Question

There are two probable grounds on which what I have said so far may be contested. The first is that it is no concern of fiction to please people about whom it is written. I will go along with that. But I am not talking about pleasing people. I am talking about a book which parades in the most vulgar fashion prejudices and insults from which a section of mankind has suffered untold agonies and atrocities in the past and continues to do so in many ways and many places today. I am talking about a story in which the very humanity of black people is called in question.

–“An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's
Heart of Darkness,”
Chinua Achebe

How does Achebe develop his claim in this passage?

He states the claim of his argument.
He outlines reasons that support his claim.
He cites evidence to support his claim and reason.
He raises a counterargument to refute the opposition.

Answer 1

Correct choices:
- He states the claim of his argument. (He explicitly says the book “parades… prejudices” and “the very humanity of black people is called in question.”)
- He outlines reasons that support his claim. (He notes the insults and prejudices have caused “untold agonies and atrocities” and continue to do harm.)
- He raises a counterargument to refute the opposition. (He anticipates and concedes the objection that fiction need not “please” its subjects, then rejects that as irrelevant.)

Not correct here:
- He cites evidence to support his claim. (This brief passage offers assertions and reasons but no specific textual examples or quotations as evidence.)