Summary
Amusia is the difficulty in telling different melodies apart and remembering simple tunes. In an experiment, scientists subjected volunteers with amusia to changes in pitch comparable to playing one piano key and then another. The volunteers could not tell the difference between the tones. However, the volunteers were able to track timed sequences of tones and perceive slight changes in timing.
Strongly Supported Conclusions
Amusia is caused results more from being unable to tell different tones apart than being unable to perceive changes in timing.
A
People who are unable to discern pitch compensate by developing a heightened perception of timing.
This answer is unsupported. A conclusion about people generally is too broad for this stimulus. The stimulus is limited to people with amusia.
B
Amusia results more from an inability to discern pitch than from an inability to discern timing.
This answer is strongly supported. We know from the stimulus that while the volunteers could not tell tones apart, they were able to perceive timing. Therefore, amusia may result more from the inability to tell tones apart than inability to perceive timing.
C
People who are unable to tell pitches apart in isolation are able to do so in the context of a melody by relying upon timing.
This answer is unsupported. A conclusion about people generally is too broad for this stimulus. The stimulus is limited to people with amusia.
D
The ability to tell melodies apart depends on the discernment of pitch alone and not at all on the perception of timing.
This answer is unsupported. We don’t know from the stimulus what are the necessary conditions for being able to tell melodies apart. Moreover, we don’t know if this ability solely depends on discerning pitch.
E
Whereas perception of timing can apparently be learned, discernment of pitch is most likely innate.
This answer is unsupported. We don’t know from the stimulus whether either of these characteristics are learned or innate to make this comparison.