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Craft and StructureHardFunction of a sentence in a literary passage

Craft and Structure practice question

The following text is from a short story. The piano had not been tuned since her mother played it, and Rosa liked it that way. When she pressed the keys the notes came out slightly wrong, in exactly the ways she remembered.

Which choice best describes the function of the second sentence?

  1. A. It explains why Rosa prefers the piano untuned: its flaws are part of her memory of her mother.Correct
  2. B. It suggests that Rosa cannot afford to tune the piano.
  3. C. It shows that Rosa is a poor pianist.
  4. D. It indicates that the piano is beyond repair.

Answer: A. It explains why Rosa prefers the piano untuned: its flaws are part of her memory of her mother.

'Exactly the ways she remembered': the wrong notes are the memory.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. It suggests that Rosa cannot afford to tune the piano.
Money is never mentioned; she 'liked it that way'.
C. It shows that Rosa is a poor pianist.
The notes are wrong because of the piano, not her playing.
D. It indicates that the piano is beyond repair.
Nothing says it cannot be tuned; she chooses not to.

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