The principal facts about the exploits of the English and French bucca

Question

The principal facts about the exploits of the English and French buccaneers of the seventeenth century in the West Indies are sufficiently well known to modern readers. The French Jesuit historians of the Antilles have left us many interesting details of their mode of life, and Exquemelin's history of the freebooters has been reprinted numerous times both in France and in England. Based upon these old, contemporary narratives, modern accounts are issued from the press with astonishing regularity, some of them purporting to be serious history, others appearing in the more popular and entertaining guise of romances. All, however, are alike in confining themselves for their information to what may almost be called the traditional sources--Exquemelin, the Jesuits, and perhaps a few narratives like those of Dampier and Wafer.

To write another history of these privateers or pirates, for they have, unfortunately, more than once deserved that name, may seem a rather fruitless undertaking. It is justified only by the fact that there exist numerous other documents bearing upon the subject, documents which till now have been entirely neglected. Exquemelin has been reprinted, the story of the buccaneers has been re-told, yet no writer, editor, or historian has attempted to estimate the trustworthiness of the old tales by comparing them with these other sources, or to show the connection between the buccaneers and the history of the English colonies in the West Indies. The object of this research, therefore, is not only to give a narrative, according to the most authentic, available sources, of the more brilliant exploits of these sea-rovers, but, what is of greater interest and importance, also to trace the policy pursued towards them by the English and the French Governments.   1 
 A 
 1. According to the information in the passage, which of the following can be inferred?

(A) The buccaneers of the seventeenth century may have been misrepresented through the ages
(B) Exquemelin and the Jesuits are the only authentic narratives of the buccaneers of the seventeenth century
(C) The history of the English colonies has been rewritten by the connection between the colonies and the buccaneers
(D) The English and the French governments had similar policies for sea rovers or pirates
(E) To rewrite the history of the privateers is a fruitless undertaking

2 
 E 
 2. From the information in the passage, each of the following can be inferred EXCEPT

(A) The author aims to write another history of buccaneers and privateers which could be different from popular beliefs
(B) Dampier and Wafer provide a limited amount of information about privateers
(C) Historians have overlooked to study the trustworthiness of the old tales by comparing them with other sources
(D) The popular old and new narratives about pirates share similar theme and content
(E) West Indies was the hub of privateers in the seventeenth century

3 
 C 
 3. What is the main purpose of the author in writing the passage?

(A) To explain why modern notions of buccaneers are popular in guise of romances
(B) To advocate the study of traditional sources of information on privateers; sources such as Exquemelin, the Jesuits, Dampier and Wafer
(C) To argue that a very limited picture has been presented of the life of the buccaneers through popular narratives and news media
(D) To praise the press for publishing modern accounts of pirates
(E) To discuss the French Jesuit historians of the Antilles who have written details of buccaneers’ mode of life

KS15 · Answer

In Qs 2,
 How can E be inferred. To me only A looks to be the best of the lot. The author clearly says that rewriting would be a waste of time.
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 VeritasPrepKarishma 
 GMATNinja 2

naveens222 · Answer

Passage mentions that
"To write another history of these privateers or pirates, for they have, unfortunately, more than once
deserved that name, may seem a rather fruitless undertaking.  It is justified only by the fact that there exist
numerous other documents bearing upon the subject, documents which till now have been entirely
neglected ."
That means if a writing is done it can only be justified if that writing gives an entirely new story.

As per the option
"he author aims to write another history of buccaneers and privateers  which could be
different from popular beliefs "
Hope this helps.

visheshsahni · Answer

--------
 KS15 
Well! Q2 is a tough one, can be best solved be negating other statements. And do note, author says each can be inferred  except  Let's go one by one.

A) The author aims to write another history of buccaneers and privateers which could be
different from popular beliefs --- author indirectly says that the content of information around pirates have been present here and there but they have been neglected. He wants to bridge this gap and write another history different from popular belief. ---  can be inferred

B)Dampier and Wafer provide a limited amount of information about privateers ---  and perhaps a few narratives like those of
Dampier and Wafer.  ---  can be inferred.

C)Historians have overlooked to study the trustworthiness of the old tales by comparing them
with other sources -  All, however, are alike in confining themselves for their information to what may almost be
called the traditional sources - -- can be inferred from here that traditional and other sources had somethings in common but traditional were ignored even though they have been reprinted many times ----  can be infered

D)The popular old and new narratives about pirates share similar theme and content ---  can be inferred. ^see above explanation.

E)West Indies was the hub of privateers in the seventeenth century . ---- though west indies is mentioned in first paragraph but it can't be inferred that WI was the hub for pirates.   Correct choice

KS15 · Answer

How did you infer A? Can you please explain? Nowhere can we infer that the author is aiming to write another history.

sananoor · Answer

2/3 right as i wasnt able to answer question 1 right
as per question, which of the following can be inferred?
I dont know how A is right as misrepresented is too extreme word
I believe it should be E as it is written in passage "To write another history of these privateers or pirates, for they have, unfortunately, more than once
deserved that name, may seem a rather fruitless undertaking."
Can anyone help me with this?

jaisrajat · Answer

GMATNinja 
@VeritasPrepKarishma
 GMATNinja 2
 KS15 
 visheshsahni

I am trying to improve RC section and i have shared my approach and understanding of the passage, I would like you to go through it and please let me know if my understanding was correct and your feedback on my approach .

Mapping

PF sufficiently known MR
FJ mode of life
Exque freebooters reprinted n times
Press issued surprises facts - doubting history
Their sources are limited - Exque FJ DW

Write another history - fruitless understanding.
Numerous doc. Related to this subject and doc. Are till now completely neglected
No writer/editor has attempted to check its connection or reliability

Objective or research - narrative about exploits of sea rover and to trace policy pushed towards them by Eng and French Government.

PF - Principal Facts
FJ - French Jesuit
Exque - Exquemelin
N times - reprinted many number of times
Doc - documents
DW - Dampier and Wafer

Summary 
The main fact about the English and French Pirates are well known French Jesuit has shared details about pirates mode of life and history. Based on new and old facts, new issues have been published by the press, some of the stated facts have doubted serious history while others facts were towards romances. The new and old were similar in some way as thier source of information was limited to Exquemelin, the Jesuits and Dampier and Wafer.
As per the author, to write another history was a unproductive task because of the fact that there are numerous document about the pirates , many of such documents are neglected. No writer/auditor had mad an attempt to verify them or to establish any connection between the facts.

Last, The author states the objective of the resarch was not only to narate about the pirate but also to trace the policy towards them by English and French Governments.

KS15 · Answer

Hey Buddy-Thanks for reaching out. I like how you have summarized the content of the RC but here is the advice that I would give you.

1. In the exam, when you are in front of the screen, you certainly won't have so much time to write everything you have written here, so I would recommend cutting down as much as possible and keep it to the minimum. In fact , I would say that don't write anything unless you have problems with retention. I know passages are very boring and dry but if you want to write anything, keep it as short as possible so you can just about understand.
2. In RC, they key is to understand the passage. What is the author trying to say? What is the tone? What is the conclusion? Do we have several viewpoints? How do we skim data to get to the main point? 
3. Do not time your RC passages when you are just in the initial stages. You do not get points for speed, you get points for getting the questions right.
4. RC can make or break your exam. This was not the case earlier where SC and CR had more weight but this has changed in the last 2 years.
5. The most important one-practice only from official sources-they will get you closest to the score you want.

Good Luck!

Mohammad Ali Khan · Answer

Not sure of Q2. end of para one and midof para two are representing contradictory information.. please guide..

dabaobao · Answer

Took 7:30 min in total including 3:25 to read the passage!

Passage Map: 
1) History about English and French buccaneers, Old vs New History
2) Writing another history may not be useful. Object of author's research

OhsostudiousMJ · Answer

I got the same question too!

NoMatterWhat · Answer

Option A: The Buccaneers of the seventeenth century may have been misrepresented through the ages

The presence of "may have been" in the sentence makes the option A correct, for it leaves the possibility for other outcomes.

800Dreamer · Answer

OE:

Passage Map
P 1 – To state that even though new articles keep coming out about the
activities of these pirates, the source of most of these articles is the
same, so in essence the information that the reader is receiving is
from a very limited perspective
P 2 – To explain why the life of the pirates needs to be looked at from a
different point of view as well
P 3 – To explain the objective of his research

1. Answer: A
Explanation:
The basic argument of the author is that the buccaneers/pirates have
only been presented in a very limited manner through books and
press. (A) follows the best from this and is the correct answer.
(B) These sources have been called the ‘traditional sources’—
however, there were other narratives also available.
(C) The author mentions the overlooking of the historical
connection between the two and not it being ‘rewritten’.
(D) The author has only called for looking into the policies being
followed by the two governments—their stand is not
mentioned.
(E) The author is merely pondering on the efficacy of such a notion
—he is not agreeing with it.
2. Answer: E
Explanation:
Para 1 line 1 mentions the presence of buccaneers in the West Indies
region; however, nowhere is it mentioned that West Indies was the
hub of privateers. Hence, (E) is the correct answer.
(A) The author clearly implies this in the last para.
(B) This can be inferred from the information towards the end of
para 1.
(C) This is clearly mentioned in para 2.
(D) The author states in para 1 that, based on the old narratives,
new accounts are issued and both of these are alike in that they
confine themselves to very limited sources of information.
3. Answer: C
Explanation:
The author has stressed his concern about historians/authors ignoring
a large amount of information about buccaneers and basing their
writings/accounts only on very limited sources of information. He
clearly supports writing an alternative account of the lives of the
buccaneers using these hitherto ignored sources of information. (C)
states this best and is the correct answer.
(A) This has been cited more as an example to prove the author’s
main point.
(B) The author names them as ‘traditional sources’ of information
which he considers ‘limited’ in scope.
(D) The author never praises the press anywhere in the passage.
(E) The Jesuits are again cited just as examples.

TheNightKing · Answer

All correct in 4 and a half minutes.

Let me know if I can help with any of the three questions.

richirish · Answer

4 mins all correct, more like a 600-700 level passage.

Happy to help if required!

Semwal10 · Answer

Can anyone please tell me how option B in ques 3 is eliminated? i marked it as the right answer. 
thankyou.

The principal facts about the exploits of the English and French bucca

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The principal facts about the exploits of the English and French bucca

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