- Fri Nov 29, 2019 5:47 pm
#72345
Hi Legalistic! So this question is asking about what the first paragraph is doing structurally for the rest of the passage. Before looking at the answer choices, it's always helpful to take a look back at the paragraph in question and Pre-Phrase an answer. After briefly reviewing the first paragraph, a solid Pre-Phrase would look something like: "It contextualizes and provides general background information for two competing trends, and sets up the stage for describing how those trends interacted in one specific example concerning Oneida tribe." Answer Choice (A) is a strong selection because it mentions how the paragraph is providing background information ("summarizes the basis"), and it succinctly describes that the stage has been set for the conflict of the two ideas. So while it might not match your Pre-Phrase word for word, it hits on the key ideas of what the paragraph is doing functionally.
Answer Choice (B) may be a tempting incorrect answer because the first paragraph does indeed present two positions, and the author of the passage seems to feel that one was better than the other (in other words, that the Oneida were correct to choose to reaffirm tribal identity and reject readjustment). However, while it is true that "[the first paragraph] presents two options", that is a very vague statement of function when compared to the more detailed description in (A). In addition, saying that the succeeding paragraphs are defending one position through evidence is a bit of a mischaracterization of what is happening in the rest of the passage. Rather, the rest of the passage is giving a historical example of what one tribe chose and how it worked out for them. So while (B) may not jump out as wildly incorrect, when viewed next to (A) it is too vague as a characterization of the first paragraph's function and it mischaracterizes what the rest of the passage is doing.
Answer Choice (C) is incorrect because the paragraph does not offer any competing interpretations of the conflict. Instead it is providing the background for that conflict.
Answer Choice (D) is incorrect because the paragraph makes no prediction of a future development.
Answer Choice (E) is incorrect because the paragraph only briefly mentions a government agency (BIA) near the paragraph's end. The paragraph says essentially nothing about the history of that agency, so that can't be its primary function.
For these types of Reading Comprehension questions, having a specific and strong Pre-Phrase can be the difference between picking the correct answer and being tricked into a tempting but incorrect answer choice like (B). Hope that helps!
