PrepTest 130 - Section 2 - Passage 4 - Question 27

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Passage A.

intro topic · Prefer certain level of complexity in music

Can't be too simple, and can't be too complex.

Analogy to language · Sounds usually need to be sequenced

Single sounds usually need to be sequenced to convey meaning. Musical tones that are sequenced are more likely to produce feelings in people.

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Effect of music / hypothesis · Some music has relaxing effect because it's continuous and rhythmical

In nature, danger associated with unexpected sounds. A continuous sound suggests lack of danger.

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Intro topic · How music creates emotions

Some parts of music can create expectations about how the music will proceed. Tension results if expectations aren't satisfied.

Elaborate on causal mechanism · Mismatch between expectations and music produces emotion

Extreme mismatch causes negative emotions. Lack of mismatch produces positive.

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Other causal factors · Complexity and familiarity of music

Pleasure increases with familiarity, but decreases at a certain point. Trained music listeners prefer more complex melodies than a new listener, because their threshold for feeling emotions from music is higher.

Passage Style

27.

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Question Type

Author’s perspective

Implied

The correct answer will be something supported by each passage. If you’re using the Split Approach, eliminate answers that aren’t supported by Passage A. Then, come back after Passage B and eliminate remaining answers that aren’t supported by Passage B.

The more complex █ █████ ██ ██████ ███ ████ ██ ██ ██████ ██ ██ ███████ ██ ████ ██████████

Not supported by Passage A, because music that’s too complex will not be enjoyable. Because we eliminate (A) based on Passage A, we don’t need to consider Passage B.

More knowledgeable listeners ████ ██ ██████ █████ ████ ██ █████████████ ███ ██████████████

Not supported by Passage A, which doesn’t discuss different levels of knowledge or familiarity in listeners. Because we eliminate (B) based on Passage A, we don’t need to consider Passage B.

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Not supported by Passage A, which doesn’t discuss artistic value. Because we eliminate (C) based on Passage A, we don’t need to consider Passage B.

10%

Music that lacks █ ███████████ ██████ ██ ████████ ██ █████ █ ████████ ██ ████ ████████

Supported by Passage A and Passage B. If music isn’t predictable, that suggests it lacks coherence and is discontinuous. This is why Passage A would probably agree with (D). And if music isn’t predictable, that suggests it doesn’t match an expected musical course and sounds unfamiliar This is why Passage B would probably agree with (D).

75%

Music that changes ████ ████ ██ ████ ██ █████████ ██ ██████████ ███ ██████████ ██ ████ ██████████

Not supported by Passage A, because we have no reason to think the change from soft to loud is necessarily something that’s too simple, too complex, or too discontinuous to produce a relaxing effect. Because we eliminate (E) based on Passage A, we don’t need to consider Passage B.

PrepTest 130 - Section 2 - Passage 4 - Question 27

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