Quote:
Without a doubt, one of America's greatest science-fiction writers is Kurt Vonnegut, who has written dozens of stories and novels, including the masterpiece Slaughterhouse Five. Yet for decades, Vonnegut denied that what he was writing was science fiction. Today, however, Vonnegut embraces his rightful place as a master of the genre.
All of the following, if true, are helpful in accounting for the phenomenon described in this passage EXCEPT -
A. early in Vonnegut's career, science fiction was largely considered by critics to be an inferior genre.
B. Vonnegut did not want to be pigeonholed as a science-fiction writer.
C. as a young author, Vonnegut's favorite writers were all science-fiction writers.
D. science fiction has become a legitimate literary genre.
E. science fiction has become an increasingly popular genre (for readers and writers alike) because of the increased importance of science and technology in our lives.
ARGUMENT
KV in the past denied he wrote science fiction, however, today he embraces his place as a master of the genre.
Y does he embrace today but denied in the past? Find the choices that help explain this.
A. he denied in the past, because it was considered inferior (maybe nobody would take him seriously), but now its not inferior; ok.
B. he didn't want to be pigeonholed as such, because it had negative connotations, but now it doesnt; ok.
D. he denied in the past because the genre wasn't legitimate, but now it is; ok.
E. he denied in the past because the genre wasn't popular or important, but now it is; ok.
Answer (C): this choice widens the paradox, because why would he deny the genre if he was in its favor.