Question

The author most likely refers to the flea in line 4 in order to

• A. Highlight Ellingtons prodigious memory
• B. Emphasize the quality of Ellingtons listening skills
• C. Indicate Ellingtons interest in different animal sounds
• D. Suggest that Ellingtons compositions were marked by rhythmic similarities
• E. Imply that Ellington could be overly concerned about minutia

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Emphasize the quality of Ellingtons listening skills

The writer says that Duke Ellington considered himself a great listener and "in music, hearing is all". He goes on to say that judging by the quantity of music that Ellington wrote, he probably could hear 'a flea scratching itself'. The author uses this phrase to emphasize just how great of a listener Ellington was. Thus B is the best answer.