Reading comp PrepTest 157 · Section 4 · Question 1
Passage
In 1959, Hitsville, USA—the company better known as Motown Records—was founded in Detroit, Michigan by Berry Gordy, Jr. Several factors
Remaining source text redacted.
Passage walkthrough
Passage Summary Topic:
Humanities
Paragraph 1
Main Point:
Motown Records' success resulted from founder Berry Gordy, Jr.'s business acumen and the label's independence, the deep pool of talented artists fostered by the public music-education program in Detroit's African American community, and the artists' early embrace of electric instruments.
Key Lines?
Paragraph 1, Sentence 2 (P1, S2) - Phenomenon
P1, S3 - Author's Explanation
P2, S1 - Support for the author's explanation
P3, S1 - Support for the author's explanation
P4, S1 - Support for the author's explanation
Meta-Structure?
Phenomenon/Explanation: The passage's overarching Meta-Structure is Phenomenon/Explanation. The author only discusses one phenomenon — Motown Records' rapid success (P1, S2) — and one explanation (P1, S3), which lends this passage a straightforward, easy-to-follow structure (not unlike the pop music formula perfected by Motown's songwriters and performers). In a classic Phenomenon/Explanation passage, the explanation is the main point if the author presents or endorses the explanation. (Alternatively, if the author quibbles with the explanation, then the author's opinion of the explanation is the main point.) Here, the author both offers and heartily endorses the explanation of Motown's success. This explanation is best summarized by the third sentence of the first paragraph. So, we could use that sentence to select an answer for the Main Point question. However, that sentence doesn't discuss the use of electric instruments described by the final paragraph, so we modified that sentence to include that factor in the Main Point section above.
Causality: Many Phenomenon/Explanation passages feature a central cause-and-effect relationship (the explanation is generally causal, as it is here), and this passage is no exception. This author also describes other supporting cause-and-effect relationships throughout the passage. We probably don't want to get too bogged down with understanding and memorizing all of those relationships as we read. Still, a prudent test taker would highlight or underline the cause-and-effect relationship described in the passage. These include:
List: This passage is also organized around a list. Like a well-organized high school essayist, this author wrote a thesis sentence that listed a few reasons why Motown became so successful. Then, in the subsequent paragraphs, the author elaborated on each item in a list. When the author organizes a passage around items on a list, it's a good idea to note or remember which item was discussed in each paragraph. In this passage, we have Gordy's business savvy/independence discussed in the second paragraph, the deep pool of talented artists fostered by Detroit's public music programs chronicled in the third paragraph, and the use of electric instruments described in the final paragraph.
Last Thoughts?
The Phenomenon/Explanation and Lists Meta-Structures interact in an interesting way. The phenomenon is described in the first paragraph, and then three components of the explanation get described in the subsequent paragraphs. Notice how the author doesn’t claim that any one of these components is more or less important than the others. Some test-takers have a tendency to place more emphasis on the part of an explanation mentioned first, or the part of an explanation that is attributable to an individual. For these reasons, some test-takers may think that Berry Gordy, Jr. is the most important factor to Motown’s success, or that the other two parts of the explanation are also attributable to Gordy. There are several incorrect answer choices that will prey on this misapprehension. So, it’s important to remember that each part of the explanation is separate and equally important to the author.
Humanities
Paragraph 1
- Paragraph note
- Phenomenon, author's explanation
- Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
- Phenomenon: Motown's rapid success in the 1960s
- Author's explanation: Gordy's entrepreneurial skills, Motown's independence, rich musical talent in Detroit's African American community
- Main conclusion of the passage
- Author's attitude: "rich musical talent," "vanguard of the popular music industry" (last sentence)
- Paragraph note
- Support for explanation: Motown's independence, Gordy's entrepreneurial skills
- Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
- Comparison: Distinction is drawn between record industry conventions (limited markets, alternate versions of songs) and Motown's practices (appeal to all audiences, no alternate versions of songs, high-quality recordings)
- Cause-and-effect relationship (Independence caused Gordy's freedom to defy conventions)
- Paragraph note
- Support for explanation: Detroit's public music education programs supplied talented artists
- Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
- Cause-and-effect relationship (Hackley's programs caused "vibrant musical atmosphere," which caused a deep pool of talented and experienced artists)
- Examples of "Motown sound": the Supremes, the Temptations, the Miracles
- Author's attitude: "crucial factor," "well-developed," "deep and talented pool" (first sentence); "vibrant musical atmosphere" (third sentence)
- Paragraph note
- Support for explanation: Growing popularity of electric instruments
- Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
- Cause-and-effect relationships (African American musicians' embrace of electric instruments caused Motown's success and caused a revolution in popular music)
- Example of electric instrument: Electric bass (second sentence)
- Author's attitude: "noteworthy role" (first sentence); "distinctive sound" (second senetnce); "revolution" (third sentence); "landmark shifts" (last sentence)
Main Point:
Motown Records' success resulted from founder Berry Gordy, Jr.'s business acumen and the label's independence, the deep pool of talented artists fostered by the public music-education program in Detroit's African American community, and the artists' early embrace of electric instruments.
Key Lines?
Paragraph 1, Sentence 2 (P1, S2) - Phenomenon
P1, S3 - Author's Explanation
P2, S1 - Support for the author's explanation
P3, S1 - Support for the author's explanation
P4, S1 - Support for the author's explanation
Meta-Structure?
Phenomenon/Explanation: The passage's overarching Meta-Structure is Phenomenon/Explanation. The author only discusses one phenomenon — Motown Records' rapid success (P1, S2) — and one explanation (P1, S3), which lends this passage a straightforward, easy-to-follow structure (not unlike the pop music formula perfected by Motown's songwriters and performers). In a classic Phenomenon/Explanation passage, the explanation is the main point if the author presents or endorses the explanation. (Alternatively, if the author quibbles with the explanation, then the author's opinion of the explanation is the main point.) Here, the author both offers and heartily endorses the explanation of Motown's success. This explanation is best summarized by the third sentence of the first paragraph. So, we could use that sentence to select an answer for the Main Point question. However, that sentence doesn't discuss the use of electric instruments described by the final paragraph, so we modified that sentence to include that factor in the Main Point section above.
Causality: Many Phenomenon/Explanation passages feature a central cause-and-effect relationship (the explanation is generally causal, as it is here), and this passage is no exception. This author also describes other supporting cause-and-effect relationships throughout the passage. We probably don't want to get too bogged down with understanding and memorizing all of those relationships as we read. Still, a prudent test taker would highlight or underline the cause-and-effect relationship described in the passage. These include:
- P2, S1: Gordy's business savvy and independence led to Motown's success
- P3, S1-S2: Hackley's musical programs led to the deep pool of Detroit musical artists, which led to Motown's success)
- P4, S4: The use of electric instruments also led to Motown's success/pop music revolution
List: This passage is also organized around a list. Like a well-organized high school essayist, this author wrote a thesis sentence that listed a few reasons why Motown became so successful. Then, in the subsequent paragraphs, the author elaborated on each item in a list. When the author organizes a passage around items on a list, it's a good idea to note or remember which item was discussed in each paragraph. In this passage, we have Gordy's business savvy/independence discussed in the second paragraph, the deep pool of talented artists fostered by Detroit's public music programs chronicled in the third paragraph, and the use of electric instruments described in the final paragraph.
Last Thoughts?
The Phenomenon/Explanation and Lists Meta-Structures interact in an interesting way. The phenomenon is described in the first paragraph, and then three components of the explanation get described in the subsequent paragraphs. Notice how the author doesn’t claim that any one of these components is more or less important than the others. Some test-takers have a tendency to place more emphasis on the part of an explanation mentioned first, or the part of an explanation that is attributable to an individual. For these reasons, some test-takers may think that Berry Gordy, Jr. is the most important factor to Motown’s success, or that the other two parts of the explanation are also attributable to Gordy. There are several incorrect answer choices that will prey on this misapprehension. So, it’s important to remember that each part of the explanation is separate and equally important to the author.
Question prompt
Which one of the
Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right
Credited answer: E
The notes below walk through why it fits the stem and how to eliminate the rest.
Question Type
Humanities
Answer choices
-
ANewly established independent record Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice A is not credited
This author only described the conditions that favored Motown's success. The author never said that other independent record companies should emulate Motown's approach. Moreover, the idea of competing with "established major companies" is perhaps alluded to in the second paragraph, but it's certainly not part of the explanation that defines the passage's main point. -
BThe high quality of Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice B is not credited
Many test-takers may conclude that there's nothing "wrong" with this answer choice — meaning it doesn't misdescribe the passage or change the scope of the discussion — and select it. Indeed, this answer choice doesn't commit any sins of commission. It does, however, commit a damning sin of omission. It completely removes the discussion of Berry Gordy, Jr. and electric instruments from the author's explanation. Because it doesn't fully capture the author's explanation of Motown's success, this answer choice is incorrect. -
CBerry Gordy, Jr.'s faith Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice C is not credited
Like (B), this answer choice is too narrowly focused on Berry Gordy, Jr. to fully capture the author's explanation. This answer choice almost makes it seem like Gordy's faith in local talent and financing was the phenomenon described in this passage. But, as discussed in the Meta-Structure section above, Motown's success is the phenomenon described in this passage. Besides, "local financing" wasn't discussed in this passage at all. -
DBerry Gordy, Jr. deserves Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice D is not credited
Like (C), this answer choice makes it seem like Berry Gordy, Jr. is the topic of this passage. However, Motown's success is the phenomenon, and the author only identifies Gordy as one factor that contributed to Motown's success. That one problem is serious — and would probably lead to quick elimination from an experienced test-taker — but there are other issues as well. There's nothing in this passage to suggest that Gordy's credit is "long overdue," and the revolution discussed in the final paragraph was caused by musicians' embrace of electric instruments, not Gordy. -
EMotown Records became a Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice E matches the stem
Question Type:
Major Point/Main Point
Strategy Overview:
Reiterate the main point as we summarized it after reading through the passage, then find the answer that best matches with it
Answer Anticipation:
As discussed in the "Meta-Structure" section above, this passage utilizes a Phenomenon/Explanation Meta-Structure. In such a Meta-Structure, the explanation is generally the main point — particularly when the author endorses or proffers the explanation, as is the case here. So the main point is: Motown Records' success resulted from founder Berry Gordy, Jr.'s business acumen and the label's independence, the deep pool of talented artists fostered by the public music-education program in Detroit's African American community, and the artists' early embrace of electric instruments.
Answer Choice Explanation:
This answer choice gets closest to our anticipation. No surprise that it's correct. Some test-takers may find issue with the general phrasing here. Rather than elaborate on all three parts of the explanation, this answer choice compresses them to "the efforts of an entrepreneurial individual in a favorable artistic environment." As long as this compression is accurate and doesn't omit anything substantial, however, it's fine. And "the efforts of an entrepreneurial individual" clearly refers to Berry Gordy, Jr., while the "favorable artistic environment" could refer both to the public music-education programs in Detroit and the electric revolution in pop music. So, this answer choice best describes the author’s explanation and is correct.
Key Takeaway:
The Meta-Structures help us understand the passage's main point and overall direction. We can use that understanding to eliminate wrong answers on a whole host of questions, including Main Point questions. Several answer choices here — like (A), (C), and (D) — were wrong because they misdescribed the "Phenomenon" half of the Phenomenon/Explanation Meta-Structure. Others — like (B) — were wrong because they misdescribed the "Explanation" half. Only (E) accurately described both halves.
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