OE


The second blank has the strongest clue, so begin there. The second blank is a verb that describes what musicians do to their songs using computers. The sentence gives further insight into how musicians use computers to impact songs by stating that computers result in a precision…unattainable naturally. The transition word and indicates that the word for the blank should be similar to the word modify, which the passage uses to describe the contents of the blank. So, recycle this language and use a word such as “modify.” Choice (D), energize, is not a match for “modify,” so eliminate it. Choice (E), delineate, means to outline or to define, which is also not a match for “modify,” so eliminate (E). Although both these words describe something that musicians could do to their songs, neither is as close a match for the word “modify” as (F), recast. Keep (F) and move on to the blank with the next strongest clue. The blank with the next strongest clue is the first blank. The first blank should be a verb describing what [m]any popular musicians have done with new digital technologies. The passage gives further insight into what musicians have done with new technologies by stating technologies gives them control over their music and that [t]these musicians use computers. Therefore, the word for the first blank should be something close to “use,” so let’s reuse that fairly neutral word. The word for (A), incorporated, is a good fit, so keep (A). Choice (B), synthesized, is a trap answer. It may describe how musicians make their songs using digital technologies, but it doesn’t describe what they do to these technologies. Eliminate (B). Choice (C), alleviated, means to make less severe, so also eliminate (C). Now work with the third blank. The third blank is a verb describing the reaction of traditionalists to these developments. The passage provides further insight by stating that these are new technologies and the transition word though indicates that the reaction from traditionalist should be expected to be different than those of the musicians described earlier. Therefore, the traditionalists should have a negative reaction to new technologies, so a good phrase for the blank could simply be “don’t like.” Choice (G) is balk at, which matches “don’t like,” so keep (G). Choice (H), revel in, means celebrate, which is the opposite of “don’t like,” so eliminate (H). Choice (I) is retaliate at, certainly negative but this extreme reaction is not suggested by the text, so eliminate (I). The correct answer is incorporated, recast, and balk at.
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if we use recast here, all those musicians did is remodel and modify their music. There is no indication that these actions will take their music to unprecedented level of accuracy. Energize might not be a very felicitous word to put in the context but i think it's the best of those 3.