Set 7: Text Structure (Advanced)
Explanation
PASSAGE
The use of an epigraph from Dante signals the thematic descent to come. It serves as a literary threshold, changing the reader's expectation from a realistic drama to an allegorical journey through hell.
Which choice best explains the function of the paratext?
Detailed Answer Explanation
This question tests your understanding of how the text is organized. Device: Epigraph. Function: Signals descent/Literary threshold/Changes expectation (Framing interpretation). Authors structure their writing purposefully to guide readers through their ideas. Identify the organizational pattern (cause-effect, compare-contrast, problem-solution) and how each part contributes to the whole. Authors choose organizational patterns deliberately to enhance their message. Recognizing whether a text uses chronological order, cause-effect, compare-contrast, or problem-solution helps you understand the author's purpose and follow the logic.
Key Evidence:
• "signals the thematic descent"
• "literary threshold"
• "changing ... expectation"
Why others are wrong: D (No summary.), B (Not a dedication.), C (Functional purpose.).
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