What is the central thesis of the passage?

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Amsden has divided Navajo weaving into four distinct styles. He argues that three of them can be identified by the type of design used to form horizontal bands: colored strips, zigzags, or diamonds. The fourth, or bordered, style he identifies by a distinct border surrounding centrally placed, dominating figures.

Amsden believes that the diamond style appeared after 1869 when, under Anglo influence and encouragement, the blanket became a rug with larger designs and bolder lines. The bordered style appeared about 1890, and, Amsden argues, it reflects the greatest number of Anglo influences on the newly emerging rug business. The Anglo desire that anything with a graphic designs have a top, bottom, and border is a cultural preference that the Navajo abhorred, as evidenced, he suggests, by the fact that in early bordered specimens strips of color unexpectedly break through the enclosing pattern.
Amsden argues that the bordered rug represents a radical break with previous styles. He asserts that the border changed the artistic problem facing weavers: a blank area suggests the use of isolated figures, while traditional, banded Navajo designs were continuous and did not use isolated figures. The old patterns alternated horizontal decorative zones in a regular order.
Amsden's view raises several questions. First, what is involved in altering artistic styles? Some studies suggest that artisans' motor habits and thought processes must be revised when a style changes precipitously. In the evolution of Navajo weaving, however, no radical revisions in the way articles are produced need be assumed. After all, all weaving subordinates design to the physical limitations created by the process of weaving, which includes creating an edge or border. The habits required to make decorative borders are, therefore, latent and easily brought to the surface.
Second, is the relationship between the banded and bordered styles as simple as Amsden suggests? He assumes that a break in style is a break in psychology. But if style results from constant quests for invention, such stylistic breaks are inevitable. When a style has exhausted the possibilities inherent in its principles, artists cast about for new, but not necessarily alien, principles. Navajo weaving may have reached this turning point prior to 1890.

Third, is there really a significant stylistic gap? Two other styles lie between the banded styles and the bordered styles. They suggest that disintegration of the bands may have altered visual and motor habits and prepared the way for a border filled with separate units. In the Chief White Antelope blanket, dated prior to 1865, ten years before the first Anglo trading post on the Navajo reservation, whole and partial diamonds interrupt the flowing design and become separate forms. Parts of diamonds arranged vertically at each side may be seen to anticipate the border.

The author's central thesis is that
(A) the Navajo rejected the stylistic influences of Anglo culture
(B) Navajo weaving cannot be classified by Amsden's categories
(C) the Navajo changed their style of weaving because they sought the challenge of new artistic problems
(D) original motor habits and thought processes limit the extent to which a style can be revised
(E) the casual factors leading to the emergence of the bordered style are not as clear-cut as Amsden suggests

in my opinion, answer should be B because the author questions the amsden's views. it means that he does not agree with that views. In short the author wants to say that Amsden's categories are not correct though he never mentioned the word "incorrect".

Experts, please correct me.

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by sumanr84 » Thu May 06, 2010 7:29 pm
IMO : B
Amsden’s view raises several questions. First,....Second,...,Third,....So, clearly author is trying to prove his point about the categorization of Navajo weaving done by Amsden.

It took me 5 mins to read and understand the passage completely and then 1 min to answer. Do you think its ok or I need to speed up a bit.

Hi,
whoever does RC passages, please put your reading time that would help to evaluate ourselves.
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by abhishekdrolia » Thu May 06, 2010 11:36 pm
IMO E. I dont think the author questions the categorization, instead the author questions the causal relationship that Amsten came to for the change in style.

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by sumanr84 » Fri May 07, 2010 9:31 am
abhishekdrolia wrote:IMO E. I dont think the author questions the categorization, instead the author questions the causal relationship that Amsten came to for the change in style.
I rejected 5 coz it discusses only one of the style "bordered style ". However, overall 4 styles are being discussed. That is the reason why I eliminated 4 & 5.
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by abhishekdrolia » Fri May 07, 2010 2:28 pm
I think the author is trying to say that the people did not change their style due to external influence as that would have required them to change their motor skills.

As the change in motor skills are not significant between the 2 styles so it may have been an evolutionary step rather than external influence.

This is the reason I choose E. Can we have the OA please