Q5

[jasonleb1]

Can someone help me eliminate A? I was torn between it and D and wound up going with A because of the author calling it "awe inspiring." I do see the reference to D in the author describing it as "essential" but I felt like awe inspiring showed more of the authors opinion. Thanks.

[maryadkins]

Indeed, (D) is supported by the final paragraph, where the author's very clear opinion enters with the key line "But the real issue... is not..."

While his level of technical mastery is "awe-inspiring," making (A) the most tempting wrong answer, the above mentioned context of the passage makes the last paragraph the higher stakes paragraph for the author, and therefore the one on which the author places the greatest value. This question is about what aspects of Schoenberg's music the author most highly values. (D) is a stronger answer than (A) (and (B), (C), and (E)).