ACT Reading 11-20

The main purpose of the passage is to:

• explain why Holmes’s musical tastes gradually

  changed over time.

• describe how Holmes’s hectic professional life

  affects his personal life.

• highlight the different instruments Holmes mas-

  tered in becoming a famous musician.

• document how Holmes eventually became an

  enterprising bandleader.

One theme of the passage is that:

• one’s previous experiences and pursuits can be

  useful in achieving success.

• talent is the most important factor in achieving

  success in both business and music.

• recognizing one’s limitations is necessary in over-

  coming one’s failures.

• pursuing one’s dreams should take precedence

  over more practical matters.

Which of the following events referred to in the pas-

sage occurred last chronologically?

• Taylor joined Holmes’s band.

• Brawner joined Holmes’s band.

• Holmes started driving a limousine.

• Holmes started Sound Ideas.

Based on the passage, the residents of Gordon Heights

in the 1950s and 1960s would best be described as:

• artistic and sophisticated.

• driven and optimistic.

• friendly and easygoing.

• generous and dependable.

In the passage, the phrase something more canned

(lines 86–87) most nearly refers to:

• sound effects.

• music videos.

• improvised music.

• recorded music.

It can most reasonably be inferred from the passage

that Holmes’s band members like playing music with

Holmes in part because, in contrast to other band lead-

ers, Holmes:

• is familiar with big band, classical, and country

  music.

• allows band members to showcase their talents

  during gigs.

• played music in the Washington club scene for fif-

  teen years.

• uses sophisticated elements like digital sequences

  during gigs.

Based on the passage, the main reason Holmes eventu-

ally preferred playing music at weddings and private

parties to playing music in clubs was that:

• he could play a wider variety of music at weddings

  and private parties.

• audiences at weddings and private parties were

  easier to please.

• weddings and private parties were more profitable.

• weddings and private parties required less travel.