Text 1For decades, bluegrass musicians have debated whether their genre should exclude influences from mainstream genres such as rock. Many...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Text 1
For decades, bluegrass musicians have debated whether their genre should exclude influences from mainstream genres such as rock. Many insist that bluegrass is defined by its adherence to the folk music of the US South, out of which bluegrass emerged. Such 'purists,' as they are known, regard the recordings of Bill Monroe, which established the bluegrass sound in the 1940s, as a standard against which the genre should still be measured.
Text 2
Bluegrass isn't simply an extension of folk traditions into the era of recorded music. In reality, Bill Monroe created the bluegrass sound in the 1940s by combining Southern folk music with commercial genres that had arisen only a few decades before, such as jazz and the blues. Since bluegrass has always been a mixed genre, contemporary bluegrass musicians should not be forbidden from incorporating into it influences from rock and other mainstream genres.
Based on the texts, how would the author of Text 2 most likely regard the perspective of bluegrass purists, as described in Text 1?
As inconsistent, since bluegrass purists themselves enjoy other musical genres
As unrealistic, since bluegrass purists have no way of enforcing their musical preferences
As shortsighted, because bluegrass could enlarge its audience by including influences from mainstream genres
As illogical, because the purists overlook crucial aspects of how the bluegrass sound first originated.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "For decades, bluegrass musicians have debated whether their genre should exclude influences from mainstream genres such as rock." |
|
| "Many insist that bluegrass is defined by its adherence to the folk music of the US South, out of which bluegrass emerged." |
|
| "Such 'purists,' as they are known, regard the recordings of Bill Monroe, which established the bluegrass sound in the 1940s, as a standard against which the genre should still be measured." |
|
| "Bluegrass isn't simply an extension of folk traditions into the era of recorded music." |
|
| "In reality, Bill Monroe created the bluegrass sound in the 1940s by combining Southern folk music with commercial genres that had arisen only a few decades before, such as jazz and the blues." |
|
| "Since bluegrass has always been a mixed genre, contemporary bluegrass musicians should not be forbidden from incorporating into it influences from rock and other mainstream genres." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The two texts present opposing views on whether bluegrass should incorporate mainstream influences, with Text 1 presenting the purist position and Text 2 arguing that such mixing was part of bluegrass from its origins.
Argument Flow: Text 1 establishes the purist position that bluegrass should stick to its Southern folk roots and be measured against Monroe's 1940s recordings. Text 2 counters by revealing that Monroe actually created bluegrass by mixing folk with commercial genres like jazz and blues, concluding that contemporary musicians should be free to continue this tradition of mixing.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? How would the author of Text 2 view the purists described in Text 1?
What type of answer do we need? A characterization of Text 2's author's opinion about the purist perspective
Any limiting keywords? "most likely" - we need the best supported interpretation based on what Text 2 actually says
This is a cross-text connection question asking us to apply Text 2's argument to evaluate Text 1's position.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The author of Text 2 would likely see the purists as fundamentally mistaken because they're basing their position on incorrect information about bluegrass history
- Text 2 shows that Monroe didn't create "pure" folk music - he mixed genres from the beginning
- So the purists are trying to preserve something that never actually existed in the first place
- The right answer should show that Text 2's author views the purists as wrong due to their misunderstanding of how bluegrass actually originated
As inconsistent, since bluegrass purists themselves enjoy other musical genres
✗ Incorrect
- This suggests purists are inconsistent in their personal listening habits
- Text 2 never discusses what purists listen to personally - it challenges their historical understanding
- The issue isn't hypocrisy but factual misunderstanding
As unrealistic, since bluegrass purists have no way of enforcing their musical preferences
✗ Incorrect
- This focuses on enforcement practicality
- Text 2's argument isn't about whether purists can enforce their views, but whether their views are historically accurate
- Misses the core historical argument Text 2 makes
As shortsighted, because bluegrass could enlarge its audience by including influences from mainstream genres
✗ Incorrect
- This suggests a business/audience growth perspective
- Text 2 never mentions audience size or commercial success
- The argument is based on historical accuracy, not market considerations
As illogical, because the purists overlook crucial aspects of how the bluegrass sound first originated.
✓ Correct
- Text 2 directly shows that purists overlook how bluegrass "first originated"
- The purists think Monroe created pure folk music, but Text 2 reveals he mixed folk with jazz and blues
- Their position is "illogical" because it's based on misunderstanding bluegrass history