PSAT Writing and Language Practice Question 101
Question: 101
The Singing Brakeman
The early days of recorded music can be hazy. Many people find it difficult to believe that artists recording before the radio boom in the 1930s, or even before the rock and roll boom in the 1950s, could have had any success at all 23 seems doubtful. Despite this misconception, there is a treasure trove of recorded music from that era, and not only by the greats of bebop and swing. 24
The circumstances of Rodgers's birth 25 is obscure, but legend has it that he was born in Meridian, Mississippi in 1897. Little is known for 26 sure, but his father was a foreman on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad in Meridian. Jimmie eventually became a brakeman, but 27 a health issue cut his career short. He stayed alive for a few years after his dismissal in 1927, but he could no longer work the rails.
This inability to work, however, proved to be 28 fortuitous for Rodgers's great passion—music. At age 13, Rodgers had already secretly organized two traveling shows, only to be recovered and brought back to Meridian by his father. Once Jimmie could no longer work the 29 rails, however, he pursued his musical career in earnest. In Bristol, Tennessee, Rodgers organized his first band. That same year, the band was asked to record some songs for Ralph Peer of the Victor Talking Machine Company. The recordings survive today, though they feature a solo Jimmie Rodgers rather than his whole band, as a pre-recording quarrel led them to break up.
The recording had moderate success, and it sparked Rodgers to pursue his music career in earnest. In October of that year, after Rodgers chased his dream, Victor released "Blue Yodel," better known as "T for Texas," which sold 30 all the way to New York City half a million copies. Rodgers quickly became a household name, and his trademark yodel would be known the world over. By this 31 time, Rodgers had become the famous "Singing Brakeman," and his influence would be felt for many generations to come.
This influence would not be felt only in country music either: blues singer Howlin' Wolf cited Rodgers as an early influence, 32 like Elvis Presley. Ultimately losing his battle with tuberculosis at age 33, Rodgers may have lived a short life, 33 so it's no surprise that his music is seldom remembered today.
Which of the following would most effectively conclude this paragraph by introducing the main subject of the essay as a whole?
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
C
Note the question! The question asks which choice would most effectively conclude this paragraph by introducing the main subject of the essay as a whole. Determine the subject of the paragraph and find the answer that is consistent with that idea. The paragraph says that the early days of recorded music can be hazy, but there is a treasure trove of recorded music from that era. The next paragraph describes the life of Jimmie Rodgers. The concluding sentence should introduce Jimmie Rodgers. Eliminate (A) and (B) because they do not mention Jimmie Rodgers. Keep (C) because it introduces Jimmie Rodgers. For (D), scan the rest of the passage. It only discusses Jimmie Rodgers and not any of the other musicians mentioned in (D), so mentioning those musicians wouldn't introduce the main subject of the essay. Eliminate (D). The correct answer is (C).