Command of Evidence: Textual

SAT Reading and Writing· difficulty 4/5

Literary scholar Dr. Mwangi argues that the novelist Bessie Head used the recurring motif of gardens not as a symbol of refuge, as most critics have suggested, but as a site where social hierarchies are quietly contested.

Which observation about Head's novels, if true, would most strongly support Dr. Mwangi's argument?

  • A

    Gardens are mentioned in many works of southern African fiction from the 20th century.

  • B

    In several of Head's novels, marginalized characters use shared garden plots to challenge the authority of village elders, reshaping local power.

    check_circle
  • C

    Head frequently described gardens with vivid sensory detail, emphasizing colors and scents.

  • D

    Head wrote in English rather than her native language.

Explanation

B shows gardens functioning as venues for contesting hierarchy, directly aligning with Mwangi's reinterpretation. A supports a sensory or refuge reading. C and D are unrelated.

Want 10 more like this — adaptive to your weak spots?

Related questions