Jazz musician Carlos Rivera grew up listening to the intricate rhythms of Afro-Cuban percussion and the improvisational spirit of bebop....
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Jazz musician Carlos Rivera grew up listening to the intricate rhythms of Afro-Cuban percussion and the improvisational spirit of bebop. His deep appreciation for these complex musical traditions is reflected in the _____ compositions he creates.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
simple
elaborate
brief
conventional
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Jazz musician Carlos Rivera grew up listening to the intricate rhythms of Afro-Cuban percussion and the improvisational spirit of bebop." |
|
| "His deep appreciation for these complex musical traditions is reflected in the _____ compositions he creates." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Carlos Rivera's compositions reflect his deep appreciation for the complex musical traditions he grew up with.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes Rivera's background with complex musical influences, then draws a direct connection showing how this appreciation manifests in the compositions he creates. The missing word should logically complete this cause-and-effect relationship.
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 key relationship here is that Rivera grew up with "intricate rhythms" and "improvisational spirit" - both complex, sophisticated musical elements
- He has a "deep appreciation for these complex musical traditions"
- So logically, if this appreciation is "reflected in" his compositions, we'd expect his compositions to also be complex or sophisticated in some way
- The right answer should describe compositions that mirror the complexity and sophistication of the traditions he appreciates
simple
- Creates a contradiction - if he appreciates complex traditions, why would this be reflected in simple compositions?
elaborate
- Perfectly matches the logic - elaborate compositions would naturally reflect his appreciation for intricate rhythms and complex traditions
- "Elaborate" captures the sophistication and detail that would mirror Afro-Cuban complexity and bebop improvisation
brief
- Brief compositions don't logically connect to appreciating intricate and complex musical traditions
conventional
- Conventional suggests standard or traditional, which contradicts the innovative spirit of bebop and the uniqueness implied by his multicultural influences