PrepTest 151, Section 1, Question 18
Passage A Music does not always gain by(468 more words not shown)
Passage A(201 more words not shown)
Passage B(275 more words not shown)
It can be inferred that(23 more words not shown)
- AIt is primarily(4 more words not shown)
- BIt has been(7 more words not shown)
- CIt is emotionally(7 more words not shown)
- DIt is as(6 more words not shown)
- EIt should be(8 more words not shown)
Reading the passage
Which type are we being asked about? Words subordinated to music means music is primary: B's singer's opera. The useful attitude marker is “undeserved contempt.” B thinks people have unfairly looked down on that type.
What we’re looking for
Our prediction is therefore a defense of its legitimacy, not a claim that it is better than every other type or more emotionally powerful.
Working the answers
- A
B gives Italian operas as examples but doesn't classify singer's opera as primarily a popular art form. The author's objection to contempt concerns its standing, not how popular it is.
- B
Justly criticized reverses “undeserved contempt.” B regards that dismissive attitude as unfair.
- C
B doesn't compare the emotional expressiveness of different types of opera. A's claims about music's expressive power cannot supply an opinion for B. Defending this type from contempt also doesn't establish its emotional superiority.
- DCorrect
Calling the contempt undeserved supports treating singer's opera as a legitimate type, rather than an inferior category merely because music is primary. B then applies the same general standard of judgment regardless of opera type: evaluate the elements through their contribution to the work. This doesn't require every individual singer's opera to be equally good.
- E
B expressly says the music is good not because it would make a good concert piece, but because it serves its situation within the opera. Music being primary doesn't exempt it from that standard.
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