V. Read the passage and choose the best answer.

Bessie Smith, an American singer, is known as the Empress of the Blues. She had a beautiful voice. Born in poverty in Chattanooga, Tennessee, she was helped in her career by Ma Rainey, one of the best known of the early women blues singers. After touring in the South, Smith went to New York City in 1923 and recorded with leading jazz musicians, including Louis Armstrong, James P.Johnson, and Benny Goodman. Then she became the most popular blues singer of her time, reportedly earning $2000 a week at the peak of her career. She died in Clarksdale, Mississippi, after an automobile accident.

1. What did Bessie Smith do?

A. a singer                               B. a dancer                           C. a teacher                       D. a worker

2.She was born in a ________ family.

A. rich                                     B. wealthy                            C. poor                              D. bad

3.________ helped her with her career.

A. her mother                          B. Louis                               C. James                            D. Ma Rainey

4. She became the most popular ________ of her time.

A. blues singer                        B. rock singer                       C. pop singer                     D. red singer

5. She died in ________.

A. New York                          B. Mississippi                       C. Tennessee                     D. England