Reading comp PrepTest 158 · Section 1 · Question 11
Passage
Native American stories often feature a character called the trickster, a comic figure who has both mortal weaknesses and supernatural
Remaining source text redacted.
Passage walkthrough
Passage Summary Topic:
Humanities
Paragraph 1
Main Point:
Critics' use of the term "trickster" from Native American stories to describe the picaro in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century European literature hides the essential differences between the two figures.
Key Lines?
Paragraph 1, Sentence 2 (P1, S2) - Critics' view on similarities between picaro and trickster
P2, S3 - Author's conclusion
P3, S2 - Author's key support: primary distinction between picaro and trickster
Meta-Structure?
Correcting the Record: This passage utilizes a Correcting the Record Meta-Structure. In such passages, the author typically paraphrases a belief, approach, or idea held by some before explaining why that belief, approach, or idea is incorrect. This passage follows that pattern closely. In the first paragraph, the author paraphrases some literary critics' behavior — appropriating the term "trickster" from Native American stories to describe the picaro in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century European literature. At the beginning of the second paragraph, the author argues why that critical behavior is misguided — by using the term "trickster" for the picaro, critics brush over the essential differences between the two figures (P2, S1).* The author supports that record-correction in the second, third, and fourth paragraphs by showing how the picaro and trickster are quite different.
In Correcting the Record passages, the main point is generally the author's explanation of why the misconception is false. The author summarized this view at the beginning of the second paragraph. As the author states, critics' use of the term "trickster" from Native American stories to describe the picaro in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century European literature hides the essential differences between the two figures (P2, S1).
*For this reason, some test-takers may view this as a Rebutting Critics passage. Although the author corrects literary critics' behavior, the "Critics" in "Rebutting Critics" typically refer to people criticizing something. One could also mount a good argument that this is a Criticizing a Viewpoint passage. In such passages, the "Viewpoint" usually gets more space than the single sentence dedicated to literary critics' view here. So, we think this passage is best viewed as a Correcting the Record passage. Still, even if you viewed this passage as a Rebutting Critics or Criticizing the Viewpoint passage, you'd wind up with the same main point.
Comparison: The main point of this passage is that using the term "trickster" to describe the "picaro" obscures the essential differences between the two figures. So, it should come as no surprise that the predominant minor Meta-Structure used in this passage is comparisons. The author notes several similarities between the trickster and picaro — and, more saliently, draws many distinctions between the two — throughout this passage. There are far too many similarities and differences to note here (they're all included in the Passage Summary above). However, we are bound to get at least a few questions on these, so it's a good idea to highlight or underline the location of these comparisons. We can do so by highlighting or underlining comparative words like "both" (P1, S2), "similar" (P2, S4), "while" (P3, S2), and "rather" (P3, S6).
Last Thoughts?
This passage highlights fundamental differences between the trickster and the picaro. To save us from some passage-research sessions, it can help if we try to remember a few distinctions drawn between the two figures. We don't need to memorize all the details, just a few important ones. If memorization isn't your strong suit, you can even write a T-chart on your scratch paper with these salient differences. We recommend that you try to remember that the picaro is satirical, openly engages in vices, and exposes society's hypocrisies. We also recommend that you remember the trickster is mythical, possesses human flaws, and attempts to instruct people on how not to behave. Remembering these few key details might save you some time and fact-finding missions as you progress through the questions.
Humanities
Paragraph 1
- Paragraph note
- Recent criticism: Applies Native American term "trickster" to picaro
- Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
- Definition of "trickster": Comic figure with human weaknesses and supernatural powers (first sentence)
- Definition of picaro: rogue (second sentence)
- Comparison:
- Both picaro and trickster are protagonists in episodic adventures, live on the margins of society, and are flawed (second sentence)
- Paragraph note
- Author: Critics' use of "trickster" hides differences between the two
- Support: Background on picaro
- Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
- Author's view: Picaro's open indulgences satirize society whose members reject him despite engaging in similar indulgences in private (third through last sentences)
- Comparisons:
- Both picaro and members of society indulge in similar vices (third sentence)
- However, picaro does so publicly, while members of society do privately (third sentence)
- Paragraph note
- Support: Trickster's differences from the picaro
- Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
- Author's view: Trickster provides moral instruction (as an example of what not to do); not a figure of satire (second through last sentence)
- Comparisons between trickster and picaro:
- Trickster not satirical, while picaro is (first sentence)
- Trickster exists in world of myth, while picaro exists in society (second sentence)
- Trickster provides moral instruction (as an example of what not to do), while picaro reveals the hypocrisy of society (second sentence)
- Both trickster and picaro on margins of society, but trickster there because trickster is fundamental antisocial/flawed (fifth sentence)
- Author's attitude: "instead essential" (fourth sentence)
- Paragraph note
- Support: How trickster illustrates human flaws
- Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
- Example of how trickster illustrates human flaws:
- Coyote trickster falls in love with a star (unreasonable desire) and falls back to Earth (second through last sentence)
- Example of how trickster illustrates human flaws:
Main Point:
Critics' use of the term "trickster" from Native American stories to describe the picaro in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century European literature hides the essential differences between the two figures.
Key Lines?
Paragraph 1, Sentence 2 (P1, S2) - Critics' view on similarities between picaro and trickster
P2, S3 - Author's conclusion
P3, S2 - Author's key support: primary distinction between picaro and trickster
Meta-Structure?
Correcting the Record: This passage utilizes a Correcting the Record Meta-Structure. In such passages, the author typically paraphrases a belief, approach, or idea held by some before explaining why that belief, approach, or idea is incorrect. This passage follows that pattern closely. In the first paragraph, the author paraphrases some literary critics' behavior — appropriating the term "trickster" from Native American stories to describe the picaro in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century European literature. At the beginning of the second paragraph, the author argues why that critical behavior is misguided — by using the term "trickster" for the picaro, critics brush over the essential differences between the two figures (P2, S1).* The author supports that record-correction in the second, third, and fourth paragraphs by showing how the picaro and trickster are quite different.
In Correcting the Record passages, the main point is generally the author's explanation of why the misconception is false. The author summarized this view at the beginning of the second paragraph. As the author states, critics' use of the term "trickster" from Native American stories to describe the picaro in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century European literature hides the essential differences between the two figures (P2, S1).
*For this reason, some test-takers may view this as a Rebutting Critics passage. Although the author corrects literary critics' behavior, the "Critics" in "Rebutting Critics" typically refer to people criticizing something. One could also mount a good argument that this is a Criticizing a Viewpoint passage. In such passages, the "Viewpoint" usually gets more space than the single sentence dedicated to literary critics' view here. So, we think this passage is best viewed as a Correcting the Record passage. Still, even if you viewed this passage as a Rebutting Critics or Criticizing the Viewpoint passage, you'd wind up with the same main point.
Comparison: The main point of this passage is that using the term "trickster" to describe the "picaro" obscures the essential differences between the two figures. So, it should come as no surprise that the predominant minor Meta-Structure used in this passage is comparisons. The author notes several similarities between the trickster and picaro — and, more saliently, draws many distinctions between the two — throughout this passage. There are far too many similarities and differences to note here (they're all included in the Passage Summary above). However, we are bound to get at least a few questions on these, so it's a good idea to highlight or underline the location of these comparisons. We can do so by highlighting or underlining comparative words like "both" (P1, S2), "similar" (P2, S4), "while" (P3, S2), and "rather" (P3, S6).
Last Thoughts?
This passage highlights fundamental differences between the trickster and the picaro. To save us from some passage-research sessions, it can help if we try to remember a few distinctions drawn between the two figures. We don't need to memorize all the details, just a few important ones. If memorization isn't your strong suit, you can even write a T-chart on your scratch paper with these salient differences. We recommend that you try to remember that the picaro is satirical, openly engages in vices, and exposes society's hypocrisies. We also recommend that you remember the trickster is mythical, possesses human flaws, and attempts to instruct people on how not to behave. Remembering these few key details might save you some time and fact-finding missions as you progress through the questions.
Question prompt
Based on the passage,
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
Social Science
Answer choices
-
AIt has systematically denigrated Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice A is not credited
Is this consistent with the author's main point that using the term trickster to describe the picaro hides the essential differences between the two literary figures?
No, this is way too critical of the literary critics. The author argued that the literary critics might overlook important differences between the trickster and the picaro. But the author never said or suggested that these critics denigrate or diminish Native American literary traditions. Therefore, this is incorrect. -
BIts use of the Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice B is not credited
Is this consistent with the author's main point that using the term trickster to describe the picaro hides the essential differences between the two literary figures?
Not quite. However, many test-takers may pause to mull this one over. In that case, the most efficient approach to this answer choice would be to refrain from checking the passage. Instead, keep (B) in contention but move on to the remaining answer choices to see if any are a better match for the main point. On the other hand, expert test-takers may feel more comfortable eliminating this since it uses very strong, difficult-to-support language ("nothing to do with").
A closer examination would reveal that (B), like (A), is too strong of a statement. Even the author concedes that the trickster and picaro share some similar characteristics. For instance, the author admits that the trickster and picaro are both "socially peripheral" characters (P3, S6). So the author wouldn't agree that the use of the trickster "appellation" (title) has nothing to do with the Native American trickster character. -
CIts reading of picaresque Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice C is not credited
Is this consistent with the author's main point that using the term trickster to describe the picaro hides the essential differences between the two literary figures?
Not quite. Still, (C) entices some test-takers. If you were attracted to (C), you should note that it's close to but not entirely consistent with the main point. So, the most efficient approach to this answer choice would be to refrain from checking the passage to see if (C) is supported. Instead, keep it contention but move on to the remaining answer choices to see if any are a better match for the main point.
A close examination of (C) would reveal that it's unsupported. The author never suggests that the literary critics have read Native American trickster stories — they may be entirely unaware of the trickster stories. (Additionally, note that the author calls the Native American stories "stories" and not literature or novels. Later, the author refers to the audience of these stories as “listeners” (P4, S4). So, the passage doesn't even claim that these stories are written — they are probably oral stories. Technically, the critics couldn't read these stories if the stories were not written.) Assuming they have read trickster stories, it's a bit too strong to suggest that the critics' readings of the two are "at odds." The critics note similarities between the two figures — similarities that even the author acknowledges are present (P3, S6). So the author wouldn't agree that the literary critics are applying different, contradictory reading approaches to the two stories. -
DIt reflects an attempt Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice D is not credited
Is this consistent with the author's main point that using the term trickster to describe the picaro hides the essential differences between the two literary figures?
Nope. The author never claims whether the critics are trying to be precise. (Although, regardless of their intent, the author certainly thinks the critics are imprecise when they use "trickster" to describe the picaro.) So, we can safely eliminate (D). -
EIt bases its analysis Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice E matches the stem
Question Type:
Tone/Author Agree
Strategy Overview:
Consult your notes or passage to recall the author's attitude about the topic in question, and find the answer that best reflects your understanding of the author's opinion on that topic
Answer Anticipation:
This question asks us to find the answer choice about the literary criticism described in the second sentence of the first paragraph that the author would most likely agree with. Reviewing that reference will remind us that this trend in literary criticism involved using the term "trickster" from Native American stories to describe the picaro in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century European literature.
We should again recognize the author's view on using "trickster" to describe the picaro is the passage's main point. (Like Question 9, this is a Main Point question in disguise.) So, we don't need to review the passage; we can simply remind ourselves of the author's main point. As we stated above, the author's main point is that, upon close examination, the use of the term trickster to describe the picaro hides the essential differences between the two literary figures. So, we should look for an answer choice consistent with the author's main point.
Answer Choice Explanation:
Is this consistent with the author's main point that using the term trickster to describe the picaro hides the essential differences between the two literary figures?
It's close and thus may warrant a closer examination of the text. If the author thinks the critics ignore essential differences between the trickster and picaro, the author may believe that the critics lack a complete understanding of the trickster story. If we review the passage for the author's attitude (which shouldn't take too long if we highlighted or underlined the author's attitude), we could find some support. In the second paragraph, the author claims a "closer examination reveals" that the critics' use of "trickster" to describe the picaro "obscures essential differences between them" (P2, S1). This suggests the critics have not engaged in this close examination of the trickster stories and base their use on an incomplete understanding of trickster stories. So, (E) is best supported by the passage.
Key Takeaway:
Recent Reading Comprehension passages reward test-takers who can identify and understand the passage's main point. Questions 9 and 11 are excellent cases-in-point. Even though they're ostensibly not Main Point questions, those test-takers who understood the author's main point and relied on that understanding would have answered these questions confidently, quickly, and correctly.
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