Central Ideas
15 According to lines 9 through 11, most non-musicians view their musical ability as
(1) limited (3) admirable
(2) comical (4) average
(1) limited
17 Lines 25 through 29 demonstrate that the average person, with basic musical knowledge,
(1) will be amused by an alteration of a familiar scale
(2) will find discomfort in an incomplete familiar scale
(3) can adapt incomplete scales to make original music
(4) can recognize the scale patterns of other cultures
(2) will find discomfort in an incomplete familiar scale
16. Lines 17 through 24 support a central idea by emphasizing the
(1) differences between virtuoso musical performers and ordinary people
(2) similarity of musical preferences between different cultures of people
(3) necessity of training for people to become musical experts
(4) way that people naturally learn about music through experience
(4) way that people naturally learn about music through experience
19 Lines 43 through 46 convey the idea that music can affect a person by
(1) eliminating unpleasant memories
(2) evoking past emotions
(3) maintaining stable moods
(4) modifying negative attitudes
(2) evoking past emotions
23 As used in line 77, the phrase “the special purview” most nearly means
(1) easily composed by
(2) readily recalled by
(3) only valued by
(4) only comprehended by
(4) only comprehended by
24 The author advances the argument through use of
(1) questions (3) statistics
(2) examples (4) imagery
(2) examples
18 Acquiring a “kind of bi-musicality” (lines 34 and 35) is the result of
(1) studying the history of music composition
(2) experiencing multiple musical traditions
(3) developing an understanding of contemporary music
(4) participating in classical musical performances
(2) experiencing multiple musical traditions
20 The phrase “gripped by a stubborn earworm” (line 63) most likely refers to music
(1) overplayed on the radio
(2) trending on social media
(3) connected to one’s past
(4) repeating in one’s head
(4) repeating in one’s head
21 The idea presented in lines 69 and 70 is best reflected by which phrase?
(1) “But when we think about musical expertise, we tend to imagine professionals” (lines 13 and 14)
(2) “there is a special connection between music and memory” (lines 38 and 39)
(3) “Music can also absorb elements of autobiographical memory” (line 43)
(4) “just by living and listening, we have all acquired deep musical knowledge” (lines 76 and 77)
(4) “just by living and listening, we have all acquired deep musical knowledge” (lines 76 and 77)
22 The comparison in lines 72 through 75 highlights the notion that musicality
(1) depends upon language skills
(2) requires knowing the structure
(3) is as natural as speech
(4) is based on interaction with others
(3) is as natural as speech
Explain how the author uses scientific research and personal observation to argue that music is a universal human experience.
1. The author combines scientific research with everyday observations to support her argument.
2. She references a study showing that people can identify music genres in less than 400 milliseconds, demonstrating deep, automatic musical knowledge.
3. Another study shows that people from different cultures develop bi-musicality just by listening, not by formal training.
4. The author also describes relatable experiences, like:
Tapping to music at a party, singing in the shower, feeling emotional when hearing a song tied to a memory
5. These examples show how regular people engage with music in daily life, even if they don’t consider themselves musical.