The apparent contradiction is, in fact, explained before line 29.


This sentence says that elite Californians (i.e. "such women") were portrayed favorably by male, non-Hispanic novelists. Thus, the literary depiction of elite Californianas was favorable.

In contrast, this sentence implies that literary depictions of Mexicans, in general, were unflattering (and, thus, unfavorable), because such unflattering depictions were vital in rallying support for the M-A War.

So we have an apparent contradiction: in general, literary depictions of Mexicans were unflattering, but elite Californianas (Mexican women in California) were portrayed favorably. This is the contradiction described by choice (D) in the first question.
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I just share my opinion, hope it may help somehow.
Paragraph 1: Castañeda finding
while on-Hispanic women being economically displaced by industrialization, Californianasthere was proteced by law.
Paragraph 2: implication of the law
the law helps explain desirous of marrying an elite Californianas over other: economic significance.

Q1: The “apparent contradiction” mentioned in line 29 refers to the discrepancy between the
A. legal status of Mexican women in territorial California and their status in the United States
B. unflattering depiction of Mexicans in novels and the actual public sentiment about the Mexican-American War
C. existence of many marriages between Californianas and non-Hispanic merchants and the strictures against them expressed in novels
D. literary depiction of elite Californianas and the literary depiction of other Mexican individuals
E. novelistic portrayals of elite Californianas’ privileged lives and the actual circumstances of those lives

in the second paragraph, the law helps explain the contradiction between Californianas and the other: " Californianas were portrayed more favorably than were others of the same nationality." choice D does this

Q2: Which of the following could best serve as an example of the kind of fictional plot discussed by Antonia Castañeda?
A. A land speculator of English ancestry weds the daughter of a Mexican vineyard owner after the speculator has migrated to California to seek his fortune.
B. A Californian woman of Hispanic ancestry finds that her agricultural livelihood is threatened when her husband is forced to seek work in a textile mill.
C. A Mexican rancher who loses his land as a result of the Mexican-American War migrates to the northern United States and marries an immigrant schoolteacher.
D. A wealthy Californiana whose father has bequeathed her all his property contends with avaricious relatives for her inheritance.
E. A poor married couple emigrate from French Canada and gradually become wealthy as merchants in territorial California.

in paragraph 2: "Because of their real-life economic significance, the Californianas were portrayed more favorably than were others of the
same nationality."
it clearly tells "economic significance", so choi A: seek fortune
A land speculator of English ancestry weds the daughter of a Mexican vineyard owner after the speculator has migrated to California to seek his fortune

Q3:
Which of the following, if true, would provide the most support for Castañeda’s explanation of the “stereotypical plot” mentioned in lines 18-19?
A. Non-Hispanic traders found business more profitable in California while it was a territory than when it became a state.
B. Very few marriages between Hispanic women and non-Hispanic men in nineteenth-century territorial California have actually been documented.
C. Records from the nineteenth century indicate that some large and valuable properties were owned by elite Californianas in their own right.
D. Unmarried non-Hispanic women in the nineteenth-century United States were sometimes able to control property in their own right.
E. Most of the property in nineteenth-century territorial California was controlled by Hispanic men.

According to the passage, stereotypical plot refers to the reason why the Californianas were portrayed more favorably than were others of the same nationality: economic significant.
- so if scholar found that Californianas were poor, it weakens the explaination.
-If studies found Californianas were rich, it supports the explaination. choice C does this.

generally, this paragraph is hard for me. very happy to see other opinions.
_________________

Kudo is nothing but encouragement!

The “apparent contradiction” mentioned in line 29 refers to the discrepancy between the

A. legal status of Mexican women in territorial California and their status in the United States
B. unflattering depiction of Mexicans in novels and the actual public sentiment about the Mexican-American War
C. existence of many marriages between Californianas and non-Hispanic merchants and the strictures against them expressed in novels
D. literary depiction of elite Californianas and the literary depiction of other Mexican individuals
E. novelistic portrayals of elite Californianas’ privileged lives and the actual circumstances of those lives


"The importance of economic alliances
forged through marriages with Californianas explains
this apparent contradiction. Because of their real-
(30) life economic significance, the Californianas were
portrayed more favorably than were others of the
same nationality."

I we read the above excerpt form the RC we can see that the apparent contradiction was the depiction of elite Californians and other Mexicans .
The paragraph is discussing the role played by elite Californians in getting support for American-Mexican war .
_________________

Please give kudos if you found my answers useful

Hi faced difficulty in answering First Question itself ,I hope You can help here-

The below Sentence in the Paragraph is quite Confusing For me The importance of economic alliances forged through marriages with Californianas explains this apparent contradiction. The use of word "This " here , From my perspective if we have word this then that thing is already explained before not in the following sentence.

I spent my time in searching answer before this sentence but i was wrong. Please help.

Wow that was a toughie... managed 2/3 in 8+ minutes!!
_________________

Kudos if you like my post

P1 - AC women study; male author perception; hispanic women are doing better.
P2 - non-hispanic male marry hispanic lady. contrast. explanation.

(Book Question: 89)
The “ apparent contradiction” mentioned in line 29 refers to the discrepancy between the
Because of their real-life economic significance, the Californianas were portrayed more favourably than were others of the same nationality.
D. literary depiction of elite Californianas and the literary depiction of other Mexican individuals -

----------------------------------------------
(Book Question: 90)
Which of the following could best serve as an example of the kind of fictional plot discussed by Antonia Castañeda?

the story of an ambitious non-hispanic merchant or trader desirous of marrying an elite Californiana.

A. A land speculator of English ancestry weds the daughter of a Mexican vineyard owner after the speculator has migrated to California to seek his fortune.
----------------------------------------------

(Book Question: 91)
Which of the following, if true, would provide the most support for Castañeda’s explanation of the “stereotypical plot” mentioned in lines 18-19?
the story of an ambitious non-hispanic merchant or trader desirous of marrying an elite Californiana.
PT - if some proof found on the same lines, - ambitious non-hispanic merchant, marrying an elite Californiana, economically it should be good.

A. Non-Hispanic traders found business more profitable in California while it was a territory than when it became a state. --- this can be a general argument.
B. Very few marriages between Hispanic women and non-Hispanic men in nineteenth-century territorial California have actually been documented. - far from anything.
C. Records from the nineteenth century indicate that some large and valuable properties were owned by elite Californianas in their own right.- on the lines of PT.
D. Unmarried non-Hispanic women in the nineteenth-century United States were sometimes able to control property in their own right. - hispanic women is focus.
E. Most of the property in nineteenth-century territorial California was controlled by Hispanic men. - non-hispanic is focus.
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Thanks!
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Simple strategy:
“Once you’ve eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”

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