Lyres are stringed musical instruments that originated in Ancient Greece. Most lyres have a wooden sound box or resonator, which forms the center of the instrument. Two arms extend upward from this sound box and are connected with a crossbar. The strings of the lyre are attached from this crossbar to the bottom or front of the instrument, and the strings are usually of equal length. Lyres are played by plucking the strings, either by hand or by using a plectrum made of wood, ivory, or metal. According to Greek mythology, the lyre was created by Hermes, but the instrument is associated with Apollo, the god of music and poetry.
Harps are also stringed instruments that have a resonator made of wood, and they have strings that run perpendicular to this resonator. Harps have been used in the Middle East as far back as 3000 B.C.E. Unlike a lyre, these strings are attached directly to the resonator, without a crossbar. The strings of the harp can be played by hand or using a plectrum. The length of the strings varies from short to long, and each string produces a sound at a different pitch. Harps can be of varying sizes, and larger harps can be played only by placing them on the floor.
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According to the passage, how does a lyre contrast with a harp?
A.
The strings in a lyre are connected to the resonator through a crossbar.
B.
The strings in a lyre produce different sounds at different pitches.
C.
Only a lyre is a stringed instrument that has a resonator made of wood.
D.
Only a lyre can be played by plucking the strings using a plectrum.
1 answer
The correct answer is:
A. The strings in a lyre are connected to the resonator through a crossbar.
This option highlights the main structural difference between a lyre and a harp, as the lyre has a crossbar connecting the strings to its resonator, while the harp does not.
