PrepTest 156, Section 3, Question 15
In typical accounts of the beginnings of bebop—the(447 more words not shown)
According to the author's argument,(14 more words not shown)
- Aattain artistic(1 more words not shown)
- Boverthrow the musical(4 more words not shown)
- Cstrip jazz of(4 more words not shown)
- Descape the commercial(5 more words not shown)
- Esecure financial rewards(7 more words not shown)
Reading the passage
Look to the author's own description at the end, not the earlier account of jazz declaring independence from commerce. The originators wanted a new point of engagement that would give them some artistic independence and acknowledgment (paragraph 4). That supplies a clear prediction: more control over their artistic work, while remaining engaged with the commercial music world.
Working the answers
- ACorrect
Artistic autonomy is directly supported by that final description. The important qualification is a measure of autonomy within a new commercial relationship, rather than complete freedom from all commercial influence.
- B
Creating a new style doesn't by itself establish a goal of overthrowing swing's dominance. The author identifies the relationship the musicians wanted for themselves, not a campaign to overthrow swing.
- C
Shedding jazz's connections to entertainment belongs to the traditional account. The author doesn't adopt that as the originators' purpose. We cannot transfer a claim from the view being criticized to the author's own argument.
- D
This conflicts with the correction in the final paragraph. The musicians weren't principally trying to disengage from commerce; they were seeking a different engagement with it.
- E
The author treats music as a profession, so earning money isn't incompatible with the argument. But nothing says these musicians wanted greater financial rewards than swing offered. A comparative earnings goal needs evidence that the account doesn't provide.
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