OpenSAT

Question #N1275

The author suggests that the popularity of the novel can be attributed to its depiction of a “destabilizing effect” on society. This is achieved through the novel’s use of “interpolated speech,” or characters’ speech interspersed within the narrative, to create a sense of realism. The author also suggests that this technique is a means for Black American authors to resist the constraints of “externally imposed literary conventions.” Which of the following best describes the author’s overall purpose in this passage?

The author’s main purpose in this passage is to

A. explain the reasons for the popularity of the novel.

B. describe the narrative technique of interpolated speech.

C. demonstrate the author’s belief that Black American authors should resist literary conventions.

D. argue that interpolated speech is a more realistic form of storytelling.

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Correct Answer is: A

The author's primary goal in the passage is to offer an explanation of the novel’s popularity, which is linked to both its realism and its defiance of literary conventions. While the passage briefly describes these ideas, the primary focus is on explaining the novel’s popularity.