Question 46·Easy·Text Structure and Purpose
First published in 1896, Liliʻuokalani’s memoir "Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen" offers a personal account by the last reigning monarch of Hawaiʻi. In the book, Liliʻuokalani recounts the political events leading to the islands’ 1893 overthrow by U.S.-backed forces, but she also chronicles Hawaiian customs, songs, and genealogies. By combining political narrative with cultural preservation, Liliʻuokalani sought both to defend Hawaiian sovereignty and to ensure that future readers would understand the islands’ history from a Hawaiian perspective.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
For main-purpose questions, paraphrase the entire passage in your own words (often using the first and last sentences), then choose the option that matches that overall summary. Eliminate answers that focus on a minor detail or introduce a new topic (like reception, criticism, or publication logistics) that the passage never addresses.
Hints
Summarize the passage in one sentence
Ask yourself what the passage mainly explains about the memoir (what it contains and why it was written).
Look for paired ideas
Notice the passage mentions both political events (the overthrow) and cultural elements (customs, songs, genealogies).
Eliminate choices that add new topics
Cross out any option about reception, accuracy/exaggeration, or publication details, since the passage doesn’t discuss those.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what the passage is mostly doing
Read the passage and ask: overall, is the author telling a story, giving an opinion, or describing something? Here, the author is describing Liliʻuokalani’s memoir—what it is about and what it aims to do.
Notice the two main kinds of content in the memoir
The passage says Liliʻuokalani recounts the political events of the overthrow, but she also chronicles Hawaiian customs, songs, and genealogies. This sets up two strands: political history and cultural material.
Use the final sentence to confirm the main idea
The last sentence explains that by combining political narrative with cultural preservation, Liliʻuokalani aimed to defend sovereignty and preserve heritage. This confirms the passage’s focus on blending political and cultural content.
Select the choice that matches this purpose
Therefore, the best answer is: To highlight how Liliʻuokalani’s memoir blends political history with cultural documentation.