21. The author refers to Schubert and Brahms in order to suggest
(A) that their achievements are no less substantial than those of Verdi
(B) that their works are examples of great trash
(C) the extent to which Schubert and Brahms influenced the later compositions of Verdi
(D) a contrast between the conventions of nineteenth-century opera and those of other musical forms
(E) that popular music could be employed in compositions intended as high art
The first question is probably the easiest question in this set. In the first paragraph, it was mentioned that "Schubert and Brahms, however, used elements of popular music—folk themes—in works clearly intended as high art", so the author is suggesting that popular music could be employed in compositions intended as high art.22. According to the passage, the immediacy of the political message in Verdi's operas stems from the
(A) vitality and subtlety of the music
(B) audience's familiarity with earlier operas
(C) portrayal of heightened emotional states
(D) individual talents of the singers
(E) verisimilitude of the characters
In the second paragraph, the author mentioned that "Such pieces lend an immediacy to the otherwise veiled political message of these opera", and these pieces are referred to vitality and subtlety of the music.23. According to the passage, all of the following characterize musical drama before Verdi EXCEPT
(A) arias tailored to a particular singer's ability
The only coherence was the singer's vocal technique: when the cast changed, new arias were almost always substituted(B) adaptation of music from other operas
".....generally adapted from other operas"(C) psychological inconsistency in the portrayal of characters
we are told that in para 3 line 2, Any attempt to find coherent psychological portrayal in these operas is misplaced ingenuity, so that means psychological inconsistency in the portrayal of characters was conspicuous.(D) expression of emotional states in a series of dramatic situations
Before Verdi, there were rarely any characters at all in musical drama, only a series of situations which allowed the singers to express a series of emotional states. Hence, this used to exist before Berdi.(E) music used for the purpose of defining a character
This is the answer.24. It can be inferred that the author regards Verdi's revisions to his operas with
(A) regret that the original music and texts were altered
(B) concern that many of the revisions altered the plots of the original work
(C) approval for the intentions that motivated the revisions
(D) puzzlement, since the revisions seem largely insignificant
(E) enthusiasm, since the revisions were aimed at reducing the conventionality of the operas' plots
When he revised an opera, it was only for dramatic economy and effectiveness. This tells us that the author regards Verdi's revisions were legit and done only to improve the overall quality.25. According to the passage, one of Verdi's achievements within the framework of nineteenth-century opera and its conventions was to
(A) limit the extent to which singers influenced the musical composition and performance of his operas
(B) use his operas primarily as forums to protest both the moral corruption and dogmatic rigidity of the political leaders of his time
(C) portray psychologically complex characters shaped by the political environment surrounding them
(D) incorporate elements of folklore into both the music and plots of his operas
(E) introduce political elements into an art form that had traditionally avoided political content
Please read @Carcass explanation for this one. It was very nicely done!26. Which of the following best describes the relationship of the first paragraph of the passage to the passage as a whole?
(A) It provides a group of specific examples from which generalizations are drawn later in the. passage.
(B) It leads to an assertion that is supported by examples later in the passage.
(C) It defines terms and relationships that are challenged in an argument later in the passage.
(D) It briefly compares and contrasts several achievements that are examined in detail later in the passage.
(E) It explains a method of judging a work of art, a method that is used later in the passage.
This should be relatively easy. The first para has an assertion or the main point. The subsequent paras are only examples to support this point.27. It can be inferred that the author regards the independence from social class of the heroes and heroines of nineteenth-century opera as
(A) an idealized but fundamentally accurate portrayal of bourgeois life
(B) a plot convention with no real connection to political reality
(C) a plot refinement unique to Verdi
(D) a symbolic representation of the position of the bourgeoisie relative to the aristocracy and the proletariat
(E) a convention largely seen as irrelevant by audiences
The author considers the plot as "naive and unlikely formulation", so that means this is a convention that is unlikely to happen in reality.
_________________