Brazil
Location: eastern South America Official language: Portuguese
Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, native religions
Key cities: Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Brasilia (capital city) Most popular sport: soccer
Popular musical styles: samba, bossa nova, rock Most famous celebration: Carnaval
A Read the facts about Brazil, then answer the following questions.
1 What else do you know about Brazil?
2 Have you heard any Brazilian music? How woul<.i you describe it?
3 What sports, music, and celebrations is your country known for?
B Discuss your answers with a partner.
A Read the following extract from the passage on the next two pages.
Write the part of speech for the words in bold.
The 1960s were (1) tumultuous political times in Brazil. Worsening economic problems and weak political leadership led to the armed forces seizing power in 1964. Life under the military government was restrictive, and artists who spoke out against the government (2) repression found themselves in prison or in exile. As tensions relaxed in the 1970s and Brazil opened up to the world, its music scene embarked on its most (3) prolific era of the 20th century. An enormous amount of music was created and combined with jazz, classical, rock, and other forms. This musical (4) melting pot of artists and genres embraced virtually anything and everything from Brazil and beyond. It made possible numerous collaborative opportunities between Brazilian artists and their international peers.
1
2 3
4
B � the words or phrases that work with or affect the words in bold.
Write a simple definition for each word or phrase.
1
2 3
4
C Discuss your answers with a partner. Then use a dictionary to check your answers.
D Now read the entire passage carefully. Then answer the questions on page 205.
a ••• 111
...
Brazil is a country overflowing with music. It plays a vital role in the lives of ordinary Brazilians and can be heard playing in every corner of the country. Brazilian music represents a vibrant mix of different cultures, largely because of its complex history. While indigenous1 music from the original inhabitants of the area is present in modern form, it is mixed with foreign influences, namely from
5 Portuguese colonizers and their African slaves who landed on Brazilian shores in the 19th century.
As a vast country of many states, Brazil's music is regional, with each section contributing distinct musical genres. Portuguese song forms such as fado are prevalent in Brazilian music, and Portuguese influences can be found in the mournful and poetic lyrics, the exquisite melodies, and the use of accordions, guitars, and violins. While Portugal has contributed greatly to the culture
10 and of course the language, Brazil also witnessed the arrival of settlers from Germany, Italy, and many other countries, including Lebanon and Japan.
The African influences include energetic drumming and dancing forms. These are largely expressed through communal traditions like circle dances, with people gathering to make music together.
15 This potent music also drives the energy in martial art forms such as capoeira. As in Cuba and Haiti, Brazilian Africans were able to retain a great majority of their music, dance, and spiritual traditions. These traditions, combined with other elements, have resulted in some of the most vibrant and celebrated music in
20 Brazil. This music was often accompanied by dance elements that were viewed as indecent back then because of the close contact between dancers. Nevertheless, both music and dance became increasingly popular and were eventually embraced by the
Traditional drumming is performed at many African ceremonies.
public. Centuries later, Brazil would again "shock" the world with dance forms such as samba.
A samba band practicing on lpanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro
Samba is a distinct music and dance genre that dates back to 25
the colonial period. Perhaps one of the most popular music and dance styles ever to emerge from Brazil, samba evolved in Rio de Janeiro by the early 20th century and grew to become the
quintessential music and dance form associated with Rio's
Carnaval.2 Carnaval has since grown to become Brazil's biggest 30
and best-known festival, with 5.3 million people taking part in:
street parties and an estimated 1.1 million people visiting Rio. The popularity of samba also gave rise to many sub-styles, leading to one of the country's most popular genres to date: samba-reggae.
1 If people or things are indigenous to a place, they are originally from there.
2 Carnaval is a festival that is celebrated 40 days before Easter, and is one of the biggest festivals in Brazil.
35 Another important development that followed from samba took place in the late 1950s and would spark the second international wave of popularity for Brazilian music: the development of bossa nova. It evolved as a softer, more refined musical form with an emphasis on singing, featuring lyrics that reflected the romantic and
40 nostalgic side of Brazilian life. One of its pioneers was composer Antonio Carlos Jobim, the man responsible for the classic song The Girl from lpanema. His rich and unconventional bossa nova, with its sophisticated harmonies, explored the influences of American jazz, but with a less dramatic vocal style. When artists such as Joao Gilberto
45 first recorded bossa novas in the late 1950s, music critics called it
"music for out-of-tune singers." The genre wou1a go on to become one of the most celebrated Brazilian styles worldwide.
Another distinct musical and dance style, commonly known as forr6,
can be found in Brazil's northeast region. This accordion-driven music Brazilian music legend Joao Gilberto 50 is part Of the region's popular dance forms and dates back tO the performing at the famous Carnegie
Hall in New York City
late 19th century, when cowboys would celebrate the end of the dry season. Over time, the specific rhythm attached to this style would
inspire a couples' dance accompanied by accordion, drum, and triangle. The leading pioneer of the style, Luiz Gonzaga, made the first recordings in the mid-1940s. Forro lost momentum during
55 the bossa nova period of the 1960s, but would gain a new generation of fans in the 1980s. Popular artists such as Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil recorded modern versions of some of Gonzaga's most popular tunes.
The 1960s were tumultuous political times in Brazil. Worsening economic problems and weak political leadership led to the armed forces seizing power in 1964. Life under the military government
Seu Jorge is a popular Brazilian musician who has collaborated with many international artists, including David Bowie.
was restrictive, and artists who spoke out against the government 60
repression found themselves in prison or in exile.3 As tensions relaxed in the 1970s and Brazil opened up to the world, its music scene embarked on its most prolific era of the 20th century. An enormous amount of music was created and combined with jazz, classical, rock, and other
forms. This musical melting pot of artists and genres embraced virtually 65
anything and everything from Brazil and beyond. It made possible numerous collaborative opportunities between Brazilian artists and their international peers. Even samba found a new audience outside of the Carnaval. More modern harmonies and electric instruments brought it into nightclubs to be enjoyed by a new, younger audience. ?o While native tribes in the Amazon retain their ancient musical traditions dating back centuries, Brazilian music continues its extraordinary journey from tradition to modernization. It keeps the world moving to its
infectious beat.
3 Someone who is in exile is not given permission to enter an area, usually their country, and/or is threatened with imprisonment or death upon return.
204 UNIT 12 Chapter 1
A Choose the correct answer for the following questions.
1 What is the article mainly about?
a music in Brazil before the arrival of the Portuguese b the influences and evolution of Brazilian music
c how recent politics is affecting Brazilian modern music
d Brazilian musicians and their collaborations with international artists 2 Which of these statements in true about samba?
a It started in the 20th century.
b It evolved from reggae music.
c It is the signature sound of Carnaval.
d Its music is not usually accompanied by dance.
3 Which adjective best describes bossa nova music?
a angry b gentle c lively d dramatic
4 What caused forr6 to gain a new generation of fans?
a A new couples dance was created to accompany the music.
b Luiz Gonzaga recorded music using modern instruments.
c It borrowed melodies from bossa nova and samba.
d Popular artists began to record modern version of older songs.
B Read the following sentences and put them in the correct order from 1-6, with one being the earliest event.
____ A new and distinctive music genre called samba emerges.
____ Luiz Gonzaga, a forr6 musician, starts recording.
____ Bossa nova, a new genre of Brazilian music, is criticized as
"music for out-of-tune singers."
____ A new military government takes over Brazil.
__ 1 __ The Portuguese arrive in Brazil, bringing African slaves with them.
____ The government becomes less 'restrictive and Brazil opens up to the world.
C Discuss the following questions with a partner.
1 Why do you think Brazilian music is so popular compared to music from other countries? What factors contribute to its appeal?
2 Do you know of other music genres that are intimately connected with dance? Why do you think music and da'nce go so well together?
Reading
Comprehension
Check Your Understanding
Critical Thinking
Vocabulary Comprehension
Odd Word Out
A � the word or phrase that does not belong in each group.
The words in blue are from the passage.
1 potent vigorous fragile dynamic
2 ambiguous mournful sad sorrowful
3 isolated limited rare prevalent
4 minor ideal ultimate quintessential
5 rough obscene refined coarse
6 pace blockage energy momentum
7 tumultous calm orderly peaceful 8 fun-loving nostalgic longing sentimental 9 fruitful unusual prolific productive 10 distinctive infectious unique extraordinary
B Complete the following sentences using the words in blue from A. You might have to change the form of the word.
1 Her laughter is really ______ ; we can't help but laugh along with her.
2 It's been a(n) ______ period for global stock markets; prices have risen and fallen dramatically in the space of a few weeks.
3 One of the summer activities is going to the beach.
4 The artist has a(n) painting technique that took him years to cultivate.
5 The film star's career lost ______ after two unsuccessful movies.
6 The medicine was ______ enough to send me to sleep right away.
7 Whenever I hear that song, I feel for my childhood.
8 The author was most in the years just before his death, putting out two books and countless poems.
9 The slow, violin music was the perfect soundtrack to such a sad movie.
10 Heart disease is more ______ in populations with high rates of obesity.
Motivational Tip: Reflect on your goals. Reflect back on the goals that you set for yourself as you have made progress through this book. Are you achieving your goals? Why, or why not? If you are achieving your goals, find a way to celebrate! If you are not achieving your goals, determine what you need to do to improve.
A Study the following words. With a partner, write the part of speech and a simple definition for each word. Then check your answers using a dictionary.
Word Part of Definition
Speech 1 adjoining
2 adhere 3 admit 4 adverse 5 adverb 6 assimilate 7 assertive 8 assistant 9 ascertain 10 ascribe
B Complete the following sentences using the correct form of the words from A.
1 As Seow Lin only returned from New York last night, I think we can ______ her bad mood to a classic case of jet lag.
2 Our flight has been delayed due to the weather conditions.
3 The detective was able to that the thief had entered through the window.
4 An is a word that can be used in English to modify many other words.
5 Many countries require immigrants to into the dominant culture .
. 6 Sulinko has decided to take a job as a teaching for a
year to help her decide if she wants to become a full-time teacher.
7 When asked directly, Pamela she didn't practice at all before her musical recital.
8 After many y�ars of ignoring his doctor's advice, Karl now has to ______ to a strict diet in order to improve his health.
9 As China's economy and influence gets stronger, it has taken on a more ______ role in international politics.
10 We plan to renovate our house so that every bedroom will have an ______ bathroom.
Vocabulary Skill
The Prefix ad-
In this chapter, you read the words adjacent and aspect.
These words begin with the prefixes ad- or as-, meaning to, toward, and next to. These common prefixes are used with nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs to form many words.