Reading Comprehension

Innovations in language are never completely
new. When the words used for familiar things
change, or words for new things enter the language,
they are usually borrowed or adapted from stock.
(5) Assuming new roles, they drag their old meanings
along behind them like flickering shadows. This
seems especially true of the language of the
contemporary school of literary criticism that now
prefers to describe its work simply and rather
(10) presumptuously as "theory" but is still popularly
referred to as post structuralism or deconstruction.

The first neologisms adopted by this movement
were signifier and signified, employed to distinguish
words from their referents, and to illustrate the
(15) arbitrariness of the terms we choose. The use of
these particular terms (rather than, respectively,
word and thing) underlined the seriousness of the
naming process and its claim on our attention.
Since in English "to signify" can also mean "to
(20) portend," these terms also suggest that words
predict coming events.


With the use of the term deconstruction we move
into another and more complex realm of meaning. g
The most common use of the terms construction
(25) and deconstruction is in the building trades, and
their borrowing by literary theorists for a new type
of criticism cannot help but have certain overtones
to the outsider. First, the usage suggests that the
creation and critical interpretation of literature are
(30) not organic but mechanical processes; that the
author of any piece of writing is not an inspired,
intuitive artist, but merely a laborer who cobbles
existing materials (words) into more or less
conventional structures. The term deconstruction
(35) implies that the text has been put together like a
building or a piece of machinery, and that it is in
need of being taken apart, not so much in order to
repair it as to demonstrate underlying inadequacies,
false assumptions, and inherent contradictions.
(40) This process can supposedly be repeated many
times and by many literary hard hats; it is expected
that each deconstruction will reveal additional
flaws and expose the illusions or bad faith of the
builder. The fact that deconstructionists prefer to
(45) describe their activities as deconstruction rather
than criticism is also revealing. Criticism and critic
derive from the Greek kritikos, "skillful in judging,
decisive." Deconstruction, on the other hand, has
no overtones of skill or wisdom; it merely suggests
(50) demolition of an existing building. In popular usage
criticism suggests censure but not change. If we find
fault with a building, we may condemn it, but we
do not carry out the demolition ourselves. The
deconstructionist, by implication, is both judge and
(55) executioner who leaves a text totally dismantled, if
not reduced to a pile of rubble.



7. Which one of the following best expresses the main idea of the passage?
(A) Implicit in the terminology of the school of criticism known as deconstruction are meanings that reveal the true nature of the deconstructionist’s endeavor.
(B) The appearance of the terms signifier and signified in the field of literary theory anticipated the appearance of an even more radical idea known as deconstruction.
(C) Innovations in language and relations between old and new meanings of terms are a special concern of the new school of criticism known as deconstruction.
(D) Deconstructionists maintain that it is insufficient merely to judge a work: the critic must actively dismantle it.
(E) Progress in the field of literary theory is best achieved by looking for new terms like signifier and deconstruction that might suggest new critical approaches to a work.

8. Which one of the following is a claim that the author of the passage makes about deconstructionists?
(A) Deconstructionists would not have been able to formulate their views adequately without the terms signifier and signified.
(B) Deconstructionists had no particular purpose in mind in choosing to use neologisms.
(C) Deconstructionists do not recognize that their own theory contains inherent contradictions.
(D) Deconstructionists find little interest in the relationship between words and their referents.
(E) Deconstructionists use the terms signifier and signified to stress the importance of the process of naming.

9. Which one of the following generalizations about inventions is most analogous to the author’s point about innovation in language?
(A) A new invention usually consists of components that are specifically manufactured for the new invention.
(B) A new invention is usually behind the times, never making as much use of all the available modern technology as it could.
(C) A new invention usually consists of components that are already available but are made to function in new ways.
(D) A new invention is most useful when it is created with attention to the historical tradition established by implements previously used to do the same job.
(E) A new invention is rarely used to its full potential because it is surrounded by out-of-date technology that hinder its application.

10. The author of the passage uses the word “criticism” in lines 46-56 primarily in order to
(A) give an example
(B) introduce a contrast
(C) undermine an argument
(D) codify a system
(E) dismiss an objection

11. Which one of the following best describes the function of the second paragraph within the passage as a whole?
(A) It introduces a hypothesis that the author later expands upon.
(B) It qualifies a claim made earlier by the author.
(C) It develops an initial example of the author’s general thesis.
(D) It predicts a development.
(E) It presents a contrasting view.

12. The passage suggests that the author most probably holds the view that an important characteristic of literary criticism is that it
(A) demonstrate false assumptions and inherent contradictions
(B) employ skill and insight
(C) be carried out by one critic rather than many
(D) reveal how a text is put together like a building
(E) point out the superiority of conventional text structures




13. The passage suggests that which one of the following most accurately describes the author’s view of deconstructionist thought?
(A) The author is guardedly optimistic about the ability of deconstruction to reveal the intentions and biases of a writer.
(B) The author endorses the utility of deconstruction for revealing the role of older meanings of words.
(C) The author is enthusiastic about the significant neologisms that deconstruction has introduced into literary criticism.
(D) The author regards deconstruction’s tendency to focus only on the problems and faults of literary texts as too mechanical.
(E) The author condemns deconstruction’s attempts to define literary criticism as a creative act.

7.a
8. e
9. c
10. c
11. c
12. b
13. d

oa please

huh..

7) C
8) D
9) C
10) B
11) C
12) D
13) E

Where do you get such passage from?
It took me 20 minutes ...and I have to re-read the passage many-a-time...and still i am not comfortable understanding it. Please help me with how can i improve on speed and accuracy?

7-C A
8- B
9- C
10- B
11- B C
12- E B
13- A

c
e
c
b
c
b
b

oa plz

A
D
C
B
C
B
D

please post the OAs

I think i messed it. Nez i would go for:
7c
8d
9c
10a
11c
12a
13e

Please post the OAs

Topic and Scope: the literary philosophy of deconstruction; specifically, the connection
between its terminology and its methods.
Purpose and Main Idea: The author's purpose is to demonstrate that links exist between
deconstruction's terminology and its methods; the author argues that deconstructionist
terminology provides clear insights into deconstruction's methods.
Paragraph Structure: ¶s 1 and 2 essentially point out that deconstructionist terminology
reflects the philosophy's methods. The words-along with their prior meanings-that
deconstructionists have "borrowed or adapted from stock" to define their philosophy
imply certain things about that philosophy.
¶3 is the heart of the text. This ¶ discusses the specific ways in which the term
deconstruction sheds light on deconstructionist methods. Basically, this term, which is taken
from the construction industry, highlights deconstructionist efforts to demolish, rather
than simply criticize, literary works.
The Big Picture:
"¢ Many of you may have found this a difficult passage because of its rather abstract
nature. Don't worry if you don't understand all of the points made by the author-
you're not going to be asked about most of them. The most important thing to pick
up on in a passage like this one is the author's critical tone-that's what'll really help
you to answer questions.
"¢ Since this passage isn't easy, a savvy test taker might well have left it for last. On test
day, begin work on the reading comprehension section with a more "concrete"
passage.


7. (A)

This choice nicely captures the topic, scope, and purpose of the passage.
(B) These literary terms didn't pre-date deconstruction; rather, deconstructionists turned
these words into literary terms. Besides, this is a mere detail in ¶2; it's certainly not the
text's main idea.
(C) also plays on a detail in ¶2.
(D) focuses on a detail in ¶3. Moreover, this choice reflects the author's opinion of
deconstruction, which isn't necessarily what deconstructionists think of deconstruction.
(E) This choice contradicts the author's critical attitude toward evaluating literature in
light of "borrowed or adapted" terminology.
"¢ The correct answer to global questions must be broad enough to encompass the
contents of the entire passage. Avoid choices-like (B), (C), and (D) here-that blow
up details into "main ideas."


8. (E)
This choice is a good paraphrase of lines 15-18.
(A) The author never claims that deconstruction would have been impossible without the
use of these terms. He refers to them simply to highlight an aspect of deconstructionist
philosophy.
(B) is an au contraire choice. Lines 12-15 indicate that deconstructionists have chosen
neologisms for very specific reasons.
(C) The author never says that deconstruction "contains inherent contradictions." What he
says is that deconstructionists are on the lookout for contradictions in the work of others.
(D) is another au contraire choice. Deconstructionists are interested enough "in the
relationship between words

"¢ The best approach to explicit text questions is to go back to the passage and reread.
Don't answer based on a hunch or a vague recollection of the text.


9. (C)
The author's belief about innovation in language (lines 1-6) is that it consists of giving new
meanings to existing words. (C) expresses precisely the same relationship-existing
components "are made to function in new ways."
None of the other choices reflects the author's fundamental idea about "borrowing or
adapting" something that already exists to serve a new end.
"¢ Don't nitpick over wrong choices. Being concerned about their exact meaning will
slow your progress greatly. Only one choice is categorically correct. Once you've
found that choice, discard the rest quickly.


10. (B)
In lines 44-46, the author sets up a contrast between deconstruction and criticism. In lines 46-
56, he fleshes out this contrast by defining criticism and showing how it differs from
deconstruction.
(A) Lines 46-56 do contain an example of sorts-the example of the building. This example,
however, is in the text because it supports the contrast that the author makes.
(C), (D), and (E) are beyond the scope of the text. If anything, the author makes an argument
in lines 46-56; he doesn't undermine one (C). Nor does he "codify a system" (D) or "dismiss
an objection" (E): What system? What objection?
"¢ Questions often ask about the why of a detail, a paragraph, or a set of lines-that's
one reason why you've got to read for what the author's thinking and doing, not for
what he or she's saying.


11. (C)
In ¶1, the author argues that the old meaning of words doesn't disappear when people use
these words in new ways. In ¶2, the author provides an example of this phenomenon by
showing that the word "signify" conjures up a certain idea, even though deconstructionists
don't have this idea in mind when they use this word.
(A),(B) ¶2 neither "introduces a hypothesis" (A) nor "qualifies a claim" (B). It simply backs
up an abstract argument made in ¶1 with a concrete example.
(D) distorts a detail in the last sentence of ¶2.
(E) ¶3 "presents a contrasting view"-a view that takes issue with deconstruction.
"¢ If you read for a sense of how the text is structured, the answer should have snapped
into place.


12. (B)
In ¶3, the author's disapproval of deconstruction, which he thinks "has no overtones of
skill or wisdom," is evident. Equally apparent is his approval of criticism, which is based
on "skill and insight."
(A) Deconstructionists-not the author-think that it's important to "demonstrate false
assumptions and inherent contradictions."
(C) The author has problems with deconstructionist philosophy, not with the number of
deconstructionists (or, for that matter, other critics) who may analyze a work.
(D) is a metaphor for an analytic process favored by deconstructionists. The author is
critical of this analytic process.
(E) distorts a detail in lines 32-34. The author doesn't make any judgements about text
structures; he makes a judgement about differing modes of literary criticism.
"¢ This is an excellent example of a question that could be readily answered if you
picked up on the author's critical tone toward deconstruction.

13. (D)
This choice both reflects the author's generally negative attitude toward deconstruction,
and echoes his comment in lines 28-30.
(A),(B),(C) The author isn't "guardedly optimistic" (A) or "enthusiastic" (C) about
deconstruction. Nor does he "endorse" it in any respect (B). Indeed, he's critical of
deconstruction's search for authorial bias, as well as the way it uses words and neologisms.
(E) is too strongly negative in tone. Besides, according to the author, deconstructionists
don't think of literary criticism as a "creative act." Just the opposite; it's a repetitive,
"mechanical" process.
"¢ Grasping the author's tone immediately allowed you to eliminate (A), (B), and (C).
Then, all you had to do was choose between (D) and (E), and (E) was wrong for a
couple of reasons.

2 down out of 7!!!

Is'nt it alarming....I read the RC once and penned my answers.Even others are also in my boat only !