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Craft and StructureVery hardFunction of a final sentence locating the change

Craft and Structure practice question

The orchestra's recording of the symphony sold poorly when it came out and was soon deleted from the catalogue. Forty years later a reissue was greeted as a landmark, and critics wrote as if they had always known. The recording had not changed. The ears had.

Which choice best describes the function of the final sentence?

  1. A. It attributes the changed reception to the listeners rather than to the recording.Correct
  2. B. It states that the recording had been remastered for the reissue.
  3. C. It criticises the orchestra's playing.
  4. D. It explains why the recording was deleted.

Answer: A. It attributes the changed reception to the listeners rather than to the recording.

'The recording had not changed. The ears had.' — the difference between 1st and 2nd reception lies in the listeners.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. It states that the recording had been remastered for the reissue.
The text says the recording had NOT changed.
C. It criticises the orchestra's playing.
Nothing criticises the playing; the reissue was called a landmark.
D. It explains why the recording was deleted.
The deletion is a fact in the first sentence, not explained by the last.

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