Non-fiction: Musical Instruments – Brass Instruments I
Musical Instruments
Brass Instruments - I
Loud and bold! Brass instruments have played at special
occasions for ages. In ancient Greece they played
during the Olympic Games. In Europe trumpets
announced the arrival of a King. On battlefields brass
instruments were used to send messages to warriors.
They could be heard above the fighting. Today the
military still uses brass instruments for special occasions.
All brass instruments make sound in the same way. The musician presses
his or her lips into a tiny cup on the end of the mouthpiece. When he or she blows
air into the mouthpiece, his or her lips buzz. If you make a fist and press your lips
against your hand and try to blow air out, you can feel the same buzz.
After the air goes through the mouthpiece, it enters a lot of brass tubes
wound round and round. The sound of the instrument changes when the lengths of
the tubes change. Part of the tubing has holes in it. There are buttons at each of
the holes. These are called valves. When musicians press on the valves with their
fingers, they cut off the air to part of the instrument. This is how brass instruments
make different notes.
Brass instruments are usually made out of brass. Brass is a shiny metal
that looks like gold. They can also be made out of other metals.
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Questions: Musical Instruments – Brass Instruments I
Name: ____________________________
Date:______________________
1. This passage is an example of
a.
b.
c.
d.
nonfiction.
realistic fiction.
science fiction.
fantasy.
2. The following is an opinion:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Brass instruments have been used for centuries.
Brass instruments are different lengths.
Brass instruments are usually made out of brass.
Brass instruments are the most important part of the orchestra.
3. In a brass instrument, sound is made by
a.
b.
c.
d.
strings vibrating.
air buzzed through a metal tube.
pressing buttons.
vibrating buttons.
4. The author thinks that brass instruments are
a.
b.
c.
d.
not important.
very important.
outdated.
loud.
5. Based on the passage, it is likely that brass instruments were used on
battlefields because
a.
b.
c.
d.
they were shiny
they were loud
they sounded nice
they could play different notes
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Questions: Musical Instruments – Brass Instruments I
6. How are woodwinds and brass instruments different?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
7. Based on the passage, why did people in Europe use trumpets to announce the
arrival of a king?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best
completes the sentence.
Brass instruments are usually made out of brass, _____ they can also be made out
of other metals.
a. instead
b. but
c. therefore
d. because
9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below.
In Greece, musicians played brass instruments during the Olympic Games.
Who? musicians
(did) What? ________________________________________________________
Where? ___________________________________________________________
When? ___________________________________________________________
10. Vocabulary Word: valves: things that control the flow of air
Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: ________________________________
________________________________________________________________
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Answers: Musical Instruments – Brass Instruments I
Teacher Guide and Answers
Passage Reading Level: Lexile 720
Featured Text Structure: Descriptive – the writer explains, defines or illustrates
a concept or topic
Passage Summary: This passage describes the history of brass instruments. It
also describes how brass instruments make sounds, and what they are usually
made of.
1. This passage is an example of
a. nonfiction.
b. realistic fiction.
c. science fiction.
d. fantasy.
2. The following is an opinion:
a. Brass instruments have been used for centuries.
b. Brass instruments are different lengths.
c. Brass instruments are usually made out of brass.
d. Brass instruments are the most important part of the
orchestra.
3. In a brass instrument, sound is made by
a. strings vibrating.
b. air buzzed through a metal tube.
c. pressing buttons.
d. vibrating buttons.
4. The author thinks that brass instruments are
a. not important.
b. very important.
c. outdated.
d. loud.
5. Based on the passage, it is likely that brass instruments were used on
battlefields because
a. they were shiny
b. they were loud
c. they sounded nice
d. they could play different notes
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© 2012 ReadWorks®, Inc. All rights reserved.
Answers: Musical Instruments – Brass Instruments I
6. How are woodwinds and brass instruments different?
Suggested answer: The ways that the musician blows into the
instruments are very different. With brass instruments, the musicians
buzz their lips. With woodwind instruments, musicians blow without
buzzing their lips.
7. Based on the passage, why did people in Europe use trumpets to announce
the arrival of a king?
Suggested answer: People in Europe most likely used a trumpet to
announce the arrival of a king because trumpets can be loud to get
people’s attention.
8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best
completes the sentence.
Brass instruments are usually made out of brass, _____ they can also be made out
of other metals.
a. instead
b. but
c. therefore
d. because
9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below.
In Greece, musicians played brass instruments during the Olympic Games.
Who? musicians
(did) What? played brass instruments
Where? in Greece
When? during the Olympic Games
10. Vocabulary Word: valves: things that control the flow of air
Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: answers may vary.
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