Logical reasoning PrepTest 111 · Section 1 · Question 1

Incorrect. A change of scenery is the most basic and frequent stage direction, but the conclusion doesn't state that it's the one most frequently reflected in the music. It just happens to be the stage direction reflected in the counterexample of Mozart's operas.

Incorrect. This is the main point of the critics, but the example of Mozart's operas serves to counter it and support the author's main point.

Incorrect. There's no claim that the music has an effect on the stage directions, just that they can be reflected in the music. As such, this answer reverses things a bit.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Argument Structure/Main Point

Stimulus Summary:
Critics: Opera stage directions aren't reflected in the music

Author: Mozart's operas used violins to mimic the sound of scenery changing, which is the most basic stage direction. So various stage directions can be reflected in music.

Answer Anticipation:
The question stem here is interesting. It definitely sounds most like an Argument Structure, but it specifically asks us what the statement in question is supporting—and a supported statement is a conclusion. This question is therefore somewhere between a Main Point and Argument Structure question, but we should look for an answer that's reflecting the statement being supported—so it's probably best to think of this as a Main Point question.

This argument opens with a statement of what "[s]ome critics" argue which is almost certainly the opposing point. The statement in question—the example of Mozart's comic opera violin phrases—serves as a counterexample to their point. As such it serves to support the final sentence ("Hence" being a conclusion indicator word). So the answer should be that stage directions can be reflected in music (scenery changes as well as others).

Answer Explanation:
This answer restates the last clause of the argument which is the main point that the example of Mozart's operas supports. This is therefore the correct answer.

Key Takeaway:
Always be sure to read the question stem carefully so that you're answering the right question! It will also tell you what you're looking for—it'd be easier to expect the answer here to describe the role of the example instead of just stating the conclusion it supports.

Incorrect. We know that a change of scenery is the most frequent stage direction, but we aren't told anything about what the most frequent relations between music and stage direction is.