A Marxist sociologist has argued that racism stems from the class stru

Question

A Marxist sociologist has argued that racism stems from the class struggle that is unique to the capitalist system - that racial prejudice is generated by capitalists as a means of controlling workers. His thesis works relatively well when applied to discrimination against blacks in the United States, but his definition of racial prejudice as ‘racially based negative prejudgments against a group generally accepted as a race in any given region of ethnic competition’, can be interpreted as also including hostility toward such ethnic groups as the Chinese in California and the Jews in Medieval Europe. However, since prejudice against these latter people was not inspired by capitalists, he has to reason that such antagonisms were not really based on race. He disposes ( albeit unconvincingly) of both the intolerance faced by Jews before the rise of capitalism, and the early twentieth century discrimination against oriental people in California, which, inconveniently, was instigated by workers.   1 
 The passage supplies information that would answer which of the following questions?

A. What accounts for the prejudice against the Jews in Medieval Europe?
B. What conditions caused the discrimination against Oriental people in California in the early twentieth century?
C. What groups are not in ethnic competition with each other in the United States.
D. What explanation did the Marxist sociologist give for the existence of racial prejudice?
E. What evidence did the Marxist sociologist provide to support his thesis?

2  
 The author considers the Marxist sociologist’s thesis about the origin of racial prejudice to be

A. unoriginal 
B. unpersuasive 
C. offensive 
D. obscure 
E. speculative

3  
 It can be inferred from the passage that the Marxist sociologist would argue that in a non-capitalist society racial prejudice would be

A. Pervasive 
B. tolerated 
C. ignored 
D. forbidden 
E. nonexistent

4  
 According to the passage, the Marxist sociologist’s chain of reasoning required him to assert that prejudice toward oriental people in California was

A. directed primarily against the Chinese 
B. similar in origin to prejudice against the Jews
C. understood by Oriental people as ethnic competition
D. provoked by workers 
E. nonracial in character

fireflyejd1 · Answer

Q1) The passage supplies information that would answer which of the following questions?

A. What accounts for the prejudice against the Jews in Medieval Europe?
B. What conditions caused the discrimination against Oriental people in California in the early twentieth century?
C. What groups are not in ethnic competition with each other in the United States.
D. What explanation did the Marxist sociologist give for the existence of racial prejudice?
E. What evidence did the Marxist sociologist provide to support his thesis?
 
Answer:D 
The first few sentences talk about how racial prejudices stem from capitalist notions of gaining control over workers.

B 
 Q2) The author considers the Marxist sociologist’s thesis about the origin of racial prejudice to be

A. unoriginal 
B. unpersuasive 
C. offensive 
D. obscure 
E. speculative

Answer: B 
In the last few sentences, the author talks about how the Marxists theorist "unconvincingly" argues that the racial prejudice among the Oriental people in California were non racial in nature. Because he wanted to undermine the fact that the racial prejudice was created by the working class!

E 
 Q3) It can be inferred from the passage that the Marxist sociologist would argue that in a non-capitalist society racial prejudice would be

A. Pervasive 
B. tolerated 
C. ignored 
D. forbidden 
E. nonexistent

Answer: E 
Well here the Marxisit theorist thinks that racial prejudice stems from capitalism. Clearly mentioned in the first few sentences of the passage. Therefore, in a society that is non-capitalist, there will be no racial prejudice.
Think of it in logical terms:
capitalism -> racism
no capitalism -> no racism
( do not follow this logic for CR questions! You will be met with the fallacy of assumption then )

E 
 Q4) According to the passage, the Marxist sociologist’s chain of reasoning required him to assert that prejudice toward oriental people in California was

A. directed primarily against the Chinese 
B. similar in origin to prejudice against the Jews
C. understood by Oriental people as ethnic competition
D. provoked by workers 
E. nonracial in character

Answer: E

The Marxist theorist, in the last few sentences, claim that the racial struggle was not race based because he wanted to remain consistent with his theory that workers cannot cause racism as racism is the product of capitalism.

akadiyan · Answer

My Notes  :
Author says Marxist Sociologist's views --> Racism --> Class Struggle --> Capitalism

Author's POV --> 
--> Agrees with MS's view on discrimination against blacks in US
--> But says MS 'definition of discrimination extends to --> Chinese in California and Jews in Med. Europe

However (Author questions the validity) the definition does not hold true for Chinese in California and Jews in Med Europe.
But what does MS do --> Disposes both the examples unconvincingly (Not convincing %)
Author's stand -- Presents MS's View and definition and questions the view with example and explain MS's response for other examples cited in passage.

Q1) The passage supplies information that would answer which of the following questions?

A. What accounts for the prejudice against the Jews in Medieval Europe?
B. What conditions caused the discrimination against Oriental people in California in the early twentieth century?
C. What groups are not in ethnic competition with each other in the United States.
D. What explanation did the Marxist sociologist give for the existence of racial prejudice?
E. What evidence did the Marxist sociologist provide to support his thesis?

Ans:   D  
Author presents the views of Marxist Sociologist that racism stems from capitalism. He tries to explain the existence of racial prejudice. Option D clearly mentions this.

Q2) The author considers the Marxist sociologist’s thesis about the origin of racial prejudice to be

A. unoriginal
B. unpersuasive
C. offensive
D. obscure
E. speculative

Ans:   B  
Author says sociologist's explanation about racism works for discrimination against black in US, but disposes of similar events such as discrimination against Chinese in California and Jews in Europe. Author then go on to say that sociologist disposes these events unconvincingly , which means author has not bought into the explanation provided by sociologist. This leads us to answer choice B.

Q3) It can be inferred from the passage that the Marxist sociologist would argue that in a non-capitalist society racial prejudice would be

A. Pervasive
B. tolerated
C. ignored
D. forbidden
E. nonexistent

Ans:   E  
Author does not present any other scenario where racial prejudice can occur other than capitalism. Sociologist says racial prejudice happens due to capitalism, so it can be safely inferred that racial prejudice in non-capitalist society does not exist.

Q4) According to the passage, the Marxist sociologist’s chain of reasoning required him to assert that prejudice toward oriental people in California was

A. directed primarily against the Chinese
B. similar in origin to prejudice against the Jews
C. understood by Oriental people as ethnic competition
D. provoked by workers
E. nonracial in character

Ans:   E  
In the last few lines, author says Sociologist disposes the other events rather unconvincgly and author says that sociologist does not believe the prejudice against oriental people in California was non racial.

Lamiya1029 · Answer

Sajjad1994  can you please share the OE for 4th question? I can not understand why D is wrong

Sajjad1994 · Answer

No OE is available, Answer option D is a trap choice here, read the lines:

He disposes thusly (albeit   unconvincingly  ) of both the intolerance faced   by Jews before the rise of capitalism   and the early twentieth-century discrimination against Oriental people in California, which,   inconveniently,   was instigated by workers.

This is the reason why D is wrong.

Thank you

OneLazyBum · Answer

Why is option (D) incorrect?
Isn't  instigated by workers  and  provoked by workers  same thing

egmat · Answer

You're right that "instigated by workers" and "provoked by workers" mean the same thing!

But here's what you're missing: 
The question asks: What did the Marxist's reasoning  require him to assert ?
This means: What did he  HAVE  to claim (to make his theory work)?

Here's the situation: 
 
  His theory says : Racial prejudice is created BY CAPITALISTS 
  The problem : Prejudice against oriental people was actually instigated BY WORKERS 
  His dilemma : This contradicts his theory!

So what does he do? 
He claims this prejudice "was not really based on race" - meaning it was  nonracial in character  (answer E).

Why couldn't he assert it was "provoked by workers"? 
Because that's the PROBLEM! If he admits workers provoked racial prejudice, his entire theory falls apart (since his theory says only capitalists generate racial prejudice).

The passage says:  Discrimination "was instigated by workers" - this is stated as a FACT.
 The question asks:  What did he have to CLAIM (to defend his theory)?

He had to claim:  It wasn't really racial prejudice at all.

A Marxist sociologist has argued that racism stems from the class stru

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GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

A Marxist sociologist has argued that racism stems from the class stru

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