Leon Bridges Overcomes Childhood Isolation and Finds His Voice

Instructions for Student

Read the question carefully and select the best answer.

Based on this profile, with which of the following statements do you think Leon Bridges would most likely agree?

Answer choices for the above question

• A. You can never predict the direction in which life will take you.

• B. Luck has nothing to do with whether or not a person finds success.

• C. Soul is the only genre of music worth listening to.

• D. Everybody can achieve their dreams if they work hard enough.

Instructions for Student

Read the question carefully and select the best answer.

What is most closely the meaning of the word timbre as it is used in the following passage (paragraph 4)?

Bridges has a beatific gospel timbre that suggests church-choir experience — but he was too insecure to actually audition. "I didn't think I could sing," says Bridges. "I knew I could do stuff here and there, but didn't think I was good enough to fit."

Answer choices for the above question.

• A. rattle

• B. religion

• C. melody

• D. tone

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.4

CCSS.L.9-10.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Instructions for Student

Read the question carefully and select the best answer.

The following passage (paragraph 7) adds to the development of the text mainly by showing .

At a nearby community college, Bridges studied dance, inspired by seeing his dad moonwalk as a kid, he says. He picked up singing and guitar as a hobby at first, and eventually began playing at open mics and small shows. His sound evolved from neo-soul, to folky R&B to traditional soul with horn — ideal for the last slow dance of the night. "A friend asked if Sam Cooke was an inspiration. I'd never listened, but I wanted to know my roots, so I looked him up on YouTube and Pandora," says Bridges. "Once I heard it, I saw it — that was the music that I wanted to write."

• A. that Bridges enjoyed slow-dancing

• B. why Bridges preferred playing guitar

• C. the origins of Bridges’ love of soul music

• D. how difficult it is to be discovered at open mics and small shows

Tags

CCSS.RI.9-10.2

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Instructions for Student

Read the question carefully and select the best answer.

The final paragraph adds to the development of the text mainly by showing .

"I don't like to write flashy soul songs," says Bridges. "I'm writing from the heart, stories about family and truth. I just want people to see a genuine person."

Answer choices for the above question.

• A. that Bridges has always wanted to be famous

• B. that Bridges’ main priority with his songs is whether they’ll become a big hit with his audiences

• C. that Bridges thinks pop stars are sell-outs

• D. that Bridges is most concerned with the authenticity and emotions evoked by his songs

Tags

CCSS.RI.9-10.1

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CCSS.RI.9-10.6

Instructions for Student

Read the question carefully and select the best answer.

Which of the following selections is best supported by the paragraph below (paragraph 6)?

Bridges idly dreamed of escape, drowning himself in the same music other kids his age were listening to. He didn't even know of the soul greats he'd later be compared to. "Nostalgia for me isn't Sam Cooke," he says, "as much as it's listening to a Ginuwine song or hearing Dallas hip-hop and remembering dancing to it in my garage."

Answer choices for the above question.

• A. As a child, Bridges wished he could leave Texas.

• B. Bridges’ earliest musical interests were much different than the music he makes now.

• C. Bridges only listened to hip-hop as a kid.

• D. Bridges didn’t like any of the music that his peers listened to, preferring to listen to the music of his parents’ generation instead.

Tags

CCSS.RI.9-10.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

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CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Instructions for Student

Read the question carefully and select the best answer.

Which passage from the text most strongly supports the correct answer to Question 5?

Answer choices for the above question.

• A. “Bridges idly dreamed of escape…

• ”B. “[Bridges drowned] himself in the same music other kids his age were listening to.”

• C. “He didn't even know of the soul greats he'd later be compared to.”

• D. “‘Nostalgia for me isn't Sam Cooke,’ he says, ‘as much as it's listening to a Ginuwine song or hearing Dallas hip-hop…”

Tags

CCSS.RI.9-10.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

CCSS.W.9-10.9

Instructions for Student

Read the question carefully and select the best answer.

Which statement about Austin Jenkins is best supported by the passage below (paragraph 9)?

"He's singing to you, not at you," says Jenkins, who co-produced Coming Home with fellow White Denim partner Joshua Block, recording live on all-analog gear, including a soundboard once owned by The Grateful Dead. "He listened to Texas blues, gospel and R&B, and filtered it through himself. It's authentic and direct."

Answer choices for the above question.

• A. Jenkins helped Bridges launch his career.

• B. Jenkins is extremely jealous of Bridges.

• C. Jenkins is also a soul musician.

• D. Jenkins used to tour with The Grateful Dead.

Tags

CCSS.RI.9-10.1

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Instructions for Student

Read the question carefully and select the best answer.

Which passage from the text most strongly supports the correct answer to Question 7?

Answer choices for the above question.

• A. “‘He's singing to you, not at you,’ says Jenkins…

• ”B. “... Jenkins, who co-produced Coming Home with fellow White Denim partner Joshua Block…

• ”C. “... recording live on all-analog gear, including a soundboard once owned by The Grateful Dead.”

• D. “‘He listened to Texas blues, gospel and R&B, and filtered it through himself. It's authentic and direct.’”

Tags

CCSS.RI.9-10.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

CCSS.W.9-10.9