Logical reasoning PrepTest 143 · Section 4 · Question 6

Incorrect. This is the complaint leveled by many critics, so it's not the Musicologist's main point.

Incorrect. The debate featured in the stimulus is over whether the extensive text is necessary, not over whether these areas are among the best.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed

Question Type:
Main Point

Stimulus Summary:
Some complain about the text in Handel's da capo, but it frees the audience to focus on the music, so it serves a vital function.

Answer Anticipation:
This argument starts with a complaint by "[m]any critics" about a piece of music, and when an argument starts with such an attribution, it's almost always an opposing point. This is backed up by the pivot halfway through the argument ("Yet"), and the argument pivots to an opinion on that opposing point—it is refuted by a certain consideration, which is then raised. An opinion on an opposing point is almost always the main point, and the consideration supports that it can be used to refute the opposing point, so the pivot clause is the main point of this argument.

The correct answer will either directly restate the conclusion—certain criticism of Handel's da capo can be refuted—or it will flesh out that idea with the specifics—the criticism of da capo's extensive text is refuted by the text's vital function.

Answer Explanation:
This answer paraphrases the conclusion—that the criticism "is refuted," which means that it's not valid criticism and thus is undeserved.

Key Takeaway:
When an opening statement in an argument attributes the argument to "some/many" members of a group, that's almost certainly an opposing point. When the argument pivots, it's generally pivoting to the author's argument. When an author states an opinion on the opposing point, that's almost always the conclusion.

Incorrect. The author believes that these repetitions serve a "vital function" in the only arias discussed, so this answer isn't even supported let alone the main point.

Incorrect. The Musicologist only addresses one criticism of the arias, not most criticism.