Reading comp PrepTest 158 · Section 1 · Question 13
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
The author refers to
Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right
Credited answer: A
The notes below walk through why it fits the stem and how to eliminate the rest.
Question Type
Social Science
Answer choices
-
AIt provides evidence showing Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice A matches the stem
Question Type:
Argument Structure/Role of Detail (Bizarro)
Strategy Overview:
Review the story about the coyote trickster in passage, consult notes, and choose answer choice based on your understanding of that reference in the passage's overall argument
Answer Anticipation:
This is the second question to ask us why the author inserted the discussion of a detail into the passage. We shouldn't be surprised that we're getting a question about this specific detail. The story about the coyote trickster was an example, and we often get Role of Detail questions about those. That’s why we always want to underline or highlight examples and make sure we understand the broader point each example illustrates.
Often, the role of the paragraph in which the example appears will clarify the general point the example illustrates. As we wrote in our notes, the purpose of the fourth paragraph is, "Support: How trickster illustrates human flaws." The description of the coyote trickster fits with that role. The coyote trickster falls in love with a star even though ... um, we’re guessing here ... consummating such love is "beyond reasonable mortal possibility" (P4, S3). The coyote gets its comeuppance for desiring something it cannot have, while the listeners "recognize themselves in the trickster's extravagant hopes" (P4, S4). Falling in love with a star is also a humorous-enough idea that illustrates the trickster's "comic high jinks" (P4, S1). The author noted in the previous paragraph that tricksters also instruct their listeners on what not to do (P3, S2). In this case, the coyote trickster teaches its listeners not to desire what they cannot possibly have. So, the author included the coyote example to show how the trickster stories are comic stories that illustrate human flaws and teach listeners what not to do.
Finally, we should remind ourselves that this is a Bizarro question. So, the incorrect answer choices will relate to the roles we anticipated, while the correct answer will not.
Answer Choice Explanation:
We anticipated that the coyote example shows how the trickster stories are comic stories that illustrate human flaws and teach listeners what not to do. Does (A) seem similar to any of those purposes?
Not really! That's a good sign that we've found the correct answer. Most test-takers would still feel the need to go through (B)-(E) to confirm that those relate to our anticipated purposes. After all, most probably don't remember the author explicitly telling us that coyotes are not particularly poignant trickster characters. Only the most risk-tolerant test-takers would feel comfortable selecting (A) and moving on to the next passage without checking (B)-(E).
Most experienced test-takers would therefore use process of elimination to select (A). However, if we needed to review the passage to confirm that (A) is correct, we wouldn't find any mention that the coyote is a particularly poignant, moving, or notable trickster character. Since there's no reference to the coyote’s lupine-ness making it an apt trickster character, we can safely select (A).
Key Takeaway:
We often get Role of Detail questions about examples the author describes for more than one sentence. That is why we always want to underline or highlight examples and make sure we understand the broader point each example illustrates. Often, the role of the paragraph in which the example appears will clarify why the author included that example. -
BIt illustrates the claim Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice B is not credited
We anticipated that the coyote example shows how the trickster stories are comic stories that illustrate human flaws and teach listeners what not to do. Does (B) seem similar to any of those purposes? Yep! (B) relates to the first point — that trickster stories illustrate human flaws. So, we can confidently eliminate (B). -
CIt supports the assertion Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice C is not credited
We anticipated that the coyote example shows how the trickster stories are comic stories that illustrate human flaws and teach listeners what not to do. Does (C) seem similar to any of those purposes? It does! (C) relates to the first point — that trickster stories are comic. So, we can confidently eliminate (C). -
DIt illustrates a way Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice D is not credited
We anticipated that the coyote example shows how the trickster stories are comic stories that illustrate human flaws and teach listeners what not to do. Does (D) seem similar to any of those purposes? It does! (D) relates to the second point — that trickster stories teach listeners what not to do. As the fourth paragraph states, the listeners "recognize in themselves the trickster's extravagant hopes" (P4, S4). So, we can safely eliminate (D). -
EIt indicates that one Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice E is not credited
We anticipated that the coyote example shows how the trickster stories are comic stories that illustrate human flaws and teach listeners what not to do. Does (E) seem similar to any of those purposes? Yes! (E) relates to the first point — that trickster stories illustrate human flaws. And the human flaw the coyote possessed was "extravagant hopes" (P4, S4). So, we can confidently eliminate (E).
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