Excerpt from The Musician's Daughter
by Susanne Dunlap
I thought a lot, at the beginning, about my father playing the violin. I still remember the first time I ever saw a concert. I was very small, and we had just come to Esterhaza, a magnificent palace in Sopron, Hungary, when the prince's household moved there from his winter palace, at Eisenstadt, near Vienna. I think it may have been the first concert Papa took part in there. I had a new dress for the occasion, and Mama looked beautiful. I don't think Toby was born yet, or if he was, he was a small baby and stayed in our rooms with a nurse.
The palace at Esterháza was so new that it still smelled of raw wood and paint. The rooms were very grand. I had never seen so many candles in one place before. And they were expensive wax candles, not foul-smelling tallow. We stood to the side to watch the fine ladies enter. I thought they looked like dolls; their faces were so perfect. Later my mother told me that they painted them with white lead to make their skin artificially smooth and pale, and then rubbed rouge into their cheeks and lips, and drew lines of charcoal around their eyes so they would appear larger. And the headdresses-in those days the fashion was to have hair that towered up, stuck into place with diamond combs, with ribbons and pearls festooned around. And no matter what color it was naturally, ladies powdered their hair to snowy whiteness, so that the light of the candies was magnified by the glow from the people themselves.
And the men, too, were powdered and patched. Their gold buttons and lace were almost as gaudy as the ladies' finery. But the enormous panniers that held the ladies' skirts out to the side so far that they had to move sideways through doorways fascinated me most of all. I could barely be persuaded to turn my eyes to the orchestra when the concert started.
We were not seated with the guests. In fact, I think we were tucked away in an anteroom. The door was open so we could see through, and everyone pushed me forward to let me watch my father, who looked up now and again from the music and gave me a quick smile. The candlelight danced over the rich wood of his violin, the beautiful Italian instrument, an old Amati, that my grandfather had given him. Kapellmeister Haydn-who was also my godfather-sat at the harpsichord, smiling broadly all the time, waving one hand in the air to direct, then putting it back on the keys and instead using his head, bobbing and nodding to bring the winds in, or to indicate the entrance for the cellos. He looked like the music, 1 remember thinking. I wish I could bring that particular sound to my mind, but it has since blended with countless, other concert. I’ll always remember what it looked like, though. The light shimmering glow of everything and everyone.
How does paragraph 1 fit into the narrative structure of the excerpt?
- A. Paragraph 1 establishes the setting and the reason the narrator's family came to the palace.
- B. Paragraph 1 provides details about the narrator's feelings about the events of the evening.
- C. Paragraph 1 includes background about a conflict that arose from the narrator's feelings about fashion.
- D. Paragraph 1 describes the narrator's father and his performance at the concert.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
Paragraph 1 effectively sets the scene by introducing the palace and explaining the family's reason for being there, which is essential for understanding the context of the narrative. This foundational information allows readers to grasp the significance of subsequent events. Option B incorrectly emphasizes the narrator's feelings, which may be explored later but are not the focus of paragraph 1. Option C misinterprets the content by suggesting a conflict related to fashion, which is not established in the opening. Option D mistakenly attributes a focus on the narrator's father and his performance, which may not be addressed in the introductory paragraph.
Paragraph 1 effectively sets the scene by introducing the palace and explaining the family's reason for being there, which is essential for understanding the context of the narrative. This foundational information allows readers to grasp the significance of subsequent events. Option B incorrectly emphasizes the narrator's feelings, which may be explored later but are not the focus of paragraph 1. Option C misinterprets the content by suggesting a conflict related to fashion, which is not established in the opening. Option D mistakenly attributes a focus on the narrator's father and his performance, which may not be addressed in the introductory paragraph.
Other Related Questions
In the press release, Brannick's Superstore claims it has taken or will take specific actions to address community concerns. Select those actions
- A. work with city officials
- B. offer online job applications
- C. maintain landscaping
- D. advertise for local businesses
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A, C, D
Brannick's Superstore aims to address community concerns through proactive engagement and support. Working with city officials (A) demonstrates collaboration to tackle local issues, fostering a positive relationship with the community. Maintaining landscaping (C) reflects a commitment to enhancing the local environment, which can improve community aesthetics and pride. Advertising for local businesses (D) supports economic growth and strengthens community ties. Offering online job applications (B), while beneficial for job seekers, does not directly address community concerns and is more focused on internal operations rather than community engagement.
Brannick's Superstore aims to address community concerns through proactive engagement and support. Working with city officials (A) demonstrates collaboration to tackle local issues, fostering a positive relationship with the community. Maintaining landscaping (C) reflects a commitment to enhancing the local environment, which can improve community aesthetics and pride. Advertising for local businesses (D) supports economic growth and strengthens community ties. Offering online job applications (B), while beneficial for job seekers, does not directly address community concerns and is more focused on internal operations rather than community engagement.
At last she cut her thread and suddenly put her darning down, saying emphatically: 'William, I don't think it would hurt you to let the boys go to the circus in town tomorrow.' How would replacing the word 'emphatically' with the word 'contentiously' affect the meaning of the sentences?
- A. It would emphasize the previous descriptions of Hester as quick to provide unsolicited advice
- B. It would imply that Hester knows she is losing the argument and has run out of options other than shouting
- C. It would clarify that being direct and forceful are the main ways Hester persuades people to listen to her ideas
- D. It would suggest that Hester is trying to start an argument rather than simply being opinionated
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
Replacing "emphatically" with "contentiously" shifts the tone of Hester's statement. While "emphatically" conveys strong conviction, "contentiously" implies a confrontational attitude, suggesting Hester is provoking disagreement rather than merely expressing her opinion. Option A is incorrect because it misinterprets Hester's intention; the focus is on argument rather than unsolicited advice. Option B inaccurately suggests Hester is losing the argument and resorting to shouting, which is not supported by the context. Option C misrepresents her persuasive style; being direct does not necessarily equate to being contentious.
Replacing "emphatically" with "contentiously" shifts the tone of Hester's statement. While "emphatically" conveys strong conviction, "contentiously" implies a confrontational attitude, suggesting Hester is provoking disagreement rather than merely expressing her opinion. Option A is incorrect because it misinterprets Hester's intention; the focus is on argument rather than unsolicited advice. Option B inaccurately suggests Hester is losing the argument and resorting to shouting, which is not supported by the context. Option C misrepresents her persuasive style; being direct does not necessarily equate to being contentious.
Which conclusion is most strongly supported by the information in the email to the zoning commissioner?
- A. Locally owned businesses are commonly found in small communities inside larger cities.
- B. Superstores employ high numbers of residents from the communities where the stores are located.
- C. Many residents in rural areas believe that new growth should be allowed only after approval of nearby communities.
- D. Consumers like the convenience of superstores as long as the stores are located outside their communities.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
Option C is supported by the email's emphasis on the importance of community approval for new growth, reflecting the concerns of rural residents regarding development. This highlights a desire for local governance in decision-making processes. Option A lacks direct support from the email, as it does not address the specific relationship between locally owned businesses and small communities within larger cities. Option B misrepresents the focus of the email, which does not discuss employment statistics related to superstores. Option D contradicts the email's main points, as it does not mention consumer preferences for superstores' locations, instead prioritizing community input in development decisions.
Option C is supported by the email's emphasis on the importance of community approval for new growth, reflecting the concerns of rural residents regarding development. This highlights a desire for local governance in decision-making processes. Option A lacks direct support from the email, as it does not address the specific relationship between locally owned businesses and small communities within larger cities. Option B misrepresents the focus of the email, which does not discuss employment statistics related to superstores. Option D contradicts the email's main points, as it does not mention consumer preferences for superstores' locations, instead prioritizing community input in development decisions.
And no one could have made any mistake about it but one who had something of the same kind in his head.' In this sentence, Sancho Panza is stating that
- A. he and Don Quixote have a relationship that
- B. he and Don Quixote think alike.
- C. Don Quixote makes hasty decisions.
- D. Don Quixote has a distorted vision of the world.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
Sancho Panza's statement implies that only someone with a similar mindset could misinterpret the situation, suggesting that Don Quixote's perspective is skewed. This indicates a distorted view of reality, aligning with option D. Option A is incorrect as it suggests a broader relationship without addressing the specific context of perception. Option B implies that they share thoughts, which does not capture the essence of misunderstanding. Option C focuses on decision-making rather than perception, failing to recognize the core issue of distorted vision. Thus, the emphasis is on Don Quixote's flawed worldview, making option D the most accurate interpretation.
Sancho Panza's statement implies that only someone with a similar mindset could misinterpret the situation, suggesting that Don Quixote's perspective is skewed. This indicates a distorted view of reality, aligning with option D. Option A is incorrect as it suggests a broader relationship without addressing the specific context of perception. Option B implies that they share thoughts, which does not capture the essence of misunderstanding. Option C focuses on decision-making rather than perception, failing to recognize the core issue of distorted vision. Thus, the emphasis is on Don Quixote's flawed worldview, making option D the most accurate interpretation.