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.
What technique does the author use to reveal the narrator's perspective about the ladies at the concert?
- A. She compares the ladies to perfectly decorated dolls.
- B. She repeats descriptive words to show the ladies' perfection.
- C. She exaggerates the appearance of the ladies.
- D. She describes two extremes of the ladies' dresses.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
The author's technique of comparing the ladies to perfectly decorated dolls effectively illustrates the narrator's perspective, highlighting their superficial beauty and lack of depth. This metaphor emphasizes the idealized and artificial nature of the ladies, suggesting a critique of societal standards. Option B, while focusing on repetition, does not capture the nuanced perspective as effectively as the metaphor does. Option C, exaggeration, may convey a sense of irony but lacks the specific imagery that reinforces the narrator's view. Option D introduces contrast but does not fully encapsulate the narrator's overall impression of the ladies’ superficiality.
The author's technique of comparing the ladies to perfectly decorated dolls effectively illustrates the narrator's perspective, highlighting their superficial beauty and lack of depth. This metaphor emphasizes the idealized and artificial nature of the ladies, suggesting a critique of societal standards. Option B, while focusing on repetition, does not capture the nuanced perspective as effectively as the metaphor does. Option C, exaggeration, may convey a sense of irony but lacks the specific imagery that reinforces the narrator's view. Option D introduces contrast but does not fully encapsulate the narrator's overall impression of the ladies’ superficiality.
Other Related Questions
What is the function of the phrase 'On the other hand' in the last sentence of paragraph 11?
- A. It reinforces the positive image consumers have of local produce.
- B. It emphasizes the difference in the time it takes store-bought produce and local produce to get to consumers.
- C. It illustrates the dislike consumers have of store-bought produce.
- D. It distinguishes between consumers of store-bought produce and consumers of local produce.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
The phrase "On the other hand" serves to highlight a contrasting point regarding the time it takes for different types of produce to reach consumers. This indicates a significant difference in freshness and availability between local and store-bought options, aligning with option B. Option A is incorrect because it does not focus on the time aspect; instead, it suggests a positive perception that is not the primary focus of the phrase. Option C misinterprets the phrase's intent, as it does not address consumer dislike but rather a comparison. Option D inaccurately suggests a distinction between two consumer groups, which is not the main emphasis of the sentence.
The phrase "On the other hand" serves to highlight a contrasting point regarding the time it takes for different types of produce to reach consumers. This indicates a significant difference in freshness and availability between local and store-bought options, aligning with option B. Option A is incorrect because it does not focus on the time aspect; instead, it suggests a positive perception that is not the primary focus of the phrase. Option C misinterprets the phrase's intent, as it does not address consumer dislike but rather a comparison. Option D inaccurately suggests a distinction between two consumer groups, which is not the main emphasis of the sentence.
Select the actions that the Gregory brothers have taken to connect with the surrounding community.
- A. placed cabins on their property for public use
- B. process 2,000 tons of trash each day
- C. operate an efficient landfill
- D. allow charitable groups to host fund-raising events on their property
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A, D, E
The Gregory brothers have actively engaged with their community by placing cabins on their property for public use (A), providing a space for recreation and connection. Additionally, allowing charitable groups to host fundraising events (D) fosters community involvement and support for local causes. Option B, processing 2,000 tons of trash daily, and option C, operating an efficient landfill, focus on waste management rather than community engagement. While these actions are essential for environmental sustainability, they do not directly connect the brothers with the community in a supportive or interactive manner.
The Gregory brothers have actively engaged with their community by placing cabins on their property for public use (A), providing a space for recreation and connection. Additionally, allowing charitable groups to host fundraising events (D) fosters community involvement and support for local causes. Option B, processing 2,000 tons of trash daily, and option C, operating an efficient landfill, focus on waste management rather than community engagement. While these actions are essential for environmental sustainability, they do not directly connect the brothers with the community in a supportive or interactive manner.
The rooms were very grand. How would the meaning of this sentence be changed if the word 'grand' were replaced with 'large'?
- A. The sentence would describe the size of the room but not their magnificence.
- B. The sentence would provide information about the historical period in which these rooms were used.
- C. The sentence would offer insight into the particular decorations of the rooms but not the dimensions.
- D. The sentence would refer to the number of people the rooms would accommodate.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
Replacing "grand" with "large" alters the focus of the description. "Grand" conveys a sense of magnificence, elegance, and impressive beauty, while "large" simply indicates size without any connotation of splendor. Thus, option A accurately reflects that the sentence shifts from describing both size and magnificence to solely addressing size. Option B incorrectly suggests a historical context, which isn't implied by either term. Option C misinterprets the focus on decorations rather than size. Option D mistakenly assumes a focus on capacity, which is not relevant to the original meaning about the rooms.
Replacing "grand" with "large" alters the focus of the description. "Grand" conveys a sense of magnificence, elegance, and impressive beauty, while "large" simply indicates size without any connotation of splendor. Thus, option A accurately reflects that the sentence shifts from describing both size and magnificence to solely addressing size. Option B incorrectly suggests a historical context, which isn't implied by either term. Option C misinterprets the focus on decorations rather than size. Option D mistakenly assumes a focus on capacity, which is not relevant to the original meaning about the rooms.
Which claim made by the author is unsupported in the article?
- A. People want landfills located as far from their homes and businesses as possible.
- B. The Gregory brothers' company is different from other trash disposal companies.
- C. The Gregory brothers reach out to the community in numerous ways.
- D. Some trash disposal companies act in their own self-interests.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
Option A lacks support in the article; while it discusses community preferences regarding landfill locations, it does not provide evidence or data to substantiate that people universally desire landfills to be distant from their homes and businesses. Option B is supported as the article highlights unique practices of the Gregory brothers' company compared to others in the industry. Option C is also backed by examples of community outreach initiatives undertaken by the Gregory brothers, demonstrating their engagement efforts. Option D is valid, as the article mentions self-interested behaviors of some trash disposal companies, illustrating a contrast with the Gregory brothers’ approach.
Option A lacks support in the article; while it discusses community preferences regarding landfill locations, it does not provide evidence or data to substantiate that people universally desire landfills to be distant from their homes and businesses. Option B is supported as the article highlights unique practices of the Gregory brothers' company compared to others in the industry. Option C is also backed by examples of community outreach initiatives undertaken by the Gregory brothers, demonstrating their engagement efforts. Option D is valid, as the article mentions self-interested behaviors of some trash disposal companies, illustrating a contrast with the Gregory brothers’ approach.