Recently, linguists have begun to focus on differences evident in many

Question

Recently, linguists have begun to focus on differences evident in many cultures in the ways men and women speak, and on the ways that men and women exercise power through control of certain key speech genres. One example of such exercise of power appears in the culture of the Warao, an indigenous people of Venezuela. Through the custom of ritual mourning, in which lamentations are composed and sung exclusively by women, Warao women command an important and highly public forum for commenting on and affecting social processes.

The ritual inversion of ordinary discourse and social patterns that characterizes mourning provides women, who do not hold formal positions of authority in Warao culture, with a public forum parallel to that of community officials. Death moves all survivors except the singers of the laments to the margins of life, and normal activities are suspended. Food is neither procured nor eaten, and the house in which the mourning takes place becomes a spatial representation of such inversion, as the cooking fire is extinguished and the area becomes a funeral parlor. With normal activities suspended, the full attention of the community is directed to the lamentations.

Warao women, who otherwise are seldom involved in public discourse, use this forum to powerful effect. Because reported (or invented) conversations between community members form a large part of the laments, the singers are able to reformulate and characterize the speech of others, as well as present their own views of events.  In one lament, for example, the singer offers her own positive interpretation of her deceased son's behavior while characterizing community pfficials' discussions of that behavior not as the authoritative discourse of leaders but as idle talk."  Warao mourners also use irony as an effective verbal strategy: they may, for example, use mocking epithets in reference to high-ranking figures. They undermine points of view with which they disagree by presenting them in a highly exaggerated fashion. Frequently, the laments explicitly lead to particular courses of action—one lament blaming youths from a neighboring township for the death of a local boy resulted in the banning of those youths from the mourners' community.   1  1. The passage suggests which of the following about the lament discussed in the highlighted text?

(A) The singer was renowned for her effective use of irony.
(B) Relatives of the deceased had asked the singer to express her own view of events.
(C) Community officials had spoken disapprovingly of the behavior of the singer's son.
(D) The singer's son had used mocking epithets in reference to high-ranking figures.
(E) The death of the singer's son had been caused by youths from a neighboring township.

2 
 2. Which of the following is mentioned in the passage as an important component of Warao lamentations?

(A) Elaborate metaphor
(B) Actual or fictional dialogue
(C) Direct address to the deceased
(D) Comedic narrative
(E) Complicated rhythmic patterning

3 
 3. The passage suggests all of the following about Warao mourning lamentations EXCEPT:

(A) Different lamentations are composed for different circumstances.
(B) Dialogue is an important feature of the lamentations.
(C) The lamentations reflect the opinions of the community authorities.
(D) The lamentations are heard by many members of the community.
(E) The lamentations mention other figures in addition to the deceased.

4 
 4. Which of the following best states the main idea of the passage?

(A) The custom of ritual mourning affords Warao women an influential role within their communities.
(B) The Warao custom of ritual mourning has inspired linguists to focus on differences in the ways men and women speak.
(C) Among the Warao people, ritual mourning serves to undermine the authority of community officials.
(D) Linguists have recently begun to realize that men and women speak in different ways in the mourning customs of many cultures.
(E) In many cultures, the ability to reformulate and characterize the speech of others conveys public authority.

whatsarc · Accepted Answer

2. Which of the following is mentioned in the passage as an important component of Warao lamentations?

(A) Elaborate metaphor
 (B) Actual or fictional dialogue    (Because reported (or invented) conversations between community members form a...) 
(C) Direct address to the deceased
(D) Comedic narrative
(E) Complicated rhythmic patterning

Aditi.S · Answer

4. Which of the following best states the main idea of the passage?

Please explain why answer choice B is incorrect.

whatsarc · Answer

Recently, linguists have begun to focus on differences evident in many cultures in the ways men and women speak, and on the ways that men and women exercise power through control of certain key speech genres. One example of such exercise of power appears in the culture of the Warao, an indigenous people of Venezuela. Through the custom of ritual mourning, in which lamentations are composed and sung exclusively by women, Warao women command an important and highly public forum for commenting on and affecting social processes.

4. Which of the following best states the main idea of the passage?

(B) The Warao custom of ritual mourning has inspired linguists to focus on differences in the ways men and women speak. 
If you see, there is no sentence that says the ritual mourning has inspred the linguits. Infact, the linguits have begun to focus and then they cite the ritual as an example. This is reveresal of cause and effect. Hence wrong.

UnicornAngel · Answer

Can someone please explain answer to Q1?
if Community officials had spoken disapprovingly of the behavior of the singer's son., wouldn't the woman undermine points of view with which she disagrees by presenting them in a highly exaggerated fashion? but she  didn't  do that. she only characterized community officials' discussions of that behavior not as the authoritative discourse of leaders but as idle talk.

ZohraBanu · Answer

2. Which of the following is mentioned in the passage as an important component of Warao lamentations?

(A) Elaborate metaphor
(B) Actual or fictional dialogue 
(C) Direct address to the deceased
(D) Comedic narrative
(E) Complicated rhythmic patterning

can any one please explain all the options , how did b turns up to be a correct one ?

sayan640 · Answer

KarishmaB   MartyMurray  I was confused with the option A and B for the question no. 4 .

4. Which of the following best states the main idea of the passage?

(A) The custom of ritual mourning affords Warao women an influential role within their communities.
(B) The Warao custom of ritual mourning has inspired linguists to focus on differences in the ways men and women speak.
(C) Among the Warao people, ritual mourning serves to undermine the authority of community officials.
(D) Linguists have recently begun to realize that men and women speak in different ways in the mourning customs of many cultures.
(E) In many cultures, the ability to reformulate and characterize the speech of others conveys public authority.

Then I went with option B. Can you please cite which sentence shows the B is not answer and A is answer for the question no 4 ?

MansiVaid · Answer

I have the following doubts :
1.Can someone explain why the main idea of the passage cannot be E? As the passage talks mainly about the Warao culture as an example of the fact that speech yields power 
2. The passage mentions that the singer does reformulize what was spoken about her son. Hence the lamentations do reflect the opinions of communit authorities right?

sachi-in · Answer

1. The passage is about the idea that speech yeilds power and in some cases bestows power to people who don't hold high authority in the community.
  The passage explores Warao culture as an example of this and the passage focus and explores this for Warao. 
  Hence passage is about the   custom of ritual mourning - NOT the reformulating ( which is one of the techniques used by mourners )

Option E says : Passage is about - In many cultures, the   ability to reformulate and characterize the speech of others conveys public authority.
  
 But the Passage says: the singers are able to reformulate and characterize the speech of others, as well as present their own views of events

Bestowing the exclusive right to speak in public during mournings  (is the power that also enables them to reformulate and charecterize the speech of others) is the  main Idea  passage entirely talks about and explores this aspect specifically for Warao community ( one of the ways Warao women excercise this power is by reformulating )

About 2. I request someone to explain the solution to Question 3. Please. Thanks in advance !

Saloni9453 · Answer

Can someone explain Q3 - I am unable to find A option hence ended up selecting A

atulpatel · Answer

Hi,

Got 4/4 correct, let me give it a try to answer this question.

E- No discussion on rhythmic patterns
D- No mention of comic tone either 
C- Yes but also used to address the community and few officials of the community too
B- Actual- narrating an actual event ex- death of a boy, fictional dialogues could be religious laments for mourning, personal views, stories, etc. Hence, B is correct.
A- Elaborate Metaphor- Does not work here, Laments are used to express one's personal views.

Hope this helps.

Thanks

Fullridedreams · Answer

I do not understand Q2. The only way that I can see it being a better choice over A is that the words "reported (or invented) conversations" could be taken to mean the same as "Actual or fictional dialogue", but invented is more understood to be a word used in a real context. Someone invented the computer, someone invented the GMAT, someone invented GMAT Club. I think the passage should have said "reported (or imagined) conversations" given that the other language in the question stem was different than the passage already.

I chose A because of "They undermine points of view with which they disagree by presenting them in a highly exaggerated fashion". I think that makes good reasoning for an "elaborate metaphor", but I am just upset I got this wrong XD

I chose A because of "They undermine points of view with which they disagree by presenting them in a highly exaggerated fashion". I think that makes good reasoning for an "elaborate metaphor", but I am just upset I got this wrong XD

Sujithz001 · Answer

bb   GMATNinja   KarishmaB   chetan2u  Can anyone please explain this whole RC? Having a hard time understanding it.

Nipunh · Answer

Detailed Answers and Explanations

Question 1: 
The passage suggests which of the following about the lament discussed in the highlighted text?

(A) The singer was renowned for her effective use of irony. 
(B) Relatives of the deceased had asked the singer to express her own view of events. 
(C) Community officials had spoken disapprovingly of the behavior of the singer's son. 
(D) The singer's son had used mocking epithets in reference to high-ranking figures. 
(E) The death of the singer's son had been caused by youths from a neighboring township.

Correct Answer: (C) Community officials had spoken disapprovingly of the behavior of the singer's son.

Explanation: 
The highlighted text states that in one lament, "the singer offers her own positive interpretation of her deceased son's behavior while characterizing community officials' discussions of that behavior not as the authoritative discourse of leaders but as 'idle talk.'" This suggests that community officials had previously spoken negatively about the son's behavior, which the singer attempts to reframe in a more favorable light.

(A) Incorrect – The passage does mention that irony is used in laments, but there is no specific mention of this particular singer being renowned for her use of irony. 
(B) Incorrect – There is no evidence in the passage that the relatives of the deceased requested the singer to express her views. 
(C) Correct – The passage explicitly states that the singer reinterprets community officials' discussions as "idle talk," which indicates they had disapproved of her son's behavior. 
(D) Incorrect – There is no mention in the passage of the singer’s son using mocking epithets for high-ranking figures. 
(E) Incorrect – The passage does mention a lament that led to the banning of youths from a neighboring township, but it does not state that this particular lament was about the singer’s son.

Question 2: 
Which of the following is mentioned in the passage as an important component of Warao lamentations?

(A) Elaborate metaphor 
(B) Actual or fictional dialogue 
(C) Direct address to the deceased 
(D) Comedic narrative 
(E) Complicated rhythmic patterning

Correct Answer: (B) Actual or fictional dialogue.

Explanation: 
The passage states that "reported (or invented) conversations between community members form a large part of the laments," meaning that actual or fictional dialogue is a key component of these ritual songs.

(A) Incorrect – The passage does not mention elaborate metaphor as a feature of the laments. 
(B) Correct – The passage explicitly states that both real and fictional dialogue are used in the laments. 
(C) Incorrect – The passage does not indicate that the lament directly addresses the deceased. 
(D) Incorrect – The passage mentions irony and mocking epithets but does not describe the laments as comedic. 
(E) Incorrect – The passage does not discuss rhythmic patterning in the laments.

Question 3: 
The passage suggests all of the following about Warao mourning lamentations EXCEPT:

(A) Different lamentations are composed for different circumstances. 
(B) Dialogue is an important feature of the lamentations. 
(C) The lamentations reflect the opinions of the community authorities. 
(D) The lamentations are heard by many members of the community. 
(E) The lamentations mention other figures in addition to the deceased.

Correct Answer: (C) The lamentations reflect the opinions of the community authorities.

Explanation: 
The passage suggests that lamentations offer an alternative or even oppositional perspective to that of community officials. For example, in one lament, the singer presents her own positive interpretation of her deceased son's behavior while dismissing the community officials’ opinions as "idle talk." This indicates that the laments do not necessarily reflect the views of community authorities but rather provide a separate or counter-narrative.

(A) Correct – The passage describes different lamentations, such as one that blamed youths from a neighboring township, implying that lamentations vary based on circumstances. 
(B) Correct – The passage states that reported or fictional conversations are a key part of the lamentations. 
(C) Incorrect – The passage suggests that laments can challenge rather than reflect community authorities' opinions. 
(D) Correct – The passage mentions that the full attention of the community is directed toward the laments. 
(E) Correct – The passage states that the lamentations mention community officials and other figures besides the deceased.

Question 4: 
Which of the following best states the main idea of the passage?

(A) The custom of ritual mourning affords Warao women an influential role within their communities. 
(B) The Warao custom of ritual mourning has inspired linguists to focus on differences in the ways men and women speak. 
(C) Among the Warao people, ritual mourning serves to undermine the authority of community officials. 
(D) Linguists have recently begun to realize that men and women speak in different ways in the mourning customs of many cultures. 
(E) In many cultures, the ability to reformulate and characterize the speech of others conveys public authority.

Correct Answer: (A) The custom of ritual mourning affords Warao women an influential role within their communities.

Explanation: 
The passage primarily discusses how Warao women, who do not typically hold positions of authority, use ritual mourning as a platform to express their perspectives and influence social processes. The fact that these laments can lead to specific actions (e.g., banning youths from a neighboring township) demonstrates their impact.

(A) Correct – The passage emphasizes how Warao women, despite their lack of formal authority, gain influence through ritual mourning. 
(B) Incorrect – While the passage mentions linguists' interest in gendered speech differences, this is not the central theme. 
(C) Incorrect – The passage does not claim that the purpose of ritual mourning is to undermine authority; rather, it provides women with a parallel forum to express their views. 
(D) Incorrect – The passage does not focus on mourning customs in many cultures, but rather on the specific practices of the Warao. 
(E) Incorrect – While reformulating and characterizing speech is an aspect of the laments, the passage specifically focuses on how this allows Warao women to gain influence, rather than making a general claim about all cultures.

Final Answers Summary: 
1. (C) Community officials had spoken disapprovingly of the behavior of the singer's son. 
2. (B) Actual or fictional dialogue. 
3. (C) The lamentations reflect the opinions of the community authorities. (This is the exception) 
4. (A) The custom of ritual mourning affords Warao women an influential role within their communities.

rishabmsaini · Answer

EXPLANATION to Q2

This is a "Detail" question. That means your goal is to: find a specific fact or claim that is directly stated in the passage, not something you can infer.
You want to find the part of the passage that talks about "what Warao lamentations consist of", especially anything the author explicitly highlights as important.
Let’s pull out the key lines: "Because reported (or invented) conversations between community members form a large part of the laments, the singers are able to reformulate and characterize the speech of others..."
That phrase "form a large part of the laments” is a clear signal that this is a key component.

(A) Elaborate metaphor: There’s no mention of metaphor at all, let alone "elaborate" ones.
❌ Eliminate.

(B) Actual or fictional dialogue: This is directly supported by the line:
"Reported (or invented) conversations between community members form a large part of the laments..."
That’s exactly what this choice is saying: actual or fictional dialogue.
✅ Keep.

(C) Direct address to the deceased: The passage focuses on commenting on social events and people, not on speaking to the dead.
❌ Eliminate.

(D) Comedic narrative: No reference to "comedic" anything. In fact, the tone is "solemn and ironic", not funny.
❌ Eliminate.

(E) Complicated rhythmic patterning: Again, there's no mention of rhythm or meter in the passage.
❌ Eliminate.

✅ Final Answer: (B)

Hope this helps!

viditzzz · Answer

passage doesnt deal with men, also it is just a small part not the main idea of the passage.

APram · Answer

Yes!!!
Actually we cannot eliminate the answer just because it is mentioned in some part of passage 
But if it is too narrow choice as a whole then definitely we should look out for better choice.

Recently, linguists have begun to focus on differences evident in many

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GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

Recently, linguists have begun to focus on differences evident in many

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