Question

1. in passage a, the parenthetical information in line 19 and lines 21 - 23 mainly serves to.

a. reveal how luc identified certain aspects of a pianos tone.
b. portray luc as overly judgmental about piano restorations.
c. describe the type of rules that visitors to lucs shop were required to follow.
d. indicate some of lucs firm beliefs about piano care.

1. based on the assertion in passage a that lucs “attitude about how people treated their pianos seemed to mirror his philosophy of life” (lines 25 - 26), which of the following statements would most nearly describe lucs philosophy of life?

f. its better to live a full and imperfect life than not live at all because something might go wrong.
g. life is a fragile gift that must be cherished and kept safe at all times.
h. living well is like playing the piano well. it requires dedication and practice.
j. its important to take lifes opportunities for pleasure because they may not come a second time.

1. as it is used in line 32, the phrase bit into most nearly means.

a. pitched
b. started
c. marred
d. sensed

1. in the third - paragraph of passage b (lines 61 - 65), the author most clearly shifts from:

f. making an argument against musicians selling their instruments to using evidence from his life to support the argument.
g. why he hopes musicians he admires to explaining why some people admire him as a musician.
h. expressing his own emotions about his violin to explaining why musicians must develop a partnership with their instruments.
j. describing the connection between his violin and other musicians to praising his own connection with his violin.

1. in passage b, the statement that litschey was “more than merely an excellent oboist; he was a great artist” (lines 44 - 45) can best be described as:

a. a fact supported by details about litschey.
b. a fact confirmed by experts quoted in the passage.
c. an opinion that the author attributes to litscheys colleagues and students.
d. an opinion that the author asserts but does not explain.

1. in passage b, it can most reasonably be inferred that heifetzs response to the woman who congratulates him is intended to point out that:

f. the woman hears heifetzs violin differently than heifetz does.
g. the woman isnt qualified to judge the quality of heifetzs violin.
h. heifetz enjoyed the womans humorous comment.
j. heifetzs violin doesnt make sounds by itself.

1. in passage b, the author most directly indicates that the violin is sometimes an adversary by stating that it:

a. lies mute in its case.
b. makes him adjust to its whims.
c. responds with a range of emotion.
d. cant speak with words.

1. compared to passage a, passage b is more directly focused on the:

f. damage a musician can do to an instrument.
g. characteristics of an instrument that give clues to its history.
h. interdependence between musician and instrument.
j. benefits of making instruments available to young children.

1. in contrast to the way the pianos are described in passage a, the passage authors violin in passage b is described as:

a. exhibiting unique characteristics.
b. having an active personality of its own.
c. sustaining damage from careless children.
d. being important to daily life.

1. which of the following assertions about instruments is most strongly supported by details provided in both passage a and passage b?

f. familiarity with your instrument is an important part of the joy of playing music.
g. instruments should be revered and never treated like furniture.
h. selling your instrument shows disrespect for the music you have made together.
j. maintaining proper humidity levels is essential to preserving an instrument.

Explanation:

1. For question 5: Analyze the nature of the statement about Litschey in Passage B. There are no details or expert - confirmations given, so it is an opinion the author asserts without explanation.
2. For question 6: Interpret Heifetz's response to the woman. He implies that she hears his violin differently than he does.
3. For question 7: Find the statement that shows the violin as an adversary. The idea that it makes him adjust to its whims implies an adversarial relationship.
4. For question 8: Compare the focus of Passage A and Passage B. Passage B is more focused on the characteristics of an instrument that give clues to its history.
5. For question 9: Contrast the description of the violin in Passage B with the pianos in Passage A. The violin is described as having an active personality of its own.
6. For question 10: Determine which assertion about instruments is supported by both passages. Familiarity with the instrument is an important part of the joy of playing music, which is supported by details in both passages.

Answer:

1. D. an opinion that the author asserts but does not explain
2. F. the woman hears Heifetz's violin differently than Heifetz does
3. A. makes him adjust to its whims
4. G. characteristics of an instrument that give clues to its history
5. B. having an active personality of its own
6. F. Familiarity with your instrument is an important part of the joy of playing music