Power TOEFL
TOEFL practice tests and AI study tools.
TOEFL practice tests and AI study tools.
According to the professor, what was one reason younger musicians were dissatisfied with big bands?
[PASSAGE] "Many younger, exceptionally talented musicians felt straightjacketed by the rigid arrangements of big bands. They had limited room for improvisation, for... for individual expression." The professor explains that younger musicians felt confined by big band structures, which limited their opportunities for individual improvised performances. [WHY CORRECT] Option 3 is correct because the professor directly states that younger musicians "had limited room for improvisation, for... for individual expression" within big bands. This directly matches the idea that the music offered limited opportunities for individual improvisation. [TRAPS] Option 1 (The bands traveled too frequently) is incorrect; the professor does not mention travel frequency as a reason for dissatisfaction. Option 2 (The pay was too low compared to other professions) is incorrect; financial compensation is not discussed as a point of contention for musicians. Option 4 (The music was considered too complex for the audience) is incorrect; the professor later explains that Bebop was made complex, but not that Swing was too complex, or that this was a cause of dissatisfaction among the musicians. [TIP] For detail questions, listen for direct statements or paraphrases of information provided by the speaker. Focus on keywords in the question and how they relate to specific parts of the lecture.
The language describing Jazz History rewards close reading: notice contrast markers, hedging, and emphasis, since TOEFL detail items hinge on nuance rather than matching keywords.
Locate the exact supporting line in the text instead of relying on memory.