The best answer is B. The closing sentence of the passage states that “Though rarely awarded for his many accomplishments, Nyman certainly remains an important figure in the innovation of classical music and represents a substantial reason why its popularity persists.” This conveys both the sense that Nyman has produced important music and the fact that Nyman is underappreciated because he is “rarely rewarded.” Answer choice A may appear to be correct; however, the passage states that “in spite of its waning limelight …” This indicates that the fading popularity of classical music is still occurring, and is not a thing of the past.

The best answer is H. The first paragraph states that classical music has been “pushed aside by such contemporary forms as jazz, rock, and rap.” This describes the other types of music with which classical music has come to share an audience. The first paragraph also states that classical music is “always the subject of experimentation on the part of composers and performers,” and the passage also mentions the “various schools of composition that emerged in the 20th century.” This provides basis for the fact that classical music has not stopped evolving, and these points together provide the best support for answer choice H.

The best answer is C. The passage states that “Nyman’s compositions vary greatly in mood and orchestration, but generally reflect the characteristic tenets of minimalist fare.” The context of that statement suggests that Nyman’s compositions typically reflect the style of the collection of minimalist music. The other answer choices are not supported by the passage.

The best answer is H. Answer choice H states that “These works, though, would not reach his largest audience,” indicating that the works of Nyman’s band were not largely popular. Nyman’s popularity came later with his score for The Piano. Answer choice J may appear to be correct; however, answer choice J calls attention to the high point in Nyman’s commercial success, not the fact that his popularity is limited.

The best answer is A. The passage states that Nyman “layers repetitive melodies … to create an atmosphere of soaring highs and endless sorrows.” It was these emotional melodies that were said to put the audience into a trance, answer choice A. Answer choice B is incorrect because Nyman including “soaring highs,” and finished the film “on an uplifting note.” Likewise, the other answer choices are not supported by the passage.

The best answer is J. The author describes Nyman as “one of the great writers, conductors, and performers” of his type of music; the author also describes Nyman’s film scores as “stunning.” The author also identifies the score to The Piano as being one of the best-selling film musical recordings ever. Answer choices F and G can be eliminated because the author has clearly distinguished Nyman as worthy of critical acclaim, and the fact that his score to The Piano has been so successful proves that his music does appeal to modern audiences. Answer choice J makes the most sense within the context of the passage.

The best answer is D. The word “snub” means “to rebuff or refuse to acknowledge,” and the author describes the score to The Piano in a very positive light. From this, you can infer that although the author believed that Nyman’s work was very good and deserving of an Academy Award nomination, Nyman was not so well received by the Academy. The other answer choices are not supported by the context of the passage.

The best answer is G. The passage states that “In spite of its waning limelight, however, classical music occupies an enduring niche in Western culture, always the subject of experimentation on the part of composers and performers.” This assertion highlights both the fact that classical music has never disappeared, and the fact that classical music is always changing and evolving due to the ceaseless experimenting of composers and performers. Although answer choice H may appear to be correct, this choice focuses only on the music of Michael Nyman and not classical music as a whole.

The best answer is C. It is stated in the passage that Michael Nyman “emerged as” one of the great originators of “experimental and often minimalist pieces of music.” The passage goes on to state that it was Nyman himself “who coined the term ‘Minimalism.’” This indicates that Minimalism was still very new when Nyman emerged as a composer, being that it had not even been formally named yet. However, although Nyman gave a formal name to the musical style, he did not create this musical style. Therefore, answer choice D is not the correct answer.

The best answer is G. The passage states that “Nyman layers repetitive melodies played on string instruments to create an atmosphere of soaring highs tempered with sorrow, but these melodies overcome hopeless melancholy to finish on an uplifting note. The austere blues and greens of the film’s cinematography blend with Nyman’s round melodies to impose a trance on the audience, infusing a cold future reality with vivid romance.” The word “austere” means “stark” or “severe.” The statements suggests that the severity of the film’s cinematography blended with Nyman’s softer, “rounder” melodies to appeal to the audience’s sense of romance. The other answer choices are not supported by the passage.