In some circles, Mendelssohns reputation diminished rapidly after his

Question

In some circles, Mendelssohn’s reputation diminished rapidly after his death in 1847. By 1852, he was already regarded by many as “the object of pitying disparagement.” European musical audiences, newly enamored with the expansiveness of Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde, soon found Mendelssohn’s music too restrained and academic.

As time progressed, post-Wagnerian anti-Romanticism did little to salvage the composer’s standing. Proponents of Schoenberg and his twelve-tone serialism regarded Mendelssohn as a quaint, conservative composer who crafted superficial, “tenderly sentimental” music.

Such “arbiters” as these have moved far too illiberally to certain conclusions. The atmospheric melodic beauty of the Overture to a Midsummer Night’s Dream shows the imprint of an original mind, anticipating the orchestral achievement of Rimsky-Korsakov. At the time of its composition, the Octet displayed unexampled lightness and rhythmic effect; the impressionistic Hebrides Overture inspired the painting of Turner. And Mendelssohn’s greatest pictorial works, the Scottish and Italian symphonies, constantly reveal new vistas. The work of one of the first, great nineteenth-century Nature composers, Mendelssohn’s music simply endures; critics would do well to ask why.    1 
 1. It can be inferred that the author apparently regards certain critics of Mendelssohn as

A. ignorant and ill bred
B. shortsighted and ungenerous
C. brilliantly perceptive
D. cowardly and overcautious
E. ambitious and insincere

2 
 2. The author refers to the proponents of Wagner and Schoenberg in the first two paragraphs primarily in order to do which of the following?

A. Explain the differences between their musical tastes
B. Make the point that the critics of Mendelssohn have also failed to appreciate the work of other great composers
C. Introduce the idea that the music critics of a given period usually lack sensitivity towards earlier composers
D. Illustrate how some people have unjustly neglected the musical achievement of Mendelssohn
E. Contrast the musical ideas of Wagner and Schoenberg to those of Mendelssohn

3 
 3. On the basis of the passage, the author would be likely to say that Mendelssohn’s music

I. was constrained by traditional forms and styles
II. was innovative and influential
III. should be judged on its own terms, not according to the standards of later taste

A. I only
B. II only
C. III only
D. I and II only
E. II and III only

4 
 4. The author’s argument in favor of Mendelssohn is primarily developed by

A. appealing to the authority of post-Wagnerian and anti-Romantic critics
B. citing examples that demonstrate Medelssohn’s originality and skill
C. pleading that Mendelssohn has been unfairly measured against far greater composers
D. pointing out that Mendelssohn’s critics have focused on unrepresentative aspects of his work
E. favorably comparing Mendelssohn’s achievements to those of admired composers like Rimsky-Korsakov and Wagne

RC Butler 2023  -  Practice Two RC Passages Everyday.   
Passage # 226 Date: 07-Jul-2023
 This question is part of RC Butler 2023 .  Click here for Details

Kaplan GRE Verbal Workbook 2007

siiiiiiuuu7 · Answer

Please provide the answer of this RC

Sajjad1994 · Answer

The OA will be automatically revealed on Sunday 9th of July 2023 07:30:04 AM Pacific Time Zone

Runjhun26 · Answer

Sajjad1994  please share OE for questions 1 & 2

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

1. It can be inferred that the author apparently regards certain critics of Mendelssohn as

Difficulty Level:   Medium

Explanation

This is a tone question.  In the first sentence of the last paragraph , the author says Mendelssohn’s critics have  “moved far too illiberally” ; that is, they have gone too far in their criticism of Mendelssohn. This fits choice (B)’s  “ungenerous”  best.

You could easily eliminate the other choices. The author likes Mendelssohn, so it follows that he will dislike his critics. Eliminate  choice (C) .

Choices (A)  and  (D)  refer to critics as ill-bred and cowardly.

Finally,  choice (E)  makes claims about the critics the author never mentions. He may not agree with their judgment, but he never questions their sincerity or motives.

Answer: B

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

2. The author refers to the proponents of Wagner and Schoenberg in the first two paragraphs primarily in order to do which of the following?

Difficulty Level:   Hard

Explanation

This is a logic question; why is the author doing what he is doing? The first two paragraphs cover attitudes towards Mendelssohn by admirers of Wagner and Schoenberg and we are told that these admirers did not like Mendelssohn for a variety of reasons. He then goes on to say that they have  “moved far too illiberally to certain conclusions” ; that is, that they have overly disparaged Mendelssohn. This best fits with answer  choice (D) .

Choice (A)  misrepresents the author’s purpose. The passage is about Mendelssohn, and has nothing to do with comparing the tastes of Wagner’s proponents with those of Schoenberg.

Choice (B)  actually goes against what the author says: He states in the first paragraph that some who found Mendelssohn too restrained were enamored with Wagner.

Choice (C)  goes too far. It is too general a statement for a tightly focused passage such as this.

Choice (D)  is tricky, but although the author mentions the other composer’s styles, he does not do so in order to contrast them directly with Mendelssohn.

Answer: D

In some circles, Mendelssohns reputation diminished rapidly after his

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GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

In some circles, Mendelssohns reputation diminished rapidly after his

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