Q18

[ttunden]

can anyone explain why the correct ac is D? I understand it is from the 3rd paragraph but I am having a hard time deducing D from the paragraph. I originally thought it could be either A or B since both were stated explicitly in the passage, particuarly A.

[ohthatpatrick]

This is an Inference question, signified by the wording "the info in the passage supports which answer".

For any Inference question, we have to support/prove our answer with a line reference. Simultaneously, we are wise to be very skeptical of three trap answer tendencies:
- extreme wording
- out of scope wording
- "fake" comparisons (comparative wording that was never used in the passage)

Since the keyword in this question stem is "Ellington", we know our proof will come from the 3rd paragraph (because that's the only info we have about Ellington).

The support for (D) is line 36-39. Ellington "constructed his compositions with his individual musicians and their unique 'voices' in mind."

(A) is wrong because nothing in the 3rd paragraph says that Toni Morrison explicitly credited Ellington with inspiring her novel.

Line 45-48 is the closest thing to sounding like (A), but all it says is that Morrison achieved an effect that was similar to Ellington's style. We can't assume from that sentence that Morrison ever said to someone, "Hey, Duke Ellington inspired my novel."

(B) is contradicted by the 3rd paragraph. (B) is saying that Ellington prevented his soloists from playing lengthy solos.

But line 39-42 implies the opposite. It says, "even though the soloists played lengthy, bold, inventive solos, they still fit within the composer's frame".

=== other answers ==
(C) nothing suggests that Ellington was a character in Morrison's novel.

(E) no support for "primarily" jazz, nor for "other genres"

Hope this helps.