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- Wed Jan 29, 2020 8:21 pm
#73625
Complete Question Explanation
The correct answer choice is (E).
Identifying the main point of the passage often relies on having a thorough understanding of the structure of the passage and the author's viewpoint. In this passage, the author begins in the 1st paragraph by describing the longstanding rift between poetry and fiction in the U.S. and suggesting that this separation of the two is unnecessary. The 2nd paragraph introduces Rita Dove as an example of a writer who works in both poetry and fiction, part of a trend that is diminishing the longstanding bias described in the 1st paragraph. The 3rd paragraph continues from the 2nd, further describing how Dove not only works within both genres, but also blends poetry and fiction together within individual works. Throughout the passage, the author seems to support the idea that poetry and fiction don't need to be completely separated as they traditionally have been in the U.S. So a good prephrase of the main point based on the author's viewpoint and structure would be something like "Though traditionally the genres of poetry and fiction have been kept separated in the U.S., there is a recent trend toward blurring the boundaries between genres, as exemplified by Rita Dove, an author who successfully blends both poetry and fiction in her work."
Answer choice (A): Rita Dove does introduce lyrical elements into her fiction, but the main point of the passage is not that this is the main reason that her work has been widely acclaimed. Also, the main point is not about Rita Dove as an individual; she is an example of a broader trend.
Answer choice (B): Again, this answer choice is too specific to Rita Dove and does not describe the broader ideas about reducing the separation between poetry and fiction more generally that the author of the passage is trying to illustrate.
Answer choice (C): This answer choice starts off well and, unlike the previous two answer choices, it describes Rita Dove as an example of a broader trend. But describing that trend as showing that "the lyrical use of language can effectively enhance narrative fiction" is too specific. The author is not simply arguing that poetry enhances fiction in one specific way or that fiction enhances poetry in one specific way. Instead, the author argues that these two genres need not be separated and can be combined in various ways to great effect.
Answer choice (D): The main point is not simply that Rita Dove differs from her contemporaries--again, she is part of a trend. Also, Dove's contribution is not that she does not rely on the traditional techniques, but rather that she combines the traditional techniques.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. It best matches our prephrase, taking into account the author's viewpoint as well as the structure of the passage. It describes Dove as an example of a broader trend away from the rigid separation of poetry and fiction that has been traditional in the U.S. and describes how she successfully blends the two genres.
The correct answer choice is (E).
Identifying the main point of the passage often relies on having a thorough understanding of the structure of the passage and the author's viewpoint. In this passage, the author begins in the 1st paragraph by describing the longstanding rift between poetry and fiction in the U.S. and suggesting that this separation of the two is unnecessary. The 2nd paragraph introduces Rita Dove as an example of a writer who works in both poetry and fiction, part of a trend that is diminishing the longstanding bias described in the 1st paragraph. The 3rd paragraph continues from the 2nd, further describing how Dove not only works within both genres, but also blends poetry and fiction together within individual works. Throughout the passage, the author seems to support the idea that poetry and fiction don't need to be completely separated as they traditionally have been in the U.S. So a good prephrase of the main point based on the author's viewpoint and structure would be something like "Though traditionally the genres of poetry and fiction have been kept separated in the U.S., there is a recent trend toward blurring the boundaries between genres, as exemplified by Rita Dove, an author who successfully blends both poetry and fiction in her work."
Answer choice (A): Rita Dove does introduce lyrical elements into her fiction, but the main point of the passage is not that this is the main reason that her work has been widely acclaimed. Also, the main point is not about Rita Dove as an individual; she is an example of a broader trend.
Answer choice (B): Again, this answer choice is too specific to Rita Dove and does not describe the broader ideas about reducing the separation between poetry and fiction more generally that the author of the passage is trying to illustrate.
Answer choice (C): This answer choice starts off well and, unlike the previous two answer choices, it describes Rita Dove as an example of a broader trend. But describing that trend as showing that "the lyrical use of language can effectively enhance narrative fiction" is too specific. The author is not simply arguing that poetry enhances fiction in one specific way or that fiction enhances poetry in one specific way. Instead, the author argues that these two genres need not be separated and can be combined in various ways to great effect.
Answer choice (D): The main point is not simply that Rita Dove differs from her contemporaries--again, she is part of a trend. Also, Dove's contribution is not that she does not rely on the traditional techniques, but rather that she combines the traditional techniques.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. It best matches our prephrase, taking into account the author's viewpoint as well as the structure of the passage. It describes Dove as an example of a broader trend away from the rigid separation of poetry and fiction that has been traditional in the U.S. and describes how she successfully blends the two genres.
