Reading Comprehension
Passage Breakdown
Historians used to study the Pacific Coast mostly by reading 19th-century European explorers' written reports. But scholars now say we should also look at what Asian settlers did, even though those settlers left few written records, because their actions changed the land. For example, Chinese settlers drained swamps, built irrigation, and turned weeds into crops, helping create the region's irrigated farms and many specialty crops—so including their contributions is necessary to understand the area's history.
Logic Breakdown
Determine the function of paragraph 3: does it give examples, make a historiographical claim, or argue about sources? Look for sentences that illustrate the paragraph's purpose.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage9.Which one of the following most accurately describes the author's primary purpose in discussing Chinese settlers in the third paragraph?
Correct Answer
C
Paragraph 3's purpose is to provide concrete examples of the distinctive way Chinese settlers perceived and used the land. Support from the passage: 'As a case in point, the role of Chinese settlers in expanding agriculture throughout the Pacific Coast territory is integral to the history of the region. Without access to the better land, Chinese settlers looked for agricultural potential in this generally arid region where other settlers did not.' And: 'For example, where settlers of European descent looked at willows and saw only useless, untillable swamp, Chinese settlers saw fresh water, fertile soil, and the potential for bringing water to more arid areas via irrigation. Where other settlers who looked at certain weeds, such as wild mustard, generally saw a nuisance, Chinese settlers saw abundant raw material for valuable spices from a plant naturally suited to the local soil and climate.' These illustrative examples show the unique view Asian settlers had of the land, matching choice C.
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