Q15

[verrapin]

Question 15 is bugging me.

I originally considered (D) for quite a while (while actually taking it), but what threw me off was the reference to "Chinese American talk-story." So I picked (C), which is clearly wrong. But I still cannot fully understand why (D) is correct.

Here's what I see. In line 30, one reads "She distinguishes her 'thematic' ..." And after that, the paragraph seems to discuss how she interprets the tradition and goes about bringing traditional Chinese talk-story into the Chinese American tradition.

But does that make it "Chinese American talk-story"? I am not so sure, because that suggests that it is characteristic of all CA talk-story, which still does not seem too supported by the passage. We're talking about Kingston and her contributions, correct? So how can the focus suddenly blow up and encompass ALL of CA talk-story?

I see that (D) could certainly be correct. Indeed, the very nature of "talk-story" would, in my head, be exactly like (D) says. But, does that apply to Chinese American talk-story - ALL of it? I don't know. I realize this is an inference question, but it seems, to me, an excessively large "leap."

Anyway, I could use some help here; perhaps some contextual clues that could've helped me? I've really been searching hard for this, and I can't find it. It's really bugging me!

Thanks!

[ManhattanPrepLSAT1]

Good question, and thanks for bringing it to the forum!

The passage is talking about Maxine Kingston and tries to establish a traceable body of literary antecedents. It finds this body of work in a Chinese tradition called talk-story. The genre in China is simply called talk-story. However, the use of that genre in America is called Chinese American talk-story.

We know answer choice (D) must be true if we look at lines 29-35. There it describes for us an aspect of talk-story - we learn that it emphasizes thematic storytelling over retention of a precise sequences of words.

To rule out answer choice (C) we can simply point to the "other oral storytelling forms." Chinese American talk-story is not a blend of many forms but a new application of a tradition that has existed for hundreds of years.

Does that answer your question?

[verrapin]

Thanks for the answer.

I do see that. But, I still am uncomfortable with it. I still feel that it is extremely poorly supported.

I feel it would be supported if the AC said "Kingston's approach to adapting traditional talk-story..." and then had the rest of the answer choice, sans the "Chinese-American talk story."

Or if the passage had said "She distinguishes this talk-story form in that "thematic" storytelling memory processes are used,..."

Alternatively, the AC could've said "Kingston believes Chinese American talk-story relies upon..."

I still am having trouble seeing it (sorry!). I agree with what you said and I saw it myself, but there just doesn't seem to be enough to make the leap that she is a part of that movement, but at the same time, that her methods are definitely not just unique to her.

To use a quickly thought up and probably crappy analogy, let's say there was a passage about architect Bob who was redefining an ancient architectural style, from the ancient Awesomonian period. Bob says that he is a part of the neo-Awesomonian movement, and that he distinguishes his style from other dominant style in his day because he says he comes up with his designs by meditating in his garden, and achieving architectural enlightenment.

Ok. So does this guarantee that the others in the neo-Awesomonian movement also did the same? I don't know. It's possible, but I don't think it is supportable from the information we are given.

Isn't it possible that Kingston may do it, but others may use a slightly different approach? Maybe they ask elders in the Chinese culture for a recitation of certain talk-stories, write it down, then transform it from that written text. I don't see anything in the passage that would preclude this, as long as it wasn't Kingston doing it.

again, thank you for your time.

Does that make any sense? Sorry if it doesn't - I have a way of confusing people

[ManhattanPrepLSAT1]

Do you see another answer choice that is more provable than answer choice (D)? While I agree that one cannot definitively prove beyond a shadow of doubt that answer choice (D) is true, it does represent the answer choice that can be "most reasonably inferred."

As a comparison to logical reasoning, there are some questions that ask you to find the answer choice that "must be true" and there are some questions that ask you to find the answer choice that is "most strongly supported." This question is more like the latter.

Does that change the degree to which you are trying to establish answer choice (D)?

[verrapin]

Yea, I understand that it is the best of the answers available. Thanks for your help.

[irini101]

After reading analysis above I understand why ABCE incorrect, but I am still confused by E--as according to line 30-35, it is Kingston who relise upon memory process... ; therefore I think choice D unwarrantly enlarge the scope from K to Chinese american talk-story. I think K's works are one among many Chinese american talk-story, it is weird that D refer it to the chinese american talk-story as a whole.

Could any one help and analyze why?

Thanks a lot!

[evelina.chang]

I agree - I had made the mistake to immediately eliminate (D), because I thought it was out of scope for them to say "Chinese American talk-story" - because Kingston's style of talk-story shouldn't be representative of all Chinese Americans, imo.

So I went with (B) - since lines 13~23 seemed to support that it was an oral tradition, until very recently.

[timmydoeslsat]

I agree - I had made the mistake to immediately eliminate (D), because I thought it was out of scope for them to say "Chinese American talk-story" - because Kingston's style of talk-story shouldn't be representative of all Chinese Americans, imo.

So I went with (B) - since lines 13~23 seemed to support that it was an oral tradition, until very recently.

This answer choice is telling us that the scholars no longer believe that.

The lines you gave are spot on, but this is in support that the scholars have not changed their mind on the history of the talk story and its development.

The scholars have not changed course on their beliefs.

[robinzhang7]

Does lines 24-25 "This transplanted oral heritage simply embraced new subject matter or new forms of Western discourse directly support answer choice (C)?

new forms of Western discourse = other oral storytelling forms?

....unless of course Western discourse refers to the way Westerners communicate through the use of language vs. storytelling forms, which refer to the structure of how stories are formulated?

[ohthatpatrick]

Your "unless of course" at the end was perfect!

The line reference you cited is saying that "Chinese people, of the talk-story storytelling tradition, moved to America and utilized some American topics [subject matter] and American words/expressions [discourse]."

But it didn't use other oral storytelling forms.

[ashkoley]

Good question, and thanks for bringing it to the forum!

The passage is talking about Maxine Kingston and tries to establish a traceable body of literary antecedents. It finds this body of work in a Chinese tradition called talk-story. The genre in China is simply called talk-story. However, the use of that genre in America is called Chinese American talk-story.

We know answer choice (D) must be true if we look at lines 29-35. There it describes for us an aspect of talk-story - we learn that it emphasizes thematic storytelling over retention of a precise sequences of words.

To rule out answer choice (C) we can simply point to the "other oral storytelling forms." Chinese American talk-story is not a blend of many forms but a new application of a tradition that has existed for hundreds of years.

Does that answer your question?

I'm just having a hard time understanding this correct question answer. I initially saw it and recognized the wording, but on closer inspection, I realized it says the opposite of what the passage says. That, "chinese american talk-story relies on memory processes that do NOT emphasize the retention of precise sequences of words". I thought I was clever to catch that subtlety in thinking it was an answer choice that directly contradicts, but now it turns out that was the correct answer.
I realize it's an inference question, so I realize it wouldn't be a direct quote from the passage, but I still don't understand and would appreciate any further explanations you may have about this. Thank you!

[crocca]

I do not fully understand why answer C is incorrect. I saw "other oral storytelling forms" as being supported by lines 45-46 which says Kingston "utilizes forms typical of that genre and common to most oral cultures". After reading the above posts about CA talk-story vs. Kingston's talk-story, and how the difference is not made clear in the answer choices, I think C can still hold merit because it doesn't seem to be an important distinction in the correct answer choice D either.