The Principal Facts About the Exploits of the English and French Buccaneers of the Seventeenth Century

Reading Passage Question

The principal facts about the exploits of the English and French buccaneers of the seventeenth century in the West Indies are sufficiently well known to modern readers. The French Jesuit historians of the Antilles have left us many interesting details of their mode of life, and Exquemelin's history of the freebooters has been reprinted numerous times both in France and in England. Based upon these old, contemporary narratives, modern accounts are issued from the press with astonishing regularity, some of them purporting to be serious history, others appearing in the more popular and entertaining guise of romances. All, however, are alike in confining themselves for their information to what may almost be called the traditional sources--Exquemelin, the Jesuits, and perhaps a few narratives like those of Dampier and Wafer.

To write another history of these privateers or pirates, for they have, unfortunately, more than once deserved that name, may seem a rather fruitless undertaking. It is justified only by the fact that there exist numerous other documents bearing upon the subject, documents which till now have been entirely neglected. Exquemelin has been reprinted, the story of the buccaneers has been re-told, yet no writer, editor, or historian has attempted to estimate the trustworthiness of the old tales by comparing them with these other sources, or to show the connection between the buccaneers and the history of the English colonies in the West Indies. The object of this research, therefore, is not only to give a narrative, according to the most authentic, available sources, of the more brilliant exploits of these sea-overs, but, what is of greater interest and importance, also to trace the policy pursued towards them by the English and the French Governments.

“The principal facts about the exploits of the English and French buccaneers of the seventeenth century”- is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT reading comprehension.
This GMAT Reading Comprehension consists of 7 comprehension questions. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed for testing candidates’ abilities in understanding, analyzing, and applying information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare with the help of GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.

Solution and explanation

1. According to the information in the passage, which of the following can be inferred?

(A) The buccaneers of the seventeenth century may have been misrepresented through the ages
(B) Exquemelin and the Jesuits are the only authentic narratives of the buccaneers of the seventeenth century
(C) The history of the English colonies has been rewritten by the connection between the colonies and the buccaneers
(D) The English and the French governments had similar policies for sea rovers or pirates
(E) To rewrite the history of the privateers is a fruitless undertaking

2. From the information in the passage, each of the following can be inferred EXCEPT

(A) The author aims to write another history of buccaneers and privateers which could be different from popular beliefs
(B) Dampier and Wafer provide a limited amount of information about privateers
(C) Historians have overlooked to study the trustworthiness of the old tales by comparing them with other sources
(D) The popular old and new narratives about pirates share similar theme and content
(E) West Indies was the hub of privateers in the seventeenth century

3. What is the main purpose of the author in writing the passage?

(A) To explain why modern notions of buccaneers are popular in guise of romances
(B) To advocate the study of traditional sources of information on privateers; sources such as Exquemelin, the Jesuits, Dampier and Wafer
(C) To argue that a very limited picture has been presented of the life of the buccaneers through popular narratives and news media
(D) To praise the press for publishing modern accounts of pirates
(E) To discuss the French Jesuit historians of the Antilles who have written details of buccaneers’ mode of life

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