Act Reading Test 1 Passage 3 Humanities
- 1.
5 10 15 - 20 - 25 30 35 -- 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 Passage Ill HUMANITIES: This passage is adapted from Mozart: The Man and the Artist.f, as Revealed in His Own Words, by Friedrich Kerst, and translated by Henry Edward Krehbiel in 1905. The German composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart {1756-1791) was not only a musical genius but was also one of the pre-eminent geniuses of the Western world. He defined in his music a system of musical thought and an entire slate of mind that were unlike any previously experienced. A true child prodigy, he began composing al age live and rapidly developed his unmistakable style; by eighteen he was composing works capable of altering the mind-states of entire civilizations. Indeed, he and his predecessor Bach accomplished the Olympian feat of adding to the human concepts of civility and civilization. So these two were not just musical geniuses, but geniuses of the humanities Mozart's music embodies civilization. It encom passes all that is humane about an idealized civiliza- tion. And it probably was Mozart's main purpose to create and propagate a concept of a great civilization through his music. He wanted to show his fellow Europeans, with their garbage-polluted city streets. their violent leaders, and their stifling, nonhumane bureaucracies, new ideas on how to run their civilizations properly. He wanted them to hear and feel a sense of civilized movement. of the musical expressions of man moving as he would if uphold- ing the highest values of idealized societies. Mozart was called a Child of the Sun. Filled with a humor truly divine, he strolled freely through life, oblivious to the concerns of daily living. Music was his talisman, his magic flute with which he could exorcise all the petty terrors that beset him. Has such a man and artist-one who was completely resolved in his works. and therefore still appeals with all his glorious qualities after the lapse of a century-has Mozart still something to say to us? Much; very much. Through his music we are reminded of the man who could not forget the merry tune of the forest bird which he had heard as a boy. We gladly permit ourselves to be led, occasionally, out of the rude realities that surround us. into a beautiful world that knows no care but lies forever bathed in the sunshine of cloudless happiness. a world in which every loveliness dreamed of by fancy has taken life and form. It is because of this that we make pilgrimages to the masterpieces of the arts, that we give heed to the speech of Schiller, and listen to the music of Mozart. When wearied by the stress of life, we gladly rush to Mozart that he may tell us stories of that land of beauty and convince us that there are other and better occupations than the worries and combats of the fleeting hour. This is what Mozart has to tell us today, He has an individual mission to fulfill which will keep him immortal. There is something like the glory of daybreak in the tones of Mozart's opera, The Magic Flute; il is wafted towards us like the morning breeze which dispels the shadows and invokes the sun. Mozart remains ever young: one reason is because death laid hold of him in the middle of his career. While all the wo-rid was still gazing expect- antly upon him, he vanished from the earth and left no hope deceived. As the Gem1an thinks of Beet- hoven when he speaks the word symphony, so the name of Mozart in his mind is associated with the conception of things youthful, bright. and sunny. Nineteenth-century German composer Robert Schu- mann was fully conscious of a purpose when he called out. "Do not put Beethoven in the hands of young people too early: refresh and strengthen them with the fresh and lusty Mozart." Another time he wrote: “Does it not seem as if Mozart's works become fresher and fresher the oftener we hear them?" In the mind of the great philosopher, Goethe. genius was summed up in the name of Mozart. Goethe spoke these significant words: “What else is genius than that productive power through which deeds arise and are lasting? All the creations of Mozart are of this class: within them there is a generative force which is transplanted from genera- tion to generation. and is not likely soon to be exhausted or devoured.”
- 2.
The author describes Mozart as all of the following EXCEPT:
- A.
A musical genius.
- B.
Carefree.
- C.
Inhumane.
- D.
A civilized man.
Correct Answer
C. Inhumane.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.Rate this question:
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- 3.
It is reasonable to infer from the passage that the author:
- A.
Believes that Back and Mozart were no capable of influencing society.
- B.
Harbors a great resentment toward both Bach and Mozart.
- C.
Has never listened to any of Mozart's operas.
- D.
Has a deep respect for Mozart and his music.
Correct Answer
D. Has a deep respect for Mozart and his music.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.Rate this question:
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- 4.
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:
- A.
Bach and Mozart expressed themselves through their music, which had little effect on their fellow Europeans.
- B.
Bach and Mozart were working together to create the music for the Olympic Games.
- C.
Bach and Mozart began composing works together that would later be performed by other very talented musicians.
- D.
Bach and Mozart composed music that enhanced the concept of civilization and upheld the highest moral standards.
Correct Answer
D. Bach and Mozart composed music that enhanced the concept of civilization and upheld the highest moral standards.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.Rate this question:
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- 5.
According to the passage, nineteenth-century composer Robert Schumann:
- A.
Believed that Mozart's work was youthful and fresh.
- B.
Did not believe that Mozart was a genius.
- C.
Compared Mozart's work to that of Goethe.
- D.
Believed that Beethoven's work was more appropriate for young people.
Correct Answer
A. Believed that Mozart's work was youthful and fresh.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.Rate this question:
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- 6.
Mozart was most likely call a Child of the Sun (Paragraph 3) because:
- A.
Most of his operas dealt with natural themes, like the glory of daybreak.
- B.
Both he and his music embodied happiness, brightness, and freshness.
- C.
He was very concerned with the stresses of everyday life.
- D.
He began composing music at the age of five, and rapidly developed a unique style.
Correct Answer
B. Both he and his music embodied happiness, brightness, and freshness.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.Rate this question:
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- 7.
As it is used in line 7, the word prodigy most nearly means:
- A.
A youthful state of mind.
- B.
A system of musical thought.
- C.
A person of exceptional talents.
- D.
A leader with an unmistakable style.
Correct Answer
C. A person of exceptional talents.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,Rate this question:
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- 8.
The author implies that, compared to Mozart's music, Beethoven's is:
- A.
Less popular.
- B.
Less youthful.
- C.
More inspiring.
- D.
More complex.
Correct Answer
B. Less youthful.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.Rate this question:
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- 9.
It can be reasonably inferred from the last paragraph (lines 75-84) that:
- A.
Many of Mozart's works have yet to be discovered.
- B.
Goethe believed Mozart's works were losing their freshness.
- C.
The genius of Mozart's work will live on for many years.
- D.
Goethe was the driving force behind Mozart's genius.
Correct Answer
C. The genius of Mozart's work will live on for many years.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.Rate this question:
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- 10.
According to the passage, Mozart's main purpose in writing his music was to:
- A.
Show his fellow Europeans that he was more talented than Bach.
- B.
Tell a story about the concerns of daily living.
- C.
Convince the listener that life could be very stressful.
- D.
Create and spread the values and ideals of civilized societies.
Correct Answer
D. Create and spread the values and ideals of civilized societies.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.Rate this question:
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- 11.
Which of the following phrases from the passage most accurately describes the main idea?
- A.
He defined in his music a system of musical thought...
- B.
While all the world was still gazing expectantly upon him he vanished from the earth...
- C.
So the name of Mozart in his mind is associated with the conception of things youthful, bright, and sunny.
- D.
His predecessor Bach accomplished the Olympian feat of adding to the human concepts of civility and civilization.
Correct Answer
C. 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."Rate this question:
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Mar 19, 2023Quiz Edited by
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Feb 05, 2012Quiz Created by
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