Current feminist theory, in validating women’s own stories of their experience, has encouraged scholars of women’s history to view the use of women’s oral narratives as the methodology, next to the use of women’s written autobiography, that brings historians closest to the “reality” of women’s lives. Such narratives, unlike most standard histories, represent experience from the perspective of women, affirm the importance of women’s contributions, and furnish present-day women with historical continuity that is essential to their identity, individually and collectively.


Scholars of women’s history should, however, be as cautious about accepting oral narratives at face value as they already are about written memories. Oral narratives are no more likely than are written narratives to provide a disinterested commentary on events or people. Moreover, the stories people tell to explain themselves are shaped by narrative devices and storytelling conventions, as well as by other cultural and historical factors, in ways that the storytellers may be unaware of. The political rhetoric of a particular era, for example, may influence women’s interpretations of the significance of their experience. Thus a woman who views the Second World War as pivotal in increasing the social acceptance of women’s paid work outside the home may reach that conclusion partly and unwittingly because of wartime rhetoric encouraging a positive view of women’s participation in such work.



1. The passage is primarily concerned with


(A) contrasting the benefits of one methodology with the benefits of another

(B) describing the historical origins and inherent drawbacks of a particular methodology

(C) discussing the appeal of a particular methodology and some concerns about its use

(D) showing that some historians' adoption of a particular methodology has led to criticism of recent historical scholarship

(E) analyzing the influence of current feminist views on women's interpretations of their experience


The passage talks about a particular methodology- using women’s oral narratives

The author then highlights the positives of the methodology-  “Such narratives represent experience from the perspective of women, affirm the importance of women’s contributions, and furnish present-day women with historical continuity that is essential to their identity, individually and collectively”

In the second paragraph, the author points out some concerns regarding the use of such a methodology. He then elaborates the concerns.- Scholars of women’s history should, however, be as cautious about accepting oral narratives at face value

A- There’s no other methodology discussed in the passage. Eliminate

B- The historical origins of the methodology is not described in the passage. Even though the author points out some concerns regarding the use of the methodology, the entire passage is not about its inherent drawbacks. Eliminate 

C- Correct

D- Not discussed. Eliminate

E- The passage discusses one particular methodology. It is not about the influence of current feminist views on women's interpretations of their experiences. Eliminate


2. According to the passage, which of the following shapes the oral narratives of women storytellers?


  1. The conventions for standard histories in the culture in which a woman storyteller lives

       Eliminate A


(B) The conventions of storytelling in the culture in which a woman storyteller lives


This is a specific detail question. 

2nd para from 4th line- Moreover, the stories people tell to explain themselves are shaped by narrative devices and storytelling conventions, as well as by other cultural and historical factors, in ways that the storytellers may be unaware of. The political rhetoric of a particular era, for example, may influence women’s interpretations of the significance of their experience.


Option B is the correct choice. 


(C) A woman storyteller's experience with distinctive traditions of storytelling developed by the women in her family of origin

     Eliminate C


(D) The cultural expectations and experiences of those who listen to oral narratives

The narratives of women storytellers are not shaped by the cultural expectations of the listeners. Eliminate D 


(E) A woman storyteller's familiarity with the stories that members of other groups in her culture tell to explain themselves

    Eliminate E


3. The author of the passage would be most likely to make which of the following recommendations to scholars of women's history?


The author says that-


Scholars of women’s history should be cautious about accepting oral narratives at face value

the stories people tell to explain themselves are shaped by narrative devices and storytelling conventions, as well as by other cultural and historical factors

political rhetoric of a particular era may influence women’s interpretations of the significance of their experience.


  1. They should take into account their own life experiences when interpreting the oral accounts of women's historical experiences.

The passage does not talk about the life experiences of scholars but the storytellers. Eliminate


(B) They should assume that the observations made in women's oral narratives are believed by the intended audience of the story.

  Eliminate


(C) They should treat skeptically observations reported in oral narratives unless the observations can be confirmed in standard histories.


Moreover, the stories people tell to explain themselves are shaped by narrative devices and storytelling conventions, as well as by other cultural and historical factors, in ways that the storytellers may be unaware of. The political rhetoric of a particular era, for example, may influence women’s interpretations of the significance of their experience.

The reason why the scholars should treat observations in oral narratives is not that the observations should be confirmed in standard histories but because the narratives would have been influenced by the experience of the storyteller and hence scholars have to be cautious.

Eliminate C


(D) They should consider the cultural and historical context in which an oral narrative was created before arriving at an interpretation of such a narrative.


The author asks the scholars to be cautious about accepting oral narratives at face value because the narratives would have been influenced by many cultural and historical factors and the experiences of the storyteller.

D is Correct. 


(E) They should rely on information gathered from oral narratives only when equivalent information is not available in standard histories.


The author does not suggest this in the passage. Eliminate



4. Which of the following best describes the function of the last sentence of the passage?


(A) It describes an event that historians view as crucial in recent women's history.

(B) It provides an example of how political rhetoric may influence the interpretations of experience reported in women's oral narratives.

(C) It provides an example of an oral narrative that inaccurately describes women's experiences during a particular historical period.

(D) It illustrates the point that some women are more aware than others of the social forces that shape their oral narratives.

(E) It identifies the historical conditions that led to the social acceptance of women's paid work outside the home.


The last line of the passage- Thus a woman who views the Second World War as pivotal in increasing the social acceptance of women’s paid work outside the home may reach that conclusion partly and unwittingly because of wartime rhetoric encouraging a positive view of women’s participation in such work.

To understand this better, let’s also look at the preceding sentence-

The political rhetoric of a particular era, for example, may influence women’s interpretations of the significance of their experience- Hence, option B is the correct answer choice.