In
the 1930s, why did author Zora Neale Hurston choose Eatonville,
Florida, to be the first source for her collection of folklore?
I was glad when somebody told me, “You may
go and collect Negro folklore.” In a way, it would not be
a new experience for me. When I pitched headforemost into the world
I landed in the crib of Negroism. It was fitting me like a tight
chemise. I couldn't see it for wearing it. It was only when I was
off in college, away from my native surroundings, that I could stand
off and look at my garment. Then I had to have the spy-glass of
anthropology to look through.
I was asked where I wanted to work and I said,
“Florida. It’s a place that draws people—Negroes
from every Southern state and some from the North and West.”
So I knew that it was possible for me to get a cross section of
the Negro South in one state. And then I realized that I felt new
myself, so it looked sensible for me to choose familiar ground.
I started in Eatonville, Florida, because I knew
that the town was full of material and that I could get it without
causing any hurt or harm. As early as I could remember, it was the
habit of the men particularly to gather on the store porch in the
evenings and swap stories. Even the women would stop and break a
breath with them at times. As a child when I was sent down to the
store, I'd drag out my leaving to hear more.
Folklore is not as easy to collect as it sounds.
The ideal source is where there are the fewest outside influences,
but these people are reluctant at times to reveal that which the
soul lives by. I knew that even I would have some hindrance among
strangers. But here in Eatonville I knew everybody was going to
help me.
Adapted from Zora Neale Hurston, Mules and Men. ©1935 by J.B.
Lippincott Company.
1. Which of the following does the author use as a metaphor for
the culture in which she was born? |
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College |
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Garment
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Southern
state |
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Spy-glass
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Story |
2. Based on the first paragraph, it is most reasonable to conclude
that while in college the author: |
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decided
to become a professor of anthropology. |
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decided
that she did not want to live permanently in Eatonville, Florida.
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felt
that her teachers prevented her from studying what she wanted. |
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became
disenchanted with anthropology. |
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understood
her own culture in new and different ways. |
3. As it is used in the passage, the highlighted word material most
nearly means |
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diversity.
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fabric.
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information.
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money.
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energy.
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4. In the second paragraph, the author indicates that one reason
she chose to work in Florida was that she wanted to collect folklore:
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from
people of different geographical backgrounds. |
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where
her teachers suggested she do so. |
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from
a place she had never visited. |
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in
a state far from where she grew up. |
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in
a state with a large urban population. |
5. In the first paragraph, the author’s claim, “In a
way, it would not be a new experience for me," refers to the
fact that: |
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she
had already attended college in Florida. |
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she
had already collected folklore in Florida for a college course.
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she
had already experienced new cultures by leaving home. |
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she
was already familiar with the folklore she was to collect. |
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she
had already received permission to conduct the study. |
6. Based on information in the third paragraph, which of the following
statements about the interactions on the porch can be most reasonably
inferred? |
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The
adults encouraged the author (as a child) to stay and tell stories.
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Men
were more frequent participants than were women. |
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Most
of the storytellers had not grown up in Eatonville |
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The
author's parents sent her to the porch to hear the stories. |
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One
man in particular told most of the stories. |
7. In the last paragraph, the author writes that folklore collecting:
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is
less difficult than it appears. |
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is
easiest to accomplish in isolated places because people there freely
reveal their innermost thoughts. |
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can
be difficult in isolated places, even though the people there are
the best sources. |
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she
was already familiar with the folklore she was to collect. |
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is
the best way to reveal what is important to people. |
8. Which of the following is NOT among the reasons the author gives
for her decision to collect folklore in Eatonville? |
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The
people of Eatonville would be grateful that she published their
stories. |
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The
people of Eatonville would have many stories for her collection.
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Eatonville
and its people are familiar to her. |
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She
believes that she can collect stories without doing harm. |
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She
believes that the people of Eatonville will help her in her project.
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