As is well known and has often been described, the machine industry of

Question

As is well known and has often been described, the machine industry of recent times took its rise by a gradual emergence out of handicraft in England in the eighteenth century. Since then the mechanical industry has progressively been getting the upper hand in all the civilized nations, in much the same degree in which these nations have come to be counted as civilized. This mechanical industry now stands dominant at the apex of the industrial system.

The state of the industrial arts, as it runs on the lines of the mechanical industry, is a technology of physics and chemistry. That is to say, it is governed by the same logic as the scientific laboratories. The procedure, the principles, habits of thought, preconceptions, units of measurement and of valuation, are the same in both cases.

The technology of physics and chemistry is not derived from established law and custom, and it goes on its way with as nearly complete a disregard of the spiritual truths of law and custom as the circumstances will permit. The realities with which this technology is occupied are of another order of actuality, lying altogether within the three dimensions that contain the material universe, and running altogether on the logic of material fact. In effect it is the logic of inanimate facts.

The mechanical industry makes use of the same range of facts handled in the same impersonal way and directed to the same manner of objective results. In both cases alike it is of the first importance to eliminate the “personal equation,” to let the work go forward and let the forces at work take effect quite objectively, without hindrance or deflection for any personal end, interest, or gain. It is the technician’s place in industry, as it is the scientist’s place in the laboratory, to serve as an intellectual embodiment of the forces at work, isolate the forces engaged from all extraneous disturbances, and let them take full effect along the lines of designed work. The technician is an active or creative factor in the case only in the sense that he is  the keeper of the logic  which governs the forces at work.

These forces that so are brought to bear in mechanical industry are of an objective, impersonal, unconventional nature, of course. They are of the nature of opaque fact. Pecuniary gain is not one of these impersonal facts. Any consideration of pecuniary gain that may be injected into the technician’s working plans will come into the case as an intrusive and alien factor, whose sole effect is to deflect, retard, derange and curtail the work in hand. At the same time considerations of pecuniary gain are the only agency brought into the case by the businessmen, and the only ground on which they exercise a control of production.   1 
 D 
 1. The author of the passage is primarily concerned with discussing

(A) industrial organization in the eighteenth century
(B) the motives for pecuniary gain
(C) the technician’s place in mechanical industry
(D) the impersonal organization of industry
(E) the material contribution of physics in industrial society

2 
 B 
 2. The author of the passage suggests that businessmen in the mechanical industry are responsible mainly for

(A) keeping the logic governing the forces at work
(B) managing the profits
(C) directing the activities of the technicians
(D) employing the technological procedures of physics and chemistry
(E) treating material gain as a spiritual truth

3 
 B 
 3. Which one of the following, if true, would contradict the author’s belief that the role of technician is to be “the keeper of the logic” (lines 45-46)?

(A) All technicians are human beings with feelings and emotions.
(B) An interest in pecuniary gain is the technician’s sole motive for participation in industry.
(C) The technician’s working plans do not coincide with the technician’s pecuniary interests.
(D) Technicians are employed by businessmen to oversee the forces at work.
(E) Technicians refuse to carry out the instructions of the businessmen.

4 
 B 
 4.The author would probably most strongly agree with which one of the following statements about the evolution of the industrial system?

(A) The handicraft system of industry emerged in eighteenth-century England and was subsequently replaced by the machine industry.
(B) The handicraft system of industrial production has gradually given rise to a mechanistic technology that dominates contemporary industry.
(C) The handicraft system emerged as the dominant factor of production in eighteenth-century England but was soon replaced by mechanical techniques of production.
(D) The mechanical system of production that preceded the handicraft system was the precursor of contemporary means of production.
(E) The industrial arts developed as a result of the growth of the mechanical industry that followed the decline of the handicraft system of production.

5 
 E 
 5. Which one of the following best describes the author’s attitude toward scientific techniques?

(A) critical
(B) hostile
(C) idealistic
(D) ironic
(E) neutral

GMATNinja · Accepted Answer

Using POE to answer Question #4

The author says quite a bit about the industrial system! But most of the answer choices for this question refer back to the first paragraph of the passage:

As is well known and has often been described, the machine industry of recent times took its rise by a gradual emergence out of handicraft in England in the eighteenth century. Since then the mechanical industry has progressively been getting the upper hand in all the civilized nations, in much the same degree in which these nations have come to be counted as civilized. This mechanical industry now stands dominant at the apex of the industrial system.

Since the question asks what the author "would probably most strongly agree with," we don't need an ironclad match. But we should certainly eliminate any answer choices that are not supported by any part of the passage. We should also eliminate any answer choice that directly contradicts the passage.

Did the author tell us that the handicraft system was  replaced  by the machine industry? No. Instead, we know that the machine industry "took its rise by a gradual emergence out of handicraft." So according to the author, machine industry is more of an evolution of handicraft than a replacement. Eliminate (A).

Choice (B) seems to be a better fit for what the author's written. "handicraft system...has gradually given rise" is a re-wording of "the machine industry...took its rise by a gradual emergence out of handicraft" that doesn't alter the meaning of the source statement. Let's keep (B) around.

Like choice (A), choice (C) introduces this notion of  replacement  that just isn't a part of the passage. Additionally, we know that the shift to machine industry was  gradual , but this choice states that handicraft was "soon replaced." Eliminate (C).

The mechanical system did not precede the handicraft system. The passage tells us exactly the opposite -- the handicraft system preceded the mechanical system. Eliminate (D).

This choice makes a similar mistake as choices (A) and (C). Did the rise of mechanical industry  follow the decline  of the handicraft industry? No. We know that the mechanical industry  emerged out of  the handicraft industry. Eliminate (E).

So we're left with (B).

What is an "idealistic" tone? 
 
Like  aragonn  said, "idealistic" means "striving for an ideal."

If we wanted to call this author idealistic, we'd have to identify what ideal (e.g. equality, liberty, knowledge) he's striving for with regards to scientific techniques. We'd expect to see more language that treats scientific technique as part of a greater, positive purpose.

Instead, what we have is a very dry, matter-of-fact description -- not just in the line you've quoted, but throughout the passage. The direct mention of scientific procedures is neutral in tone, and so is the context in which the author brings these procedures up.

I hope this helps!

auradediligodo · Answer

Hi everyone,
Got all correct but the last one in 9 minutes, including 4:25 minutes to read and 4:35 minutes to answer the questions.

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P1

In paragraph one the author talks about the origin of the mechanical industry and how it became an important part in the industrial word of civilized societies.

Purpose:   To talk about the origins and the relevance of the mechanical industry.

P2

Here the author says that the same rules that apply to scientific laboratories apply in the mechanical industry.

Purpose:   to claim that the same rules that apply to scientific laboratories apply in the mechanical industry.

P3

In P3 the author stresses the fact that technology has nothing to do with law and custom and that it follows the logic of inanimate facts.

Purpose:   To claim that technology has nothing to do with law and custom and that it follows the logic of inanimate facts.

P4

In P4 the author underscores the fact that technology is quite objective. Then the author proceeds by claiming that the technician has a precise role, that is to make sure that the flow of technology continues without interruptions.

Purpose:    To stress an aspect of technology (objectivity) and to state the role of the technician.

P5

In the last paragraph the author talks about monetary gains and how such gains are outside of the scope of technology. Monetary gains in fact interest only businessmen.

Purpose:   To make a claim about monetary gains.

Main point

To make claims about the mechanical industries and technology, making parallelisms with scientific laboratories and excluding certain behaviors

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1. The author of the passage is primarily concerned with discussing

Pre-thinking

Main point question

To make claims about the mechanical industries and technology, making parallelisms with scientific laboratories and excluding certain behaviors

(A) industrial organization in the eighteenth century  organization is out of scope 
(B) the motives for pecuniary gain  partial scope  
(C) the technician’s place in mechanical industry  partial scope 
  (D)   the impersonal organization of industry
(E) the material contribution of physics in industrial society  partial scope

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2. The author of the passage suggests that businessmen in the mechanical industry are responsible mainly for

Pre-thinking

Inference question

for thinking abut gains, money, profits......

(A) keeping the logic governing the forces at work  cannot be inferred 
  (B)   managing the profits
(C) directing the activities of the technicians cannot be inferred 
(D) employing the technological procedures of physics and chemistry cannot be inferred 
(E) treating material gain as a spiritual truth cannot be inferred

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3. Which one of the following, if true, would contradict the author’s belief that the role of technician is to be “the keeper of the logic” (lines 45-46)?

Pre-thinking

Weaken question

There are several ways in which we can weaken such a claim. Some examples are:

- Technicians cannot be impartial
- They have other goals (money)
- They represent an obstacle to the natural flow of technology
- and so on....

(A) All technicians are human beings with feelings and emotions.  no impact 
  (B)   An interest in pecuniary gain is the technician’s sole motive for participation in industry.  from last paragraph we are told that such intentions are destructive to the purpose of technology 
(C) The technician’s working plans do not coincide with the technician’s pecuniary interests.  strengthener 
(D) Technicians are employed by businessmen to oversee the forces at work.  no impact 
(E) Technicians refuse to carry out the instructions of the businessmen.  no impact/strengthener ( if they oppose to the monetary gains)

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4.The author would probably most strongly agree with which one of the following statements about the evolution of the industrial system?

Pre-thinking

Inference question

From P1:   As is well known and has often been described, the machine industry of recent times took its rise by a gradual emergence out of handicraft in England in the eighteenth century.

(A) The handicraft system of industry emerged in eighteenth-century England and was subsequently replaced by the machine industry.  Machine industry developed from the handicraft system. So it cannot replace it 
  (B)   The handicraft system of industrial production has gradually given rise to a mechanistic technology that dominates contemporary industry. correct 
(C) The handicraft system emerged as the dominant factor of production in eighteenth-century England but was soon replaced by mechanical techniques of production. cannot be inferred 
(D) The mechanical system of production that preceded the handicraft system was the precursor of contemporary means of production.  cannot be inferred 
(E) The industrial arts developed as a result of the growth of the mechanical industry that followed the decline of the handicraft system of production.  Again, machine industry developed from handicraft system.

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5. Which one of the following best describes the author’s attitude toward scientific techniques?

Pre-thinking

Author's attitude question

Let's evaluate the options

(A) critical  never critical 
(B) hostile  incorrect 
(C) idealistic  the author claims that technology has to be very objective but we would use idealistic when we talk about something in a very extreme manner. Idealistic most of the times refers to something almost impossible to accomplish. Here everything is more factual than idealistic. For example: "all professors should be inspiring and understanding to the needs of their students" Such claim refers to an idealistic view. 
(D) ironic  no irony 
  (E)   neutral  seems correct

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It's a great day to be alive!

JakeRockwell · Answer

The passage is tough somewhat but the questions were a little easy to navigate I felt.

Wasted about a minute extra for the 4th question.Misread "machine" as "Mechanical" in the first option.

time 09 min 18 secs

All correct.

sananoor · Answer

Can we disucss question 4?

@GMATNinga  daagh  can you guys explain question 4?

warrior1991 · Answer

5. Which one of the following best describes the author’s attitude toward scientific techniques?
(A) critical
(B) hostile
(C) idealistic
(D) ironic
(E) neutral

Based on the above lines I selected C as the answer, but the OA is E.

GMATNinja   VeritasKarishma   workout   gmatexam439   aragonn 
Please help.

aragonn · Answer

First of all you are right with the fact that A,B and D cant be the answer. these are extreme tones. usually gmat dont use such tones. lets look at C and E.

idealistic - means author is trying to achieve something ideal. more like bookish definition of something/anything is idealistic. i think author is not trying to achieve something. the lines u mentioned are comparing two sides but not on to achieve something. 
neutral - most cases of GMAT passages fall in this tone. (for sure not all.) mostly case in which author is not trying to choose any side.

on these grounds i thing E is a better option. Other experts can shed some more light.

Bhavyam · Answer

I found this difficult to comprehend as there was a constant back and forth between industrial system and mechanical industry. Could some one please provide a summary para graph wise to clarify the basic points in this RC?

Additionally, for the question:
Which one of the following, if true, would contradict the author’s belief that the role of technician is to be “the keeper of the logic” (lines 45-46)?

Why is C) The technician’s working plans do not coincide with the technician’s pecuniary interests wrong?

kausikS · Answer

Why can't question 2 be E?

Diya52 · Answer

This is the part where the passage mentions the businessmen "At the same time considerations of pecuniary gain are the only agency brought into the case by the businessmen, and the only ground on which they exercise a control of production." -- Pecuniary gains means monetary gain, so the passage is implying that the businessmen are concerned with the money part of the industry and hence you could say they manage profits. which is B . but nowhere it mentions anything about businessmen taking material gain to be something as strong as "the spiritual truth".

GunjS · Answer

GMATNinja VeritasKarishma workout gmatexam439 aragonn Please help me explain Q1. I found this question so confusing. No one has discussed it in this forum..so looks like it is only me

1. The author of the passage is primarily concerned with discussing

Pre-thinking

Main point question

To make claims about the mechanical industries and technology, making parallelisms with scientific laboratories and excluding certain behaviors

(A) industrial organization in the eighteenth century organization is out of scope
(B) the motives for pecuniary gain partial scope
(C) the technician’s place in mechanical industry partial scope
(D) the impersonal organization of industry
(E) the material contribution of physics in industrial society partial scope

KarishmaB · Answer

Yes, the passage is a dreary read.

First para - Intro to mechanical industry (MI)
Second para - MI is governed by same logic as Science
Third para - Tech is the logic of inanimate facts
Fourth para - MI uses same facts, in the same impersonal way, technician is keeper of logic
Fifth para - Forces are objective, impersonal etc. Pecuniary gain is intrusive to technician.

It is all about how industry is impersonal, objective, based on logic, facts etc.
Hence answer is (D)

richirish · Answer

Very good passage, 7 mins all correct, happy to help folks if needed

akt715 · Answer

In Q3, why option A is incorrect. if we refer these lines .it is of the first importance to eliminate the “personal equation,” to let the work go forward and let the forces at work take effect quite objectively, without hindrance or deflection for any personal end, interest, or gain.

Doesn't this mean that having emotions and feeling could impact the work

Doesn't this mean that having emotions and feeling could impact the work

SuprotimRoy · Answer

Completed all questions in 16 Mins, all were correct.

As is well known and has often been described, the machine industry of

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GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

As is well known and has often been described, the machine industry of

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