The question says, "Which one of the following most accurately states the main point of passage B?"
Ideally, immediately after reading passage B we will have anticipated its main point, as we know that main point questions are asked on virtually every RC passage. The conclusion of passage B is revealed at the end of its first paragraph in lines 45-47 where it says, "Such a model of criticism, which takes as its object "narrative" rather than the "novel," seems appropriate to Cather's work." This is the author's main point: the author is basically saying that criticisms of Cather as a novelist are flawed because her works should be viewed through the lens of narratology and considered narratives.
(A) says, "Cather’s fiction is best approached by focusing purely on narrative, rather than on the formal characteristics of the novel."
(A) does a great job of summarizing the author's conclusion that we've identified above, as it says that Cather's fiction is best approached by focusing on narrative instead of the formal traits of the novel. This paraphrases the authors' main point really well, so it's the correct answer choice.
(C) says, "Cather intentionally avoided the realistic psychological characterization that is the central feature of the modern Western novel."
The problem with (C) is that although passage B mentions that direct psychological characterization is one feature of a realistic Western novel (line 43), we still do not know that this particular kind of psychological characteristic is the central feature of the Western novel. There are many other features discussed in passage B in lines 43-44, and one of these could be the central feature. We don't have enough information. Additionally, the whole point of passage B was not to describe how Cather intentionally avoided one particular feature of the Western novel; rather, the main point was to show that Cather avoided many of the features of novels and that her works are much better analyzed through the lens of being narratives and not novels. As a result, we can get rid of this answer choice.
Does this make sense? Let us know if you have any more questions!
