Q19

[willzyling]

A central purpose of each passage is to:

A) Describe the primary influences on Cather's work
B) identify some of the distinctive characteristics of Cather's work
C) explain the critical reception Cather's work received in her lifetime
D) Compare Cather's novels to the archetypal form of the realistic novel
E) Examine the impact of European literature and literary theory on Cather's work

I ended up crossing out C, D, and E and had to pick between A and B. I ended up choosing A because after quickly glancing at both passages again, I figured that both passages were describing the influences on Cather's work - Turgenev in Passage A and Narrative technique in Passage B.

Why is B a better choice than A?

Thank you!

[rinagoldfield]

Thanks for your post willzyling!

The key for this question is to identify something central to both passages. Wrong answer choices will describe something one or neither of the passages focuses on.

You are absolutely right to eliminate C, D, and E.

(C) describes something neither passage is concerned with.

(D) describes something only Passage B discusses. Additionally, the comparison between Cather’s work and the “realistic novel” is a minor aspect of Passage B, not the central purpose.

(E) is tempting, because it seems to touch upon something from each passage. Passage A is indeed concerned with European influences. However, Passage B is not concerned with the “impact of literary theory” on Cather’s work. On the contrary, Passage B suggests that Cather “anticipated” later literary criticism. Moreover, this answer choice points to aspects of each passage individually, not something both passages focus on.

We can eliminate (A) because only Passage (A) addresses this subject. Narrative technique did not influence Cather. Instead, Passage B suggests that Cather “anticipated” narratology. This suggests that the impact flowed from Cather to narratology, not the other way around.

(B) is correct. Both passages describe characteristics of Cather’s writing—her “impressionistic” style, her way of showing rather than telling, her treatment of narrative time.

Hope this helps!

[willzyling]

Thanks for your post willzyling!

The key for this question is to identify something central to both passages. Wrong answer choices will describe something one or neither of the passages focuses on.

You are absolutely right to eliminate C, D, and E.

(C) describes something neither passage is concerned with.

(D) describes something only Passage B discusses. Additionally, the comparison between Cather’s work and the “realistic novel” is a minor aspect of Passage B, not the central purpose.

(E) is tempting, because it seems to touch upon something from each passage. Passage A is indeed concerned with European influences. However, Passage B is not concerned with the “impact of literary theory” on Cather’s work. On the contrary, Passage B suggests that Cather “anticipated” later literary criticism. Moreover, this answer choice points to aspects of each passage individually, not something both passages focus on.

We can eliminate (A) because only Passage (A) addresses this subject. Narrative technique did not influence Cather. Instead, Passage B suggests that Cather “anticipated” narratology. This suggests that the impact flowed from Cather to narratology, not the other way around.

(B) is correct. Both passages describe characteristics of Cather’s writing—her “impressionistic” style, her way of showing rather than telling, her treatment of narrative time.

Hope this helps!

Wow, thanks so much. I failed to consider that the word "anticipated" means Cather influenced Narratology and not the other way around. Thank you for your detailed post!