Many Musicologists Consider Jazz the Only Purely American form of Music.

Reading Passage Questions

Many musicologists consider jazz the only purely American form of music. Others, however, argue that jazz is rooted in a history similar to that of America itself, a history of confluence.

The immigration of Europeans and the slave trade of West Africans to America resulted in a convergence of cultures, traditions, and art forms, including music. Jazz, first played in New Orleans in the early 1900s, borrowed heavily from the European musical scale and harmonic system. Jazz ensembles were built predominantly on European instruments, such as the trumpet, trombone, saxophone, and piano. The West African influence on jazz was manifested primarily in its performance. Scatting, a technique used by jazz vocalists to mimic the sounds of instruments, had its origin in West African vocal traditions. The emphasis on improvisation in jazz music, in addition to group participation, also came from West African music.

Proponents of the argument that jazz is purely American often point to its genesis in New Orleans as evidence for this perspective. The irony, however, is that the essence of America lies in the plurality of its roots. To deny the rich and complex history of jazz, and the true origins of the art form, is in effect denying the very aspects of the art form that make it undeniably American.

“Many musicologists consider jazz the only purely American form of music.” - is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT reading comprehension.
This GMAT Reading Comprehension consists of 2 comprehension questions. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed for testing candidates’ abilities in understanding, analyzing, and applying information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare with the help of GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.

Solution and Explanation

1. Which of the following elements of jazz most likely has its origin in West African musical traditions?

(A)the emphasis on a tonal harmonic structure
(B)the use of the guitar as one of the primary rhythm instruments
(C)melodic lines rooted in the dorian scale
(D)the use of many instruments in a jazz ensemble
(E)an impromptu call-and-response between two instruments in the ensemble

2. The author of the passage would most likely agree with which of the following statements?

(A)Although American football was derived from the English sports of soccer and rugby, it should be called a purely American sport because it was first played in America.
(B)Because American football was derived from the English sports of soccer and rugby, it should not be called an American sport.
(C)Most sports scholars deny the English origins of American football.
(D)What makes American football essentially American is that it was derived from the convergence of English soccer and rugby.
(E)Because the essence of America lies in the plurality of its roots, American football should not be called an American sport.

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