With its mournful subject matter and haunting tune, "The Cuckoo" is one of the most celebrated folk ballads of the southern Appalachian Mountains. Dolly Parton, who was born and raised in the region, was deeply influenced by these traditional ballads, as can be heard in the songs she wrote in the first decade of her career. "My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy," a song from her 1969 album of the same title, echoes Appalachian ballads in its narrative details.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence?
Explanation
Context: The text connects Dolly Parton's early songwriting to the Appalachian ballad tradition of her home region, and the underlined sentence supplies a case in point.
Answer: D) It identifies a song by Dolly that was influenced by Appalachian music.
Why? The sentence before it makes a general claim — that the ballads' influence "can be heard in the songs she wrote in the first decade of her career." The underlined sentence then names one such song, "My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy" from 1969, and specifies where the influence shows: it "echoes Appalachian ballads in its narrative details."
Traps:
- A) Lists several ballads she recorded → one song is named, and it is her own composition rather than a traditional ballad she covered.
- B) Expresses disappointment → the sentence is neutral to approving; no criticism of the song appears.
- C) Commercially successful album → sales and chart performance are never mentioned; the album is cited only to date the song.