Table of Contents
Question 88
Which two of the following are true according to the documentation style prescribed by the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook?
A. If a book's title page contains an imprint and the publisher’s name, omit the imprint and use the publisher’s name.
B. While giving a URL, copy it from the Web browser but omit http:// or https://.
C. If a quotation extends to more than five lines, set it off from the text as a block indented an inch from the left margin.
D. Long titles should be abbreviated using the first letter of keywords typed in upper case without intervening space.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
The MLA 8th Edition (2016) streamlined citations to make them more uniform across different media types.
- (A) True: MLA 8 simplifies publisher data. You should cite the core publisher's name, omitting specific imprints or corporate parent companies unless the imprint is independent.
- (B) True: A major change in MLA 8 was the re-introduction of URLs (they were removed in MLA 7). However, the rule explicitly states to omit the http:// or https:// prefix when printing the URL.
Why C and D are wrong: In MLA style, a block quote is triggered if a quotation is more than four lines (not five), and it is indented half an inch (not an inch). Long titles are abbreviated by using a recognizable shortened version of the title itself, not by creating an acronym (D).
Question 89
Given below are two statements:
Statement I: Unlike scientific research, literary research does not have specific materials for investigation and scientific tools for reaching a conclusion and formulating a theory.
Statement II: Literary research consists of critical interpretations of an author’s work to the exclusion of biography and editing of texts.
In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
Statement I is False: While it isn't biology or physics, literary research absolutely has specific "materials for investigation" (primary texts, manuscripts, historical archives) and uses rigorous, systematic "tools" (philology, discourse analysis, theoretical frameworks) to formulate conclusions.
Statement II is False: Literary research is a massive umbrella. It is not limited exclusively to critical interpretation. It relies heavily on historical biography, textual editing, bibliography, and manuscript collation.
Question 90
Which two of the following conform to liberal humanist thought?
A. Literature transcends the limits of the age of its origin and is timeless.
B. Literature is untouched by the essential human nature, which is unchanging.
C. Literature is devoid of any purpose to enhance life or promote human values.
D. Identity is a unique essence unaffected by the environment and society.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Liberal Humanism was the traditional, dominant mode of literary study before the 1960s ( championed by critics like Matthew Arnold and F.R. Leavis).
- (A) True: They believed great literature is universal and "timeless" because it speaks to an unchanging, universal human nature.
- (D) True: They believed that human identity is a unique, fixed "essence" existing deep inside a person, regardless of their outside environment or social class (a belief heavily attacked by later Marxist and Post-structuralist theories).
Why B and C are wrong: Humanism believes literature is the ultimate expression of human nature (B), and that literature's primary purpose is to promote human values and morality (C).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an 'Imprint' in publishing?
An imprint is a trade name under which a work is published. Large publishing conglomerates often have many different imprints to target specific audiences (e.g., Penguin Random House owns the "Puffin Books" imprint for children's literature). MLA 8th edition simplifies citations by asking you to list just the main publisher, unless the imprint is an independent entity.
What is Liberal Humanism?
Before critical theory (Marxism, Feminism, Post-structuralism) took over universities in the 1960s/70s, "Liberal Humanism" was the standard way to read a book. It relies on the belief that literature is a timeless, objective art form that teaches universal moral truths about a fixed "human nature." It ignores politics, class, and history, assuming a great book speaks to everyone equally.
When do you use a Block Quote in MLA?
According to the MLA Handbook, if you are quoting prose and the quotation runs to more than four lines in your essay, you must format it as a block quote. You start the quote on a new line, indent the entire quote half an inch from the left margin, and remove the quotation marks.
