1. The primary purpose of the passage is to
(A) Perfect! the first two paragraphs introduce Josquin and describe his accomplishments.
While the last two explain his relative obscurity (Renaissance Music interpretation problems) - correct answer.
(B) describe the main features of medieval music and show how Josquin changed them
(C) This option just mentions one part of the passage and does not cover the rest.
(D)This option does not mention or talk about problems of Renaissance Music interpretation.
(E)Cannot be inferred. In fact, the author does the opposite : In the the last paragraphs by explaining the difficulties of interpretation of Renaissance music, the author is discouraging the study of medieval music (albeit not in a direct manner)
2. The passage contains information that would help answer all of the following questions EXCEPT
(A) What are the titles of some of Josquin’s secular compositions? - mentioned in second paragraph
(B) What are the names of some Renaissance musical instruments? - mentioned in last paragraph
(C) Who was the greatest composer before Josquin? mentioned in second paragraph
(D) Where might it be possible to hear Renaissance music performed? mentioned in last paragraph (colleges/universities)
(E) What are the names of some of Josquin’s most famous students? Not mentioned anywhere! hence, correct answer.
3. The passage implies that all of the following are characteristics of modern musical notation EXCEPT
Read this bit "It did not indicate all flats or sharps.......nor even whether instruments were to be used at all." in the third paragraph. It should eliminate all options except [E]
4. The author would most likely agree with which of the following statements?
(A) Cannot be inferred!
(B) Music can be said to exist only when it is being performed. Can be inferred!
Read this bit: "But musical notation on a page is not art, no matter how lofty or excellent the composer’s conception; it is, crudely put, a set of directions for producing art".
(C) This is what I selected first but there no evidence to support this!
(D) Cannot be inferred! There is no comparison between Renaissance and contemporary music.
(E) Just because the audience for this music is small, doesn't mean most people "dislike" it. cannot be inferred!
5. The passage leads most logically to a proposal to
(A) More colleges are definitely not required.
(B) study Josquin’s compositional techniques in greater detail B & E are similar, eliminate!
(C) include Renaissance music in college studies - It is already included in colleges.
(D) provide funds for musicians to study and play Josquin - " The public for it is small, limiting the number of musicians who can afford to learn, rehearse, and perform it" Correct option!
(E) translate Josquin’s music into modern notation. B & E are similar, eliminate!
6. The author cites all of the following as reasons for Josquin’s relative obscurity EXCEPT
All of the options except B is mentioned in the last paragraph. Hence correct option is B
7. The author’s attitude toward Galileo (Highlighted) can best be described as
(A) admiring - Yes! Correct!
(B) critical - most definitely not.
(C) accepting - The Author holds both Galileo and Josquin in high regards, so definitely not accepting.
(D) analytical - not really.. the author isn't explaining both good and bad characteristics of Galileo/Josquin
(E) noncommittal - The Author isn't hiding his opinion or admiration of Galileo/Josquin
Hope this helps! Please correct me if I'm wrong. Thank you!