When following musical scores, professional opera singers like soprano Ana María Martínez take vocal directions from descriptive notations, typically ...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
When following musical scores, professional opera singers like soprano Ana María Martínez take vocal directions from descriptive notations, typically in Italian, that appear alongside the musical notes. _______ these descriptive terms might guide the performer to sing giocoso (playfully) or lento (at a slow tempo).
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
On the other hand,
All the same,
For example,
In the second place,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'When following musical scores, professional opera singers like soprano Ana María Martínez take vocal directions from descriptive notations, typically in Italian, that appear alongside the musical notes.' |
|
| [MISSING TRANSITION] |
|
| 'these descriptive terms might guide the performer to sing giocoso (playfully) or lento (at a slow tempo).' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map: [CONTEXT: Opera singers use Italian notations] → [MISSING CONNECTOR] → [EXAMPLES: giocoso (playful), lento (slow)]
Main Point: Opera singers follow Italian descriptive terms written on musical scores to guide their vocal performance.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes that opera singers use Italian notations for performance guidance, then moves to provide specific examples of what these terms look like and mean.
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 sentence before the blank explains that opera singers use Italian descriptive notations for vocal directions
- The sentence after the blank gives us specific instances of these notations—'giocoso' and 'lento' with their meanings
- The relationship here is clear: we're moving from a general statement about Italian terms to concrete examples of those terms
- The logical connector needs to signal 'here are specific instances of what I just described'
- The right answer should introduce examples or illustrations of the descriptive terms just mentioned
On the other hand,
'On the other hand,'
✗ Incorrect
- This transition signals contrast or opposition
- But there's no contrast here—we're not presenting opposing information
- The second sentence supports and illustrates the first sentence rather than contradicting it
All the same,
'All the same,'
✗ Incorrect
- This phrase means 'nevertheless' or 'despite what was just said'
- It suggests the following information is true even though the previous information might suggest otherwise
- There's no contradiction or unexpected turn in the passage that would require this type of connector
For example,
'For example,'
✓ Correct
- This transition perfectly signals that specific examples will follow
- The sentence after the blank provides exactly what this connector promises—concrete examples of the Italian descriptive terms
- 'giocoso (playfully) or lento (at a slow tempo)' are specific instances of the 'descriptive notations, typically in Italian' mentioned before
In the second place,
'In the second place,'
✗ Incorrect
- This suggests we're presenting the second item in a numbered sequence
- But the passage doesn't establish any 'first place' or sequential structure