Happy to help. The author opens the passage by writing positive things about Breen and Innes's study. This can be seen in lines 6 through 10, where the author states, "Breen and Stephen Innes contribute significantly to a recent, welcome shift from a white-centered to a black-centered inquiry into the role of African Americans in the American colonial period."
The entire first paragraph is basically providing support for the study. However, the author's tone shifts toward the latter part of the second paragraph at line 40, where she states, "However, they underemphasize much evidence that customary law, only gradually embodied in statutory law, was closing in on free African Americans well before the 1670s." This indicates the author does have some reservations about the study.
From this, we can conclude the author likes the study, but she has some qualms about it. In the answer choices, we're looking for something that paraphrases our prediction.
Answer A is incorrect because the author reveals positive feelings toward the study in lines 6 through 10.
Answer B is incorrect because, as noted above, the author provides some negative commentary on the study in line 40.
Answer C is incorrect because it fails to acknowledge the author's positive feelings toward the study.
Answer D says "qualified approval." This is correct; it captures the author's generally positive tone toward the study but also includes "qualified" as a word to signify the negative facet of the study discussed in line 40. This is our answer choice.
Answer E is incorrect because the author does not reveal any sort of puzzlement toward the study.
Does this make sense? Let us know if you have any more questions!
FatimaNovember 11, 2020
Hi, I chose C as answer because D -qualified approval would be too positive and accepting it fully even though last paragraph points out their shortcomings. why the word qualified is understood as negative here?
PeterFSeptember 6, 2021
Hello! I struggle with these type of questions a lot; I went with "contentious challenge" because while the author found approval there was also challenges presented in Breen and Inne's study. However, I also realize it is lacking the approval the author also had with the study.
I didn't like "qualified approval" because it seemed to lack the challenge aspect. I guess I am confused how the use of the word "qualified" constitutes a negative statement?
RaviFebruary 6, 2022
@PeterF, C is too negative to truly capture the author's attitude toward the study. The author explicitly challenges one part of the study (it's interpretation of why Anthony Johnson and his family left the Chesapeake Bay in 1665, which is in lines 50-57) and also criticizes the study's lack of emphasis on the growing prevalence of discriminatory law in colonial Virginia. However, neither of these are contentious or combative. The author is mostly approving toward the study (seen in lines 1-5), and C does not capture that attitude from the author.
With D, at the beginning of the passage, the author shows they're a fan of this study by mentioning that Bren and Inne's study avoids the pitfalls of many other studies of African American history, which focus too much on the harms done by slavery and slave holders, and not enough on the accomplishments of African Americans despite those obstacles (this is in lines 1-5).
The author also praises the study in lines 5-9 as a "welcome shift from a white-centered to a black-centered inquiry into the role of African Americans." Later on though, the author qualifies their approval in paragraph two by arguing that the study does under emphasize the growing prevalence of discriminatory laws in Virginia during the 1960s and 1970s. Thus, qualified approval fits really well, so D is correct.
KiaBrodersenNovember 5, 2023
Hello,
I still feel confused about how the definition of the word 'qualified' fits here. Does it mean that the study has approval given its drawbacks, it would 'qualify' for more approval by amending those drawbacks to put more of an emphasis on the growing prevalence of discriminatory law in VA and by providing a different interpretation of why Anthony Johnson decided to move?
Thank you.
Emil-KunkinNovember 6, 2023
Qualified means that there is a caveat, or some sort of if/but. If we were to say that we endorse X candidate l, assuming they continue to support policy Y, that would be a qualified endorsement- there's an if that the endorsement or approval hinges on
KiaBrodersenNovember 6, 2023
Thank you Emil! That helps.
STACEYCOX43January 22 at 05:44PM
Thank you both for the continued explanation. I struggle with these quantifier words in RC questions.
