ACT Reading Test 1 Passage 3 Humanities

1. It is reasonable to infer from the passage that the author:

Believes that Back and Mozart were no capable of influencing society.

Harbors a great resentment toward both Bach and Mozart.

Has never listened to any of Mozart's operas.

Has a deep respect for Mozart and his music.

The passage has a very positive tone and suggests throughout the positive
attributes of Mozart and his music. This best supports answer choice J. The
other answer choices are not supported by information in the passage.

Explanation

The passage has a very positive tone and suggests throughout the positive
attributes of Mozart and his music. This best supports answer choice J. The
other answer choices are not supported by information in the passage.

2. Mozart was most likely call a Child of the Sun (Paragraph 3) because:

Most of his operas dealt with natural themes, like the glory of daybreak.

Both he and his music embodied happiness, brightness, and freshness.

He was very concerned with the stresses of everyday life.

He began composing music at the age of five, and rapidly developed a unique style.

The passage indicates throughout that Mozart and his music were carefree.
youthful, and bright. Any reference to the sun represents brightness and
freshness, which best supports answer choice B. The other answer choices
are not supported by the passage.

Explanation

The passage indicates throughout that Mozart and his music were carefree.
youthful, and bright. Any reference to the sun represents brightness and
freshness, which best supports answer choice B. The other answer choices
are not supported by the passage.

3. The author describes Mozart as all of the following EXCEPT:

A musical genius.

Carefree.

Inhumane.

A civilized man.

The author indicates in the first paragraph that Mozart is a musical genius, so
eliminate answer choice A. In the third paragraph the author says that Mozart
".,,strolIed freely through life. oblivious to the concerns of daily living." This
statement suggests that Mozart was carefree, so eliminate answer choice B.
The first part of the passage discusses Mozart's contribution to society, an
suggests that he was a civilized man. Eliminate answer choice D.

Explanation

The author indicates in the first paragraph that Mozart is a musical genius, so
eliminate answer choice A. In the third paragraph the author says that Mozart
".,,strolIed freely through life. oblivious to the concerns of daily living." This
statement suggests that Mozart was carefree, so eliminate answer choice B.
The first part of the passage discusses Mozart's contribution to society, an
suggests that he was a civilized man. Eliminate answer choice D.

4. As it is used in line 7, the word prodigy most nearly means:

A youthful state of mind.

A system of musical thought.

A person of exceptional talents.

A leader with an unmistakable style.

The word prodigy means someone with exceptional talents. The context of
the passage makes it clear that Mozart had great musical talent, even when
he was very young,

Explanation

The word prodigy means someone with exceptional talents. The context of
the passage makes it clear that Mozart had great musical talent, even when
he was very young,

5. When the author says that these Iwo were not just musfca/genfuses, but genuises of the humaness (lines 13-14), he most likely means that:

Bach and Mozart expressed themselves through their music, which had little effect on their fellow Europeans.

Bach and Mozart were working together to create the music for the Olympic Games.

Bach and Mozart began composing works together that would later be performed by other very talented musicians.

Bach and Mozart composed music that enhanced the concept of civilization and upheld the highest moral standards.

At the end of the first paragraph, the author indicates that both Bach and
Mozart were “...geniuses of the humanities." The author then goes on in
Paragraph 2 to describe how Mozart’s music embodied civilization and " ...all
that is humane about an idealized civilization." This best supports answer
choice D.

Explanation

At the end of the first paragraph, the author indicates that both Bach and
Mozart were “...geniuses of the humanities." The author then goes on in
Paragraph 2 to describe how Mozart’s music embodied civilization and " ...all
that is humane about an idealized civilization." This best supports answer
choice D.

6. According to the passage, nineteenth-century composer Robert Schumann:

Believed that Mozart's work was youthful and fresh.

Did not believe that Mozart was a genius.

Compared Mozart's work to that of Goethe.

Believed that Beethoven's work was more appropriate for young people.

The passage indicates that the German people associated the name of
Mozart with “the conception of things youthful, bright, and sunny." Since
Schumann was German, he likely held the same belief. In fact, the passage
goes on to quote Schumann as saying “Does it not seem as if Mozart's works
become fresher and fresher the oftener we hear them?" These statements
best support answer choice F.

Explanation

The passage indicates that the German people associated the name of
Mozart with “the conception of things youthful, bright, and sunny." Since
Schumann was German, he likely held the same belief. In fact, the passage
goes on to quote Schumann as saying “Does it not seem as if Mozart's works
become fresher and fresher the oftener we hear them?" These statements
best support answer choice F.

7. It can be reasonably inferred from the last paragraph (lines 75-84) that:

Many of Mozart's works have yet to be discovered.

Goethe believed Mozart's works were losing their freshness.

The genius of Mozart's work will live on for many years.

Goethe was the driving force behind Mozart's genius.

According to the last paragraph, Goethe believes that Mozart's works are
not likely soon to be exhausted or devoured." It can be inferred from this
statement that the genius of Mozart’s works will live on for many years. The
other answer choices are not supported by the last paragraph.

Explanation

According to the last paragraph, Goethe believes that Mozart's works are
not likely soon to be exhausted or devoured." It can be inferred from this
statement that the genius of Mozart’s works will live on for many years. The
other answer choices are not supported by the last paragraph.

8. According to the passage, Mozart's main purpose in writing his music was to:

Show his fellow Europeans that he was more talented than Bach.

Tell a story about the concerns of daily living.

Convince the listener that life could be very stressful.

Create and spread the values and ideals of civilized societies.

The passage states that "it probably was Mozart’s main purpose to create and
propagate a concept of a great civilization through his music." The other
answer choices are not supported by the passage.

Explanation

The passage states that "it probably was Mozart’s main purpose to create and
propagate a concept of a great civilization through his music." The other
answer choices are not supported by the passage.

9. The author implies that, compared to Mozart's music, Beethoven's is:

Less popular.

Less youthful.

More inspiring.

More complex.

In the fifth paragraph, the author quotes Schumann: “Do not put Beethoven in
the hands of young people too early; refresh and strengthen them with the
fresh and lusty Mozart.” This statement suggests that Beethoven's music was
not as youthful as Mozart's music. The other answer choices are not
supported by the passage.

Explanation

In the fifth paragraph, the author quotes Schumann: “Do not put Beethoven in
the hands of young people too early; refresh and strengthen them with the
fresh and lusty Mozart.” This statement suggests that Beethoven's music was
not as youthful as Mozart's music. The other answer choices are not
supported by the passage.

10. Which of the following phrases from the passage most accurately describes the main idea?

He defined in his music a system of musical thought...

While all the world was still gazing expectantly upon him he vanished from the earth...

So the name of Mozart in his mind is associated with the conception of things youthful, bright, and sunny.

His predecessor Bach accomplished the Olympian feat of adding to the human concepts of civility and civilization.

The main idea of the passage is that Mozart and his music were bright,
happy, immortal, and youthful- The phrase that best exemplifies this idea is
found in the fifth paragraph, when the author refers to what things a German
person would associate with Mozart's music: "..,so the name of Mozart in his
mind is associated with the conception of things youthful, bright, and sunny."

Explanation

The main idea of the passage is that Mozart and his music were bright,
happy, immortal, and youthful- The phrase that best exemplifies this idea is
found in the fifth paragraph, when the author refers to what things a German
person would associate with Mozart's music: "..,so the name of Mozart in his
mind is associated with the conception of things youthful, bright, and sunny."

Act Reading Test 1 Passage 3 Humanities