Conventional jazz performers typically seem to create music spontaneously while playing, yet seasoned musicians genuinely adhere to recognized harmoni...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Conventional jazz performers typically seem to create music spontaneously while playing, yet seasoned musicians genuinely adhere to recognized harmonic and rhythmic patterns that direct their impromptu compositions. These recognized _______ enable performers to predict one another's musical decisions and produce unified ensemble performances.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
patterns
equipment
spectators
contests
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Conventional jazz performers typically seem to create music spontaneously while playing' |
|
| 'yet seasoned musicians genuinely adhere to recognized harmonic and rhythmic patterns that direct their impromptu compositions' |
|
| [MISSING WORD/PHRASE] |
|
| 'enable performers to predict one another's musical decisions and produce unified ensemble performances' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Jazz improvisation appears spontaneous but actually follows recognized patterns that enable coordinated group performance.
Argument Flow: The passage first presents how jazz appears (spontaneous), then reveals the underlying reality (follows patterns), and explains how this reality enables effective group performance through predictable musical structure.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The blank needs to refer back to the 'recognized harmonic and rhythmic patterns' mentioned in the previous sentence
- The word or phrase must logically connect to what 'enable performers to predict one another's musical decisions'
- The answer should maintain the logical flow from describing what musicians follow to explaining how that helps group performance
patterns
✓ Correct
- Directly refers back to the 'harmonic and rhythmic patterns' mentioned in the previous sentence
- Creates perfect logical flow: musicians follow patterns, these patterns enable prediction
equipment
✗ Incorrect
- Refers to physical instruments or tools, which wasn't mentioned in the passage
- Doesn't connect logically to musicians predicting each other's decisions
spectators
✗ Incorrect
- Refers to audience members, completely unrelated to the passage content
- Makes no logical sense in context
contests
✗ Incorrect
- Refers to competitions, which isn't discussed anywhere in the passage
- Doesn't explain how musicians predict each other's decisions