Latino literature of the United States is best known as a twentieth-century phenomenon; beginning in the 1960s, Chicano and Puerto...
GMAT Reading Comprehension : (RC) Questions
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Latino literature of the United States is best known as a twentieth-century phenomenon; beginning in the 1960s, Chicano and Puerto Rican authors, then Cuban Americans and more recent Latino arrivals, have produced a substantial and impressive body of writing. While writers in Latin America were establishing what has been called the "boom" of Latin American narrative, their U.S. counterparts were forging a distinct tradition in poetry, drama, and fiction in their own voices. It is important, however, to recognize the long history of which this movement was a part. The spectacular flowering of U.S. Latino letters from the 1960s onward grew from seeds carefully and painstakingly sown by earlier writers. Their efforts often went unrecognized by non-Latino critics as well as by younger Latino authors, who were frequently unaware of their existence.
A case in point is The Rebel by Leonor Villegas de Magnan. The work is based on the author's fascinating experiences as the founder of a nursing corps that attended to and aided the revolutionary forces in the Texas-Mexico border region during the Mexican Revolution. Frustrated in her attempts to have this memoir published in Spanish in the 1920s, Villegas de Magnón later wrote a version in English in the 1940s, but it met a similar fate. Thanks to the efforts of contemporary scholars and the foresight of editors dedicated to promoting Latino literature, the book was finally published in 1994. It stands as another challenge to the stereotypical misconceptions regarding Mexican Americans, particularly women, of that era. Similarly, for decades, the poet William Carlos Williams, though recognized as a major American poet, was not included in the sphere of U.S. Latino culture due to the lack of appreciation of his profound Puerto Rican and Spanish American roots. Recent scholarly research, however, including Julio Marian's groundbreaking study The Spanish American Roots of William Carlos Williams (1994), has demonstrated that this important pioneer of modern American poetry is truly worthy of the distinction; Marzan has provided evidence that Williams's poetic sensibilities reflect a more hemispheric—New World application of the term "American."
Ques. 1/4
Which of the following most accurately describes the two books that the passage mentions as having been published in 1994?
Solution
1. Passage Analysis:
Progressive Passage Analysis
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Latino literature of the United States is best known as a twentieth-century phenomenon; beginning in the 1960s, Chicano and Puerto Rican authors, then Cuban Americans and more recent Latino arrivals, have produced a substantial and impressive body of writing. | What it says: U.S. Latino literature is famous as a modern development - starting in the 1960s, various Latino groups created important literature. What it does: Introduces the main topic and establishes a timeline Source/Type: Author's factual overview Connection to Previous Sentences: This is the opening - no previous context Visualization: Timeline: 1960s → present: Latino literature boom Groups in order: Chicanos & Puerto Ricans → Cubans → other recent arrivals What We Know So Far: U.S. Latino literature = 20th century phenomenon starting 1960s What We Don't Know Yet: Any historical context before 1960s |
| While writers in Latin America were establishing what has been called the \"boom\" of Latin American narrative, their U.S. counterparts were forging a distinct tradition in poetry, drama, and fiction in their own voices. | What it says: At the same time Latin American writers were having their own literary boom, U.S. Latino writers were creating their own separate tradition. What it does: Provides context and emphasizes distinction between two literary movements Source/Type: Author's factual comparison Connection to Previous Sentences: This RESTATES the 1960s timeframe from sentence 1 and adds parallel context about Latin America. This is elaboration, not new complexity. Visualization: Same time period (1960s+): • Latin America: \"boom\" in narrative • U.S. Latino writers: distinct tradition in poetry, drama, fiction Reading Strategy Insight: Feel confident here - the author is reinforcing the timeline and adding helpful context, not introducing complexity. |
| It is important, however, to recognize the long history of which this movement was a part. | What it says: We need to understand that this 1960s movement had a much longer history behind it. What it does: Introduces a contrast/shift in perspective - signals the main argument Source/Type: Author's opinion/argument Connection to Previous Sentences: This CONTRASTS with the opening focus on the 1960s. The word \"however\" signals we're about to get a different perspective on the timeline. Visualization: Previous view: 1960s = beginning of Latino literature New view: 1960s = visible part of much longer history Reading Strategy Insight: This is the author's thesis preview - they're about to show us the earlier history. |
| The spectacular flowering of U.S. Latino letters from the 1960s onward grew from seeds carefully and painstakingly sown by earlier writers. | What it says: The impressive Latino literature boom after the 1960s came from groundwork laid by earlier writers. What it does: Restates the thesis using metaphor Source/Type: Author's argument Connection to Previous Sentences: This RESTATES sentence 3 using garden metaphor. The \"1960s onward\" directly echoes sentence 1. This is simplification through restatement. Visualization: Earlier writers: planted seeds (groundwork) 1960s+: spectacular flowering (visible success) Reading Strategy Insight: Feel relieved here - this is simplification, not new complexity. The author is making their point clearer with the metaphor. |
| Their efforts often went unrecognized by non-Latino critics as well as by younger Latino authors, who were frequently unaware of their existence. | What it says: These early writers were ignored both by non-Latino critics and by younger Latino writers who didn't even know about them. What it does: Explains why the early history was overlooked Source/Type: Author's factual explanation Connection to Previous Sentences: This builds on sentence 4 by explaining why we need to \"recognize\" this history - because it was forgotten/ignored. Visualization: Early Latino writers → unrecognized by: • Non-Latino critics • Younger Latino authors (didn't know they existed) Reading Strategy Insight: This explains the \"why\" behind the author's argument - logical development, not new complexity. |
| A case in point is The Rebel by Leonor Villegas de Magnan. | What it says: Here's a specific example: a book called The Rebel by Leonor Villegas de Magnan. What it does: Introduces first concrete example Source/Type: Author providing evidence Connection to Previous Sentences: This gives us a SPECIFIC EXAMPLE of the \"earlier writers\" whose \"efforts went unrecognized\" from previous sentences. Visualization: Abstract concept: unrecognized early writers Concrete example: Leonor Villegas de Magnan, \"The Rebel\" Reading Strategy Insight: Feel more confident - we're moving from abstract to concrete. Examples make passages easier, not harder. |
| The work is based on the author's fascinating experiences as the founder of a nursing corps that attended to and aided the revolutionary forces in the Texas-Mexico border region during the Mexican Revolution. | What it says: The book describes how Villegas de Magnan founded a nursing corps that helped revolutionary forces during the Mexican Revolution in the Texas-Mexico border area. What it does: Provides background on the specific example Source/Type: Factual description of the book's content Connection to Previous Sentences: This elaborates on \"The Rebel\" from the previous sentence - giving us details about what made this early work significant. Visualization: Mexican Revolution period Location: Texas-Mexico border Villegas de Magnan: founded nursing corps → helped revolutionaries → wrote about it Reading Strategy Insight: Pure elaboration on our example - building our understanding, not adding complexity. |
| Frustrated in her attempts to have this memoir published in Spanish in the 1920s, Villegas de Magnón later wrote a version in English in the 1940s, but it met a similar fate. | What it says: She couldn't get it published in Spanish in the 1920s, so she rewrote it in English in the 1940s, but that version also couldn't get published. What it does: Demonstrates the \"unrecognized\" problem with concrete evidence Source/Type: Historical facts about publication attempts Connection to Previous Sentences: This PROVES the point from sentence 5 about early writers going \"unrecognized\" - here's specific evidence of a work being rejected repeatedly. Visualization: 1920s: Spanish version → rejected 1940s: English version → rejected Pattern: 20+ years of rejection Reading Strategy Insight: This is evidence supporting the earlier claim - the example is working exactly as examples should. |
| Thanks to the efforts of contemporary scholars and the foresight of editors dedicated to promoting Latino literature, the book was finally published in 1994. | What it says: Modern scholars and editors who care about Latino literature finally got the book published in 1994. What it does: Shows resolution and connects past to present Source/Type: Factual conclusion to the publication story Connection to Previous Sentences: This completes the timeline from sentence 8 and shows how \"recognition\" finally happened - connecting to the overall theme about recognizing early writers. Visualization: 1920s: rejected → 1940s: rejected → 1994: FINALLY published Gap: ~70+ years Reading Strategy Insight: This resolves the example story and reinforces the main point about recognition. |
| It stands as another challenge to the stereotypical misconceptions regarding Mexican Americans, particularly women, of that era. | What it says: This book challenges wrong ideas people had about Mexican Americans, especially women, from that time period. What it does: Explains the broader significance of this specific example Source/Type: Author's interpretation of the work's importance Connection to Previous Sentences: This explains WHY the Villegas de Magnan example matters - it fits the broader theme of unrecognized contributions that challenge assumptions. Visualization: Stereotypes about Mexican American women (early 1900s) ← challenged by → Villegas de Magnan's real story What We Know So Far: Early Latino writers existed, were unrecognized, Villegas de Magnan is one example who challenged stereotypes What We Don't Know Yet: Whether there will be more examples |
| Similarly, for decades, the poet William Carlos Williams, though recognized as a major American poet, was not included in the sphere of U.S. Latino culture due to the lack of appreciation of his profound Puerto Rican and Spanish American roots. | What it says: William Carlos Williams was famous as an American poet but for many years wasn't considered part of Latino culture because people didn't understand his Puerto Rican and Spanish American background. What it does: Introduces second example of the same pattern Source/Type: Historical fact about literary categorization Connection to Previous Sentences: The word \"Similarly\" signals this is ANOTHER EXAMPLE of the same \"unrecognized\" pattern. Williams = recognized as American poet but NOT as Latino writer. Visualization: Williams: recognized as American poet ≠ recognized as Latino writer Problem: people didn't appreciate his Latino roots Reading Strategy Insight: \"Similarly\" tells us this follows the same pattern - feel confident that you understand the structure. |
| Recent scholarly research, however, including Julio Marian's groundbreaking study The Spanish American Roots of William Carlos Williams (1994), has demonstrated that this important pioneer of modern American poetry is truly worthy of the distinction; Marzan has provided evidence that Williams's poetic sensibilities reflect a more hemispheric—New World application of the term \"American.\" | What it says: New research, especially Julio Marzan's 1994 study, has proven that Williams deserves to be recognized as part of Latino literature because his poetry reflects a broader, New World understanding of \"American.\" What it does: Shows resolution of the Williams example, parallel to the Villegas de Magnan resolution Source/Type: Evidence from scholarly research Connection to Previous Sentences: This mirrors sentence 9 - just as contemporary scholars got Villegas de Magnan published, recent research has gotten Williams recognized. Same pattern of eventual recognition. Visualization: Parallel pattern: Example 1: Villegas de Magnan → finally published 1994 Example 2: Williams → finally recognized through 1994 study Reading Strategy Insight: Notice the parallel structure - both examples end with 1990s recognition. The author is reinforcing the same point twice. What We Know So Far: Early Latino writers were unrecognized, but recent scholars are fixing this by recognizing both forgotten works (Villegas de Magnan) AND reclassifying known works (Williams) What We Don't Know Yet: This appears to be the complete argument |
2. Passage Summary:
Author's Purpose:
To correct the common belief that U.S. Latino literature began in the 1960s by showing that it actually has much deeper historical roots that have been overlooked.
Summary of Passage Structure:
The author builds their argument by first acknowledging the popular view, then challenging it with evidence:
- First, the author presents the widely accepted view that U.S. Latino literature is a modern phenomenon that started in the 1960s with various Latino groups creating important works.
- Next, the author challenges this timeline by arguing that the 1960s success actually grew from earlier writers whose contributions were forgotten or ignored by both critics and later Latino authors.
- Then, the author provides two specific examples to prove their point: a woman who wrote about her experiences during the Mexican Revolution but couldn't get published for decades, and a famous American poet whose Latino heritage was overlooked for years.
- Finally, the author shows how recent scholars in the 1990s have begun to recognize and publish these overlooked works, demonstrating that the historical record is being corrected.
Main Point:
While U.S. Latino literature became famous starting in the 1960s, it actually has a much longer history of important writers whose work was ignored for decades but is now finally being recognized by modern scholars.
3. Question Analysis:
The question asks us to identify what the two books published in 1994 have in common - specifically, how to categorize or describe both works accurately.
Connecting to Our Passage Analysis:
From our detailed passage analysis, we identified two works published in 1994:
- \"The Rebel\" by Leonor Villegas de Magnan - This was a memoir based on the author's experiences founding a nursing corps during the Mexican Revolution. The passage analysis showed this was \"based on the author's fascinating experiences\" and was \"a memoir\" that \"couldn't get published in Spanish in the 1920s\" and \"rewrote it in English in the 1940s\" before finally being published in 1994.
- \"The Spanish American Roots of William Carlos Williams\" by Julio Marzan - The passage analysis identified this as \"scholarly research\" and \"Julio Marzan's groundbreaking study\" that \"demonstrated\" and \"provided evidence\" about Williams's poetry.
Prethinking:
Based on our passage analysis:
- The first book is a prose narrative (memoir/autobiography about personal experiences)
- The second book is a commentary/study about a poet's work (scholarly analysis of Williams's poetry)
This leads us to expect an answer choice that captures \"prose narrative\" + \"commentary on poetry/poet.\"
Answer Choices Explained
A
A prose narrative and a commentary on the works of a poet
Why It's Right:
- "The Rebel" is clearly a prose narrative - it's a memoir based on Villegas de Magnan's personal experiences during the Mexican Revolution
- Marzan's work is explicitly described as a "study" that provides "evidence" about Williams's "poetic sensibilities" - this is commentary on a poet's work
- Both descriptions align perfectly with what the passage tells us about these 1994 publications
B
A sociological study of a literary movement and a translation of a book of poetry
Why It's Wrong:
- While Marzan's work studies Williams, it's not described as examining a "literary movement"
- "The Rebel" is not a translation - it's an original memoir written first in Spanish, then rewritten in English
- The passage gives no indication that "The Rebel" was ever a book of poetry
- Confusing "rewritten in English" with "translation"?
→ The passage states she "wrote a version in English" - this means she rewrote it, not that someone else translated it - Thinking Marzan's study covers the broader Latino literary movement?
→ The study specifically focuses on Williams alone, not the entire movement
C
A biography of a poet and an anthology of translations of works of fiction
Why It's Wrong:
- Marzan's work is not a biography of Williams - it's a study of his poetic roots and influences
- "The Rebel" is not an anthology of translations - it's a single memoir by one author
- Neither work deals with fiction - one is memoir, the other is poetry analysis
- Assuming any scholarly study about a writer must be a biography?
→ Marzan's work focuses specifically on Williams's "Spanish American roots" and "poetic sensibilities," not his life story - Confusing memoir with fiction?
→ "The Rebel" is based on real experiences during the Mexican Revolution, making it non-fiction
D
A historical treatment of a literary movement and a collection of poems
Why It's Wrong:
- "The Rebel" is not a historical treatment of a literary movement - it's a personal memoir of individual experiences
- "The Rebel" is not a collection of poems - it's prose narrative about nursing corps experiences
- Marzan's work is not a collection of poems - it's scholarly analysis
- Thinking that because "The Rebel" describes historical events, it must be a "historical treatment"?
→ There's a difference between a memoir that happens to describe historical events and a scholarly historical treatment - Confusing poetry analysis with poetry collection?
→ Marzan wrote about Williams's poetry, he didn't collect Williams's poems
E
A work of fiction and a biography of a fiction writer
Why It's Wrong:
- "The Rebel" is not fiction - it's a memoir based on real experiences during the Mexican Revolution
- Marzan's work is not a biography of a fiction writer - Williams was a poet, and Marzan's work analyzes his poetry, not his life
- Neither work deals with fiction at all
- Confusing memoir with fiction because both can tell stories?
→ The passage clearly states "The Rebel" is "based on the author's fascinating experiences" - real events, not fiction - Thinking Williams must be a fiction writer because he's described as an important literary figure?
→ The passage specifically identifies Williams as "a major American poet" multiple times
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