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Official Explanation
Topic and Scope
How writing has influenced human consciousness
Mapping the Passage
Para 1 and 2 note that writing was once considered an ―alien‖ technology by outlining Plato‘s objections to it.
Para 3 introduces the author‘s thesis that writing has transformed human consciousness by explaining that thought processes for those who can read depend on writing.
Para 4 argues that human consciousness depends on writing to achieve its full potential, and argues that technology in general can enhance human life.
Para 5 describes how people in a completely oral culture function and gives an example of an intermediate between oral and written cultures.
Q1). In paragraph 5 of the passage, the author mentions Hesiod (Highlighted) in order to:
Explanation
An evaluation question. What is the purpose of mentioning Hesiod at the end of Para 5? The author describes Hesiod as ―intermediate between oral Homeric Greece and fully developed Greek literacy,‖ and immediately before says that ―the more sophisticated orally patterned thought is, the more likely it is likely to be marked by set expressions skillfully used. Paraphrase all this: Hesiod is an example of an oral culture that produced sophisticated thought in sophisticated patterns. (B)paraphrases this.
(A): Distortion. The author suggests that oral poets relied more on ―set expressions skillfully used,‖ but this doesn't mean that oral poets were more creative overall than those who wrote. In fact, the author would certainly argue that the ability to write could only enhance consciousness and vocabulary, and by extension, creativity.
(B): The correct answer
(C): Opposite. Though Hesiod is described as the product of a culture midway between the oral and the written, the author never argues that this is the ideal society. The author believes that writing is important to full human consciousness, and so any ideal society would presumably have to include writing.
(D): Opposite. The author argues in Para 5 that mnemonics are essential to ―retaining and retrieving carefully articulated thought, and therefore must be very successful memory devices.
(E): Extreme language. The author never states this.
ANSWER: B
Q2). According to the author, an important difference between oral and literate cultures can be expressed in terms of:
Explanation
Review the differences between oral and written cultures, which are mentioned throughout the passage. (A) represents a major difference that author discusses in a few places. The author notes in Para 5 that oral culture depends on mnemonic patterns to remember, and in para 2 the author quotes an ancient objection to writing: ―writing destroys memory. Oral cultures, therefore, rely extensively on memory while written cultures much less so.
(A): The correct answer
(B): Out of Scope. The author doesn't discuss chaotic thought in the passage, noting that thought in oral culture is highly structured.
(C): Out of Scope. The author suggests that writing enables more complex thought, but suggests in para 5 that some oral language can be highly sophisticated and complex.
(D): Out of Scope. The author only draws distinctions between level of advancement in thought; there‘s no suggestion that either type of communication is barbaric.
(E): Not mentioned in the passage
ANSWER: A
Q3). The author refers to Plato in the first and second paragraphs. He brings the philosopher up primarily in order to:
Explanation
What role does Plato serve in Para 1 and 2? The author says that ―essentially the same objections…were urged by Plato…against writing. The prediction is easy: Plato is used to introduce ancient objections to writing. (B) paraphrases this closely.
(A): Out of Scope. The author doesn't discuss whether Plato‘s philosophy was literate or oral, and Plato is clearly used as more than an example of a type of philosophy: he‘s the source of objections to writing in general.
(B): The correct answer
(C): Out of Scope. The author doesn‘t suggest that Plato‘s objections are misconceptions, and in fact seems to agree with the assertion that writing makes memory less important when discussing oral memorization in para 5.
(D): Out of Scope. The author wants to show similarities between writing and computer technology; there‘s no mention of any differences.
(E): Opposite as explained in B above
ANSWER: B
Q4). The passage is primarily concerned with
Explanation
A main idea question, E sums up the passage really well as is evident from our passage map.
(A): The passage is not concerned with criticizing anyone
(B): Close but not as clearly worded as option E
(C): Opposite. The passage actually attempts to show the connection between writing and consciousness
(D): The passage never discusses the negative effects of writing
ANSWER: E
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