Logical Reasoning

PT143 · S4 · Q6 Musicologist: Many critics complain

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Musicologist: Many critics complain of the disproportion between text and music in Handel’s da capo arias.

Conclusion

The criticism that there's too little text, given the amount of music, in Handel's da capo arias is wrong (refuted).

rephrase: Even given the amount of music in this piece, it's okay for there to be so little text.

Evidence

Yes, the text repeats a ton, but that repetition serves a vital function, allowing the audience to focus on the music itself, which can speak to audiences of any language.

Evaluate

On Main Conclusion questions, the conclusion is almost always found in one of two places: - the very first sentence - after some "but / yet / however" rebuttal

Knowing that tendency helps to locate the conclusion here. The argument starts with "many critics", which potentially foreshadows a rebuttal. And then the "Yet" is one of the typical pivots.

The other indicator is the colon: <--- see? Colons introduce support.

Kathleen's desk is a mess: she has pens and paperclips and coffee stains everywhere.

So even if we don't count the "I refute this criticism" as the conclusion, we would use the "repetition serves a vital function". Why should we believe that? Because, [all the stuff after the colon].

Goal

Find an answer that either sounds like "this criticism is wrong" or one that sounds like "the repetition serves a vital function".

6.

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

  1. Handel’s da capo arias contain

    Wrong Ingredient

    This is the criticism, the Counterpoint. The author's conclusion is trying to refute this.

    1% picked this

  2. Handel’s da capo arias are

    Never Stated

    This is an extreme claim "superior to most" that was never even stated.

    4% picked this

  3. Correct

    At least one frequent criticism

    Why this is right

    "Yet such criticism is refuted by ..." is what we identified as the conclusion. It's annoying that this answer is so vague, since if we had asked the author what her main conclusion was, she would have named the criticism she refuted, not just said in some aloof way "at least one criticism can be refuted". But this is still the best available answer. Shooting down this criticism is our Author's Opinion, and she Supports it with the final three claims.

    Skill tested: Main Conclusion · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

    82% picked this

  4. At least some of Handel’s

    Wrong Ingredient

    This is a concession the author makes before she winds up into her rebuttal Conclusion and the Support for the conclusion.

    3% picked this

  5. Most criticism of Handel’s da

    Never Stated / Too Strong: most

    The author never says anything about most criticism of Handel.

    10% picked this

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