Ragtime

Many forms of music have originated in the United

States, thanks in large part to the nation's

rich ethnic diversity.

• NO CHANGE

• Music forms

• One form of music

• The form of music that

Many forms of music have originated in the United

States, thanks in large part to the nations rich ethnic diversity.

• NO CHANGE

• national

• nations’

• nation’s

It is ragtime that is one form of American music.

• NO CHANGE

• Known as ragtime, it is one form of American

  music.

• Ragtime is one such form of American music.

• Being one form of American music is ragtime.

Characterized both by its distinctive African-American

syncopation and conservative European classical structure, ragtime in its heyday from 1900 to 1918

was enjoyed by people of all races and ethnicities.

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• ragtime, in its heyday from 1900 to 1918

• ragtime, in its heyday, from 1900 to 1918,

• ragtime, in its heyday from 1900 to 1918,

Ragtime grew from the marches and jigs popular in the

Northern Black communities of the late 19th century.

Historians consider 1897 the beginning of mature ragtime. A “rag” can have varied instrumentation; but

usually it is written for piano.

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• instrumentation but

• instrumentation, but

• instrumentation

QUESTION: At this point, the writer is considering adding the following parenthetical phrase:

–and those who played it –

Given that it is true, would this be a relevant addition

to make here?

A “rag” can have varied instrumentation; but usually it is

written for piano. Ragtime songs have a vocal part, but

much of the music makes the piano center stage.

• Yes, because it helps the reader have a better

  understanding of the style of music.

• Yes, because it provides an important historical

  detail that is elaborated on later in the paragraph.

• No, because this detail is not essential to the

  meaning of the sentence nor to the content of the

  paragraph.

• No, because the essay only describes the musical

  form and not its role in American society in the

  early 20th century.

QUESTION: Which of the following alternatives to the underlined portion would be LEAST acceptable?

The first official ragtime hit was Scott Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag, published in 1899.

America was enthralled by this sophisticated composition. Today, Joplin is the most famous figure in ragtime history. He first showed great musical potential at a young age, and when his family moved to a new home in Texas, his mother worked long hours to earn enough money to buy a piano for him.

• demonstrated his talent on the piano

• revealed his musical skills

• exposed his rhythmic touch

• played

His abilities were noticed by a German piano teacher he

gave Joplin free lessons and instilled in him good classical technique.

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• who

• whom

• that

QUESTION: The writer is considering deleting the following clause from the preceding sentence (placing a period after the word composition):

at George Smith College in Sedalia, Missouri.

Should the writer make this deletion?

Soon enough, Joplin was a skilled musician and began

studying music composition at George Smith College

in Sedalia, Missouri.

• Yes, because the information is unrelated to the

  topic addressed in this paragraph.

• Yes, because the information diminishes the impact

  of Joplin’s natural musical talent on his body of

  work.

• No, because the information explains why Joplin

  likely began his career in Sedalia.

• No, because the information shows that Joplin

  was an unremarkable music student who could not

  enroll in a more prestigious institution.

After some years as a traveling

musician, where he eventually settled back in Sedalia and

became a pianist at several, popular, black men’s clubs.

• NO CHANGE

• it was there that

• was where

• OMIT the underlined portion.