The narrator of this passage from a novel is Nasarian, a woman who was born in Kenya and now lives in New York City. (1) Looking at her makes me remember. (2) I can almost feel the heat rising, riding the backs of broken cobblestones, gray and scraped smooth by a ceaseless parade of tired, black, sandaled feet. (3) But that was far away and long ago. (4) Here, this woman peers almost timidly around the curving, splintered wood of the brownstone door, blinking furiously now as the wind and rain whip her face. (5) I stare, and a sudden longing whistles through my mind, dancing around me on each restless gust of cold, wet wind that slams into my chest as I walk down 132nd Street in Harlem. (6) Harlem. (7) So far from my home. (8) So far from the endless Kenyan plains that I still dream about each night. (9) The rain pelts my face, and I shiver as it shimmies down my neck and creeps underneath the thick, scratchy collar of my coat. (10) I cannot stop staring into this woman's face, this African mother draped from brow to ankle in gold and wind-crushed linen. (11) As she descends the stairs, the rain seems to disappear around her. (12) Now that she has committed herself, she does not blink or falter. (13) If anything, the rain has become a tightly woven fruit basket bearing down on the crown of her head, under which her pride demands that she stand erect. (14) The only concession she gives is to pull her head wrap up out of the folds of her long, dark cloak and clutch it tightly underneath her chin. (15) The scarf is a replica of the same gilded hijab my mother wore as a child, long before she became my mother. (16) I know this because it is the outfit that she chooses when she comes to me at night in my dreams. (17) This woman looks nothing like my mother, yet somehow my heart tells me that they are almost exactly the same. (18) She tucks her curling braids underneath the edges of the wrap, attempting to cover the wildness embroidered in her hair. (19) I don't understand why, modesty is no kin to women like her. (20) She cannot help but walk like a mountain's peak through the raunchy streets of Harlem, wearing her continent on the high bridge of her nose, with the valleys curving round like clattering rings into her nostrils. (21) Her exposed heels are lined with the deep furrows of an elephant's trunk. (22) She wears sandals in the November cold, in the hard, trash-swilling rain because the thirsty leather straps remind her of deserts and home (at least that's why I do so).
The narrator primarily portrays the woman she is observing as someone who is:
- A. modest and self-effacing
- B. imposing and dignified
- C. youthful and energetic
- D. angry and impatient
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
The portrayal of the woman emphasizes her imposing and dignified presence, suggesting strength and confidence. This is evident through her posture and the way she commands attention in her environment. Option A, modest and self-effacing, contradicts the strong impression she leaves, as she does not appear to shy away from the spotlight. Option C, youthful and energetic, overlooks the woman's gravitas and maturity, focusing instead on a fleeting quality. Option D, angry and impatient, misrepresents her demeanor, which is more composed and authoritative than reactive. Thus, the emphasis on dignity and presence aligns best with the narrator's observations.
The portrayal of the woman emphasizes her imposing and dignified presence, suggesting strength and confidence. This is evident through her posture and the way she commands attention in her environment. Option A, modest and self-effacing, contradicts the strong impression she leaves, as she does not appear to shy away from the spotlight. Option C, youthful and energetic, overlooks the woman's gravitas and maturity, focusing instead on a fleeting quality. Option D, angry and impatient, misrepresents her demeanor, which is more composed and authoritative than reactive. Thus, the emphasis on dignity and presence aligns best with the narrator's observations.
Other Related Questions
Which of the following results is LEAST compatible with the goal expressed in the third sentence of Passage 2 ('The paramount concern must be to increase crop yields in environmentally sensitive ways that protect human health and the soil and water that are agriculture’s very foundation')?
- A. An international ban on the use of agrochemicals drives several multinational corporations out of business
- B. A species of bird becomes extinct after forests in which these birds nested are cleared to create farmland
- C. A rural community shows an increased rate of disease after local farmers adopt chemical-intensive techniques
- D. Government subsidies to farmers encourage overproduction of certain crops to the detriment of others
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
Option C is least compatible with the goal of increasing crop yields while protecting human health and the environment. An increase in disease rates due to chemical-intensive farming directly contradicts the aim of safeguarding human health. Option A, while it may harm businesses, reflects a move towards environmentally sensitive practices by banning harmful chemicals. Option B highlights the negative ecological impact of deforestation for agriculture, which undermines environmental health. Option D addresses overproduction and its ecological consequences, aligning with the need for sustainable practices. Thus, C is the option that most clearly opposes the stated goal.
Option C is least compatible with the goal of increasing crop yields while protecting human health and the environment. An increase in disease rates due to chemical-intensive farming directly contradicts the aim of safeguarding human health. Option A, while it may harm businesses, reflects a move towards environmentally sensitive practices by banning harmful chemicals. Option B highlights the negative ecological impact of deforestation for agriculture, which undermines environmental health. Option D addresses overproduction and its ecological consequences, aligning with the need for sustainable practices. Thus, C is the option that most clearly opposes the stated goal.
What assumption does the author of the passage make?
- A. Gases produced by algae will be cheaper to produce than other gases.
- B. The Department of Energy is already using hydrogen-producing algae as a source of energy.
- C. Mutant versions of algae will not be capable of the process of photosynthesis.
- D. Readers do not associate the Department of Energy with algae research.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
The assumption that readers do not associate the Department of Energy with algae research is supported by the passage's context, which aims to highlight the potential of algae in energy production. This suggests a need to clarify the Department's involvement. Option A is incorrect as the passage does not provide a comparison of costs related to gas production. Option B is misleading; the passage does not confirm the Department's current use of hydrogen-producing algae. Option C is not supported; the passage does not address the capabilities of mutant algae in photosynthesis. Thus, option D aligns with the author's intent to bridge a knowledge gap.
The assumption that readers do not associate the Department of Energy with algae research is supported by the passage's context, which aims to highlight the potential of algae in energy production. This suggests a need to clarify the Department's involvement. Option A is incorrect as the passage does not provide a comparison of costs related to gas production. Option B is misleading; the passage does not confirm the Department's current use of hydrogen-producing algae. Option C is not supported; the passage does not address the capabilities of mutant algae in photosynthesis. Thus, option D aligns with the author's intent to bridge a knowledge gap.
In context, 'Telemundo' and 'Ms. magazine' serve as examples of media that:
- A. devised similar marketing techniques
- B. were created by the same media visionary
- C. underwent profound changes as a result of Johnson's work
- D. were designed to appeal to particular groups of consumers
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
Both 'Telemundo' and 'Ms. magazine' were designed to cater to specific audiences, focusing on the needs and interests of their respective consumer groups. Telemundo targets the Hispanic community, providing culturally relevant content, while Ms. magazine addresses feminist issues and women’s rights. Option A is incorrect as there is no evidence that both utilized similar marketing techniques. Option B is misleading; they were not created by the same visionary. Option C is inaccurate; while Johnson's work influenced media, it did not specifically lead to profound changes in either outlet.
Both 'Telemundo' and 'Ms. magazine' were designed to cater to specific audiences, focusing on the needs and interests of their respective consumer groups. Telemundo targets the Hispanic community, providing culturally relevant content, while Ms. magazine addresses feminist issues and women’s rights. Option A is incorrect as there is no evidence that both utilized similar marketing techniques. Option B is misleading; they were not created by the same visionary. Option C is inaccurate; while Johnson's work influenced media, it did not specifically lead to profound changes in either outlet.
In context, the metaphor in the third sentence ('it was only a subplot in a historical drama of time, place, and people that had been playing for thousands of years') chiefly serves to:
- A. call attention to the age of the United States as a nation
- B. question the literary value of the writings by Lewis and Clark
- C. trivialize the accomplishments of the Lewis and Clark expedition
- D. place the Lewis and Clark expedition into a broad context
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
The metaphor emphasizes the Lewis and Clark expedition as part of a much larger historical narrative, illustrating its significance within the vast timeline of human events. This context helps readers understand that while the expedition was important, it is just one chapter in a much larger story. Option A incorrectly focuses solely on the age of the United States, missing the broader historical context. Option B misinterprets the metaphor by suggesting it critiques the literary value of the writings, which is not the focus. Option C wrongly implies that the metaphor diminishes the expedition's significance, whereas it actually situates it within a grander narrative.
The metaphor emphasizes the Lewis and Clark expedition as part of a much larger historical narrative, illustrating its significance within the vast timeline of human events. This context helps readers understand that while the expedition was important, it is just one chapter in a much larger story. Option A incorrectly focuses solely on the age of the United States, missing the broader historical context. Option B misinterprets the metaphor by suggesting it critiques the literary value of the writings, which is not the focus. Option C wrongly implies that the metaphor diminishes the expedition's significance, whereas it actually situates it within a grander narrative.