With these questions, it is not uncommon to see multiple answer choices that seem to correctly summarize parts of the passage. The question is asking for the one that "best states the main idea," so it is our job to determine which answer choice seems to capture more of the overall point of the passage and can be directly supported by the text. In this case, that's (B).
(D) is also weakened in its statement that "changes in Cherokee culture during this time developed naturally from elements already present in Cherokee culture." The passage does not explicitly support the idea that these changes occurred "naturally." In fact, it claims that "the Missionaries did have a decisive impact" (line 19) and the changes "reflected the larger political and social setting" (lines 51-52). So the passage claims that the Cherokee shaped their own culture, but not necessarily that the changes that resulted from this reshaping were natural and internal. In other words, the passage does not claim that the same changes would have happened without any outside missionary influence. Therefore, (D) can be eliminated.
Does that make sense? Please let us know if you have any other questions!
RaheelAugust 31, 2024
Why is E wrong?
Emil-KunkinSeptember 3, 2024
D is the exact opposite of what the passage tells us. We are told that M's work shows that the impact of missionaries was limited and their impact was not what it was intended to be. See line 20, or the end of the passage.
The passage shows a number of ways that the changes were led by various factions of the Cherokee society, and how they actually used missionaries as a tool to their own ends. This directly contradicts E.
