SAT English Practice Question

In 1925, the Italian composer Ottorino Respighi began working on an orchestral work, the tone poem *The Pines of Rome,* which would become one of his most famous compositions. The composition was inspired by Respighi’s early travels to Rome, where he was enchanted by the city’s pine trees, which were common in the region’s parks. As the composer’s research progressed, he discovered that the pine trees of Rome had a long and interesting history, and he decided to incorporate this history into the composition, making the poem a reflection of both the beauty of the pine trees and their cultural significance. Respighi’s four movements, which are based on distinct phases in the life of the pine trees, include a depiction of the pine trees as they appear in the Roman countryside, their emergence as a symbol of the city’s power and growth, the way they are used in the city’s gardens and parks, and finally, their ultimate transformation as they become a symbol of the city’s past. Respighi’s composition has been praised by music critics for its rich musical language, its vivid depiction of the pine trees, and its emotional power. The work has been performed by orchestras around the world since it was first performed in 1924.

1. A.The composer’s research progressed; he discovered that the pine trees of Rome had a long and interesting history, and he decided to incorporate this history into the composition, making the poem a reflection of both the beauty of the pine trees and their cultural significance.
2. B.The composer’s research progressed, he discovered that the pine trees of Rome had a long and interesting history, and he decided to incorporate this history into the composition, making the poem a reflection of both the beauty of the pine trees and their cultural significance.
3. C.The composer’s research progressed, he discovered that the pine trees of Rome had a long and interesting history; he decided to incorporate this history into the composition, making the poem a reflection of both the beauty of the pine trees and their cultural significance.
4. D.The composer’s research progressed, he discovered that the pine trees of Rome had a long and interesting history, and he decided to incorporate this history into the composition, making the poem a reflection of both the beauty of the pine trees and their cultural significance.