The references in Paragraph 1 ("It is ... history") serve to

A. establish the author's credentials as a historian

B. clarify the previous sentence****

C. provide illustrative examples

D. suggest the longevity of poetry as an art

E. differentiate historians from poets

Could someone help me double check this? Thanks so much :)

A. establish the author's credentials as a historian

The establishment of the author's credibility has not yet been considered, so answer choice A is the correct answer.

The references in Paragraph 1 ("It is ... history") serve to clarify the previous sentence.

To determine the correct answer, we need to analyze the function of the references in Paragraph 1.

The references in the paragraph serve a specific purpose, which is to support or clarify the previous sentence. This means that the references are being used to add more information or provide evidence for the statement made in the previous sentence.

Option B, "clarify the previous sentence," accurately describes the function of the references in the paragraph. By providing examples and evidence, the references help to clarify or support the previous sentence.

Therefore, the correct answer is B, "clarify the previous sentence."