Question

Difficulty: MediumSupporting Claims with Evidence and Details

[1] In the late 1920s, writer and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston traveled throughout the American South to document African American oral traditions. [2] Hurston believed that folklore was not a static relic of the past but rather a dynamic, living art form that shaped community identity. [3] To capture the true vitality of these stories, she knew she had to record them in their natural settings rather than in academic isolation. [4] Her field research relied on immersive methods that allowed her to integrate fully into the daily lives of the people she studied.

The writer wants to revise Sentence 4 (reproduced above) to provide the most specific, concrete details that support the claim that Hurston integrated herself into the daily lives of the people she studied. Which choice best accomplishes this goal?

  1. She lived in turpentine camps, sang traditional songs with families on porch swings, and worked in Florida sawmills.Answer
  2. B
    She spent months traveling across the region, she collected folklore from many different communities.
  3. C
    She stayed in local towns for an extended period of time to gain the trust of the residents she interviewed.
  4. D
    She wanted to live directly among the residents; because she believed this was the only way to truly understand their culture.

Answer

The option that describes living in turpentine camps, singing traditional songs on porch swings, and working in sawmills is the correct answer because it provides concrete details illustrating integration.
The correct choice provides specific, concrete details of integration (living in turpentine camps, singing on porch swings, working in sawmills) that directly substantiate the claim.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the claim to be supported.
The claim is that Hurston integrated herself fully into the daily lives of the people she studied.
The prompt asks to support this specific claim with concrete details.
2
Evaluate the choices for specificity and relevance.
The choice mentioning turpentine camps, porch swings, and sawmills provides the most concrete, specific details of daily life integration.
Specific details are more effective at supporting a claim than vague generalities.
3
Check for grammatical correctness.
The chosen option is grammatically correct, whereas other choices contain comma splices or semicolon errors.
ACT English questions require the correct rhetorical choice to also be grammatically correct.

Key Concept

Supporting Claims with Evidence and Details
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