Logical Reasoning Questions for CLAT | QB Set 10

Toni Morrison has often expressed disappointment with critical analyses of her art. In an interview with Thomas LeClair she said, “I have yet to read criticism that understands my work or is prepared to understand it. I don’t care if the critic likes or dislikes it. I would just like to feel less isolated. It’s like having a linguist who doesn’t understand your language tell you what you’re saying”. To my reasoning, Morrison is calling for an analysis that complements the art, one that is grounded in the artist’s culture, language, worldview, and milieu. My goal with this essay is to attempt to address Morrison’s critical challenge by using an Africana theoretical perspective centered on a force called Àjẹ́ to interpret the intricacies of the mother-daughter relationship in Beloved.

Àjẹ́ is a Yoruba word and concept that describes a spiritual force that is thought to be inherent in Africana women; additionally, spiritually empowered humans are called Àjẹ́. The stately and reserved women of Àjẹ́ are feared and revered in Yoruba society. Commonly and erroneously defined as witches, Àjẹ́ are astrally-inclined human beings who enforce earthly and cosmic laws, and they keep society balanced by ensuring that human beings follow those laws or are punished for their transgressions. These women, honored as “our mothers”, “my mother”, and the elders of the night, are recognized as the owners and controllers of everything on Earth. Àjẹ́‘s suzerainty comes from the fact that it is considered the origin of all earthly existence, and women of Àjẹ́ are euphemistically called “Earth”.

(Source: Toni Morrison’s Beloved by Teresa N Washington)

1. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

(a) African society is matriarchal.
(b) Toni Morrison is an uptight woman.
(c) Literary Criticism world is bereft of competent critics.
(d) Supernatural is a part of African culture and perceptions.

2. Identify the assumption in the passage.

(a) Morrison is calling for an analysis that complements her art, one that is grounded in the artist’s culture, language, worldview, and milieu.
(b) Using an Africana theoretical perspective centered on a force called Àjẹ́ is the only way to conduct a competent critical analysis of Morrison’s work.
(c) By using an Africana theoretical perspective centered on a force called Àjẹ́, the author will be able to do a competent critical analysis of Morrison’s work.
(d) The author will definitely be able to fulfill his goal of a competent analysis of Morrison’s art.

3. Which of the following figure of speech has been used in the passage?

(a) Analogy
(b) Antithesis
(c) Metaphor
(d) Onomatopoeia

4. Which of the following is NOT true about Àjẹ́?

(a) It is a spiritual force.
(b) It is used to describe necromancers.
(c) It is used to describe spiritually inclined human beings.
(d) Àjẹ́ are women

5. Which of the following could be a logical continuation of the passage?

(a) The author would discuss Àjẹ́’s wider cultural significance across African nations.
(b) The author would discuss some of Morrison’s other disappointments with the critics of her art and would address the same.
(c) The author would discuss the relation of daughters with women perceived as Àjẹ́.
(d) The author would talk about other symbols related to Àjẹ́.

Answers

1. Ans. (d)
Sol. The answer is option (d) as the concept of Àjẹ́ talks about a spiritual force, witches and spiritually powered humans. All these can come under the umbrella of supernatural. Option (a) cannot be conclusively inferred. Option (b) is irrelevant.

2. Ans. (c)
Sol. The answer is option (c), as, if this were not true, why would the author attempt to do an analysis based on the African theoretical concept of Àjẹ́. Option (a) is not an assumption because it is a restatement. Option (b) is wrong as ‘only’ makes it too particular. Option (d) is wrong as the author herself/himself states that she/he is attempting an analysis and success is bound to follow. It is partially correct as it is missing on the major use of the spiritual force Àjẹ́ that forms the base of his analysis. Hence (d).

3. Ans. (a)
Sol. The answer is option (a). Refer to the line by Morrison: “It’s like having a linguist who doesn’t understand your language tell you what you’re saying”.

4. Ans. (b)
Sol. The answer is option (b) as in the passage it says, “Àjẹ́ is erroneously used to describe witches.”

5. Ans. (c)
Sol. The answer is option (c) as the author in the passage explicitly mentions his purpose behind writing this essay:
“My goal with this essay is to attempt to address Morrison’s critical challenge by using an Africana theoretical perspective centered on a force called Àjẹ́ to interpret the intricacies of the mother-daughter relationship in Beloved.”