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Bunuel
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Before the advent of writing each of the isolated clans of the 07 Nov 2025, 00:50
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C
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65% (02:24) correct 35% (02:34) wrong based on 404 sessions

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Before the advent of writing each of the isolated clans of the Comaquogue tribe had master storytellers whose function was to orally transmit the clan's tradition from one generation to the next. When writing was developed within certain clans of the tribe, their master storytellers disappeared within a few generations. This stands to reason, since the availability of written records obviated the need for masterful oral communicators to keep the tradition of literate clans alive. What has puzzled anthropologists, however, is the total lack of masterful storytellers in modern illiterate Comaquogue clans.

Which of the following, if true, best helps to explain the puzzling situation mentioned above?

(A) Modern illiterate Comaquogue clan members display personality characteristics that resemble their ancestors more closely than they resemble the characteristics of modern literate Comaquogue clan members.

(B) Modern illiterate Comaquogue clans participate in more ritual gatherings than most modern literate Comaquogue clans do, but they participate in fewer ritual gatherings than did their common ancestors.

(C) Modern illiterate Comaquogue clans are recently descended from long-time literate clans that failed to pass on the skills of reading and writing due to a devastating 75-year war.

(D) The celebrations of modern illiterate Comaquogue clans involve a great deal of singing and dancing, and children are taught clan songs and dances from a very young age.

(E) The traditions of modern illiterate Comaquogue clans are an amalgamation of the cumulative experiences of previous generations plus innovations to the heritage added by the current generation of clan members.


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Before the advent of writing each of the isolated clans of the 08 Nov 2025, 08:30
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Can anyone explain why C is the answer? I can't figure it out
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Before the advent of writing each of the isolated clans of the 08 Nov 2025, 09:17
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Hi,

Lets break it down:

Identify the paradox: We need a reason that explains why despite the availability of written records being passed down, there is a total lack of masterful storytellers in modern illiterate clans.
A), B), D) dont help explain the paradox. Even if these exist, we dont know how this impacts passing down of modern storytelling skills.
E) I would argue further deepens the paradox rather than resolving it. If its an amalgamation of previous and current experiences - that implies that these skills should have been passed on but they werent
C) helps correctly address the paradox because it gives us a possible reason for the gap.

Hope this helps!


kvvlz
Can anyone explain why C is the answer? I can't figure it out
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Before the advent of writing each of the isolated clans of the 09 Nov 2025, 01:52
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Ah I see, I thought E rather helped resolve the paradox but yeah you're right. It didnt. Thanks for the clarification!
miag
Hi,

Lets break it down:

Identify the paradox: We need a reason that explains why despite the availability of written records being passed down, there is a total lack of masterful storytellers in modern illiterate clans.
A), B), D) dont help explain the paradox. Even if these exist, we dont know how this impacts passing down of modern storytelling skills.
E) I would argue further deepens the paradox rather than resolving it. If its an amalgamation of previous and current experiences - that implies that these skills should have been passed on but they werent
C) helps correctly address the paradox because it gives us a possible reason for the gap.

Hope this helps!



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Before the advent of writing each of the isolated clans of the 10 Nov 2025, 01:43
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Bunuel KarishmaB bb please explain this

Bunuel
Before the advent of writing each of the isolated clans of the Comaquogue tribe had master storytellers whose function was to orally transmit the clan's tradition from one generation to the next. When writing was developed within certain clans of the tribe, their master storytellers disappeared within a few generations. This stands to reason, since the availability of written records obviated the need for masterful oral communicators to keep the tradition of literate clans alive. What has puzzled anthropologists, however, is the total lack of masterful storytellers in modern illiterate Comaquogue clans.

Which of the following, if true, best helps to explain the puzzling situation mentioned above?

(A) Modern illiterate Comaquogue clan members display personality characteristics that resemble their ancestors more closely than they resemble the characteristics of modern literate Comaquogue clan members.

(B) Modern illiterate Comaquogue clans participate in more ritual gatherings than most modern literate Comaquogue clans do, but they participate in fewer ritual gatherings than did their common ancestors.

(C) Modern illiterate Comaquogue clans are recently descended from long-time literate clans that failed to pass on the skills of reading and writing due to a devastating 75-year war.

(D) The celebrations of modern illiterate Comaquogue clans involve a great deal of singing and dancing, and children are taught clan songs and dances from a very young age.

(E) The traditions of modern illiterate Comaquogue clans are an amalgamation of the cumulative experiences of previous generations plus innovations to the heritage added by the current generation of clan members.


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Before the advent of writing each of the isolated clans of the 10 Nov 2025, 02:42
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Bunuel
Before the advent of writing each of the isolated clans of the Comaquogue tribe had master storytellers whose function was to orally transmit the clan's tradition from one generation to the next. When writing was developed within certain clans of the tribe, their master storytellers disappeared within a few generations. This stands to reason, since the availability of written records obviated the need for masterful oral communicators to keep the tradition of literate clans alive. What has puzzled anthropologists, however, is the total lack of masterful storytellers in modern illiterate Comaquogue clans.

Which of the following, if true, best helps to explain the puzzling situation mentioned above?

(A) Modern illiterate Comaquogue clan members display personality characteristics that resemble their ancestors more closely than they resemble the characteristics of modern literate Comaquogue clan members.

(B) Modern illiterate Comaquogue clans participate in more ritual gatherings than most modern literate Comaquogue clans do, but they participate in fewer ritual gatherings than did their common ancestors.

(C) Modern illiterate Comaquogue clans are recently descended from long-time literate clans that failed to pass on the skills of reading and writing due to a devastating 75-year war.

(D) The celebrations of modern illiterate Comaquogue clans involve a great deal of singing and dancing, and children are taught clan songs and dances from a very young age.

(E) The traditions of modern illiterate Comaquogue clans are an amalgamation of the cumulative experiences of previous generations plus innovations to the heritage added by the current generation of clan members.


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Before writing was developed, ALL clans had story tellers. So everyone had storytellers. After writing developed in some clans, their storytellers disappeared (because they were not needed anymore). It stands to reason then that clans that remained illiterate kept the storyteller tradition alive.

Paradox - The modern illiterate clans do not have storytellers.

This is a paradox because we understand why story tellers disappeared from literate clans (clans in which people could write). They were not needed anymore. But illiterate clans must have needed story tellers. Why are there none today?

(A) Modern illiterate Comaquogue clan members display personality characteristics that resemble their ancestors more closely than they resemble the characteristics of modern literate Comaquogue clan members.

Out of scope. Where are the storytellers?

(B) Modern illiterate Comaquogue clans participate in more ritual gatherings than most modern literate Comaquogue clans do, but they participate in fewer ritual gatherings than did their common ancestors.

Number of ritual gatherings is irrelevant. WHO transmits the clan's tradition from one generation to the next?

(C) Modern illiterate Comaquogue clans are recently descended from long-time literate clans that failed to pass on the skills of reading and writing due to a devastating 75-year war.

This makes sense. The current illiterate clans were once literate. So their storytellers disappeared, as expected. The current generation couldn't learn reading and writing because of war. So they have no storytellers now and are not literate too now.

(D) The celebrations of modern illiterate Comaquogue clans involve a great deal of singing and dancing, and children are taught clan songs and dances from a very young age.

Again out of scope. The point is why there are no storytellers. Singing and dancing would not make storytellers disappear.

(E) The traditions of modern illiterate Comaquogue clans are an amalgamation of the cumulative experiences of previous generations plus innovations to the heritage added by the current generation of clan members.

Irrelevant.

Answer (C)
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Before the advent of writing each of the isolated clans of the 23 Nov 2025, 05:29
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KarishmaB


Before writing was developed, ALL clans had story tellers. So everyone had storytellers. After writing developed in some clans, their storytellers disappeared (because they were not needed anymore). It stands to reason then that clans that remained illiterate kept the storyteller tradition alive.

Paradox - The modern illiterate clans do not have storytellers.

This is a paradox because we understand why story tellers disappeared from literate clans (clans in which people could write). They were not needed anymore. But illiterate clans must have needed story tellers. Why are there none today?

(A) Modern illiterate Comaquogue clan members display personality characteristics that resemble their ancestors more closely than they resemble the characteristics of modern literate Comaquogue clan members.

Out of scope. Where are the storytellers?

(B) Modern illiterate Comaquogue clans participate in more ritual gatherings than most modern literate Comaquogue clans do, but they participate in fewer ritual gatherings than did their common ancestors.

Number of ritual gatherings is irrelevant. WHO transmits the clan's tradition from one generation to the next?

(C) Modern illiterate Comaquogue clans are recently descended from long-time literate clans that failed to pass on the skills of reading and writing due to a devastating 75-year war.

This makes sense. The current illiterate clans were once literate. So their storytellers disappeared, as expected. The current generation couldn't learn reading and writing because of war. So they have no storytellers now and are not literate too now.

(D) The celebrations of modern illiterate Comaquogue clans involve a great deal of singing and dancing, and children are taught clan songs and dances from a very young age.

Again out of scope. The point is why there are no storytellers. Singing and dancing would not make storytellers disappear.

(E) The traditions of modern illiterate Comaquogue clans are an amalgamation of the cumulative experiences of previous generations plus innovations to the heritage added by the current generation of clan members.

Irrelevant.

Answer (C)
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Thanks for the explanation KarishmaB - What is the meaning of "are recently descended" - The Grammar tripped for a bit before marking the correct answer.
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Before the advent of writing each of the isolated clans of the 24 Nov 2025, 01:25
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glagad

Thanks for the explanation KarishmaB - What is the meaning of "are recently descended" - The Grammar tripped for a bit before marking the correct answer.
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It means their recent ancestors (say 150-200 years back) were literate but couldn't pass on literacy to this generation because of war and unstable conditions (so no "schools" could operate etc.)
The use of "are descended" is correct to show ancestry.
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Before the advent of writing each of the isolated clans of the 06 Dec 2025, 10:45
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Bunuel
Before the advent of writing each of the isolated clans of the Comaquogue tribe had master storytellers whose function was to orally transmit the clan's tradition from one generation to the next. When writing was developed within certain clans of the tribe, their master storytellers disappeared within a few generations. This stands to reason, since the availability of written records obviated the need for masterful oral communicators to keep the tradition of literate clans alive. What has puzzled anthropologists, however, is the total lack of masterful storytellers in modern illiterate Comaquogue clans.

Which of the following, if true, best helps to explain the puzzling situation mentioned above?

(A) Modern illiterate Comaquogue clan members display personality characteristics that resemble their ancestors more closely than they resemble the characteristics of modern literate Comaquogue clan members.

(B) Modern illiterate Comaquogue clans participate in more ritual gatherings than most modern literate Comaquogue clans do, but they participate in fewer ritual gatherings than did their common ancestors.

(C) Modern illiterate Comaquogue clans are recently descended from long-time literate clans that failed to pass on the skills of reading and writing due to a devastating 75-year war.

(D) The celebrations of modern illiterate Comaquogue clans involve a great deal of singing and dancing, and children are taught clan songs and dances from a very young age.

(E) The traditions of modern illiterate Comaquogue clans are an amalgamation of the cumulative experiences of previous generations plus innovations to the heritage added by the current generation of clan members.
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KAPLAN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:



The author clearly identifies the source of the confusion when he mentions what puzzles anthropologists. They're perplexed by two facts which seem inconsistent with each other. First, the advent of writing in certain Comaquogue clans seems to have caused the disappearance of the master storytellers within those tribes. Nevertheless, the second fact is that modern illiterate Comaquogue clans also lack master storytellers. The basic question is: Why do these modern illiterate clans lack storytellers when earlier clans lost their storytellers only after they learned how to read? Let's look to the answer choices and find one that specifically answers this question.

An 800 test taker rephrases the paradox as a question and finds the choice that best answers it.

(A) does nothing to explain why the modern illiterate clans lack storytellers. Personality similarities don't have any clear relationship to literacy and storytellers.

(B) A comparison of the frequency of clan gatherings also does not in any way explain why the current illiterate tribes lack storytellers.

(C) would explain the discrepancy. If it were true, then the storytellers did disappear when the clans became literate, but they subsequently lost that literacy. Thus the modern tribes could both be illiterate and lack storytellers, as is the case in the stimulus, and they could have lost their storytellers during an earlier literate period. The inconsistency is no longer an inconsistency—all of the pieces of the puzzle find a home in this explanation. (C) is correct.

(D) again touches on the issue of modern Comaquogue rituals without referring to literacy and storytelling, the central elements of the argument's paradox.

(E) is too broad to resolve this discrepancy. It might give you the room to start making assumptions, but it doesn't specifically address the issues of literacy and storytelling. Regardless of the sentiments in (E), the fact remains that the modern illiterate clans have no master storytellers when the evidence suggests that they should.

An 800 test taker doesn't read too much into an answer choice in order to try to make it work. He knows a choice has to be right without any extra help.
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