Explanation
This question asks us for the primary purpose of the
passage, which we can invariably determine before consulting the answer choices.
We've already noted that the author himself doesn't offer much opinion in this
passage. The purpose is more neutral--it summarizes the views of two historians.
Turning to the answer choices, we can eliminate (B), (C), and (E) since those
three fail to capture the fact that the passage deals with two viewpoints. We
are left with (A) and (D). Are Braybon and Goldstein
talking about a debate, or a phenomenon? Braybon and
Goldstein agree in large part, and their differences differ largely in the
significance they ascribe to events, so "interpretations of a phenomenon" is
accurate. Moreover, while they disagree on some points, they agree on others,
and partly for this reason, the passage does not define two sides of a debate.
The correct answer is (D).
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