Oblivious to the Music by Bassi Gruen 

Would you notice one of the world's greatest violinists playing in the midst of rush hour?

Title

First Sentence Last Sentence

Oblivious to the Music by Bassi Gruen

Would you notice one of the world's greatest violinists playing in the midst of rush hour?

What would happen if one of the greatest violinists alive, playing on a Stradivarius worth several million dollars, was plunked into the sterile environment of a Washington D.C. metro station at the height of morning rush hour?

But, in my haste that morning, I saw none of it. I was deaf to the music surrounding me on all sides.

Begin Questions

1Lines 1-4 ______ the title.

a) contradictb) elaborate uponc) answerd) recognize

Translatecontradict לסתור

elaborate upon לפרט על

answer לענות

recognize להכיר

Oblivious to the Music by Bassi Gruen

Would you notice one of the world's greatest violinists playing in the midst of rush hour?

What would happen if one of the greatest violinists alive, playing on a Stradivarius worth several million dollars, was plunked into the sterile environment of a Washington D.C. metro station at the height of morning rush hour? Would anyone stop to listen? Would anyone recognize the genius, the soaring beauty of the playing?

1Lines 1-4 ______ the title.

a) contradictb) elaborate uponc) answerd) recognize

2Who are the “creatures” that the writer refers to in line 10?

a) Members of the publicb) Musiciansc) Keyboardsd) Ragged looking men

2Who are the “creatures” that the writer refers to in line 10?

a) Members of the publicb) Musiciansc) Keyboardsd) Ragged looking men

2Who are the “creatures” that the writer refers to in line 10?

a) Members of the publicb) Musiciansc) Keyboardsd) Ragged looking men

Lines 1-10The idea was born two years ago, when Weingarten left a crowded metro station and noticed a ragged-looking man playing the keyboard. The musician was quite good, but he was receiving virtually no notice. Looking at the amorphous mass of humanity rushing by, Weingarten felt a surge of anger. The thought crossed his mind that even the greatest of musicians wouldn't be able to touch these rushing creatures. But he decided to test his hypothesis before indicting the public.

Lines 1-10The idea was born two years ago, when Weingarten left a crowded metro station and noticed a ragged-looking man playing the keyboard. The musician was quite good, but he was receiving virtually no notice. Looking at the amorphous mass of humanity rushing by, Weingarten felt a surge of anger. The thought crossed his mind that even the greatest of musicians wouldn't be able to touch these rushing creatures. But he decided to test his hypothesis before indicting the public.

Lines 1-10The idea was born two years ago, when Weingarten left a crowded metro station and noticed a ragged-looking man playing the keyboard. The musician was quite good, but he was receiving virtually no notice. Looking at the amorphous mass of humanity rushing by, Weingarten felt a surge of anger. The thought crossed his mind that even the greatest of musicians wouldn't be able to touch these rushing creatures. But he decided to test his hypothesis before indicting the public.

Looking at the amorphous mass of humanity rushing by, Weingarten felt a surge of anger. The thought crossed his mind that even the greatest of musicians wouldn't be able to touch these rushing creatures.

2Who are the “creatures” that the writer refers to in line 10?

a) Members of the publicb) Musiciansc) Keyboardsd) Ragged looking men

3Line Name Job

5 Gene

Weingarten

12 Joshua

Bell

14 Antonio

Stradivari

Gene Weingarten

Gene WeingartenGene Weingarten, a Washington Post staff writer, was determined to find out.

Gene WeingartenGene Weingarten, a Washington Post staff writer, was determined to find out.

3Line Name Job

5 Gene

Weingarten

Washington Post staff writer

12 Joshua

Bell

14 Antonio

Stradivari

Joshua Bell

Joshua BellThe result was an intriguing social experiment. Weingarten approached Joshua Bell, one of the finest classical musicians in the world.

Joshua BellThe result was an intriguing social experiment. Weingarten approached Joshua Bell, one of the finest classical musicians in the world.

Less is more

3Line Name Job

5 Gene

Weingarten

Washington Post staff writer

12 Joshua

Bell

classical musicians

14 Antonio

Stradivari

Antonio Stradivari

3Line Name Job

5 Gene

Weingarten

Washington Post staff writer

12 Joshua

Bell

classical musicians

14 Antonio

Stradivari

Antonio StradivariThe result was an intriguing social experiment. Weingarten approached Joshua Bell, one of the finest classical musicians in the world. Bell, 39, is a consummate violinist who plays before awe-struck crowds across the globe. His instrument is a violin crafted by Antonio Stradivari in 1713, at the end of the Italian master's career. Bell purchased the violin at an auction several years ago, for 3.5 million dollars. Bell and his violin are musical mastery at its absolute height.

Antonio StradivariThe result was an intriguing social experiment. Weingarten approached Joshua Bell, one of the finest classical musicians in the world. Bell, 39, is a consummate violinist who plays before awe-struck crowds across the globe. His instrument is a violin crafted by Antonio Stradivari in 1713, at the end of the Italian master's career. Bell purchased the violin at an auction several years ago, for 3.5 million dollars. Bell and his violin are musical mastery at its absolute height.

Less is more

3Line Name Job

5 Gene

Weingarten

Washington Post staff writer

12 Joshua

Bell

classical musicians

14 Antonio

Stradivari

an Italian master

4

What does the word “his” in line 14

refer to? ___

hisThe result was an intriguing social experiment. Weingarten approached Joshua Bell, one of the finest classical musicians in the world. Bell, 39, is a consummate violinist who plays before awe-struck crowds across the globe. His instrument is a violin crafted by Antonio Stradivari in 1713, at the end of the Italian master's career. Bell purchased the violin at an auction several years ago, for 3.5 million dollars. Bell and his violin are musical mastery at its absolute height.

hisThe result was an intriguing social experiment. Weingarten approached Joshua Bell, one of the finest classical musicians in the world. Bell, 39, is a consummate violinist who plays before awe-struck crowds across the globe. His instrument is a violin crafted by Antonio Stradivari in 1713, at the end of the Italian master's career. Bell purchased the violin at an auction several years ago, for 3.5 million dollars. Bell and his violin are musical mastery at its absolute height.

4

What does the word “his” in line 14

refer to?

Bell

5

According to lines 17-20 it was more

__________ to find a place to carry out the

experiment than to persuade _________ to

take part.

17-20Bell acquiesced to the request with surprising ease. Finding a venue proved more difficult, as metro laws forbid busking, but Weingarten overcame this obstacle when he discovered a station with an indoor arcade owned by a private company. The owner graciously agreed to allow the experiment to take place. The stage was set.

17-20Bell acquiesced to the request with surprising ease. Finding a venue proved more difficult, as metro laws forbid busking, but Weingarten overcame this obstacle when he discovered a station with an indoor arcade owned by a private company. The owner graciously agreed to allow the experiment to take place. The stage was set.

17-20Bell acquiesced to the request with surprising ease. Finding a venue proved more difficult, as metro laws forbid busking, but Weingarten overcame this obstacle when he discovered a station with an indoor arcade owned by a private company. The owner graciously agreed to allow the experiment to take place. The stage was set.

5

According to lines 17-20 it was more difficult

to find a place to carry out the experiment

than to persuade Bell to take part.

6In lines 21-26 we are told what Bell wore. Why do you think this is important?

6In lines 21-26 we are told what Bell wore. Why do you think this is important?

Bell

6In lines 21-26 we are told what Bell wore. Why do you think this is important?

Weingarten didn’t want people to know that Bell was a famous musician.

Bell wanted to look like a train station musician.

7According to lines 21-26, about how long did each piece take to play on average?

a) 4 minutesb) 5 minutesc) 6 minutesd) 7 minutes

7According to lines 21-26, about how long did each piece take to play on average?

a) 4 minutesb) 5 minutesc) 6 minutesd) 7 minutes

21-26On Jan. 12, 2007, at 7:51 on a Friday morning, Bell, dressed in jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt, and a Washington Nationals baseball cap, opened his violin case, threw a few dollars in as seed money, and began to play. The pieces he performed were not popular, well-known ditties. They were complex, breathtaking masterpieces that have endured for centuries. Bell put his heart and soul into his music, coaxing pristine, resonant notes from his instrument. He played six pieces in 43 minutes.

21-26On Jan. 12, 2007, at 7:51 on a Friday morning, Bell, dressed in jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt, and a Washington Nationals baseball cap, opened his violin case, threw a few dollars in as seed money, and began to play. The pieces he performed were not popular, well-known ditties. They were complex, breathtaking masterpieces that have endured for centuries. Bell put his heart and soul into his music, coaxing pristine, resonant notes from his instrument. He played six pieces in 43 minutes.

Maths

43/6 = 7.167

7According to lines 21-26, about how long did each piece take to play on average?

a) 4 minutesb) 5 minutesc) 6 minutesd) 7 minutes

8

What do you think “seed money” in line 23 is?

8

What do you think “seed money” in line 23 is?

seed moneyseed money

Seed MoneyOn Jan. 12, 2007, at 7:51 on a Friday morning, Bell, dressed in jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt, and a Washington Nationals baseball cap, opened his violin case, threw a few dollars in as seed money, and began to play. The pieces he performed were not popular, well-known ditties. They were complex, breathtaking masterpieces that have endured for centuries. Bell put his heart and soul into his music, coaxing pristine, resonant notes from his instrument. He played six pieces in 43 minutes.

8

What do you think “seed money” in line 23 is?

Money that encourages people to give more.

9According to lines 25-30 how many people did NOT stop to listen for more than a minute? ____________________________

25-30heart and soul into his music, coaxing pristine, resonant notes from his instrument. He played six pieces in 43 minutes.During that time, 1,097 people walked by the virtuoso.Only seven stopped to hear the music for more than a minute.Twenty-seven tossed in some money while hurrying on.The rest rushed by in oblivion.

25-30heart and soul into his music, coaxing pristine, resonant notes from his instrument. He played six pieces in 43 minutes.During that time, 1,097 people walked by the virtuoso.Only seven stopped to hear the music for more than a minute.Twenty-seven tossed in some money while hurrying on.The rest rushed by in oblivion.

25-30During that time, 1,097 people walked by the virtuoso.

Only seven stopped to hear the music for more than a minute.

MathsDuring that time, 1,097 people walked by the virtuoso.

Only seven stopped to hear the music for more than a minute.

1,097 – 7 = 1,090

9According to lines 25-30 how many people did NOT stop to listen for more than a minute?

1,090

10