Reading comp PrepTest 157 · Section 4 · Question 3
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
The passage provides information
Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right
Credited answer: A
The notes below walk through why it fits the stem and how to eliminate the rest.
Question Type
Humanities
Answer choices
-
AWhat musical innovation by Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice A matches the stem
Question Type:
Minor Point/Must Be True
Strategy Overview:
Remind ourselves of the main point of the passage, then head to the answers, focusing on those that line up with the main point and then using our notes/the passage to find the correct answer
Answer Anticipation:
This question stem provides no indication as to the topic of the correct answer or where the supporting information might show up in the passage. As such, we'll need to rely on our big-picture understanding of the passage to answer this question. We should start by reminding ourselves of the main point (either by reviewing what we said after reading the passage or by rereading our answer to the main point question). From there, we can head to the answers, deferring on those that don't line up with the main point. For those that do, we'll use our notes and the passage to see if it's correct.
So let's recall our 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. If an answer choice reflects any of these topics, we can check to see if it's correct.
Answer Choice Explanation:
This answer choice discusses a musical innovation by African American artists. This could reflect the Motown musicians who embraced electric instruments. If necessary, we can check the final paragraph to see if their use of electric instruments was (1) characterized as an innovation and (2) something that influenced other musicians. The supporting information for (A) shouldn't be difficult to find if you highlighted the electric bass example. During that discussion, the author claims that "African American musicians were among the first to use the electric bass," confirming that this was an innovation by African American musicians. The author then claims this "distinctive sound" would inspire "other musicians to experiment with this new musical technology" (P4, S2). So the passage definitely provides an answer to (A). What musical innovation by African American musicians influenced other musicians? The use of the electric bass.
Key Takeaway:
Many ostensibly "little detail" questions are really "big picture" questions in disguise. Our anticipated main point included the electric-instrument revolution that Motown helped initiate, and that was all we needed to answer this question. -
BWhat musical styles were Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice B is not credited
If you didn't just select (A) and move on (as a time-conscious test-taker would be justified in doing), you could eliminate (B) after reading "before Motown records." We hear very little about what happened at African American recording companies before Motown. We hear very little about music in general before Motown, other than a few contrasts drawn between Gordy and the major record companies at the time. Since the passage never answers this question, it is incorrect. -
CHow long after Hitsville, Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice C is not credited
If you didn't already select (A) and move on, you could eliminate this answer choice for asking a very specific question about "Hitsville, USA." A CTRL/Commands+F search could confirm that this passage mentions "Hitsville, USA" at the very beginning and nowhere else. In this brief reference, the author never discusses when or how "Hitsville, USA" became known as "Motown." So, the passage does not provide an answer to this question. -
DWhy did Berry Gordy, Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice D is not credited
If you didn't already select (A) and move on, you could eliminate this one for conflicting with the passage's main point. Berry Gordy, Jr. didn't follow other recording companies' standard practices. One part of the passage's main point was that Gordy's business skills and independence allowed him to defy standard record company practices. The passage never claims that Gordy adopted any standard operations, so this answer choice is incorrect. -
EWhy did E. Azalia Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice E is not credited
Again, if you didn't already select (A) and move on, you could refer back to the third paragraph to look for an answer to this question. In the second sentence of that paragraph, the author says, "E. Azalia Hackley adopted the musical education of African American youth as her personal mission." But the author never elaborates on why she made this her mission, so we don't have an answer to this question.
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