Reading comp PrepTest 143 · Section 2 · Question 3
Passage
Questions 1-7 . Having spent several decades trying to eliminate . the unself-conscious "colonial gaze" characteristic of . so
Remaining source text redacted.
Passage walkthrough
Passage SummaryTopic: Social Science
Paragraph 1
While there is a sharp debate between anthropologists on whether it's good for indigenous cultures to adopt Western technology/cameras, a real-world example suggests that this technology does more harm than good, at least as far as preserving their culture is concerned.
Key Lines:
Lines 8-10 - The phenomenon is introduced
Lines 11-12 - The debate is previewed
Lines 13-15 - The first side of the debate is introduced and outlined
Lines 32-34 - The second side of the debate makes a concession to the first
Lines 34-36 - The second side of the debate rebuts the first
Lines 40-43 - The second side of the debate is outlined
Lines 44-47 - A specific example is introduced that supports the second view
Lines 54-59 - The best line describing the example's relevance
Meta-Structure:
Phenomenon/Implication - This is a variation on the Phenomenon/Explanation pattern. However, there's no explanation for the phenomenon here—the adoption of cameras by indigenous peoples. The debate is over whether it's a good or a bad thing.
Debate - Two sides of a debate are outlined. Here, the Author ends up leaning towards one side.
General Point/Specific Example - The Author brings up a single example to back up the viewpoint that she most closely aligns with. Remember, when a single example serves as the backing for a view, that view isn't on the strongest ground!
Last Thoughts:
That discussion of "ontology" is probably going to show up as at least an answer, since it's not a word you hear every day!
Paragraph 1
- Paragraph note
- A phenomenon is introduced that has divided anthropologists
- Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
- Old problem - Eliminate colonial gaze in ethnographic film
- New phenomenon - Indigenous cultures are getting cameras and recording their own cultures
- Anthropologists are "sharply divided" on how to view this
- Paragraph note
- One view is described
- Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
- Weiner et. al. - Cameras are an assault on indigenous cultures
- Devalues differences, pushing Western approach (realism, immediacy, self-expression)
- Paradox - Costs indigenous peoples the culture they want to preserve
- Weiner - Others who think this is good are naïve
- Paragraph note
- Other view is described
- Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
- Ginsburg et. al. - Weiner appeals to "noble savage" (super negative)
- Concession - Western objects aren't neutral
- Non-Western peoples can adopt this tech without Western values
- Opportunity to preserve language and traditions
- Paragraph note
- A real-world example backs up Ginsburg's view
- Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
- Ex. Turner/Kayapo (oral tradition) - Back up Ginsburg
- Kayapo record ceremonies and interactions with government (legally binding)
- Kayapo videos/editing reflect their culture/ceremonies (complex patterns; repetition; sequential organization)
While there is a sharp debate between anthropologists on whether it's good for indigenous cultures to adopt Western technology/cameras, a real-world example suggests that this technology does more harm than good, at least as far as preserving their culture is concerned.
Key Lines:
Lines 8-10 - The phenomenon is introduced
Lines 11-12 - The debate is previewed
Lines 13-15 - The first side of the debate is introduced and outlined
Lines 32-34 - The second side of the debate makes a concession to the first
Lines 34-36 - The second side of the debate rebuts the first
Lines 40-43 - The second side of the debate is outlined
Lines 44-47 - A specific example is introduced that supports the second view
Lines 54-59 - The best line describing the example's relevance
Meta-Structure:
Phenomenon/Implication - This is a variation on the Phenomenon/Explanation pattern. However, there's no explanation for the phenomenon here—the adoption of cameras by indigenous peoples. The debate is over whether it's a good or a bad thing.
Debate - Two sides of a debate are outlined. Here, the Author ends up leaning towards one side.
General Point/Specific Example - The Author brings up a single example to back up the viewpoint that she most closely aligns with. Remember, when a single example serves as the backing for a view, that view isn't on the strongest ground!
Last Thoughts:
That discussion of "ontology" is probably going to show up as at least an answer, since it's not a word you hear every day!
Question prompt
Which one of the
Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right
Credited answer: B
The notes below walk through why it fits the stem and how to eliminate the rest.
Question Type
Social Science
Answer choices
-
AAs various groups have Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice A is not credited
Incorrect. This answer is about one group's practices affecting another's, while the Kayapo example shows where Western technology didn't alter the Kayapo's traditional practices. -
BIn the 1940s, Latin Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice B matches the stem
Correct. Question Type:
Parallel Reasoning
Strategy Overview:
Reread the original situation and use it to establish an abstract logical framework to use to analyze the answers
Answer Anticipation/Relevant Lines:
While this use is introduced in Lines 48-49, it's described starting in Line 54. There, we see that the Kayapo use of film—all elements of it—mirrors the principle of beauty of their ceremonies, with complex patterns, repetition, and sequential organization.
So the Kayapo are using a Western invention but in a way that lines up with their own "ontology," culture, and traditions. Let's find an answer where a group is using something designed by someone else but in a way that lines up with their own culture.
Answer Explanation:
This answer features a group (the Latin American composers) taking an invention (jazz instrumentation and harmonies) from another group (African American musicians). And it states that they were able to do so while staying true to their own traditions. This answer mirrors the situation in the passage, so it's the correct answer.
Key Takeaway:
Note how we took our abstraction from our Anticipation and matched up the elements in the answer to it. Always be sure to line up the elements in these Parallel Reasoning questions! It's the best way to make sure you're picking the right answer. -
CSome writers are predicting Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice C is not credited
Incorrect. In this answer, writers are allowing the technology to alter how they write, which is not parallel to the Kayapo who didn't allow the video technology to change their traditions. -
DIn the late 1980s, Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice D is not credited
Incorrect. Similar to (C), this answer features a group that was influenced by an invention of another group. -
EEarly in the twentieth Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice E is not credited
Incorrect. First, this answer features the rejection of traditions, whereas the Kayapo were preserving theirs. Second, this answer features a group that is influenced by another, which didn't happen in the Kayapo example.
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