PrepTest 116, Section 1, Question 16
Reader-response theory, a type of literary theory that(454 more words not shown)
With which one of the(13 more words not shown)
- AAny literary theory(13 more words not shown)
- BA purpose of(17 more words not shown)
- CA literary theory(10 more words not shown)
- DThe purpose of(16 more words not shown)
- ESince no literary(15 more words not shown)
Reading the passage
The writer thinks readers' differing perspectives can help us understand literature. That's a useful starting point, though an agreement question could pick out a smaller claim too. We still need to locate support for the particular wording.
Working the answers
- A
The writer calls formalism too narrow, not every theory ultimately limiting. Reader-response theory is defended for opening up additional understanding.
- BCorrect
Broaden and enhance sounds plausible, but where do we see it? The final paragraph says different readers can uncover aspects of a work that previous readers had missed (paragraph 3). It then describes legitimate additional insights after supposedly definitive interpretations. Discovering things earlier readers missed broadens and improves our understanding. B states a purpose that the writer clearly values.
- C
Strict objectivity is the formalists' preferred standard. The writer instead defends the contributions that readers' differing assumptions and perceptions can make.
- D
This also takes the formalists' position: the job is to recover the author's intended meaning. The writer wants room for useful interpretations beyond that one goal.
- E
Not having a monopoly doesn't make a theory useless. The writer is defending reader-response theory as helpful, not telling us to stop using theories.
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