Sama Reggae

Today, one of the most popular types of sama comes from Bahia, a state in the eastern part of the country. It’s called sama reggae. From the 16^th to 18^th centuries, over three million Africans were brought to Brazil to work as slaves. Today in Bahia, 80 percent of the population is black. Samba from this region of Brazil is heavily influenced by African rhythms. Modern samba reggae is a mix of Rio samba, African drumbeats, and Jamaican reggae. It’s a bit slower than Rio Samba, and is usually performed in large groups--sometimes with over 200 drums playing at one time!

Bahia’s most famous drumming group is Olodum. Many say the group invented the Sama reggae sound. But Olodum is not only a musical group. Its members have also created local organizations to help young people and the poor. Every year in the city of Salvador in Bahia, the lively sounds of samba reggae fill the streets during Carnaval--one of the world’s greatest parties.

Reading Comprehension

1. What is the main idea of this reading?

A. The Rio Carnaval is the most important festival in Brazil.

B. Sama reggae is an important type of music in Brazil.

C. Rio samba is very popular all over the world.

D. Samba is a type of African music.

2. Samba reggae _____.

A. Is most popular in Rio de Janeiro

B. Is faster and more energetic than Rio samba

C. Is a mix of different kinds of music

D. Started in Jamaica

3. Olodum is ____.

A. A samba reggae group

B. A well-known samba dancer

C. A musical instrument

D. A town in Bahia

4. What does Samba from this region of Brazil is heavily influenced by African rhythms mean?

A. Samba is usually played by African musicians.

B. African music was important in creating Bahian samba.

C. Brazilian samba is very different from African music.

D. African music is increasingly popular in Bahia.

5. We can change the word It in the 15 to ______.

A. Samba reggae        B. Rio samba    

C. Jamaican reggae       D. African music

Background information

桑巴是音乐加舞蹈的混合体。桑巴是欧洲白人音乐与非洲黑人音乐融合的产物。每年一度的狂欢节是桑巴音乐展示的最佳舞台，来自欧洲、全球其他地方以及巴西国内的游客会在每年2-3月份挤满里约热内卢和萨尔瓦多，里约狂欢节演出也是巴西音乐最重要的两个发源地。对于大多数巴西人来说，Rio就是桑巴的代名词，而对于外国人来说，由于里约狂欢节的盛名，他们所知道的也往往是Rio。

Did you know?

Brazil has the largest number of Japanese people outside Japan. 2008’s Rio Carnaval included a performance showing the link between Japan and Brazil.

Key:

 1) B, 主旨题，第一段说了巴西有许多不同类型的桑巴，第二段全部都在介绍samba Reggae,可见全文重点：samba Reggae是巴西重要的一种音乐类型。

2）C，细节题，第二段第六行，modern samba reggae is a mix of Rio samba, African drumbeats, and Jamaican reggae可见。

3）A，细节题，第三段第一句：most famous drumming group is Olodum可见Olodum是一个组合。

4）A，paraphrase题，此题答案出现在这句话的前一句：第二段today, in Bahia, 80 percent of the population is black.

5）A，指代题，it指代前一句的主语：modern samba reggae