PP1 (Shorter) Verbal Section 2 (Hard) Q7

The Right Answer

This is an Organization, or Structure, question. What that means is this question is asking us to identify the order of the elements of the passage. What does the author do first? Second? Third? Fourth? 

By identifying the function of each sentence in the passage, we can easily choose the correct answer:

• Sentence 1: common belief regarding Johnson's greatness

• Sentence 2: (main idea) additional, perhaps overlooked, quality of Johnson's greatness

• Sentence 3: observation about the novelty of blending musical genres

• Sentence 4: author's statement that Johnson "expanded" this blending

• Sentence 5: support for main idea

• Sentence 6: more support for main idea

With the function of each sentence identified, it becomes clear that C is the correct answer: a common viewpoint is presented and modified, and the modification is supported.

Sentence 1 is of course the "common viewpoint," Sentence 2 is its "modification," and the second paragraph provides the support.

The Wrong Answers

• A: The first paragraph does not really provide a "historical overview." In addition, there is no clearly identified "phenomenon" in the second paragraph.

• B: The author never "challenges" the popular belief.

• D: The author never "rejects" an observation.

• E: The author never "investigates" the common claim. In addition, the author never "criticizes" an alternative outlook.