The following text discusses a musical phenomenon.
Perfect pitch—the ability to identify or reproduce a musical note without a reference tone—is extremely rare, occurring in roughly 1 in 10,000 people. Studies suggest both genetic factors and early musical training play roles in developing this ability. Interestingly, perfect pitch is more common among speakers of tonal languages like Mandarin, where pitch differences change word meanings.
What is the primary purpose of the text?
To argue that everyone should learn a tonal language
To explain what perfect pitch is and what factors influence it
To describe methods for developing perfect pitch in adults
To compare different musical training approaches
Correct Answer: B
Choice B is the best answer. The text defines perfect pitch, notes its rarity, and discusses factors that influence it (genetics, training, tonal languages).
- Evidence: The text defines "Perfect pitch," notes it is "extremely rare," and lists factors: "genetic factors," "early musical training," and "tonal languages."
- Reasoning: The text provides a comprehensive overview of the trait and its causes.
- Conclusion: The purpose is to explain the trait and influencing factors.
💡 Strategy: Summarize the main points: Definition + Rarity + Causes.
Choice A is incorrect because no language-learning argument is made. Choice C is incorrect because adult development methods aren't described. Choice D is incorrect because training approaches aren't compared.