In the 1950s, novel audio technologies allowed the addition of another instrument to jazz and swing ________ relatively quiet instrument,...

Let's begin by understanding the meaning of this sentence. We'll use our understanding of pause points and segment the sentence as shown - understanding and assimilating the meaning of each segment bit by bit!

Sentence Structure

• In the 1950s,
• novel audio technologies
  • allowed the addition of another instrument to jazz and swing music [?]
    • the flute [?]
      • [a/A] relatively quiet instrument,
  • its full range of sound
    • was finally audible alongside the blaring brass instruments of the time,
      • allowing flautists like Bennie Maupin and Bobbi Humphrey
        • to perform with other jazz greats.

Understanding the Meaning

The passage is telling us about a development in jazz music in the 1950s:

• 'In the 1950s, novel audio technologies allowed the addition of another instrument to jazz and swing music...'
  • New sound technology made it possible to add an instrument that couldn't be heard well before.

This is where we have the blank. Let's look at the choices:

• We're deciding how to punctuate after "music" (comma, period, semicolon, or colon)
• How to punctuate after "flute" (comma or period)
• Whether to capitalize "a" or use lowercase "a"

To see what works here, let's read the rest and understand what it's saying!

• 'the flute, a relatively quiet instrument'
  • This tells us the flute is the instrument being added
  • And gives us a key detail: it's quiet
• 'its full range of sound was finally audible alongside the blaring brass instruments of the time'
  • Now the flute could be heard even next to loud brass instruments
  • This explains WHY the new technology mattered
• 'allowing flautists like Bennie Maupin and Bobbi Humphrey to perform with other jazz greats'
  • Because the flute could now be heard, flute players could perform in jazz bands

Now let's understand what we notice about the structure here:

• The first part makes a general statement:
  • "technologies allowed the addition of another instrument"
• Then "the flute" specifies WHICH instrument
  • This is a perfect use for a colon - introducing a specific example that explains the general statement
  • So: "...jazz and swing music: the flute"
• But we have two substantial, complete ideas:
  • First idea: The flute was added to jazz music (thanks to new technology)
  • Second idea: Because the flute was quiet, this technology finally made its full sound audible next to brass instruments
• Looking at the second idea:
  • "A relatively quiet instrument" - this descriptive phrase sets up the explanation
  • "its full range of sound was finally audible..." - this is a complete thought with its own subject and verb
  • This is substantial enough to be its own sentence

So we need: music: the flute. A

• Colon after "music" to introduce the specific instrument
• Period after "flute" to complete the first sentence
• Capital "A" to start the new sentence

The correct answer is Choice D.

GRAMMAR CONCEPT APPLIED

Using Colons to Introduce Specific Examples and Creating Clear Sentence Boundaries

When you make a general statement and want to specify exactly what you mean with a concrete example, a colon can introduce that specification (this is sometimes called using a colon for elaboration):

Pattern 1: General Statement : Specific Example

• "The committee selected one candidate: Maria Rodriguez."
  • General: one candidate was selected
  • Specific: Maria Rodriguez
• "Scientists identified the cause of the outbreak: contaminated water."
  • General: the cause was identified
  • Specific: contaminated water
• In our question: "...allowed the addition of another instrument to jazz and swing music: the flute."
  • General: another instrument was added
  • Specific: the flute

Pattern 2: When to Separate into Multiple Sentences

When you have two complete, substantial ideas that are related but distinct, create separate sentences rather than stringing them together with commas:

• Two distinct ideas in our question:
  • Idea 1: "In the 1950s, novel audio technologies allowed the addition of another instrument to jazz and swing music: the flute."
  • Idea 2: "A relatively quiet instrument, its full range of sound was finally audible alongside the blaring brass instruments of the time..."
• Each idea has its own subject-verb structure and makes a complete point
• The second sentence begins with a descriptive phrase ("A relatively quiet instrument") that sets up the main clause ("its full range of sound was finally audible")