Dmitry Shostakovich’s first visit to the United States was an appearance at the Cultural and Scientific Conference for World Peace in New York City in March 1949. He was serving as one of five delegates from the Soviet Union, and as a delegate he listened as his translators read a prepared speech, mumbled brief answers to a few awkward questions, played on the piano once, attended a few concerts, and then left with cartons of cigarettes under his arm. The conference was described in the popular press as pro Communist propaganda, and protestors picketed the streets outside the Waldorf. Many Americans, however, were familiar with Shostakovich’s music, and many knew about the recent banning of his works in the Soviet Union.

1: Which of the following best describes the author’s assessment of Shostakovich’s first trip to the United States?

A. The Cultural and Scientific Conference for World Peace was essentially essentially pro-Communist propaganda and Shostakovich viewed it as such.
B. The Cultural and Scientific Conference for World Peace was designed to present Shostakovich’s works to the world for the first time but his debut was overshadowed by the controversy surrounding the event.
C. The Cultural and Scientific Conference for World Peace proved to be an inauspicious U.S debut for Shostakovich.
D. Shostakovich’s visit focused public attention on his music and the recent banning of his works in the Soviet Union.
E. Despite several problems, Shostakovich’s visit boosted his popularity in the United States.



2: What is the author’s purpose in closing this passage with the sentence, “Many Americans, however, were familiar with Shostakovich’s music, and many knew about the recent banning of his works in the Soviet Union?”

A. To note that despite the lack of attention and exposure given to Shostakovich at the Conference and despite the perception of the Conference as propaganda, the composer’s work and political plight were already known in the United States.
B. To note that the presence of Shostakovich, whose work and political plight were known in the U.S., lent credence to the popular perception of the Conference as propaganda.
C. To suggest that those Americans familiar with Shostakovich’s work and political plight did not share the view that the Conference was pro-Communist propaganda
D. To suggest that the knowledge of Shostakovich and his political plight led to the protests against the Conference
E. To suggest that Shostakovich’s political troubles were the primary reason for his fame in the United States Consider each of the three choices separately and select all that apply.



3: Which of the following statements about Shostakovich’s first visit to the U.S. are implied by the passage?

I. The performance of Shostakovich’s music was not given priority at the Conference.
II. Shostakovich participated in the conference reluctantly.
III. Shostakovich was a smoker.



4: Select the sentence which provides the most information about Shostakovich’s musical compositions.



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