Q24

[tommywallach]

24. (C)
Question Type: Synthesis (1-12, 16-18, 26-28, 42-44)
For this synthesis question, it’s necessary to have a solid understanding of the flow of the passage. It begins by bringing up three positions. The first is mentioned in passing, and never brought up again. The differences between the other two positions"”that of the radical critics and Dostoyevsky"”is described in the remainder of the passage. And while the majority of the essay discusses Dostoyevsky’s opinions about fiction, it would be a mistake to say that the author’s structure involves proving one theory superior or inferior to another. The correct answer is (C).

(A) is incorrect because the first position is only described in a single sentence, and never brought up again.

(B) is close to correct, but the third position (Dostoyevsky’s) is only contrasted "in detail" with the second position (the radical critics), not the first.

(D) is a tricky one, but it goes too far. The passage does present three views and it does seem slightly more sympathetic to Dostoevsky’s position than the other two. However, it does not ever definitively state that Dostoevsky’s position is "superior" to the other two. This is particularly true in regard to the first position, which is mentioned in the second sentence and then never brought up again. In a complex RC passage like this one, it’s always important to locate the author’s position in terms of the weight they give to one side or another, but don’t forget that not every author comes down firmly on one side. While Dostoyevsky’s opinions are described at great length (and aren’t contradicted), it is never said that his position was better than the others.

(E), like (D), imputes some kind of hierarchy to the three positions, which the passage does not.

[jones.mchandler]

This Q really threw me for a loop. It took me a minute to even understand your explanation. The reason this threw me off is because the correct answer is contained within the first paragraph: three positions are discussed, and then as C says, the third is distinguished from the second.

Typically in these questions I look for an answer that contains more substance...I was tricked into A bc it seemed that three "positions" were discussed (in paragraphs 2,3,4) and elaborated on in detail.

I feel like generally organization questions include more of the passage. So for this Q I would expect something like "one position is distinguished from another, and the author provides reasons for this difference." That's not perfect, but something along those lines.

I'm just curious as to whether these types of questions become more broad in the more recent tests.