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The opening sentence of this excerpt establishes the author’s purpose. The author has two key objectives: to offer readers a glimpse into the life of a specific musician and to provide evidence of a particular quality that makes the musician unique. This is a common rhetorical strategy for writers who want to engage readers in a compelling narrative. The author first describes the music as a means of showcasing this quality. In a later sentence, the author elaborates on the musician’s unique quality by making a comparison. What is the most likely reason why the author uses a comparison?

SAT · English · previous-year question

  1. A.present the musician’s style in a more detailed and nuanced way.
  2. B.suggest that the musician is similar to other musicians.
  3. C.emphasize the musician’s unique talent.correct
  4. D.create a contrast between the musician’s style and the music’s style.

Answer

C. emphasize the musician’s unique talent.

Explanation

The comparison between the musician’s talent and the music’s style is used to emphasize the musician’s unique talent by highlighting a particular quality that sets the musician apart from others.

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