The attribution of early-nineteenth-century English fiction is notorio

Question

The attribution of early-nineteenth-century English fiction is  notoriously problematic . Fewer than half of new novels published in Britain between 1800 and 1829 had the author’s true name printed on the title page. Most of these titles have subsequently been attributed, either through the author’s own acknowledgment of a previously anonymous or pseudonymous work, or through bibliographical research. One important tool available to researchers is the list of earlier works “by the author” often found on title pages. But such lists are as likely to create new confusion as they are to solve old problems. Title pages were generally prepared last in the publication process, often without full authorial assent, and in the last-minute rush to press, mistakes were frequently made.    1 
 1. The passage suggests that which of the following factors contributes to the “notoriously problematic” ( Highlighted ) nature of authorial attribution in earlynineteenth-century English fiction?

I. The unwillingness of any writers to acknowledge their authorship of works that were originally published anonymously or pseudonymously
II. The possibility that the title page of a work may attribute works written by other authors to the author of that work
III. The possibility that the author’s name printed on a title page is fictitious

A. I only
B. III only
C. I and II only
D. I and III only
E. II and III only

2 
 2. The passage suggests that which of the following is frequently true of the title pages of early-nineteenth-century English novels?

I. The title page was prepared for printing in a hurried manner.
II. Material on the title page was included without the author’s knowledge or approval.
III. Information on the title page was deliberately falsified to make the novel more marketable.

A. I only
B. III only
C. I and II only
D. I and III only
E. II and III only

RC Butler 2022  -  Practice Two RC Passages Everyday.   
Passage # 275 Date: 11-Jul-2022
 This question is a part of RC Butler 2022 .  Click here for Details

ayushiiiarya · Answer

The first question's  answer should be option E:  II and III both correct. It is because the question refers to the problem in the attribution of work, and both options refer to the points contributing to the problem.

For the second question, we can look into the last line of the RC, which tells us that title pages were generally created in the last phase of publication and often rushed ( statement I true ), and was often without full authorial assent ( statement II correct ) - hence the  answer should be C - both I and II correct.

BLTN · Answer

Dear  RonTargetTestPrep ,
could you enlighten about Q2 ?

How can we deduce that "...often without  full  authorial assent" is liken to "...often without authorial assent"?
Can we infer from "without FULL assent" that author has at leas  some  assent ?
If so, why the option 2 is correct?

Thank you in advance.

factor4 · Answer

for questrion 1 .
How is " The possibility that the title page of a work may attribute works written by other authors to the author of that work " is one of the answer?

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

1. The passage suggests that which of the following factors contributes to the “notoriously problematic” (Highlighted) nature of authorial attribution in earlynineteenth-century English fiction?

Difficulty Level:   700

Explanation

Choice I is incorrect:  the passage mentions that the attribution of early-nineteenth-century fiction was sometimes achieved when the author came forward to acknowledge a previously anonymous work (lines 4–5), so Choice A can be eliminated.

Choice II is correct:  in lines 5–7, the passage mentions that “one important tool available to researchers is the list of earlier works ‘by the author’ often found on title pages,” but goes on to say that these title pages were prepared hastily and “frequently” contained mistakes (lines 8–10). Since the mistake most likely to “create new confusion” would be the inclusion of works not written by the author, Choice B may be inferred.

Choice III is correct:  in lines 2–3, the passage states, “Fewer than half of the new novels published in Britain . . . had the author’s true name printed on the title page.” Line 5 suggests that pseudonyms — fictitious names — were commonly used. Hence, Choice C may be inferred.

Answer: E

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

2. The passage suggests that which of the following is frequently true of the title pages of early-nineteenth-century English novels?

Difficulty Level:   650-700

Explanation

Choice I is correct:  the passage mentions that title pages were prepared last and that mistakes often occurred “in the last-minute rush to press” 
(line 9). This indicates that title pages were often prepared for printing in a hurried manner; hence, Choice A can be inferred.

Choice II is correct:  the passage includes the detail that title pages were often prepared for printing “without full authorial assent” (line 9); hence, Choice B can be inferred.

Choice III is incorrect:  nowhere does the passage speculate about commercial motives for falsifying information on title pages. Choice C, therefore, cannot be inferred.

Answer: C

VerbalBot · Answer

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The attribution of early-nineteenth-century English fiction is notorio

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The attribution of early-nineteenth-century English fiction is notorio

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