Musicians typically record most of their albums before the age of 35.

Question

Musicians typically record most of their albums before the age of 35. Some have argued that this phenomenon is the result of older age diminishing creative processes.  But most musicians who record albums after the age of 35 started to record music only after they turned 30.  Additionally, by the time most musicians have turned 30, they have been recording music for several years. So instead of arguing that old age reduces creativity, it can instead be suggested that  many musicians over the age of 35 produce fewer albums because they have been making music for too long to write compelling new music.     1 
 In the argument given, the two Boldface portions play which of the following roles?

A. Each provides support for the primary explanation for the phenomenon described in the passage.
B. The first is a rebuttal of an assertion made by the argument; the second is that assertion.
C. The first provides evidence in support of an explanation that the argument challenges; the second is that explanation.
D.The first offers evidence in support of an explanation with which the argument agrees; the second is that explanation.
E. The first offers evidence in support of an explanation that the argument challenges; the second is an explanation with which the argument agrees.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

The argument supports the explanation offered in the last sentence, that  “many musicians over the age of 35 produce fewer albums because they have been making music for too long to write compelling new music.”  The first highlighted portion offers evidence that supports an alternative to the first explanation for the phenomenon—that musicians record most of their albums before age 35. The second highlighted portion states the explanation—that this is mostly due to the length of musicians’ careers. 
 
  Answer: D

Musicians typically record most of their albums before the age of 35.

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