Set 5: Inferences (Advanced)

Explanation

Answer: A

PASSAGE

Oral traditions preserved by indigenous communities often contradict written colonial records. Historians have increasingly recognized that privileging written sources reflects a bias favoring literate colonizers over colonized peoples whose knowledge was transmitted differently. Validating oral evidence requires different methodological standards than textual analysis.

What historiographical shift does the passage describe?

A. Expanding the definition of legitimate evidence to include non-written forms challenges implicit hierarchies in historical methodology.✓ Correct

B. Written sources are the only valid historical evidence.

C. Oral traditions always agree with written accounts.

D. Indigenous communities left no historical records.

Detailed Explanation

This question asks you to draw a logical conclusion from the text. 'Validating oral evidence' + 'privileging written reflects bias' = expanding evidence challenges hierarchies. A valid inference must be supported by evidence in the passage, even if not stated directly. Look for clues in the text that strongly suggest the answer. Avoid conclusions that require assumptions beyond what's written. Valid inferences are strongly supported by multiple pieces of evidence in the text. Be cautious of choices that go too far beyond what the passage actually states. The best inference is the one most directly supported by textual evidence.

Key Evidence:

• "privileging written sources reflects a bias"

• "validating oral evidence requires different methodological standards"

Why others are wrong: B (That's the bias being challenged.), C (They 'often contradict.'), D (Oral traditions are records.).

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