Amsden has divided Navajo weaving into four distinct styles. He argues

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P1

A has identified 4 different weaving styles: 3 are similar for the usage of horizontal bands and one is characterized by a distinct border surrounding dominant figures.


Brief summary: A's classification

P2

We are given the time frames in which the diamond and the bordered style became popular. These 2 had to do with the anglo influence and the increasing popularity of rugs.
We also know that the navajo did not like the anglo desire according to which everything had to have a bottom, top and border

Brief summary: time frame of diamond and bordered style and influence of rugs and anglos

P3

In this para we are given the opinion of A about the change from the 3 similar styles to the border one. A claims that there was an absolute change between the 2 styles and the rest of the paragraph explains why.

Brief summary: A's opinion about the border style vs the other 3

P4

Paragraph 4 starts questioning A's view. the author wonders what happens when an artistic style changes. Usually a good analysis involves studying the habits and mental process of the artists and these habits and processes are supposed to change BUT this does not happen with the case at hand. We are also given that weavers are limited by the physical conditions of the weaving process

Brief summary: One doubt is cast on A's interpretation about the change in style from D to B

P5

Para 5 further doubts A's view according to which there was a break in psychology when there was the transition from D to B. The author states that when an artist exhausts the principles related to a specific artistic style, such artists will look for new ones but not necessary different ones.

Brief summary: Doubt #2 is cast

P6

Para 6 casts the last doubt on A's view. The author suggests that there is not a big stylistic gap between the banded and the bordered style. This claim is supported by the fact that there was a blanket realized prior to the contact with anglos that adopted the diamond style but anticipated the bordered style

Brief summary:

Author suggests no big stylistic gap between banded and bordered style


Main point

The main point is to evaluate A's study/interpretation

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1. The author’s central thesis is that

Pre-thinking

Main point question

Refer to main point above


(A) the Navajo rejected the stylistic influences of Anglo culture
Not in line with pre-thinking

(B) Navajo weaving cannot be classified by Amsden’s categories
too extreme

(C) the Navajo changed their style of weaving because they sought the challenge of new artistic problems
Not in line with pre-thinking

(D) original motor habits and thought processes limit the extent to which a style can be revised
Not in line with pre-thinking

(E) the casual factors leading to the emergence of the bordered style are not as clear-cut as Amsden suggests
in line with pre-thinking

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2. It can be inferred from the passage that Amsden views the use of “strips of color” (Highlighted) in the early bordered style as

Pre-thinking

Inference question

An indication that the navajos abhorred a cultural preference typical of the anglos.


(A) a sign of resistance to a change in style
in line with pre-thinking

(B) an echo of the diamond style
Not in line with pre-thinking

(C) a feature derived from Anglo culture
Not in line with pre-thinking

(D) an attempt to disintegrate the rigid form of the banded style
Not in line with pre-thinking

(E) a means of differentiating the top of the weaving from the bottom
Not in line with pre-thinking

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3. The author’s view of Navajo weaving suggests which one of the following?

Pre-thinking

Inference question

We know that the author does not agree with A on several things such as the change in style from the banded to the bordered style


(A) The appearance of the first trading post on the Navajo reservation coincided with the appearance of the diamond style.
out of scope

(B) Traces of thought processes and motor habits of one culture can generally be found in the art of another culture occupying the same period and region.
out of scope

(C) The bordered style may have developed gradually from the banded style as a result of Navajo experiencing with design.
in line with pre-thinking and can be inferred from last para

(D) The influence of Anglo culture was not the only non-Native American influence on Navajo weaving.
Not in line with pre-thinking

(E) Horizontal and vertical rows of diamond forms were transformed by the Navajos into solid lines to create the bordered style.
Not in line with pre-thinking

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4. According to the passage, Navajo weavings made prior to 1890 typically were characterized by all of the following EXCEPT

Pre-thinking

Detail question

The bordered style.


(A) repetition of forms
Not in line with pre-thinking

(B) overall patterns
Not in line with pre-thinking

(C) horizontal bands
Not in line with pre-thinking

(D) isolated figures
Isolated figures are typical of the bordered style, hence correct

(E) use of color
Not in line with pre-thinking

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5. The author would most probably agree with which one of the following conclusions about the stylistic development of Navajo weaving?

Pre-thinking

Inference question

[b]A pre-thought inference is that the change was gradual and not psychological
[/b]

(A) The styles of Navajo weaving changed in response to changes in Navajo motor habits and thought processes.
Not in line with pre-thinking

(B) The zigzag style was the result of stylistic influences from Anglo culture.
Not in line with pre-thinking

(C) Navajo weaving used isolated figures in the beginning, but combined naturalistic and abstract designs in later styles.
Not in line with pre-thinking

(D) Navajo weaving changed gradually from a style in which the entire surface was covered by horizontal bands to one in which central figures dominated the surface.
in line with pre-thinking

(E) The styles of Navajo weaving always contained some type of isolated figure.
Not in line with pre-thinking


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6. The author suggests that Amsden’s claim that borders in Navajo weaving were inspired by Anglo culture could be

Pre-thinking

Inference question

According to the last example in the last para the author suggests that anglos do not have anything to do with the change


(A) conceived as a response to imagined correspondences between Anglo and Navajo art
Not in line with pre-thinking

(B) biased by Amsden’s feelings about Anglo culture
Not in line with pre-thinking

(C) a result of Amsden’s failing to take into account certain aspects of Navajo weaving
in line with pre-thinking

(D) based on a limited number of specimens of the styles of Navajo weaving
Not in line with pre-thinking

(E) based on a confusion between the stylistic features of the zigzag and diamond styles
Not in line with pre-thinking

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7. The author most probably mentions the Chief White Antelope blanket in order to

Pre-thinking

Purpose question

The aim is to suggest that anglos did not influence that much the weaving change occurred among navajos


(A) establish the credit influence of Anglo culture on the bordered style
Not in line with pre-thinking

(B) cast doubts on the claim that the bordered style arose primarily from Anglo influence
in line with pre-thinking

(C) cite an example of a blanket with a central design and no border
Not in line with pre-thinking

(D) suggest that the Anglo influence produced significant changes in the two earliest styles of Navajo weaving
Not in line with pre-thinking

(E) illustrate how the Navajo had exhausted the stylistic possibilities of the diamond style
Not in line with pre-thinking


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8. The passage is primarily concerned with

Pre-thinking

Main point question

Refer to main point above


(A) comparing and contrasting different styles
Not in line with pre-thinking

(B) questioning a view of how a style came into being
in line with pre-thinking

(C) proposing alternative methods of investigating the evolution of styles
Not in line with pre-thinking

(D) discussing the influence of one culture on another
Not in line with pre-thinking

(E) analyzing the effect of the interaction between two different cultures
Not in line with pre-thinking


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