pm.
Muse's performance was powerful from start to finish. The production was very well done. The killer lighting and sound and great use of graphics were all spot on and helped merge the entire performance into one vivid experience.
Exercises
Section 1
Read the story and answer the following multiple-choice questions.
1. Where are Muse from?
a. The US.
b. Brazil.
c. Britain.
2. Where did they perform?
a. BITEC.
b. Impact Arena.
c. Thunderdome.
3. Who is the frontman for Muse?
a. John Dauer.
b. Matt Bellamy.
c. Morgan Nicholls.
4. What instrument does Dominic Howard play?
a. Bass guitar.
b. Keyboards.
c. Drums.
5. What time did Muse start playing?
a. At 8:19 pm.
b. At about 9 pm.
c. At about 9:30 pm.
6. Who were the concert’s opening act?
a. Muse.
b. The Fusion.
c. The Ruse.
7. When was Black Holes and Revelations released?
a. In 2006.
b. In 2005.
c. In 2004.
8. According to the author, which song made the crowd go wild?
a. “Supermassive Black Hole.”
b. “Resistance.”
c. “Feeling Good.”
Section 2
Read the story and decide whether the following statements are true or false.
9. “Psycho” is a single from the album Drones.
………………………
10. While they were performing “Starlight,” giant balloons were released into the hall and they bounced on the crowd.
………………………
11. The concert was held on September 3.
………………………
12. Muse has five members.
………………………
Section 3
Fill in the blanks in the following passage with the correct words from the choices given.
During the performance of “Starlight,” giant balloons were …..13….. into the hall and they bounced on the crowd. Clearly inspired, some audience members …..14….. to copy the balloons' buoyancy by doing a spot of crowd surfing …..15….. One girl was lifted overhead for a few minutes …..16….. a security guard came and shooed the gang with a flashlight.
13.
a. release
b. released
c. releasing
14.
a. try
b. to try
c. tried
15.
a. his.
b. herself.
c. themselves.
16.
a. beforehand
b. before
c. beneath
Section 4
Write down the noun forms of the following words used in the story.
17. intense ……………….
18. powerful ……………….
19. great ……………….
20. successful ……………….
Section 4
Specify whether each of the following words is used in the story as a verb, noun, adverb or adjective.
21. actual ……………….
22. ever ……………….
23. energy ……………….
24. partying ……………….
Vocabulary
- packed (adj): extremely full of people
intersperse (v): to put something in something else or among or between other things
vivid (adj): producing very clear pictures in your mind
