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1. B
2. C

_________________
Force and mind are opposites; morality ends where a gun begins.

1. E
2. D

Here the Japanese women poets and their work in different eras are the main points in discussion. So i go for E for question 1. Also this statement women continued to excel in and play a central role in the development of classical Japanese poetry[i] supports my belief in E

For 2, my interpretation is that what is the nature of the Japanese poetry of the Heian period is what is asked.
We know it was lyrical and was based more on expressing love. Hence I go with D.

Can someone send the correct answers please?

Author is trying to refute the claim that poetic expressiveness of Japanese women as an evidence of the freedom and high political and economic status of women enjoyed. But subsequently, he provide example of another era where women were excluded from political and economic activities, yet women played key role in Japanese poetry.

Though 2nd half of both A and E is same, E is wrong bcoz author did not give any explanation for the role of women (ie why/what etc form of role). It merely gives one evidences that contradicts the commonly held belief. IMO A

D vs E
We cant infer whether Japanese poerty is written for female audience. We only know women played role in its development. Opt D (though I am not able to justify ‘sentimental in nature’)

[quote="pzazz12"]The poetic expressiveness and creativity of Japanese women poets of the Manyoshu era is generally regarded as a manifestation of the freedom and relatively high political and economic status women of that era enjoyed. During the Heian period (A.D. 794-1185) which followed, Japanese women became increasingly relegated to domestic roles under the influence of Buddhism and Confucianism, which excluded women from the political and economic arenas. Yet, since poetry of the period came to be defined solely as short lyrical poetry, known as waka, and became the prevailing means of expressing love, women continued to excel in and play a central role in the development of classical Japanese poetry. Moreover, while official Japanese documents were written in Chinese, the phonetic alphabet kana was used for poetry. Also referred to as onna moji ("women's letters"), kana was not deemed sufficiently sophisticated for use by Japanese men, who continued to write Chinese poetry, increasingly for expressing religious ideas and as an intellectual pastime. Chinese poetry ultimately yielded, then, to waka as the mainstream of Japanese poetry.


1.The author's primary purpose in the passage is to

(A) refute a commonly accepted explanation for the role of women in the development of Japanese poetry
(B) identify the reasons for the popularity of a distinct form of literary expression in Japan
(C) distinguish between the Japanese poetry of one historical period with that of another
(D) trace the influence of religion on the development of Japanese poetry
(E) provide an explanation for the role of women in the development of Japanese poetry

2.Based on the passage, mainstream Japanese poetry of the Heian period can best be described as

(A) philosophical in its concern
(B) more refined than the poetry of the Manyoshu era
(C) an outgrowth of Buddhism and Confucianism
(D) sentimental in nature and lyrical in style
(E) written primarily for a female audience


The whole text runs with the role of women in the development of Japanese poetry. Solution to general question must comprise foot and head of text. role of women given wholly
Best answer E

sentimental = expressing love
lyrical= short lyrical poetry
Answer D

Answer A is incorrect because religion curb the rights of women directly and poetry indirectly. Philosophical couldn't provide the religion.
[/b]

1 E
2 D

1...E by elimination. No other option actually fits the bill except for this.
2...D - direct evidence can be found for option in the passage. Poetry was more about love and short lyrical in style.

OA plz.....

1. E
2. D

1. A - Wrong because the author didn't refute the commonly accepted explanation for the role of women in the development of Japanese poetry . P1 states "The poetic expressiveness and creativity of Japanese women poets of the Manyoshu era is generally regarded as a manifestation of the freedom and relatively high political and economic status women of that era enjoyed."

B - Wrong because the passage never gave reasons why wakas became popular.

C - Wrong because the passage didn't compare poetry of one era to another, it only briefly mentions the Manyoshu era.

D - Wrong because religion only played a small part in the relegation of women in domestic roles, but not poetry itself.

E - Correct because the passage talked about how Japanese women played a role in the development of waka.

2. A - Wrong because the passage did not give any supporting reasons for this answer. Doesn't talk about the poems as philosphical.

B - Wrong because it never talked about the poetry from the Manyoshu era.

C - Wrong because in the passage it just talks about how religion played a role in women's domestic roles, nothing about what poetry said about religion.

D - Correct because in the passage it states that "short lyrical poetry, known as waka, and became the prevailing means of expressing love". Lyrical in style supported by short lyrical poetry, and sentimental by means of expressing love.

E - Wrong because nothing in the passage indicates anything about poetry written for any specific audience.

1.
(A) refute a commonly accepted explanation for the role of women in the development of Japanese poetry-- the author did not refute anything
(B) identify the reasons for the popularity of a distinct form of literary expression in Japan---May be
(C) distinguish between the Japanese poetry of one historical period with that of another---Wrong..No comparisons done
(D) trace the influence of religion on the development of Japanese poetry---Wrong.No such expl. given
(E) provide an explanation for the role of women in the development of Japanese poetry---May be


Between B and E, i would like to go with "B" .(well both look not correct).


2. (A) philosophical in its concern----Hold it
(B) more refined than the poetry of the Manyoshu era---Wrong. Not mentioned anywhere
(C) an outgrowth of Buddhism and Confucianism---Wrong
(D) sentimental in nature and lyrical in style----May be(strong)
(E) written primarily for a female audience[/quote]---Wrong

finally i would like to go with D, as D seems to be a strong contender

_________________
Back !!!

1.The author's primary purpose in the passage is to

(A) refute a commonly accepted explanation for the role of women in the development of Japanese poetry
(B) identify the reasons for the popularity of a distinct form of literary expression in Japan
(C) distinguish between the Japanese poetry of one historical period with that of another
(D) trace the influence of religion on the development of Japanese poetry
(E) provide an explanation for the role of women in the development of Japanese poetry

I would go with B since the author identifies the reason for the popularity of Waka.

2.Based on the passage, mainstream Japanese poetry of the Heian period can best be described as

(A) philosophical in its concern
(B) more refined than the poetry of the Manyoshu era
(C) an outgrowth of Buddhism and Confucianism
(D) sentimental in nature and lyrical in style
(E) written primarily for a female audience[/quote]I think the answer is D since the paragraph mentions that "Yet, since poetry of the period came to be defined solely as short lyrical poetry".

What is the OA ?

i feel its E and C instead of E and D

The last line says
Chinese poetry ultimately yielded, then, to waka as the mainstream of Japanese poetry.

from this we can infer that during Heian the mainstream poetry was actually Chinese which later yielded to Waka, but when this happened hasn't been mentioned. As this Chinese poetry was written by men for expressing religious thoughts C would be a right answer.
OA plz.....?

1. E
2. D

Is this correct?

E,D.

1. The purpose, clearly is to outline the role played by women in the development of Japanese Poetry.

2. "...Yet, since poetry of the period came to be defined solely as short lyrical poetry, known as waka, and became the prevailing means of expressing love..." --> points to D.

Yes E and D seems the best....