With their recognition of Maxine Hong Kingston as a major literary fig

Question

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October 2008, Passage #3: Chinese Talk-story 
This passage covers Maxine Hong Kingston and the literary antecedents of her writings in Chinese talk-stories. While the passage wasn’t overly absorbing, the eight questions were where the real difficulty appeared, and many students struggled between two or more answers on more than one occasion. Overall, after reading the passage, most students wanted nothing more to do with Kingston or her stories.

With their recognition of Maxine Hong Kingston as a major literary figure, some critics have suggested that her works have been produced almost ex nihilo, saying that they lack a large traceable body of direct literary antecedents especially within the Chinese American heritage in which her work is embedded. But these critics, who have examined only the development of written texts, the most visible signs of a culture’s narrative production, have overlooked Kingston’s connection to the long Chinese tradition of a highly developed genre of song and spoken narrative known as “talk-story” (gong gu tsai).

Traditionally performed in the dialects of various ethnic enclaves, talk-story has been maintained within the confines of the family and has rarely surfaced into print. The tradition dates back to Sung dynasty (A.D.970–1279) storytellers in China, and in the United States it is continually revitalized by an overlapping sequence of immigration from China. Thus, Chinese immigrants to the U.S. had a fully established, sophisticated oral culture, already ancient and capable of producing masterpieces, by the time they began arriving in the early nineteenth century. This transplanted oral heritage simply embraced new subject matter or new forms of Western discourse, as in the case of Kingston’s adaptations written in English.

Kingston herself believes that as a literary artist she is one in a long line of performers shaping a recalcitrant history into talk-story form. She distinguishes her “thematic” storytelling memory processes, which sift and reconstruct the essential elements of  personally remembered stories , from the memory processes of a print-oriented culture that emphasizes the retention of precise sequences of words. Nor does the entry of print into the storytelling process substantially change her notion of the character of oral tradition. For Kingston, “writer” is synonymous with “singer” or “performer” in the ancient sense of privileged keeper, transmitter, and creator of stories whose current stage of development can be frozen in print, but which continue to grow both around and from that frozen text.

Kingston’s participation in the tradition of talk-story is evidenced in her book China Men, which utilizes forms typical of that genre and common to most oral cultures including: a fixed “grammar” of repetitive themes; a spectrum of stock characters; symmetrical structures, including balanced oppositions (verbal or physical contests, antithetical characters, dialectical discourse such as question-answer forms and riddles); and repetition.  In China Men, Kingston also succeeds in investing idiomatic English with the allusive texture and oral-aural qualities of the Chinese language, a language rich in aural and visual puns, making her work a written form of talk-story.   1 
 A 
 1. Which one of the following most accurately states the main point of the passage?

(A) Despite some critics’ comments, Kingston’s writings have significant Chinese American antecedents, which can be found in the traditional oral narrative form known as talk-story. 
(B) Analysis of Kingston’s writings, especially China Men, supports her belief that literary artists can be performers who continue to reconstruct their stories even after they have been frozen in print. 
(C) An understanding of Kingston’s work and of Chinese American writers in general reveals that critics of ethnic literatures in the United States have been mistaken in examining only written texts. 
(D) Throughout her writings Kingston uses techniques typical of the talk-story genre, especially the retention of certain aspects of Chinese speech in the written English text. 
(E) The writings of Kingston have rekindled an interest in talk-story, which dates back to the Sung dynasty, and was extended to the United States with the arrival of Chinese immigrants in the nineteenth century.

2 
 D 
 2 Which one of the following can be most reasonably inferred from the passage?

(A) In the last few years, written forms of talk-story have appeared in Chinese as often as they have in English. 
(B) Until very recently, scholars have held that oral storytelling in Chinese ethnic enclaves was a unique oral tradition. 
(C) Talk-story has developed in the United States through a process of combining Chinese, Chinese American, and other oral storytelling forms. 
(D) Chinese American talk-story relies upon memory processes that do not emphasize the retention of precise sequences of words. 
(E) The connection between certain aspects of Kingston’s work and talk-story is argued by some critics to be rather tenuous and questionable.

3 
 C 
 3. It can be inferred from the passage that the author uses the phrase “personally remembered stories” ( Highlighted ) primarily to refer to

(A) a literary genre of first-person storytelling 
(B) a thematically organized personal narrative of one’s own past 
(C) partially idiosyncratic memories of narratives 
(D) the retention in memory of precise sequences of words 
(E) easily identifiable thematic issues in literature

4 
 B 
 4. In which one of the following is the use of cotton fibers or cotton cloth most analogous to Kingston’s use of the English language as described in lines 42–46?

(A) Scraps of plain cotton cloth are used to create a multicolored quilt. 
(B) The surface texture of woolen cloth is simulated in a piece of cotton cloth by a special process of weaving. 
(C) Because of its texture, cotton cloth is used for a certain type of clothes for which linen is inappropriate. 
(D) In making a piece of cloth, cotton fiber is substituted for linen because of the roughly similar texture of the two materials. 
(E) Because of their somewhat similar textures, cotton and linen fibers are woven together in a piece of cloth to achieve a savings in price over a pure linen cloth.

5 
 C 
 5. The passage most clearly suggests that Kingston believes which one of the following about at least some of the stories contained in her writings?

(A) Since they are intimately tied to the nature of the Chinese language, they can be approximated, but not adequately expressed, in English. 
(B) They should be thought of primarily as ethnic literature and evaluated accordingly by critics. 
(C) They will likely be retold and altered to some extent in the process. 
(D) Chinese American history is best chronicled by traditional talk-story. 
(E) Their significance and beauty cannot be captured at all in written texts.

6 
 D 
 6. The author’s argument in the passage would be most weakened if which one of the following were true?

(A) Numerous writers in the United States have been influenced by oral traditions. 
(B) Most Chinese American writers’ work is very different from Kingston’s. 
(C) Native American storytellers use narrative devices similar to those used in talk-story. 
(D) China Men is for the most part atypical of Kingston’s literary works. 
(E) Literary critics generally appreciate the authenticity of Kingston’s work.

7 
 B 
 7. The author’s specific purpose in detailing typical talk-story forms ( Text in red ) is to

(A) show why Kingston’s book China Men establishes her as a major literary figure 
(B) support the claim that Kingston’s use of typically oral techniques makes her work a part of the talk-story tradition 
(C) dispute the critics’ view that Chinese American literature lacks literary antecedents 
(D) argue for Kingston’s view that the literary artist is at best a “privileged keeper” of stories 
(E) provide an alternative to certain critics’ view that Kingston’s work should be judged primarily as literature

8 
 A 
 8. Which one of the following most accurately identifies the attitude shown by the author in the passage toward talk-story?

(A) scholarly appreciation for its longstanding artistic sophistication 
(B) mild disappointment that it has not distinguished itself from other oral traditions 
(C) tentative approval of its resistance to critical evaluations 
(D) clear respect for the diversity of its ancient sources and cultural derivations 
(E) open admiration for the way it uses song to express narrative

Source:   LSAT Official PrepTest 55   ( October 2008 ) 
 Difficulty Level:   700

Sajjad1994 · Accepted Answer

Explanation

Discussion

The opening paragraph of this passage introduced the Topic through some critics’ view and the Scope through the author’s contentious response.  The Topic is Maxine Hong Kingston’s work.  The critics’ view is that it shows no influence from Chinese American heritage. The author’s response (and the introduction of the Scope) is introduced with the Contrast Keyword  “but”  (line 5). The author argues that the critics have  “overlooked”  (line 8) the influence of talk-story, a traditional Chinese oral literature style.

The long, final sentence of the first paragraph actually functions as the passage’s thesis statement, giving us the author’s Purpose and Main Idea at the outset: to argue against critics who deny Kingston’s inheritance of Chinese American heritage by showing how she used  “talk-story.”  The remainder of the passage offers support for this contention.

Paragraph 2  tells the story of talk-story. The author gives details of the genre’s origins in order to establish (as indicated by the Logic Keyword  “thus”  in line 16) that Chinese immigrants to the United States would have been familiar and comfortable with talk-story. Immigrants  “simply”  (line 20) applied the events of their new lives to this oral narrative style, and  “the case of”  Maxine Hong Kingston shows this process applied in writing.

We learn in  Paragraph 3  that Kingston identifies herself as an inheritor of talk-story. This paragraph is anchored by Kingston’s contrast—signaled by the Contrast Keyword  “distinguishes”  in line 25—between the personal nature of memory in the oral tradition and the linear, sequential nature of memory in print cultures. The author supports this point with an example: Kingston continues to think of  “writer”  as a synonym of  “singer”  or  “performer.”

In the  final paragraph , the author details how one of Kingston’s books—China Men—exemplifies the passage’s thesis. The author cites four similarities between China Men and talk-story: fixed themes, stock characters, symmetrical structures, and repetition. It is all but inevitable that the testmakers will ask us a question or two about such a list. Additionally—the author uses the Continuation Keyword  “also”  in line 52 to indicate the function of what follows—the writing in China Men has an oral tradition  “sound”  to it.

1. Which one of the following most accurately states the main point of the passage?

Difficulty Level:   650

Explanation

An author may sum up the main point early or late in a passage.

While we are always prepared to tackle Global questions immediately after completing our passage Roadmap, we especially welcome them in cases where the author has stated the Main Idea explicitly. Here, the author gave us the main point as a thesis statement at the end of the first paragraph. Our paraphrase of that sentence provides the ideal prediction: The critics who say Kingston’s work shows no Chinese heritage are wrong because her work shows the influence of talkstory.  The correct answer, (A) , paraphrases this in only slightly different words.

(B)  By eliding the dispute with the critics over the role (or lack thereof) of Chinese heritage in Kingston’s work, this answer is too narrow to reflect the passage’s main point. Kingston’s beliefs about authors are in the passage to support the author’s contention that she has inherited a Chinese literary tradition.

(C)  The author could agree with this answer choice, but it distorts the main point expressed in the passage, which is that Kingston’s work shows the influence of a traditional genre, not that a new kind of literary analysis should be done.

(D)  This answer goes wrong on two counts. First, it misses the dispute with the critics. Second, the word “especially” distorts the author’s reference to the retention of the texture and qualities of Chinese speech in China Men. This retention was one of several features that demonstrated the book’s affinity with talk-story, and not necessarily the most noteworthy.

(E)  Here’s another answer that misses the author’s Purpose of rebutting the critics. The notion that Kingston’s writing has “rekindled interest” in talk-story is well outside the Scope of this passage.

Answer: A

2. Which one of the following can be most reasonably inferred from the passage?

Difficulty Level:   700

Explanation

Here we have an Inference question with no clear referent reading clue in the stem. This is always an indication that the question could be time consuming and that we should consider coming back to it after getting the easier points from the passage. Usually, we would attack such a question by eliminating answers in conflict or outside the scope of the author’s Purpose and Main Idea. Unfortunately, that won’t get us terribly far here because the answer choices refer us back to details in the passage. The good news is that this means we can treat the answer choices as we would question stem Content Clues and research them in turn. This approach would establish  (D)  as the correct answer.  (D)  paraphrases Kingston’s distinction between the personal nature of memory in oral cultures and the linear, sequential memory of print cultures  (lines 25–30) . A good Roadmap would have a margin note on this important contrast.

(A)  contains an irrelevant comparison. The only  “written”  talk-story we read about is in Kingston’s work.

(B)  Here is a classic Faulty Use of Detail answer. Chinese ethnic enclaves are mentioned in  Paragraph 2  as the location of talk-story’s origin, not to support any claim about that tradition’s uniqueness.

(C)  This answer distorts  Paragraph 2 . Talk-story originated in China and came to the New World with Chinese immigrants. Kingston’s writing in English was influenced by the tradition. The paragraph says nothing about development through combination with other storytelling forms.

(E)  This answer distorts  Paragraph 1 , where it seems more likely that the critics are simply unaware of (the author says they have  “overlooked”  the role of talk-story as an influence on Kingston’s writing.

Answer: D

3. It can be inferred from the passage that the author uses the phrase “personally remembered stories”  (Highlighted)  primarily to refer to

Difficulty Level:   750

Explanation

Question 3 has a particularly rich question stem. The main thrust of the question asks for the Purpose ( “the author uses…to refer to” ) of a quoted phrase ( “‘personally remembered stories’” ) and even gives us the line number for our research. The best test takers will also notice the word  “inferred”  near the beginning of the question and will say,  “That means that the answer to this question follows ineluctably from what was written in the passage.”  So, convoluted though the stem may be, our research should be very straightforward. We need to determine what the author used  “personally remembered stories”  to refer to and base that answer firmly on the passage text. A quick check of our Road map and margin notes tells us Kingston associated personal memory with oral traditions and distinguished it from the precise, sequential memory favored in print cultures. The correct answer must reflect this distinction as well. That leads us to  choice (C) . It’s unlikely we would have predicted the exact wording  “partially idiosyncratic,”  but it contrasts nicely with  “precise sequences.”

(A)  Distortion. Nowhere in the passage does the author say that talk-story is first-person narrative. Many oral stories are in the third person.

(B)  This answer distorts the notion of personal memory by limiting it to “one’s own past,” where the context of the passage implies memories of other’s stories—indeed a whole tradition of them—as well.

(D)  180. This answer reflects exactly the opposite side of Kingston’s contrast.

(E)  Out of Scope. The author makes no mention about how easily literary themes can be identified.

Answer: D

4. In which one of the following is the use of cotton fibers or cotton cloth most analogous to Kingston’s use of the English language as described in lines 42–46?

Difficulty Level:   750

Explanation

Whether we are in the Logical Reasoning or the Reading Comprehension section, we have to know what we are looking for in the correct answer of a Parallel Reasoning question before evaluating the answer choices. Our failure to have a prediction or a specific way of testing answer choices will lead us to confusion and inefficiency. In this question, then, good research is the most important step we can take. To paraphrase lines 42-46: in China Men, Kingston used written English in a special way to sound like a spoken Chinese talk-story. So, we must be looking for an answer that has cotton fabric being used in a special way to feel or appear like some other kind of cloth or fabric. That prediction should lead us right to  (B).

(A)  misses the idea of making the original material (English language, cotton cloth) appear to be like something else (spoken Chinese, woolen cloth).

(C)  Lines 42-46  would have had to discuss how written English and spoken Chinese couldn’t be used in the same ways.

(D)  misses the point of how the original material (written English, cotton cloth) needs to be used in a special way in order to appear like something else. This answer asserts that the original material and the substitute material are already similar.

(E)  The first part of this answer is analogous to a book or story where the author goes back and forth between languages; the second part, about price savings, seems to miss the Scope of  lines 42-46

Answer: B

5. The passage most clearly suggests that Kingston believes which one of the following about at least some of the stories contained in her writings?

Difficulty Level:   700

Explanation

The phrase  “the passage…suggests”  tells us that this is an Inference question. But here, we are not asked to find an answer that the author is likely to agree with (although likely she would), but what Kingston would say about her own work. We hear Kingston’s opinions in  Paragraph 3 , and the focus of her self-evaluation is that she’s part of the talk-story tradition, elaborating the past ( lines 24–25 ), creating work in the present ( lines 34–38 ), and setting the stage for those who will build on the work she’s done ( lines 35–36 ). Evaluating our answer choices, only  (C)  fits.  (C)  corresponds to Kingston’s last point—that others will  “grow both around and from”  her current work.

(A)  In this passage, Kingston never expresses frustration about being unable to adequately perpetuate the traditionally Chinese talk-story genre in written English. She simply talks about herself as working within that tradition and her medium is the English novel.

(B)  Kingston identifies herself with the talk-story tradition, but doesn’t go so far as to suggest that critics view her work through any specific ethnic lens.

(D)  The Extreme language  “best”  doesn’t fit with Kingston’s self-analysis, which imposes no hierarchy on the ways to present history.

(E)  Kingston works in written text.

Answer: C

6. The author’s argument in the passage would be most weakened if which one of the following were true?

Difficulty Level:   700

Explanation

When we’re asked to Strengthen or Weaken an argument (usually, but not always, the author’s) in Reading Comprehension, we usually cannot be as methodical as we would be in Logical Reasoning, where we can literally bracket the conclusion and pinpoint the relevant evidence. In Reading Comprehension, where arguments may be spread out over more than one paragraph, we need to paraphrase the conclusion (or main point) and remind ourselves of the evidence the author used. In this passage, the author’s conclusion is: Kingston’s work does reflect the Chinese American literary tradition.  “Why do you say so?”  we ask the author,  “What’s your evidence?”

Our author would answer: Because her work adapts the talk-story genre as she herself says and as evinced in the book China Men. So, to be an effective weakener, the correct answer must either attack Kingston’s own self-evaluation (which doesn’t seem likely) or make China Men a poor example of her writing. If we attack the answer choices with that prediction,  (D)  is demonstrably the correct answer.  (D)  attacks the value of China Men as an exemplar of Kingston’s work.

(A)  Out of Scope. Finding out that, say, Twain or Faulkner were inheritors of Irish or Appalachian oral traditions wouldn’t make Kingston any less an inheritor of the Chinese American tradition.

(B)  If the fact in  (B)  were true, it would neither strengthen nor weaken the author’s argument. Work done within the same tradition can be quite different. Moreover, there could be other Chinese American authors who do not work within the Chinese American literary tradition while Kingston does.

(C)  contains another irrelevant fact. Similarities between two different traditions in no way undermine the claim that a particular individual is working within one of them.

(E)  This is a tricky answer. It would complicate our author’s position if the fact in  (E)  were that critics generally acknowledge that Kingston’s work reflects her connection to the Chinese American literary tradition. That would make us wonder, perhaps, why our author was writing in the first place.  (E) ’s vague statement that the critics  “appreciate   authenticity”  however, doesn’t even rise to that level.

Answer: D

7. The author’s specific purpose in detailing typical talk-story forms (lines 36–42) is to

Difficulty Level:   650

Explanation

One of the great advantages of Logic Function questions is that the stem always includes a clear reference to the text—either a particular detail or a certain paragraph. The trick is to check the Road map to determine the author’s Purpose, which we can determine from the context of the reference or the Keywords surrounding it. In question 7, the reference asked about is tailor-made for the strategic reader. It calls our attention to the list of similarities between China Men and the talk-story genre. As we were initially Road mapping, we noted that this list is included to show how China Men exemplified the author’s thesis that Kingston did work within the Chinese American literary tradition. Using this prediction, we spot  (B)  as the correct answer.  (B)  is a bit wordy, but it boils down to saying that the features in China Men show Kingston as working within the talk-story tradition.

(A)  According to the first two lines of the passage, critics already recognize Kingston as a major literary figure. The author has no reason to show this.

(C)  This answer contains a clever distortion. The critics do not doubt the existence of a Chinese American literary tradition; they doubt that Kingston’s work shows her as working in it.

(D)  Here’s a Faulty Use of Detail wrong answer. Kingston did, indeed, characterize writers as  “privileged keeper ” , but proving that is not our author’s reason for giving us the list of similarities,

(E)  This answer is filled with distortions. As far as we can tell, everyone considers Kingston’s work literature and no one is making recommendations for how it should be judged. The argument is over whether her work is recognizably influenced by the Chinese American literary tradition.

Answer: B

8. Which one of the following most accurately identifies the attitude shown by the author in the passage toward talk-story?

Difficulty Level:   750

Explanation

This question asks us to choose an answer that describes the author’s attitude toward talk-story. This might initially strike us as odd since the author uses few Opinion/Emphasis Keywords to describe talk-story (or anything else, for that matter). Near the end of the first paragraph, the author describes talk-story as a  “highly developed genre”  with a  “long…tradition” . Beyond this, almost everything we learn about talk-story is dryly factual. In fact, this lack of opinion and emotion help us pinpoint  (A)  as the correct answer.  “Scholarly appreciation”  fits the author’s attitude toward talk-story perfectly and  “longstanding artistic sophistication”  fit the description.

(B)   “Mild disappointment”  misses the mark badly. Our author has nothing negative to say about talk-story.

(C) “Approval,”  tentative or otherwise, distorts our author’s Purpose in introducing talk-story. No one in the passage is judging it as a genre.

(D)  This answer tempts us with the word  “respect,”  which doesn’t seem particularly strong or opinionated. But, nothing in the passage indicates that the  “diversity of…sources and cultural derivations”  are the reasons for our author’s respect.

(E)   “Open admiration”  is too strong to find any support in the passage.

Answer: A

Hope it helps

Kanvi · Answer

please give official explanations to all questions

auradediligodo · Answer

Hi everyone,
Took almost 18 minutes including 4:50 minutes to read.

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P1

Paragraph one starts with a consideration of some critics about MHK. Even tough they recognize her importance in literature they think that her writing were produced ex nihilo.   BUT  they overlooked a meaningful connection between MHK and some song tradition called talk story.

Brief summary: Critics don't see MHK's connection with talk story.

P2

paragraph 2 describes talk stories and tells us how they arrived to america. Firstly they were rarely printed and they were confined to families. Secondly when Chines people immigrated to America since the beginning of the 19th century they brought with them the talk story tradition. Furthermore this tradition was adapted to the american world and an example is MHK's writings in written english

Brief summary: Talk story origins and how they arrived in America

P3

Paragraph 3 investigates the oral memory processes versus the memory processes associated with printed writings. While the first one is based on remembered stories the second one is based on words sequencing. In addition MHK thinks that there is no distinction between a writer and a singer because both are privileged keeper. Last she views her writings as something that can be changed in the future like songs.

Brief summary: Memory processes are described and MHK view on writers and singers presented

P4

Paragraph 4 gives us an example of american-chinese heritage in MHK's works: china men. This text is characterized by all the techniques used in the oral tradition. In addition MHK uses "allusive texture" and "oral aural qualities" so that china men presents all the features of a talk story

Brief summary: an example of written talk stories by MHK is given

Main point

The purpose of the passage is to connect the talk story tradition with MHK's writings

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1. Which one of the following most accurately states the main point of the passage?

Pre-thinking

Main point question

Refer to main point above

(A) Despite some critics’ comments, Kingston’s writings have significant Chinese American antecedents, which can be found in the traditional oral narrative form known as talk-story. 
 In line with pre-thinking

(B) Analysis of Kingston’s writings, especially China Men, supports her belief that literary artists can be performers who continue to reconstruct their stories even after they have been frozen in print. 
 Partial scope

(C) An understanding of Kingston’s work and of Chinese American writers in general reveals that critics of ethnic literatures in the United States have been mistaken in examining only written texts. 
 Not in line with pre-thinking

(D) Throughout her writings Kingston uses techniques typical of the talk-story genre, especially the retention of certain aspects of Chinese speech in the written English text. 
 Not in line with pre-thinking

(E) The writings of Kingston  have rekindled  an interest in talk-story, which dates back to the Sung dynasty, and was extended to the United States with the arrival of Chinese immigrants in the nineteenth century. 
 Not in line with pre-thinking

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2 Which one of the following can be most reasonably inferred from the passage?

Pre-thinking

Inference question

Since the question is based on all the passage let's analyze the answer choices

(A) In the last few years, written forms of talk-story have appeared in Chinese as often as they have in English. 
 Cannot be inferred from the information given

(B) Until very recently, scholars have held that oral storytelling in Chinese ethnic enclaves was a unique oral tradition. 
 Cannot be inferred from the information given

(C) Talk-story has developed in the United States through a process of combining Chinese, Chinese American, and other oral storytelling forms. 
"Thus, Chinese immigrants to the U.S. had a  fully established , sophisticated  oral culture , already ancient and capable of producing masterpieces, by the time they began arriving in the early nineteenth century. This transplanted oral heritage  simply embraced new subject matter  or  new forms  of  Western discourse , as in the case of Kingston’s adaptations written in English."

American story telling forms do not merge with the Chines' ones

(D)   Chinese American talk-story relies upon memory processes that do not emphasize the retention of precise sequences of words. 
"She distinguishes her “thematic” storytelling memory processes, which sift and reconstruct the essential elements of personally remembered stories, from the memory processes of a print-oriented culture that emphasizes the retention of precise sequences of words. "

Even tough the passage tells us that this separation happens only for MHK we can make this inference.

(E) The connection between certain aspects of Kingston’s work and talk-story is argued by some critics to be rather tenuous and questionable. 
 Cannot be inferred from the information given

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3. It can be inferred from the passage that the author uses the phrase “personally remembered stories” (Highlighted) primarily to refer to

Pre-thinking

Inference question

Let's refer to P3: 
"Kingston herself believes that as a literary artist she is one in a long line of performers shaping a recalcitrant history into talk-story form. She distinguishes her “thematic” storytelling memory processes, which sift and reconstruct the essential elements of personally remembered stories, from the memory processes of a print-oriented culture that emphasizes the retention of precise sequences of words. "

We could infer that in the talk story tradition songs are not remembered by means of sequencing of words but they are remembered in a very subjective way.

(A) a literary genre of first-person storytelling 
 Since talk stories are songs that rarely reached the press we cannot classify them as a literary genre

(B) a thematically organized personal narrative of one’s own past 
 Since the passage never tells us that talk stories necessarily refer to the past of the person narrating them, this choice is incorrect

(C)   partially  idiosyncratic  memories of narratives 
 Idiosyncratic means peculiar or individual. This is in line with a portion of pre-thinking since individual can be a synonym for subjective. Also note that "partially" here is correct since the narrator does not make these stories up completely. Hence correct

(D) the retention in memory of precise sequences of words 
 Opposite

(E) easily identifiable  thematic issues in literature
 no thematic issues are associated with the memory process.

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4. In which one of the following is the use of cotton fibers or cotton cloth most analogous to Kingston’s use of the English language as described in lines 42–46?

Pre-thinking

Analogous question

It appears that MHK is able to use idiomatic expressions and "aural oral" qualities of the chines language so that even if written in english, china men resembles a talk story

(A)  Scraps  of plain cotton cloth are used to create a multicolored quilt. 
 out of scope

(B)   The surface texture of woolen cloth is simulated in a piece of cotton cloth by a special process of weaving. 
 "The surface texture of woolen cloth"= idiomatic english; "is simulated in a piece of cotton cloth by a special process of weaving."= is used to reproduce talk stories. Correct

(C) Because of its texture, cotton cloth is used for a certain type of clothes for which linen is inappropriate. 
 This choice does not make sense since cotton cloth should be english and linen should be chinese/b]

(D) In making a piece of cloth, cotton fiber is substituted for linen because of the  ]roughly similar texture   of the two materials. 
 English and chinese do not have a similar structure

(E) Because of their somewhat   similar textures  , cotton and linen fibers are woven together in a piece of cloth to achieve a savings in price over a pure linen cloth.
 English and chinese do not have a similar structure

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. The passage most clearly suggests that Kingston believes which one of the following about at least some of the stories contained in her writings?

Pre-thinking

Inference question

"creator of stories whose current stage of development can be frozen in print, but which continue to grow both around and from that frozen text. "

MHK believes that her stories will be changed.

(A) Since they are intimately tied to the nature of the Chinese language, they can be approximated, but not adequately expressed,  in English. 
 Cannot be inferred from the given information

(B) They should be thought of primarily as ethnic literature and evaluated accordingly by critics. 
 Cannot be inferred from the given information. MHK's point of view on critics' job is not even mentioned

(C)   They will likely be retold and altered to some extent in the process. 
 Very in line with our pre-thinking

(D) Chinese American history  is best   chronicled by traditional talk-story. 
 Too extreme and cannot be inferred

(E) Their significance and beauty cannot be captured at all in written texts.
  Cannot be inferred from the given information

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6. The author’s argument in the passage would be most weakened if which one of the following were true?

Pre-thinking

Weaken question

Our task is weaken the argument of the passage. In very general terms the argument of the passage is: while critics believe that MHK's writings are produced ex nihilo (ex nihilo means that they come out of nowhere, without roots or origins), those writings actually come from the chinese tradition of talk stories and one example of this linkage is represented by china men.

So if we want to weaken the argument we should work on the assumptions made by such arguments (like in a cr question). 
One of these assumptions links china men with the talk story tradition.
Now a statement that disproves that linkage could work for us.

Note that there might be other assumptions

(A) Numerous writers in the United States have been influenced by oral traditions. 
 irrelevant

(B) Most Chinese American writers’ work is very different from Kingston’s. 
 irrelevant

(C) Native American storytellers use narrative devices similar to those used in talk-story. 
 This would maybe link some native american storytellers to the talk story tradition but it does not mean that MHK's writings do not originate from talk stories

(D)   China Men is for the most part atypical of Kingston’s literary works. 
 China men is used to link talk stories to MHK. If china men is atypical of MHK's writings then the argument breaks because the passage tries to link most of MHK's production to talk stories.

(E) Literary critics generally appreciate the authenticity of Kingston’s work.
 irrelevant

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7. The author’s specific purpose in detailing typical talk-story forms (lines 36–42) is to

Pre-thinking

Purpose question

Let's refer to the last paragraph. The purpose into describe the forms typical of talk stories and other storytelling cultures

(A) show why Kingston’s book China Men establishes her  as a major literary figure 
 Not the purpose

(B)   support the claim that Kingston’s use of typically oral techniques makes her work a part of the talk-story tradition 
 In line with pre-thinking

(C) dispute the critics’ view that Chinese American literature lacks literary antecedents 
 Not the purpose

(D) argue for Kingston’s view that the literary artist is at best a “privileged keeper” of stories 
 Not the purpose

(E) provide an alternative to certain critics’ view that Kingston’s work should be judged primarily as literature 
 Not the purpose

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8. Which one of the following most accurately identifies the attitude shown by the author in the passage toward talk-story?

Pre-thinking

Tone question

We need to look for information in the passage that will give us an idea of the author's point of view

From P1

"But these critics, who have examined only the development of written texts, the most visible signs of a culture’s narrative production, have overlooked Kingston’s connection to  the long Chinese tradition of a highly developed genre of song and spoken narrative known as “talk-story ” "

From these lines we can already see that the author regards with respect the talk story tradition

From P2:

"Thus, Chinese immigrants to the U.S. had a  fully established, sophisticated oral culture, already ancient and capable of producing masterpieces , by the time they began arriving in the early nineteenth century."

The author seems again to be very respectful and to take in high consideration the genre

As there are no other references in the passage let's analyze the answer choices

(A)   scholarly appreciation for its longstanding artistic sophistication 
 This seems in line with pre-thinking

(B)  mild disappointment  that it has not distinguished itself from other oral traditions 
 from the passage there is no clue that suggests such disappointment

(C) tentative approval of its resistance to critical evaluations 
 cannot be inferred from the passage

(D) clear respect for the diversity of its  ancient sources and cultural derivations   
 the respect of the author is not linked with the ancient sources and cultural derivation but is more related to an academic point of view

(E)  open admiration  for the way it uses song to express narrative
 Admiration is never suggested

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It is a good day to be alive, cheers!

tkorzhan1995 · Answer

Sajjad1994 , could you please explain how you paraphrased line42-46 for q4, so it can be understood in the following way: in China Men, Kingston used written English in a special way to sound like a spoken Chinese talk-story. How can you infer based on the information given in lines 42-46 that English was used in a special way to sound like Chinese story. 
You also noted that efficient research may help to address this question under time constraint. How we should train ourselves to get better at efficient research during time constraint?

Sajjad1994 · Answer

I am afraid whether you read the right text from the passage or not but here is the referred text we need to read before attacking the answer choices

In China Men, Kingston
also succeeds in investing idiomatic English with the
allusive texture and oral-aural qualities of the Chinese
language, a language rich in aural and visual puns,
making her work a written form of talk-story.

Please read the above lines; then the explanation posted by me earlier and finally let me know if you still have any problems. Also, discuss your point of view.

I haven't seen any short-cut for the GMAT RC section yet. The only answer I have is "Practice in the right manner".

That's it.

akt715 · Answer

For Kingston, “writer” is synonymous with “singer” or “performer” in the ancient sense of privileged keeper, transmitter, and creator of stories whose current stage of development can be frozen in print, but which continue to grow both around and from that frozen text.

creator of stories whose current stage of development can be frozen in print..What does "whose" refer to ?

creator of stories whose current stage of development can be frozen in print ..What does "whose" refer to ?

yumengzong · Answer

First paragraph summary : critics think MHK work lack antecedents. But they overlooked talk-story
 second paragraph summary :MHK work has history proof
 third paragraph summary :MHK's own thoughts
 final paragraph summary :MHK's writing style

1. Which one of the following most accurately states the main point of the passage?
purpose question
 But these critics, who have examined only the development of written texts, the most visible signs of a culture’s narrative production, have overlooked Kingston’s connection to the long Chinese tradition of a highly developed genre of song and spoken narrative known as “talk-story” (gong gu tsai). 
A:paraphrase the underlined sentences.
BCDE not related

2 Which one of the following can be most reasonably inferred from the passage?
inference question
A:not said in Chinese
B:scholars held that is wrong. nowhere mentioned scholars
C:not combining
D:  She distinguishes her “thematic” storytelling memory processes, which sift and reconstruct the essential elements of personally remembered stories, from the memory processes of a print-oriented culture that emphasizes the retention of precise sequences of words. 
paraphrasing of underlined sentence
E:They overlooked the connection.

3. It can be inferred from the passage that the author uses the phrase “personally remembered stories” (Highlighted) primarily to refer to
reference question
A:not mention first-person, can be third-person
B:not mention own past
C:idiosyncratic means special, individual=personally thus correct
D:opposite
E:not related

4. In which one of the following is the use of cotton fibers or cotton cloth most analogous to Kingston’s use of the English language as described in lines 42–46?
analogy question
In the passage, it said MHK used English in a way adapted for oral culture. same meaning as B

5. The passage most clearly suggests that Kingston believes which one of the following about at least some of the stories contained in her writings?
3rd paragraph
A:not mentioned
B:not mentioned
C:, but which continue to grow both around and from that frozen text. same meaning
D:not mentioned
E:exaggerate

6. The author’s argument in the passage would be most weakened if which one of the following were true?
weaken question
D: China men is not typical, thus can't prove her other works are as good

8. Which one of the following most accurately identifies the attitude shown by the author in the passage toward talk-story?
attitude 
 In China Men, Kingston also  succeeds in  investing idiomatic English with the allusive texture and oral-aural qualities of the Chinese language, a language rich in aural and visual puns, making her work a written form of talk-story. 
same meaning as scholarly appreciation

vasu1104 · Answer

passage 1= some critics argued that MHK work lack traceable body of literary antecedents. but author says that critics have overlooked MHK connection to long Chinese tradition.
passage2 = it talks about how talk story was emerged and how it entered into USA. also it says that this transplanted oral heritage embraced new subject matter and in MHK case it was written in English.
passage 3= it talks about how her thematic storytelling memory process distinguishes from memory processes of print oriented culture. the former one uses personally remembered stories while latter one uses precise sequencing of words. she says writers are synonymous with singer. 
passage 4= talks about how she utilized talk story in one of her book. also how she uses english language to mimic texture and oral qualities of chinese language.

ques 1
passage 1 is sufficient enough for us to find the main point of passage. last line of passage says that critics have failed to see that MSK work has connection to chinese tradition. so the rest of the passage elaborate on that.

A. it clearly states the above mentioned idea.
B. its completely out of the context. moreover it was MHK who consider herself as performer and not the analysis of her writing says that.
C. passage was not concerned saying that critics were mistaken in examining only written texts.
D. the passage didnt say that MHK used the talk story throughout.
E. not concerned about revival of interest in talk story.

que 2
A. the comparison of usage of talk story between chinese and english is not mentioned at all. 
B. passage doesnt say when did the scholar hold the particular view.
C. half of it can be considered but nowhere passage mentioned the other storytelling form.
D. only left in the choice.
E. actually critics have overlooked this connection completely.

que 3
it used ton define her storytelling way. the other way used the sequencing of words but her way used more of personally remembered stories. it may not be in sequence.
A. it was not genre of first person story telling.
B it doesnt say anything about organized narratives.
C. although in had no idea of idiosyncratic but the other stuff was enough for me. it says the above mentioned idea.
D. no her style was not using any sequencing of words.
E. completely out of context. no identification issues in literature.

que 4
A no she is not trying to create anything by combining small pieces.
B. yes. this clearly present that analogy. last two line of the passage can be useful in drawing this analogy.
C. it doesnt say that she used english when chinese was inappropriate.
D no, the two language was not similar.
E half of it correct but the price aspect was off the topic here.

que 5
A its actually the opposite. last 2 line can be useful for this analysis.
B she never believed or said this. 
C last line of passage 3 says the same thing. perfect.
D inappropriate
E i guess its the other way around.

que 6
i got this one wrong. so cant be more precise with the explanation either.
A no impact.
B it wouldnt do much. 
C i feel this would rather strengthen it.
D last one left.
E it wouldnt do anything. because for moment they have completely overlooked the connection.

que 7
it tells how she blended english usage with chinese tradition/ talk story
A not about her establishment as literary figure.
B in line with above mentioned lines.
C not disputing the view that CA literature lack literary antecedents.
D not arguing for anything about privileged keeper stories.
E its not an alternative view.

que 8
A yes. we can say this. author talks about MHK's artistic ability throughout the passage. and in the last line its apparent that author acknowelged how she used english language to mimic chinese language
B no disappointment at all
C he is not approving his resistance to critical evaluations
D close but not perfect. nothing about diversity of ancient sources.
E no songs were used to express naratives. reject.

With their recognition of Maxine Hong Kingston as a major literary fig

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With their recognition of Maxine Hong Kingston as a major literary fig

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