instrument

01. Can you play a musical [instrument]?

02. The next song is an [instrumental] featuring the talents of guitarist Pat Metheny.

03. Eric Clapton was originally purely an [instrumentalist] who only began singing at the urging of his bandmates.

04. The victim was clubbed over the head with a blunt [instrument] of some kind.

05. The ship's captain glanced at the [instruments] to see how fast they were moving.

06. Nelson Mandela was [instrumental] in bringing about a peaceful change of government in South Africa.

07. The dentist placed his [instruments] on the tray, and asked the patient to open his mouth.

08. Dale Carnegie once remarked that for better or worse, you must play your own little [instrument] in the orchestra of life.

09. Scientists have discovered the oldest known musical [instrument] in the world; a flute carved from a bird's wing bone more than 9,000 years ago.

10. Without using precision [instruments], Eratosthenes measured the radius of earth in the third century B.C., and came within 1 percent of the value determined by today's technology.

11. Among 1,500 Americans surveyed, the piano is the musical [instrument] of choice at 34 percent.

12. When learning a second language, it is important to look at errors as an [instrument] of learning, instead of a source of frustration.

13. The vaccination of children has been [instrumental] in the elimination of a number of serious diseases.

14. The camel has been adopted as the official emblem of Eritrea for its [instrumental] role in transporting supplies during the nation's war for independence.

15. Drums have long been used in Burundi both as rhythm [instruments], and as a symbol of power and prestige.

16. In the early Christian church, [instrumental] music was excluded from public worship because it was not seen to open the mind to Christian teachings.

17. Discussion question: Do you think learning a musical instrument should be a part of every child's elementary school education?