Does good art need inner turmoil? Taylor Swift’s newest album breaks the mould with a breezy, joyful feel. But some critics think in shedding her sadness she has also lost her way.
How Taylor Swift smashed her own records
Record release: In just three days, Swift achieved the UK's biggest first-week album sales since Ed Sheeran's Divide in 2017. Comprehension quiz
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In the sentence, “Others say its lyrics seem rushed and its sounds underwhelming,” the word underwhelming most nearly means:
A: Very exciting and impressive
B: Difficult to understand
C: Extremely loud and powerful
D: Worse than expected; disappointing
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Which word is the closest synonym for “turmoil”?
A: Peacefulness
B: Happiness
C: Confusion
D: Success
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Add the correct punctuation and capital letters to the sentence below:
her latest album the life of a showgirl has divided critics
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According to the article, what is the name of the Charli XCX album that features a track about an unnamed rival?
A: Actually Romantic
B: The Life of a Showgirl
C: Brat
D: A Victim of Success
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Why does the article suggest that Taylor Swift might be a “victim of her own success”?
A: Because her fans no longer buy her music.
B: Because her adoring fans mean she no longer hears many critical voices.
C: Because she has run out of ideas for new songs.
D: Because other artists are now more successful than her.
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According to the text, what is one reason why Taylor Swift’s songs may no longer connect with some fans in the same way?
Answers
Tap to reveal
1. D 2. C 3. Her latest album, The Life of a Showgirl, has divided critics. 4. C 5. B 6. Any one of the following: Her past appeal was her ability to write songs about heartbreak, sadness and self-doubt, but she is now a billionaire in a happy relationship. The "turmoil is gone" from her life, making it harder for her to connect with unhappy fans. Her revenge tracks feel "tone-deaf" now that she is so successful.
1. D 2. C 3. Her latest album, The Life of a Showgirl, has divided critics. 4. C 5. B 6. Any one of the following: Her past appeal was her ability to write songs about heartbreak, sadness and self-doubt, but she is now a billionaire in a happy relationship. The "turmoil is gone" from her life, making it harder for her to connect with unhappy fans. Her revenge tracks feel "tone-deaf" now that she is so successful.
Glossary
Theory - An idea that you have yet to prove.
Turmoil - A state of great confusion. The word was originally a verb meaning to agitate.
Tone-deaf - Insensitive to how something might sound to other people.
Vincent van Gogh - A Dutch artist who painted The Starry Night in 1889 while staying in a French mental asylum after suffering a breakdown. He died by suicide the following year.
Depression - Low mood that affects someone's daily life, and can last for weeks or months.
Auction - When an item is sold to the person that bids the most money for it. Auctions can take place in person or online.