Which term is described as 'a symbol indicating that a note/rest should be held for longer than its normal duration'?

• A. Simile
• B. Slur
• C. Trill
• D. Fortepiano

Answer: (D)

In music notation, a symbol that tells you to hold a note or rest longer than its normal duration is a fermata. It’s the sign that looks like a dot with a curved arc above (or below) the note, and it means you sustain the sound longer than written, with the exact length left to musical context or the conductor's instruction.

The other terms describe different ideas: a simile means to continue playing in the same manner for a repeated passage; a slur indicates the notes should be played smoothly connected; a trill is a rapid alternation between two adjacent notes; fortepiano (often written fp) is a dynamic instruction to play loudly and then suddenly soft.