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Exam GRE Section 1 Verbal All Questions

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Exam GRE Section 1 Verbal topic 4 question 30 discussion

Actual exam question from Test Prep's GRE Section 1 Verbal
Question #: 30
Topic #: 4
[All GRE Section 1 Verbal Questions]

The striking consistencies among the folk tales of any region, especially the tale plots of independent origins, like those among a regions languages, are owing to the fact that folklore, like language, is a collective property a socialized aspect of the culture subject to stricter and more uniform laws than fields in which individual creation prevails. Folk tales do contain certain variable elements for example, the distribution of points of emphasis and the nomenclature (vocation) and attributes of the dramatic personae through which the tellers own personality and inclinations may find expression. Also, the tellers choice among the repertory of the available genres (for example, fairy tales and anecdotes) and among the known tales within each genre often reflect the tellers preferred manner of execution, while the teller narrator typically assumes whichever character most closely resembles the teller. Nevertheless, whereas in written literature a creative personality is free to shape entirely new roles, including that of narrator, in storytelling all characters are predetermined by the tale. Attempts at biographical interpretation almost invariably fail to convince; the tale must come before the teller.
It can be inferred from the passage that the author would most probably agree with which of the following statements about classic novels?

  • A. They should not be considered part of the collective property of a culture.
  • B. They are sometimes adapted from a culture’s well known folk tales.
  • C. They place less emphasis on dramatic personae than fairy tales and anecdotes do.
  • D. They use a culture’s language in more imaginative ways than folk tales.
  • E. They often resemble folk tales insofar as they belie their author’s own values and attitudes.
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Suggested Answer: A 🗳️
In the first sentence of the passage, the author tells us that the folk lore is "collective property . . . subject to stricter and more uniform laws than fields in which individual creation prevails." Then, later in the passage, the author distinguishes between written literature (which includes novels) and folk tales in that in the former "a creative personality is free to shape entirely new roles." The implication here is that written literature (including novels) is one of the fields in which
"individual creation prevails" and therefore should not be considered part of a culture’s collective property.

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