Question

There is a sentence that is missing in the paragraph below. Look at the paragraph and decide where (option 1, 2, 3, or 4) the following sentence would best fit.
Sentence: Comprehending a wide range of emotions, Renaissance music nevertheless portrayed all emotions in a balanced and moderate fashion.
Paragraph: A volume of translated Italian madrigals were published in London during the year of 1588. This sudden public interest facilitated a surge of English Madrigal writing as well as a spurt of other secular music writing and publication. ___(1)___. This music boom lasted for thirty years and was as much a golden age of music as British literature was with Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth I. ___(2)___. The rebirth in both literature and music originated in Italy and migrated to England; the English madrigal became more humorous and lighter in England as compared to Italy. Renaissance music was mostly polyphonic in texture. ___(3)___. Extreme use of and contrasts in dynamics, rhythm, and tone colour do not occur. ___(4)___. The rhythms in Renaissance music tend to have a smooth, soft flow instead of a sharp, well-defined pulse of accents.

• A. Option 1
• B. Option 2
• C. Option 3
• D. Option 4

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

To determine the best placement for the sentence, consider the context provided in the paragraph:

• The paragraph discusses the popularity and characteristics of Renaissance music, alongside its cultural significance in England, particularly in comparison to Italy.
• The given sentence specifically describes the balanced and moderate portrayal of emotions in Renaissance music.
• The placement should logically complement the surrounding sentences.

An analysis of the paragraph shows:

• Option 1: Comes after a statement on the sudden public interest and creation of music, which does not directly connect to the portrayal of emotions.
• Option 2: The sentence regarding the cultural impact of music's golden age followed by its humorous nature in England does not align naturally with the description of emotional portrayal.
• Option 3: Follows the sentence about polyphonic texture, creating a flow into the topic of how emotions are presented in Renaissance music.
• Option 4: Discusses dynamics, rhythm, and tone, which are elements of music composition rather than emotional expression.

Thus, the sentence fits most logically in Option 3:

The paragraph then reads:

"A volume of translated Italian madrigals were published in London during the year of 1588. This sudden public interest facilitated a surge of English Madrigal writing as well as a spurt of other secular music writing and publication. This music boom lasted for thirty years and was as much a golden age of music as British literature was with Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth I. The rebirth in both literature and music originated in Italy and migrated to England; the English madrigal became more humorous and lighter in England as compared to Italy. Renaissance music was mostly polyphonic in texture. Comprehending a wide range of emotions, Renaissance music nevertheless portrayed all emotions in a balanced and moderate fashion. Extreme use of and contrasts in dynamics, rhythm, and tone colour do not occur. The rhythms in Renaissance music tend to have a smooth, soft flow instead of a sharp, well-defined pulse of accents."