SAT OwlIn the early twentieth century, many musicians who would later define Chicago blues moved north from rural Mississippi. In the South, they had typically played acoustic guitars at small gatherings. In crowded, noisy Chicago clubs, however, acoustic instruments were hard to hear, and by the late 1940s many of these musicians had switched to electric guitars and amplified harmonicas. Music historians therefore argue that the distinctive sound of Chicago blues was shaped partly by ______
Which choice most logically completes the text?
the playing conditions in the city's clubs.
the musicians' wish to abandon Southern musical traditions entirely.
the musicians' lack of experience with acoustic guitars.
the small size of audiences in Chicago clubs.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A
The text explains that noisy, crowded clubs made acoustic instruments hard to hear, which led musicians to amplify. The resulting electric sound therefore came partly from club conditions, choice A.
Choice D contradicts the text, which describes the clubs as crowded.
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