<p>Imageshack</a> - unledra.png</p>
<p>The answer is A, but I honestly thought this was one of those questions CB tosses out for being too ambiguous/completely wrong. [Before anyone flames me, I've taken over 15 tests and this is the first time I've seen a question where I felt this way].</p>
<p>The thing with A is that no where does the passage mention a "skillful display" of Modern English's beauties. I understand where the beauty of modern English could come from, as the translators revere their language, but there is no indication of that in the 2nd passage. </p>
<p>I chose A simply because of the fact that its the only one mentioned from the translators themselves (ie. their reverence of their language) but it honestly doesn't seem right in my eyes. I had to juggle between A and E, and eliminated E out because it's the people of the middle ages rather than the translators themselves who believe a translation is to "evoke work from one's self". But I still don't see a clear cut explanation in this one, unlike most likely every single previous SAT question I've encountered. </p>
<p>Can someone please either confirm my doubts with this question or give me a <strong>excellent</strong> explanation to this question? I have spent over 30 minutes pondering as to why A was right and still can't determine exactly why. </p>
<p>Thanks a lot. And some extra info: it's a level 5 problem, and one from the Jan 2008 SAT.</p>
<p>I think the answer lies in the wording “was as capable of a great poem.” It can be considered synonymous with “skillful display.”</p>
<p>That’s indicated in passage 1, not passage 2.</p>
<p>The answer lies in Passage 1. Those translators praised “vernacular [that] was as capable of a great poem as the ancient language.” So they will praise the Seafarer if it contained the qualities listed in (A). The question does not necessarily say that the Seafarer HAS those qualities; just that the translators would praise those qualities if it did.</p>
<p>That doesn’t make any sense. Why would they praise something if it did not necessarily have the element in question? They could praise the use of something as “capable of a great poem” I get that, but who’s to say that is what Seafarer encompasses?</p>
<p>The question clearly states: Which quality would they praise of the book? Not Which of the qualities, if it was in the book, would the translators admire. If the question was instead, Which quality of a book would the translators admire? I would understand your reasoning.</p>
<p>And if it is based on solely passage 1, they should have indicated that rather than try to trick the reader into reading the useless(for this question) passage 2, if the question is based on idealism rather than reality. Because I would have understood it better(as indicated above, I know what the translators like) if it encompassed that difference more distinctly. </p>
<p>It’s a faulty question in that it’s not worded quite properly.</p>
<p>I would agree with you that they could have used better wording. But it’s the word “would” is the key. It’s like if I stated that I like chocolate ice cream. And a question says, "Which of the following qualities about Neapolitan ice cream would SAT writer like? A) It has a chocolate section. B) It’s cold. C) It’s served in cones or bowls. D). It melts. E) It has a strawberry section. It implies that all 5 of these answers are true, even though there is no passage to confirm them. They are qualities of Neapolitan ice cream.</p>
<p>I guess I’ll try… even though I’m not the best at this kind of stuff.</p>
<p>In Passage 2, it states that Pound created a “new poem in the spirit of the original” and that "whether or not the modern words correspond literally to the meaning of the original words.</p>
<p>In Passage 1, it states that “[human beings] are more fond of literal translation” and that “that attitude would have seemed a crime to European translators in ages past”. Therefore, we can conclude that European translators condemn literal translation. Going further, we see that “They wanted to prove that the vernacular, the language of the contemporaries, was as capable of a great poem in the ancient language in which the original poem was composed”.</p>
<p>Now using this information, we can easily eliminate B, C, and D because even though they are correct in assessing aspects of Pound’s poems, they are completely off track in assessing what the translators would think. We can also eliminate E because we can conclude that the translators would care more about a skillful and interpretive style than an imaginative interpretation of individual words.</p>
<p>Therefore, the answer is A. Does that make sense…? Like, at all?</p>
<p>Yeah SATwriter, that makes sense, each word matters. Thanks a lot for your help.</p>
<p>And yes Cantconcentrate, that was my initial approach, the only thing that annoyed me was that it wasn’t actually all that much of a reference to Seafarer as it was to what the translators believed in. The only things I would correct about your explanation is that “modern” in the sense of passage 2 is not to display the beauty of the English language, but rather to find an enunciation that closely matches that of the ancient language, and that the reason to eliminate E is that it’s actually NOT the translators themselves who believe in interpretations. Thank you.</p>
<p>Actually, now that I think about it SATwriter, would could also refer to “if they were alive”. Like, the translators aren’t really there to comment on the book, but if they were…</p>
<p>argh I absolutely hate this question.</p>
<p>It’s missing an important qualifier: “if true.” As in, “which of the following qualities, if true, would…”.</p>
<p>But isn’t the if true part common sense? I’ve encountered many types of questions like this one and they never had “if true”, but my experience always was that it was supported by what the passage said. </p>
<p>Anyways, I really appreciate your time on this SATwriter. I guess nothing you will say will change what I think of this (in my honest opinion) horrid question, but I do respect your analysis. I think it’s best to let go of this question and just move on I guess, more to life than some random SAT question haha. </p>
<p>Thanks once again.</p>
