Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was a prominent classical music composer from England who toured the US three times in the early 1900s....
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was a prominent classical music composer from England who toured the US three times in the early 1900s. The child of a West African father and an English mother, Coleridge-Taylor emphasized his mixed-race ancestry. For example, he referred to himself as Anglo-African. ______ he incorporated the sounds of traditional African music into his classical music compositions.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
In addition,
Actually,
However,
Regardless,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was a prominent classical music composer from England who toured the US three times in the early 1900s." |
|
| "The child of a West African father and an English mother, Coleridge-Taylor emphasized his mixed-race ancestry." |
|
| "For example, he referred to himself as Anglo-African." |
|
| "he incorporated the sounds of traditional African music into his classical music compositions." |
|
Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, a mixed-race composer, actively emphasized his dual heritage in multiple ways.
Argument Flow: The passage introduces Coleridge-Taylor and establishes that he emphasized his mixed-race background, then provides two specific examples of how he did this - through self-identification and through his musical compositions.
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
- Looking at the sentence before the blank gives us one example of how Coleridge-Taylor emphasized his heritage (calling himself Anglo-African), and the sentence after gives us another example (incorporating African music sounds)
- These are both supporting the same main point - that he emphasized his mixed-race ancestry
- The relationship we need is additive - the second example adds to the first example
In addition,
- Signals we are adding another example to the first one
- Perfect for showing that incorporating African music is another way (beyond self-identification) that he emphasized his heritage
Actually,
- Suggests a correction or clarification of what came before
- There is nothing in the previous sentence that needs correcting
However,
- Signals a contrast or opposing idea
- The sentence after the blank does not contradict calling himself Anglo-African
Regardless,
- Means despite what was just mentioned
- This would suggest he incorporated African music despite calling himself Anglo-African, which makes no logical sense