Although many may argue with my stress on the continuity of the essent

Question

Aristotle RC 99 - Passage 77     
   Although many may argue with my stress on the continuity of the essential traits of American character and religion, few would question the thesis that our business institutions have reflected the constant emphasis in the American value system on individual achievement. From the earliest comments of foreign travellers down to the present, individuals have identified a strong materialistic bent as a characteristic American trait. The worship of the dollar, the desire to make a profit, the effort to get ahead through the accumulation of possessions, all have been credited to the egalitarian character of the society.

A study of the comments on American workers of various nineteenth-century foreign travellers reveals that most of these European writers, among whom were a number of socialists, concluded that social and economic democracy in America has an effect contrary to mitigating compensation for social status. American secular and religious values both have facilitated the ―triumph of American capitalism,‖ and fostered status striving.

The focus on equalitarianism and individual opportunity has also prevented the emergence of class consciousness among the lower classes. The absence of a socialist or labour party, and the historic weakness of American trade-unionism, appear to attest to the strength of values which depreciated a concern with class.

Although the American labour movement is similar to others in many respects, it differs from those of other stable democracies in ideology, class solidarity, tactics, organizational structure, and patterns of leadership behaviour. American unions are more conservative; they are more narrowly self-interested; their tactics are more militant; they are more decentralized in their collective bargaining; and they have more full-time salaried officials, who are on the whole much more highly paid. American unions have also organized a smaller proportion of the labour force than have unions in these other nations.

The growth of a large trade-union movement during the 1930s, together with the greater political involvement of labour organizations in the Democratic party, suggested to some that the day—long predicted by Marxists—was arriving in which the American working class would finally follow in the footsteps of its European brethren. Such changes in the structure of class relations seemed to these observers to reflect the decline of opportunity and the hardening of class lines. To them, such changes could not occur without modification in the traditional value system.

A close examination of the character of the American labour movement suggests that it, like American religious institutions, may be perceived as reflecting the basic values of the larger society. Although unions, like all other American institutions, have changed in various ways consistent with the growth of an urban industrial civilization, the essential traits of American trade unions, as of business corporations, may still be derived from key elements in the American value system.   1 
 B 
 1. If the claims made in the passage about American and foreign labour unions are correct, how would the unions be expected to react during a strike against a corporation?

A. American labour unions would be less likely than foreign unions to use violence against a corporation.
B. American labour unions would be more likely than foreign unions to use violence against a corporation.
C. American labour unions would be less likely than foreign unions to bargain with a corporation.
D. American labour unions would be more likely than foreign unions to bargain with a corporation.
E. American labour unions would be more likely than foreign unions to agree to the proposals of a corporation.

2 
 D 
 2. If a critic of the author‘s viewpoint brought up examples as a rebuttal to the passage, the existence of which of the following phenomena would most strongly challenge the information in the passage?

A. American union leaders who are highly paid to negotiate on behalf of workers
B. American labour organizations that avoid involvement in non-labour issues
C. American workers with a weak sense of group solidarity
D. American corporations that are more interested in helping people than in making a profit
E. The primary motive of American companies is to make profits

3 
 A 
 3. Based on the information given in the passage, which of the following is/are NOT true?

I.  American society emphasizes class solidarity over individual achievement.
 II.  American unions are less interested in non-labour issues than unions in other democracies.
 III.  American labour organizations and American religious institutions share some of the same values.

A. I only
B. II only
C. II and III
D. I, II and III
E. None

New Project RC Butler 2019  -  Practice 2 RC Passages Everyday   
Passage # 192, Date : 07-Jul-2019
 This post is a part of New Project RC Butler 2019 .  Click here for Details

ssaamm · Answer

ques no 2 and 3.though i have marked correctly for 3 but still i want reasoning for it

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

2. If a critic of the author‘s viewpoint brought up examples as a rebuttal to the passage, the existence of which of the following phenomena would most strongly challenge the information in the passage?

Difficulty Level:   650

Explanation

An incorporation question. We‘re looking for something that challenges that author‘s main ideas. Quickly review the main ideas in the passage before scanning the choices. While three of the choices fit characteristics the author mentions,  choice (D)  indicates that corporations are characterized more by their altruism than by their capitalism, which runs directly counter to the author's point in  Para 1 .

(A):  Opposite. The author argues in Para 7 that American labour unions have more fulltime salaried officials than their foreign counterparts.

(B):  Opposite. The author also makes this point in para 6 when discussing ―narrow selfinterest.

(C):  Opposite. The author discusses a difference in class solidarity in para 6.

(D): The correct answer

(E):  Opposite. This would agree with the information in the passage.

Answer: D

3. Based on the information given in the passage, which of the following is/are NOT true?

Difficulty Level:   700

Explanation

Look for Roman numerals that counter what the author is arguing. Start with RN II, which appears in three out of four answer choices. Where does the author discuss the difference between American unions and others? The author argues that American unions are more ―narrowly self-interested. RN II must therefore be true, and all the answer choices but  (A)  can be eliminated. RN III is true. RN I runs counter to the author‘s main point, most forcefully expressed in passage, that class solidarity is less important than equality of opportunity.

(A):  The correct answer, all other options are opposite as above.

Answer: A

Hope it helps

sisa · Answer

I find question 1 to be tough, can anyone explain

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

1. If the claims made in the passage about American and foreign labour unions are correct, how would the unions be expected to react during a strike against a corporation?

Difficulty Level:   700

Explanation

Where are the differences between foreign and American labour unions mentioned?  Paragraph 5 . Scanning down the answer choices shows that you need to focus on the use of violence and bargaining.  Paragraph 5  argues that American labour unions are more militant and that bargaining techniques are ―more decentralized,‖ though this doesn‘t indicate whether the American unions are more or less likely to bargain than their foreign counterparts. Scanning the choices armed with these facts turns up (D).

(A):  Opposite. The author argues that the American unions are more militant than their foreign counterparts.

(B):  The correct answer

(C):  Out of Scope. We have nothing in the text to indicate the relative likelihood that an American union would bargain.

(D):  Out of Scope. As above.

(E):  Out of Scope. As above.

Answer: B

Strategy Point:

Scanning answer choices vertically to see if a certain pattern occurs can be helpful in predicting.

VerbalBot · Answer

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Although many may argue with my stress on the continuity of the essent

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Although many may argue with my stress on the continuity of the essent

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