Musicologist: Many critics complain of the disproportion between text

Question

Musicologist: Many critics complain of the disproportion between text and music in Handel’s da capo arias. These texts are generally quite short and often repeated well beyond what is needed for literal understanding. Yet such criticism is refuted by noting that repetition serves a vital function: it frees the audience to focus on the music itself, which can speak to audiences whatever their language.

Which one of the following sentences best expresses the main point of the musicologist’s reasoning?

(A) Handel’s da capo arias contain a disproportionate amount of music.
(B) Handel’s da capo arias are superior to most in their accessibility to diverse audiences.
(C) At least one frequent criticism of Handel’s da capo arias is undeserved.
(D) At least some of Handel’s da capo arias contain unnecessary repetitions.
(E) Most criticism of Handel’s da capo arias is unwarranted.

Source: LSAT

rajamech · Accepted Answer

(A) This is the critics' idea, not the musicologist's

(B) Nothing the musicologist said claims that Handel is superior to MOST

(C) This sounds like, "I disagree with the critics". Can we call it a FREQUENT criticism? We'd have to live with "many critics say X" = "X is a frequent criticism". Keep it.

(D) This again sounds like the critics.

(E) This also sounds like, "I disagree with the critics", but this is even stronger than (C). The author is dealing with the "many critics" cited at the beginning, not MOST criticism of Handel.

So answer is C

US09 · Answer

Thanks for sharing the OE from Manhattan LSAT.

akela · Answer

PowerScore Complete Question Explanation

Question #6: Main Point. The correct answer choice is (C)

This author first introduces a commonly held position and then refutes it. This pattern allows the
testmakers to add multiple viewpoints to a single speaker stimulus. The initial viewpoint is that
Handel’s de capo arias needlessly repeat texts. The author’s response is that the repetition serves an
important purpose and allows audiences to focus on the music itself. In such a stimulus, the main
point is always the author’s response.

Answer choice (A): This does not accurately describe either the initial viewpoint (that the arias
contain a disproportionate amount of text) or the author’s response (that the amount of text is vital to
appreciating the arias).

Answer choice (B): Neither the critics nor the musicologist address other arias. Thus, we cannot
infer if the musicologist believes Handel’s de capo arias to be superior to most in any way, much less
in their accessibility to diverse audiences.

Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. This is a relatively accurate restatement
of the musicologists claim that “such criticism is refuted by noting that repetition serves a vital
function.”

Answer choice (D): This may be an appropriate paraphrase of the critics’ complaint regarding the
disproportion between text and music in Handel’s arias, but the question stem asks us to express the
musicologist’s main point.

Answer choice (E): This answer is too broad. The musicologist rejects a particular criticism, but
makes no claim regarding most criticism of the arias.

https://forum.powerscore.com/lsat/viewtopic.php?t=14334

unraveled · Answer

Musicologist: Many critics complain of the disproportion between text and music in Handel’s da capo arias. These texts are generally quite short and often repeated well beyond what is needed for literal understanding. Yet such criticism is refuted by noting that repetition serves a vital function:  it frees the audience to focus on the music itself, which can speak to audiences whatever their language .

Which one of the following sentences best expresses the main point of the musicologist’s reasoning?

(A) Handel’s da capo arias  contain a disproportionate amount of music . - WRONG. True or false it does not stand to be the main point since the blue text takes the passage in a direction where having disproportionate amount of music or not is irrelevant. 
(B) Handel’s da capo arias are  superior to most  in their accessibility to diverse audiences. - WRONG. Uncalled for. 
(C)  At least one frequent criticism  of Handel’s da capo arias is undeserved. - CORRECT. POE helps but picking it directly is double edged sword. 
(D) At least some of Handel’s da capo arias contain  unnecessary  repetitions. - WRONG. "Unnecessary" kills this choice.
(E)  Most criticism  of Handel’s da capo arias is unwarranted. - WRONG. 2nd best choice. But balancing "many" and "most" is difficult since which one is subset of which is not ascertainable from the passage. Is it that many is almost majority among which most criticism happen or is it that most is beyond the scope of the many covered in the passage.

Answer C.

Musicologist: Many critics complain of the disproportion between text

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GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

Musicologist: Many critics complain of the disproportion between text

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