Gilbert and Sullivan – exercise

1. [Multiple choice]

Who wrote the music?

Answers for Quiz [1].

• 1. Arthur Sullivan (correct)
• 2. William Gilbert

2. [Multiple choice]

What age do these operettas date from?

(The Edwardian period or Edwardian era in the United Kingdom is the period covering the reign of King Edward VII, 1901 to 1910.
The Victorian period is the period covering the reign of Queen Victoria 1837 – 1901.
The four King Georges reigned in England between 1714 and 1830.
The first World War lasted between 1914 and 1918.
)

Answers for Quiz [2].

• 1. the Edwardian era
• 2. the Victorian era (correct)
• 3. the Georgian era
• 4. the post World War One era

3. [Multiple choice]

All of the following are operettas written by Gilbert and Sullivan. Which one is not mentioned as among the best-known?

(HMS has, since 1789, been the prefix for Royal Navy ships’ names, and stands for His (or Her) Majesty’s Ship or His Majesty’s Ship or Submarine.)

Answers for Quiz [3].

• 1. The Pirates of Penzance
• 2. Trial by Jury (correct)
• 3. The Mikado
• 4. H.M.S. Pinafore

4. [Multiple choice]

What word is used meaning upside-down?

(‘Topsy-Turvy’ is the name of the film released in 2000 by the English director Mike Leigh about a company trying to put on a G & S show.)

Answers for Quiz [4].

• 1. absurd
• 2. fanciful
• 3. topsy-turvy (correct)
• 4. satirical

5. [Multiple choice]

What adjective is used meaning long-lasting?

Answers for Quiz [5].

• 1. frequently-staged
• 2. perennial
• 3. adapted
• 4. enduring (correct)

6. [Multiple choice]

A patter song is a song

(A patter song is found commonly in operas – for instance Figaro’s song in Act 1 of Rossini’s ‘Barber of Seville’ when he sings about all the jobs he has to do, for instance. They are delivered at terrific speed and often have a lot of tongue-twisters in them. At the end of the song you watch you will find the Major General returns to sing a few lines even faster.)

Answers for Quiz [6].

• 1. about rainy weather
• 2. sung at speed
• 3. which is verbally inventive (correct)
• 4. which is a dialogue set to music

7. [Multiple choice]

The Major General’s song comes from

Answers for Quiz [7].

• 1. ‘the Pirates of Penzance’ (correct)
• 2. ‘Trial by Jury’
• 3. ‘HMS Pinafore’
• 4. ‘the Mikado’

8. [Multiple choice]

As a military leader the Major General comes across as

(clueless = informal for incompetent)

Answers for Quiz [8].

• 1. clueless. (correct)
• 2. brilliant.
• 3. well-versed in strategy.
• 4. well-trained.
• 5. well-informed.
• 6. highly experienced.