Probably no other musical instrument is as popular as the guitar, Musicians use the guitar for almost every kind of music. Country and western music would not be the same without a guitar. The traditional Spanish folk music called Flamenco could not exist without a guitar. The sound of American blues music would not be the same without the sad cry of the guitar. And rock and roll music would almost be impossible without this instrument.
Some music experts say an instrument very much like a guitar was played in Egypt more than one thousand years ago. Some other experts say that the ancestor of the modern guitar was brought to Spain from Persia sometime in the twelfth century. The guitar continued to develop in Spain. In the 1700s, it became similar to the instrument we know today.
Many famous musicians played the instrument. The famous Italian violinist Niccolo Paganinni played and wrote music for the guitar in the early 1800s. Franz Schubert used the guitar to write some of his famous works. One kind of music for the guitar developed in the southern area of Spain called Adalusia. It will always be strongly linked with the Spanish guitar It is called Flamenco.
In the 1930s, Les Paul began experimenting with ways to make an electric guitar. He invented the solid body electric guitar in 1946. The guitar has always been important to blues music. With the electric guitar, Les Paul helped make modern blues music possible. There have been many great blues guitarists. Yet, music experts say all blues guitar players are measured against one man and his famous guitar. That man is B. B. King. Every blues fan knows that years ago B. B. King named his guitar Lucille. Here B. B. King plays Lucille on his famous recording of "The Thrill Is Gone". Lucille, B. B. King's large, beautiful black guitar, is important to American music. Visitors can see King's very first guitar at the Rock and Soul Museum in Memphis, Tennessee. The museum is the only permanent exhibit organized by the Smithsonian Institution outside Washington, D. C., and New York City.
4. Where did the modern guitar finally come into being? （    ）
A. Egypt          B. Spain.           C. Persia.          D. Italy.
5. What do we know about Flamenco? （    ）
A. It is the name of a famous musician.
B. It is related to Spanish guitar.
C. It is also called Adalusia.
D. It is the name of a guitar.
6. What does the last paragraph mainly tell us? （    ）
A. The electric guitar promoted the development of the blues.
B. The musician B. B. King named his guitar Lucille.
C. The Rock and Soul Museum first opened in Memphis.
D. The exhibit was first organized by the Smithsonian Institution.
7. What would be the best title for this passage? （    ）
A. Traditional Folk Music               B. Flamenco and Guitar
C. Violinist and Blues                   D. Guitar and Music

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