Question

the theremin
the theremin is one of the earliest electronic musical instruments and is played without any form of physical contact between the musician and the instrument. the russian physicist leon theremin invented this instrument in 1920, and he exhibited his innovation all over the world. the instrument has an unusual appearance and consists of two metal antennas. the upright antenna controls the pitch, and the loop antenna controls the volume. the musician moves his hands over the antennas to create electrical signals, which are magnified through the instrument and relayed to the loudspeaker. the theremin sounds ethereal and transports the listener to another world.
the instrument became very popular in the 1930s, but it soon faded into obscurity due to a lack of interest. however, it was revived in the 1990s, and since then, it has been featured in the soundtracks of many movies. many composers have created musical symphonies that showcase the unique notes of the theremin. it is one of the most difficult instruments to master because even a proficient player requires a lot of practice to control the intonation of the musical notes. today, many enthusiasts also build theremins as a hobby using building kits available online
18
select the correct answer
what is a central idea in the passage?
a. most musicians are unfamiliar with the theremin instrument
b. the theremin is a unique instrument that is challenging to play
c. the theremin is becoming a newly popular instrument to play
d. most musicians are not proficient in playing the theremin
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Explanation:

The passage introduces the theremin as an early, physically contact-free electronic instrument, details its unique design, notes its popularity history, and emphasizes it is one of the most difficult instruments to master. Option A is not mentioned; Option C is incorrect as it was popular in the 1930s and revived in the 1990s, not newly popular; Option D is not a central focus, as the text highlights its difficulty rather than musicians' lack of proficiency. Only Option B captures its uniqueness and challenge, which are core points of the passage.

Answer:

B. The theremin is a unique instrument that is challenging to play