LSAT 113 | Section 1 | Reading Comprehension: Q16

RC Question 16 Explanation

DISCUSSION: In context, we can see that Ellison was accusing his critics of wanting to keep the African-American art and European art separate, the very thing they were fighting against in society (African-Americans fought against segregation in the 1950s, when Ellison’s novel was published).

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1. What general tendency? Ellison had a specific point: his critics wanted African Americans to self-segregate their art from the broader culture. 
2. Ellison argued that authors from different communities didn’t necessary disagree on style and esthetics. Ellison found much to like in European novels.
3. Huh? No one suggested Ellison himself felt isolated from his culture.
4. No one mentioned the audience of the book. The whole passage is about the book itself.
5. CORRECT. African-American critics expected Ellison to use only the styles of the African-American community. He argued that this was censorship and segregation.