Two divergent definitions have dominated sociologists’
discussions of the nature of ethnicity. The first emphasizes
the primordial and unchanging character of ethnicity. In
this view, people have an essential need for belonging that
(5)is satisfied by membership in groups based on shared
ancestry and culture. A different conception of ethnicity
de-emphasizes the cultural component and defines ethnic
groups as interest groups. In this view, ethnicity serves as
a way of mobilizing a certain population behind issues
(10) relating to its economic position. While both of these
definitions are useful, neither fully captures the dynamic
and changing aspects of ethnicity in the United States.
Rather, ethnicity is more satisfactorily conceived of as a
process in which preexisting communal bonds and common
(15) cultural attributes are adapted for instrumental purposes
according to changing real-life situations.
One example of this process is the rise of participation
by Native American people in the broader United States
political system since the Civil Rights movement of the
(20)1960’s. Besides leading Native Americans to participate
more actively in politics (the number of Native American
legislative officeholders more than doubled), this movement
also evoked increased interest in tribal history and traditional
culture. Cultural and instrumental components of
(25 )ethnicity are not mutually exclusive, but rather reinforce
one another.
The Civil Rights movement also brought changes in the
uses to which ethnicity was put by Mexican American
people. In the 1960’s, Mexican Americans formed
(30) community-based political groups that emphasized ancestral
heritage as a way of mobilizing constituents. Such emerg-
ing issues as immigration and voting rights gave Mexican
American advocacy groups the means by which to promote
ethnic solidarity. Like European ethnic groups in the
(35) nineteenth-century United States, late-twentieth-century
Mexican American leaders combined ethnic with contem-
porary civic symbols. In 1968 Henry Censors, then mayor
of San Antonio, Texas, cited Mexican leader Benito Juarez
as a model for Mexican Americans in their fight for con-
(40) temporary civil rights. And every year, Mexican Americans
celebrate Cinco de Mayo as fervently as many Irish
American people embrace St. Patrick’s Day (both are major
holidays in the countries of origin), with both holidays
having been reinvented in the context of the United States
and linked to ideals, symbols, and heroes of the United
States.

Q1) Which of the following best states the main idea of the
passage?
(A) In their definitions of the nature of ethnicity,
sociologists have underestimated the power of the
primordial human need to belong.
(B) Ethnicity is best defined as a dynamic process that
combines cultural components with shared
political and economic interests.
(C) In the United States in the twentieth century, ethnic
groups have begun to organize in order to further
their political and economic interests.
(D) Ethnicity in the United States has been significantly
changed by the Civil Rights movement.
(E) The two definitions of ethnicity that have dominated
sociologists discussions are incompatible
and should be replaced by an entirely new approach.

Q2) The author of the passage refers to Native American
people in the second paragraph in order to provide an
example of
(A) the ability of membership in groups based on
shared ancestry and culture to satisfy an essential
human need.
(B) how ethnic feelings have both motivated and been
strengthened by political activity
(C) how the Civil Rights movement can help promote
solidarity among United States ethnic groups
(D) how participation in the political system has
helped to improve a group’s economic situation
(E) the benefits gained from renewed study of ethnic
history and culture

Q1: When I was answering this I was not convinced with B because it used "best defined as", the tone of the passage seems to just say "more satisfactorily". However, by process of elimination B is better than the other choices.

(A) The author believes the opposite. This definition dominates together with the "interest definition" and then the author suggests a better definition to the two dominant thought. So this is not the main point.

(B) This is the definition introduced by the author. However, I am not sold with this because it says "best". But let's keep this for now.

(C) This definition, like in A, is dominant but not the a good definition for the author. Thus, not the main point.

(D) Civil Rights are just used to make illustration of the definition of Ethnicity for the author. Not the main point.

(E) Now this is almost correct except for "incompatibility of two definitions" the author even suggests that this two can reinforce one another. False based on the passage.

Answer: B

Q2) The author of the passage refers to Native American
people in the second paragraph in order to provide an
example of

(A) The second paragraph is an example of the authors definition wherein "culture and ancestry" is used for emerging issues and used also to induce solidarity. An essential human need is different from emerging issues such as voting. That is definitely not essential human need. False.

(B)
"how ethnic feelings have both motivated and been
strengthened by political activity"
At first I did not get this as the correct answer until you read it again since I'm not a native English speaker. Ethnic feelings motivated political activity and have been strengthened. If you will read the second paragraph again, it says there Mexican Americans used Ethnic feelings to induce solidarity at the same time help mobilize constituents (motivate political activity). This is the answer.

Answer: B