Among the earliest published literature by African Americans were

Question

Among the earliest published literature by African Americans were slave narratives—autobiographical accounts of the lives of slaves who lived primarily in the American South in the early to mid-1800s. The themes addressed in these accounts, which consist of letters, notes, or a diary, frequently included escapes, slave auctions, interactions with plantation owners and abolitionists, and the forced separation of family members, often parents and children. Some of the best known slave narratives were written by Josiah Henson and Frederick Douglass. In the last three decades, a renewed awareness of the lives of enslaved African Americans has prompted a wave of novels and biographies, sometimes called “neo-slave narratives,” in which modern writers such as Toni Morrison and Octavia Butler offer a historical or fictional representation of the lives of slaves.  
 1 
 1. According to the passage, each of the following could be described as a slave narrative EXCEPT:

A. an autobiography by a free-born African American man who lived in New Orleans in the 1830s.
B. personal papers of African American field hands who were enslaved in Alabama.
C. an account of two sisters being auctioned to different plantation owners in rural Georgia.
D. a letter smuggled to an escaped slave from her brother, a slave in South Carolina.
E. the diary of a Mississippi slave who was captured while attempting to escape.

2 
 2. The author’s description of the characteristics of a slave narrative suggests which of the following conclusions?

A. The work of abolitionists in the northern states helped bring about the publication of slave narratives.
B. All of the narratives published in the early to mid-1800s were written by slaves living in southern states.
C. Most slave narratives were not published until over a century after they were written.
D. In the mid-1900s, fewer people knew about slave narratives than did people in the late 1900s.
E. The work of neo-slave narratives such as those by Butler and Morrison has helped to bring attention to older narratives by other writers.

3 
 3. What distinction(s) does the author make between slave narratives and neo-slave narratives?

I. No neo-slave narratives were published in the early to mid-1800s.
II. Neo-slave narratives are written primarily by women, while most slave narratives were written by men.
III. Some neo-slave narratives are fictional, but all slave narratives are firsthand accounts.

A. I Only
B. II Only
C. III Only
D. I and II Only
E. II and III Only

Carcass · Answer

OE First question

The first two sentences outline defining characteristics of slave narratives and provide examples of the kind of content they might include. Of the answer choices, the only one that falls outside the scope of the question is (A); slave narratives were written by enslaved people, not by free people. Choices (B), (C), (D), and (E) all fit the passage’s criteria in terms of subject matter, authorship, and geography; choice (A) is the only one that deviates.

Carcass · Answer

OE Second question

This question asks us to evaluate which conclusions follow logically from what the author says. The mention of “renewed interest” implies a previous lapse or reduction in interest, so (D) is a reasonable conclusion. The passage doesn’t mention abolitionists or the process that led to the narratives’ publication, so (A) is out of scope. The language of (B) is too extreme; you’re told that the narratives were primarily, not completely, authored by slaves from the South. Choice (C) directly contradicts the first sentence of the passage. Choice (E)reverses the order of events presented in the passage; renewed interest in the narratives led to Butler and Morrison’s writing, not the other way around.

Carolweszxdrcftvb · Answer

3. What distinction(s) does the author make between slave narratives and neo-slave narratives?
Plz explain

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Slave narratives:  The passage describes slave narratives as autobiographical accounts of the lives of slaves who lived primarily in the American South in the early to mid-1800s. Since they are autobiographical, slave narratives are firsthand accounts of the experiences of the authors, who were former slaves.

Neo-slave narratives:  The passage mentions a wave of novels and biographies in the last three decades, referred to as  "neo-slave narratives."  These works, written by modern writers like Toni Morrison and Octavia Butler, offer historical or fictional representations of the lives of slaves. Therefore, some neo-slave narratives may be fictional, meaning they are not firsthand accounts like traditional slave narratives.

Oppenheimer1945 · Answer

In the mid-1900s, fewer people knew about slave narratives than did people in the late 1900s.
- 1900-1950 vs 1950-2000

as per passage : last 3 decades means 30y before 1850 (1820-1850) as per option D

What is mid 1800 and mid 1900?

mid 1800- ~1850
mid 1900 - ~1950
last 3 decades means 30y before 1950 (1920-1950) as per option D

How can you say D is correct?

But as passage talks about mid-1800, (1850). 3 decades before means 1820-1850.

AnuK2222 · Answer

As per passage the last 3 decades refers to last 3 decades since time when passage was written (assuming passage was written in early 2000s-2010s 3 decades ago would mean late 1900s ie 1980s 1990s.

iamchinu97 · Answer

1. According to the passage, each of the following could be described as a slave narrative EXCEPT:

A. an autobiography by a free-born African American man who lived in New Orleans in the 1830s. =>  Correct, As author mentions in this line "autobiographical accounts of the lives of slaves who lived primarily in the American South" So this option can't be used to describe slave narrative. 
B. personal papers of African American field hands who were enslaved in Alabama. 
C. an account of two sisters being auctioned to different plantation owners in rural Georgia.
D. a letter smuggled to an escaped slave from her brother, a slave in South Carolina.
E. the diary of a Mississippi slave who was captured while attempting to escape. =>  Incorrect, as author mentions "The themes addressed in these accounts, which consist of letters, notes, or a diary, frequently included escapes, slave auctions, interactions with plantation owners and abolitionists" so this can be used to describe slave narrative.

iamchinu97 · Answer

2. The author’s description of the characteristics of a slave narrative suggests which of the following conclusions?

A. The work of abolitionists in the northern states helped bring about the publication of slave narratives. =>  Incorrect, As author nowhere mentions about the work of abolitionists and its impact 
B. All of the narratives published in the early to mid-1800s were written by slaves living in southern states. =>  Incorrect, Author mentions that slave narratives 
were taken from the slaves but it does not mean they were published by slaves themselves  
C. Most slave narratives were not published until over a century after they were written. =>  Incorrect, Auhtor nowhere mentions the timeline of publishing slave narratives 
D. In the mid-1900s, fewer people knew about slave narratives than did people in the late 1900s. =>   Correct , Author mentions that in last 3 decades, a renewed awareness of the lives of enslaved African Americans has prompted a wave of novels and biographies that means more people know this in late 1900s 
E. The work of neo-slave narratives such as those by Butler and Morrison has helped to bring attention to older narratives by other writers. =>  Incorrect, Author says renewed interest gave boost to neo-slave narratives there is no mention whether neo-slave narrative brought attention to older narratives.

iamchinu97 · Answer

3. What distinction(s) does the author make between slave narratives and neo-slave narratives?

I. No neo-slave narratives were published in the early to mid-1800s. =>  Author does not mention anything about neo-slave narratives in mid-1800 
II. Neo-slave narratives are written primarily by women, while most slave narratives were written by men. =>  Again no mention of primarily written by women 
III. Some neo-slave narratives are fictional, but all slave narratives are firsthand accounts. =>  Correct Author does mention some neo-slave narratives are fictional, all slave narratives are firsthand accounts so Correct Ans is Only III

Among the earliest published literature by African Americans were

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GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

Among the earliest published literature by African Americans were

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