Question

The following is a draft of a student essay. It may contain errors.

The Classical Period

(1) Referring to a piece of music as "classical" is sometimes interpreted to mean a wide range of Western music that spans from the Middle Ages to today; however, music written in the Classical period (1730-1820) in particular is the definitive music for the genre. (2) Popular artists of this period include Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Joseph Haydn, to name a few.
(3) The music of the time reflected a movement that appeared in all aspects of life in 18th century Europe. (4) In addition, it was not as complex as music of the Baroque period. (5) Classical music departed from its predecessor, the Baroque style, in its cleaner and clearer approach, making distinct sounds more audible. (6) The change in style was seen in architecture, literature, and the arts. (7) Classical music just seemed lighter.
(8) Another difference this period introduced was the piano as the main keyboard instrument. (9) This allowed more range of expression compared to the earlier-used harpsichord, since the performer could strike the keys louder or softer, creating a particular sound that the harpsichord could not compete with. (10) Besides certain instrumental changes, the orchestra saw a great expansion as more attention was given to particular sounds. (11) Woodwind instruments got better and more versatile, giving them their own section in the orchestra. (12) This period even had the string quartet. (13) We can thank Joseph Haydn for that one.
(14) Throughout the Classical period, the music became sharper and more emotional. (15) This indulgent change eventually saw the end of an era, and the Romantic period eventually took over.

15
How could sentence 9 best be rewritten to better reflect the passage's style?
A.
The performer could strike the keys louder or softer, allowing more range of expression compared to the earlier-used harpsichord, as well as additionally creating a different sound that the harpsichord could not go head to head with.
B.
This allowed more range of expression compared to the earlier-used harpsichord, since the performer could strike the keys loudly or softly, creating a particular sound that the harpsichord could not come close to being in the same league with.
C.
The performer could strike the keys louder or softer, allowing more range of expression compared to the earlier-used harpsichord, and also creating a unique and cool sound that the harpsichord could not establish superiority over as well.
D.
This allowed more range of expression compared to the earlier-used harpsichord, since the performer could strike the keys louder or softer, therefore creating a particular sound that the harpsichord could not replicate.

Answers

GPT-4o mini
The best option for rewriting sentence 9 to better reflect the passage's style is:

**D. This allowed more range of expression compared to the earlier-used harpsichord, since the performer could strike the keys louder or softer, therefore creating a particular sound that the harpsichord could not replicate.**

This option maintains a formal and concise tone, which aligns with the overall style of the essay. It avoids informal language and enhances clarity while still conveying the original meaning.