DATE: ______________________________________________

Read the biography and answer the questions below:

Composer and pianist Ludwig van Beethoven was born in December of 1770.
His birthplace was the city of Bonn, in what is now Germany.
His parents were Maria Magdalena van Beethoven and Johann van Beethoven.
His father was a singer, but he was not very good. Beethoven's grandfather,
Kapellmeister Ludwig van Beethoven, was Bonn's richest and most respected
musician. He was in charge of all of Bonn's official music, and young Ludwig
was extremely proud of him.
Beethoven's father began teaching him music when he was very young. His
father was very strict and violent, which affected Ludwig for the rest of his life.
Neighbors said the small boy would cry as he played the clavier, a type of
piano. His father would beat him for every mistake he made. When he was 7
years old, he played the piano for the Empress of Austria, a country near
Germany in Europe.
Beethoven had problems with Math and spelling his entire life, and some
experts think that he had dyslexia. The learning problems made it hard to read.
As Beethoven said himself, "Music comes to me more easily than words." In
1781, when he was 10 years old, Beethoven quit school to study music full time.
When he was 12 years old, Beethoven published his first piece of music.
By 1784, Beethoven's father could not make enough money to support the
family. Beethoven went to work as a musician.

Composing for audiences

In 1792, Beethoven went to Vienna, Austria, Europe's most important city for
music. He studied with the most famous musicians of the time. Beethoven
quickly became famous as a genius at the piano.
Many wealthy people supported Beethoven, helping him by giving him a place
to stay and money.
In 1804, Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 was performed for the first time. It was
later called the "Eroica Symphony." It was so original and creative that the
musicians could not figure out how to play it. A music expert called it one of the
most original, beautiful and important pieces of music ever written.

Losing hearing
At the same time, Beethoven was going deaf and was trying to hide it. By 1800,
Beethoven had trouble understanding what people were saying to him.
In an 1801 letter to a friend, Beethoven wrote that he was miserable. He hardly
went out with friends because he did not want to tell them it was because he
could not hear.
Beethoven said his deafness would not be so bad if he had a different job, but
as a composer, deafness was a huge problem.
At times, he felt sad and felt like giving up. Almost miraculously, Beethoven
continued to write music. From 1803 to 1812, he composed well over 100
pieces of music. No composer in history has come close to writing so much
amazingly complicated, original and beautiful music.
Still, Beethoven was lonely and often miserable. He had a short temper. He was
also forgetful, greedy and suspicious. Beethoven argued with his brothers, his
publishers, his housekeepers, his pupils and his fans. One time, Beethoven
tried to hurt Prince Lichnowsky, one of his closest friends and most loyal
supporters.
For many reasons that included his extreme shyness and physical appearance,
Beethoven never married or had children.

Acclaimed works and death

Somehow, Beethoven composed his greatest music near the end of his life.
They may have been the greatest works of music ever written.
Beethoven's Ninth and final symphony was completed in 1824. It is his highest
achievement. The symphony's ending may be the most famous piece of music
in history.
Beethoven died on March 26th, 1827, of liver disease. He was 56 years old.
Most music experts call Beethoven the greatest composer of all time.
Beethoven wrote his most beautiful music while he was deaf.
 1. Which of the following are two MAIN ideas from the article?
2. Beethoven was a famous pianist considered the greatest composer in
history.
3. Beethoven's strict father taught him music when he was very young.
4. Beethoven struggled with math and spelling his entire life, leading many
experts to believe he had dyslexia.
5. Although Beethoven struggled greatly with losing his hearing, he was
able to write his best music when he was deaf.
A
1 and 2
B
2 and 3
C
1 and 4
D
3 and 4

2. Which detail would be MOST important to include in a summary of the

article?
A
Beethoven's father was a singer who was not very talented.
B
Beethoven was supported by many wealthy people when he lived in Austria.
C
Beethoven wrote more beautifully complex and original music than any other
composer in history.
D
Beethoven died of liver disease when he was 56 years old.
3. What effect did deafness have on Beethoven?
A
He quit school to study music.
B
He decided not to marry or have children.
C
He became so miserable that he stopped composing music.
D
He rarely went out with his friends and became very lonely.

4. Based on the article, why was Beethoven's work important to classical

music?
A
His work proved that people without hearing are still able to write music if they
work hard to play and study music.
B
His work made it possible for future deaf pianists and composers to have
musical careers.
C
His work was beautiful and original, creating new symphonies that changed how
music is played.
D
His work made his grandfather, a German musician, more wealthy and
respected.