Read the excerpt from Billy Collins’s “Man Listening to Disc.”In fact, I would saymy delight at being suffusedwith phrases from his saxophone—some like honey, some like vinegar—is surpassed only by my gratitudeto Tommy Potter for taking the timeto join us on this breezy afternoonwith his most unwieldy bassand to the esteemed Arthur Taylorwho is somehow managing to navigatethis crowd with his cumbersome drums.Which of the following suggestions would best enhance a reader’s understanding of this poem?
Answer
A
Read a variety of sources about the style and instruments used by jazz musicians.
B
Search medical journals to learn how different types of music can affect a person’s mood.
C
Review case studies on hearing loss due to the prolonged listening of loud music.
D
Evaluate several poems to learn about the techniques authors use to convey their ideas.
Explanation
The speaker describes being delighted by phrases from a saxophone and thanks the musicians playing bass and drums. Learning about jazz styles and these instruments would help a reader understand the musical imagery and the scene in the poem. Studying music’s effects on mood or hearing loss would not explain these specific references as directly.
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