Reading comp PrepTest 123 · Section 4 · Question 1
Passage
For decades, there has been a deep rift between poetry and fiction in the United States, especially in academic settings;
Remaining source text redacted.
Passage walkthrough
Passage SummaryTopic: Humanities
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 4
Main Point:
Despite a long-standing split between poets and fiction-writers, a fortunate recent trend to blending the genres is exemplified by the work of Rita Dove.
Key Lines:
Lines 1-3 - A split is established
Lines 15-17 - A potential reason for the split is suggested
Lines 21-24 - The Author says the split is fortunately ending
Lines 24-25 - The example explored through the rest of the passage is introduced
Meta-Structure:
Bringing the Sides Together - The Author starts by establishing a split between fiction and poetry in the US (Lines 1-3). After he explores the background of that split, he notes that it's "[f]ortunately" coming to an end (Lines 21-22), and he highlights Rita Dove as a prime example of this (Lines 24-25). Her writing is categorized by the Author as "lyric narrative" (Line 42), bringing together the characteristics that he previously attributed to each genre (Lines 8-11). When the Author brings two viewpoints together, that resolved viewpoint is almost always the main point of the passage, reflected in what we wrote above.
Question/Answer - (Lines 13-20) Paragraph 2 explores the background of the split in the US by asking a question and then providing a potential answer ("perhaps . . . "). This question and its answer don't dominate the passage, just one paragraph, so the Author's answer isn't the main point.
Generalization/Example - The Author's main point and clearest statement of opinion is a generalization in Lines 21-22. In order to back up this general claim about an erosion in the boundary between fiction and poetry, the Author cites "several recent writers," but he then dives into one as an "important example" (Line 24) - Rita Dove. Since she forms the basis for the rest of the passage, this extended example is a key element and should be reflected in the main point. We should also remember that she's there to back up a generalization—the passage uses Rita Dove as a premise supporting a more general conclusion, not as the conclusion itself.
Last Thoughts:
When the Author brings two sides together, we need to be clear on what he takes from both sides, and what characteristics/beliefs make up the combo. Here, the Author suggests that "lyric narrative" includes all of the cited elements of both poetry and fiction, but he goes into a few examples through Dove - what her poems sound like, and what her fiction sounds like. Let's keep these characteristics in mind as we work through the questions.
Paragraph 1
- Paragraph note
- A divide is explored
- Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
- Poetry vs. Fiction - Rift in US for decades
- Grad programs and professionals a part of it
- Conventional Wisdom - Poetry - Emo; Fiction - Character/story
Paragraph 2
- Paragraph note
- Author asks and answers question about background of split
- Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
- Why are they split?
- Potential answer - US Widespread View - Suspicion of generalist/dilettantes
Paragraph 3
- Paragraph note
- Signs split is diminishing, with a key example
- Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
- Author - Fortunate that split is eroding
- Example - Rita Dove (speech and background); Germany
Paragraph 4
- Paragraph note
- Dove, and how she brings the genres together
- Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
- Dove - Little sense to split poetry and fiction
- Combo = lyric narrative
- Dove poems - Lyrical, but have story
- Dove fiction - Prose, but has poetic rhythm
Main Point:
Despite a long-standing split between poets and fiction-writers, a fortunate recent trend to blending the genres is exemplified by the work of Rita Dove.
Key Lines:
Lines 1-3 - A split is established
Lines 15-17 - A potential reason for the split is suggested
Lines 21-24 - The Author says the split is fortunately ending
Lines 24-25 - The example explored through the rest of the passage is introduced
Meta-Structure:
Bringing the Sides Together - The Author starts by establishing a split between fiction and poetry in the US (Lines 1-3). After he explores the background of that split, he notes that it's "[f]ortunately" coming to an end (Lines 21-22), and he highlights Rita Dove as a prime example of this (Lines 24-25). Her writing is categorized by the Author as "lyric narrative" (Line 42), bringing together the characteristics that he previously attributed to each genre (Lines 8-11). When the Author brings two viewpoints together, that resolved viewpoint is almost always the main point of the passage, reflected in what we wrote above.
Question/Answer - (Lines 13-20) Paragraph 2 explores the background of the split in the US by asking a question and then providing a potential answer ("perhaps . . . "). This question and its answer don't dominate the passage, just one paragraph, so the Author's answer isn't the main point.
Generalization/Example - The Author's main point and clearest statement of opinion is a generalization in Lines 21-22. In order to back up this general claim about an erosion in the boundary between fiction and poetry, the Author cites "several recent writers," but he then dives into one as an "important example" (Line 24) - Rita Dove. Since she forms the basis for the rest of the passage, this extended example is a key element and should be reflected in the main point. We should also remember that she's there to back up a generalization—the passage uses Rita Dove as a premise supporting a more general conclusion, not as the conclusion itself.
Last Thoughts:
When the Author brings two sides together, we need to be clear on what he takes from both sides, and what characteristics/beliefs make up the combo. Here, the Author suggests that "lyric narrative" includes all of the cited elements of both poetry and fiction, but he goes into a few examples through Dove - what her poems sound like, and what her fiction sounds like. Let's keep these characteristics in mind as we work through the questions.
Question prompt
Which one of the
Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right
Credited answer: E
The notes below walk through why it fits the stem and how to eliminate the rest.
Question Type
Humanities
Strategy Overview
Reiterate the main point as we stated it after reading through the passage, then find the answer that most closely matches it
Answer Anticipation
The Author starts by establishing a split between fiction and poetry in the US (Lines 1—3). After he explores the background of that split, he notes that it's "[f]ortunately" coming to an end (Lines 21—22), and he highlights Rita Dove as a prime example of this (Lines 24—25). Her writing is categorized by the Author as "lyric narrative" (Line 42), bringing together the characteristics that he previously attributed to each genre (Lines 8—11). When the Author brings two viewpoints together, that resolved viewpoint is almost always the main point of the passage:
Despite a long—standing split between poets and fiction—writers, a fortunate recent trend to blending the genres is exemplified by the work of Rita Dove.
Answer choices
-
ARita Dove's work has Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice A is not credited
Incorrect. (Lines 24—26) This answer is too unidirectional. What we mean by that is that it says Rita Dove puts poetic elements in her fiction, but the passage highlights examples of her also putting fiction elements in her poetry. This answer also makes the passage sound as if it is about Dove, when in reality it uses her as an example of a broader trend. -
BRita Dove's lyric narratives Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice B is not credited
Incorrect. (Lines 45—49) Similar to (A), this answer talks about one aspect of Dove's work, and it doesn't relate it to a broader trend. -
CWorking against a bias Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice C is not credited
Incorrect. (Lines 21—24) While this answer does address the broader point that the Author makes, it still only addresses one side of the passage — fiction using elements of poetry. Since this passage fails to address poems using elements of fiction, it misses half the passage. -
DUnlike many of her Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice D is not credited
Incorrect. (Lines 54—57) Dove does rely on these traditional techniques — she just uses the ones associated with poetry in fiction, and vice versa. This may be a nontraditional use of the techniques, but the techniques are still the traditional ones. -
ERita Dove's successful blending Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice E matches the stem
Correct. (Lines 1—3; Lines 21—25) This answer brings up the general trend, establishes Rita Dove as an example of it, and has the blending of poetry and fiction going in both "directions," with each getting elements from the other. It hits the Author's combining two "viewpoints" as well as the example and the broader point, so it's comprehensive and reflects the Author's opinion — thus, this is the main point of the passage.
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Discussion
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Why not A? 1 reply
Started by irinajugovic1