Today composer Scott Joplin is mainly celebrated for his catchy ragtime pieces 'Maple Leaf Rag' and 'The Entertainer.' However, by...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Today composer Scott Joplin is mainly celebrated for his catchy ragtime pieces 'Maple Leaf Rag' and 'The Entertainer.' However, by overlooking his less famous works, listeners will miss the full range of Joplin's creativity. For instance, his waltz 'Pleasant Moments' and his opera Treemonisha skillfully blend ragtime and classical music. These masterpieces deserve as much fame as Joplin's biggest hits.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
To describe the similarities and differences between ragtime music and opera
To argue that more attention should be given to Joplin's lesser-known works
To encourage music lovers to listen to music by many different composers
To explain how Joplin learned to compose and perform ragtime music
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Today composer Scott Joplin is mainly celebrated for his catchy ragtime pieces 'Maple Leaf Rag' and 'The Entertainer.'" |
|
| "However, by overlooking his less famous works, listeners will miss the full range of Joplin's creativity." |
|
| "For instance, his waltz 'Pleasant Moments' and his opera Treemonisha skillfully blend ragtime and classical music." |
|
| "These masterpieces deserve as much fame as Joplin's biggest hits." |
|
Main Point: Scott Joplin's lesser-known works deserve more recognition because they showcase the full range of his creative abilities.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The main purpose of the entire text
What type of answer do we need? The primary goal or objective the author is trying to accomplish
Any limiting keywords? "main purpose" - we need the central, overarching aim, not a secondary point
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The right answer should say something about arguing for greater recognition of Joplin's lesser-known compositions
To describe the similarities and differences between ragtime music and opera
- This focuses on comparing musical genres (ragtime vs opera)
- The passage mentions both but doesn't analyze their similarities/differences
- The purpose isn't to compare genres but to argue for recognition
To argue that more attention should be given to Joplin's lesser-known works
- This directly matches our prethinking about arguing for recognition
- "More attention should be given" captures the advocacy tone
- "Lesser-known works" perfectly describes what the passage calls "less famous works"
- The entire argument structure supports this purpose
To encourage music lovers to listen to music by many different composers
- The passage focuses specifically on Scott Joplin, not "many different composers"
- This is too broad and misses the specific argument about Joplin's overlooked pieces
To explain how Joplin learned to compose and perform ragtime music
- The passage doesn't explain how Joplin learned to compose
- It focuses on what he created and why it deserves recognition, not his learning process