PrepTest 143, Section 4, Question 6
Musicologist: Many critics complain of the disproportion between(56 more words not shown)
Which one of the following(10 more words not shown)
- AHandel's da capo(7 more words not shown)
- BHandel's da capo(11 more words not shown)
- CAt least one(9 more words not shown)
- DAt least some(8 more words not shown)
- EMost criticism of(6 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
Maybe understanding the words isn't the only reason to repeat them.
The critics say the texts are short and repeat more than listeners need for literal understanding. The musicologist doesn't deny the repetition. Instead, the response is that repetition does something useful: once listeners aren't busy figuring out the words, they can focus on the music. That benefit can matter even when listeners speak different languages.
What we’re looking for
So we're defending the repetition against a particular complaint. For the main point, I want the claim the explanation supports: this criticism is undeserved. The benefit to listeners is the reason for that defense, rather than a separate claim that Handel's music is better than everyone else's.
Working the answers
- A
This repeats the complaint about disproportion instead of stating the musicologist's response to it. The musicologist explains why the repeated text serves a valuable purpose; the conclusion isn't that the arias contain too much music.
- B
Reaching audiences who speak different languages doesn't establish superiority to most other arias. We have no comparison with other composers' work. Defending this feature of Handel's arias isn't the same as ranking them above alternatives.
- CCorrect
The musicologist rejects a frequent criticism by explaining a function the critics overlook. Repetition may go beyond what is needed to understand the words, yet still help the audience attend to the music. That makes this criticism undeserved, which is exactly the main point C captures.
- D
Unnecessary for understanding the words isn't the same as unnecessary overall. The musicologist identifies another purpose for the repetition. D expresses the sort of complaint being answered, rather than the defense the musicologist makes.
- E
We have examined one criticism. We don't know how many other criticisms exist or whether they are justified. The musicologist can reject this complaint without claiming that most criticism of the arias is unwarranted.
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