PASSAGE 3

Native Americans probably arrived from Asia in successive waves over several
millennia, crossing a plain hundreds of miles wide that now lies inundated by 160
feet of water released by melting glaciers. For several periods of time, the first
Line beginning around 60,000 B.C. and the last ending around 7000 B.C., this land bridge
(5) was open. The first people traveled in the dusty trails of the animals they hunted.
They brought with them not only their families, weapons, and tools but also a broad
metaphysical understanding, sprung from dreams and visions and articulated in myth
and song, which complemented their scientific and historical knowledge of the lives
of animals and of people. All this they shaped in a variety of languages, bringing into
(10) being oral literatures of power and beauty.
Contemporary readers, forgetting the origins of Western epic, lyric, and
dramatic forms, are easily disposed to think of “literature” only as something written.
But on reflection it becomes clear that the more critically useful as well as the more
frequently employed sense of the term concerns the artfulness of the verbal creation,
(15) not its mode of presentation. Ultimately, literature is aesthetically valued, regardless
of language, culture, or mode of presentation, because some significant verbal
achievement results from the struggle in words between tradition and talent. Verbal
art has the ability to shape out a compelling inner vision in some skillfully crafted
public verbal form.
(20) Of course, the differences between the written and oral modes of expression
are not without consequences for an understanding of Native American literature.
The essential difference is that a speech event is an evolving communication, an
“emergent form,” the shape, functions, and aesthetic values of which become more
clearly realized over the course of the performance. In performing verbal art, the
(25) performer assumes responsibility for the manner as well as the content of the
performance, while the audience assumes the responsibility for evaluating the
performer’s competence in both areas. It is this intense mutual engagement that elicits
the display of skill and shapes the emerging performance. Where written literature
provides us with a tradition of texts, oral literature offers a tradition of performances.

1. According to the passage, why did the 3. The word “Ultimately” in line 15 is
first people who came to North closest in meaning to
America leave their homeland? (A) frequently
(A) They were hoping to find a better (B) normally
climate (C) whenever possible
(B) They were seeking freedom (D) in the end
(C) They were following instructions
given in a dream 4. The word “compelling” in line 18 is
(D) They were looking for food closest in meaning to
(A) joyous
2. The phrase “are easily disposed” in (B) intricate
line 12 is closest in meaning to (C) competing
(A) demonstrate reluctance (D) forceful
(B) readily encourage others
(C) have a tendency 5. What is the main point of the second
(D) often fail paragraph?
 (A) Public performance is essential to (D) It is reshaped each time it is
verbal art experienced
(B) Oral narratives are a valid form of
literature 8. Which of the following is NOT true of
(C) Native Americans have a strong the Native American literature
oral tradition in art discussed in the passage?
(D) The production of literature (A) It involves acting
provides employment for many (B) It has ancient origins
artists (C) It has a set form
(D) It expresses an inner vision
6. According to the passage, what
responsibility does the audience of a 9. What can be inferred from the passage
verbal art performance have? about the difference between written
(A) They provide financial support for and oral literature?
performances (A) Written literature reflects social
(B) They judge the quality of the values better than oral literature
content and presentation does
(C) They participate in the (B) Written literature involves less
performance by chanting interaction between audience and
responses creator during the creative process
(D) They determine the length of the than oral literature does
performance by requesting a (C) Written literature usually is not
continuation based on historical events,
whereas oral literature is
7. What can be inferred about the nature (D) Written literature is not as highly
of the Native American literature respected as oral literature is
discussed in the passage?
(A) It reflects historical and 10. What is the author’s attitude toward
contemporary life in Asia Native American literature?
(B) Its main focus is on daily (A) Admiring of its form
activities (B) Critical of the cost of its
(C) It is based primarily on scientific production
knowledge (C) Amused by its content
(D) Skeptical about its origins