Question 30·Hard·Command of Evidence
Credited Film Output of James Young Deer, Dark Cloud, Edwin Carewe, and Lillian St. Cyr
| Individual | Years active | Number of films known and commonly credited |
|---|---|---|
| James Young Deer | 1909–1924 | 33 (actor), 35 (director), 10 (writer) |
| Dark Cloud | 1910–1920 | 35 (actor), 1 (writer) |
| Edwin Carewe | 1912–1934 | 47 (actor), 58 (director), 20 (producer), 4 (writer) |
| Lillian St. Cyr (Red Wing) | 1908–1921 | 66 (actor) |
Some researchers studying Indigenous actors and filmmakers in the United States have turned their attention to the early days of cinema, particularly the 1910s and 1920s, when people like James Young Deer, Dark Cloud, Edwin Carewe, and Lillian St. Cyr (known professionally as Red Wing) were involved in one way or another with numerous films. In fact, so many films and associated records for this era have been lost that counts of those four figures’ output should be taken as bare minimums rather than totals; it’s entirely possible, for example, that ____.
Which choice most effectively uses data from the table to illustrate the claim that the film counts shown are bare minimums rather than totals?
For table-based “command of evidence” questions, first identify the claim you must support (here: the credited film counts are minimums because records were lost). Then choose the option that uses specific table numbers in a way that directly illustrates that claim, not one that merely compares figures or shifts to a different point (like role variety).
Hints
Use the sentence before the blank
Reread the part that says the counts "should be taken as bare minimums rather than totals." Ask yourself: does that suggest the real numbers are smaller, equal, or larger than the ones in the table?
Match the logic of “it’s entirely possible”
The phrase "it’s entirely possible, for example, that ____" means the blank should give one specific scenario that could be true if many records are missing. Think about what kind of change missing records would cause in the film counts.
Use the table as a fact-check
Make sure the option you choose correctly references a number or date from the table and doesn’t just make a general statement.
Look for increased totals
The best completion should suggest that someone’s actual number of films could be higher than the number credited in the table.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what the blank must show
Focus on the sentence right before the blank:
"so many films and associated records for this era have been lost that counts of those four figures’ output should be taken as bare minimums rather than totals; it’s entirely possible, for example, that ____."
“Bare minimums rather than totals” means the numbers in the table are at least that high, but the true numbers might be higher because some films are missing from the records. The blank must give a specific example of this idea.
Translate the idea into simpler words
Rephrase the key idea: Because many records are lost, it is possible that some of these people actually worked on more films than the table currently credits them with.
So the blank should give an example where a person’s actual film total could be greater than the credited number shown.
Check each choice against both the idea and the table
Evaluate each option by asking:
- Does it show that the real total could be higher than what’s credited?
- Does it accurately use a number from the table?
Eliminate options that only compare credited numbers, focus on roles rather than totals, or discuss something other than film counts.
Identify the option that fits: actual totals higher than credited
The option that directly uses the table’s credited totals and then suggests those totals could be higher is: “Lillian St. Cyr may have acted in more than 66 films, and Edwin Carewe may have directed more than 58.” This matches the passage’s claim that the listed counts are bare minimums. Therefore, this is the correct answer.