History of Country Music Quiz

Tests comprehension and vocabulary on EnglishClub's History of Country Music page. You can do this quiz online or print it on paper.

1. The first recordings of old-time country music were made in

the 1920s
the 1930s
the 1940s
a) the 1920s b) the 1930s c) the 1940s

2. Jimmie Rodgers was first taught how to play guitar and sing by _______ railway workers.

Irish American
African American
French American
a) Irish American b) African American c) French American

3. Which instrument is not amplified?

electric guitar
pedal steel guitar
acoustic guitar
a) electric guitar b) pedal steel guitar c) acoustic guitar

4. Which city became the centre of country-music recording and business?

Nashville
New York
New Orleans
a) Nashville b) New York c) New Orleans

5. Movies of the 1930s and 40s called "Westerns" often featured _______ singing Country and Western songs.

gangsters
cowboys
boy bands
a) gangsters b) cowboys c) boy bands

6. Which was an exciting 1950s style of country music that mixed Western swing with R&B?

honky tonk
rockabilly
hillbilly
a) honky tonk b) rockabilly c) hillbilly

7. Any well-known song that's often recorded and performed can be called

a standard
a revival
a commercial
a) a standard b) a revival c) a commercial

8. Hank Williams, one of country music's greatest singers, wrote many songs about

cows and horses
joy and happiness
heartbreak and pain
a) cows and horses b) joy and happiness c) heartbreak and pain

9. Many country music singer-songwriters have written ______ songs about injustice and war.

honky tonk
outlaw
protest
a) honky tonk b) outlaw c) protest

10. Which of these genres would be the most commercial at this time?

Western swing
country pop
bluegrass
a) Western swing b) country pop c) bluegrass

Your score is:

Correct answers:

Contributor: Matt Errey. Matt is the author of several books including 1000 Phrasal Verbs in Context and Common English Idioms for learners, and Matt's ESL Games and Quizzes for teachers.