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605-655 Level|   Long Passage|   Social Science|         
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Colonial historian David Allen's intensive study of five communities i 29 Jun 2022, 17:39
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KarishmaB
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Hey can someone help me this question ? GMATNinja egmat VeritasKarishma

I still can't wrap my head around
how can we infer answer choice A from Fourth, a high proportion of English villagers lived under paternalistic resident squires; no such class existed in New England.
This doesn't tell us that resident squire had significant authority

4. According to the passage, which of the following was true of most villages in seventeenth-century England?

(A) The resident squire had significant authority.
(B) Church members were selected on the basis of their social status within the community.
(C) Low population density restricted agricultural and economic growth.
(D) There was little diversity in local institutions from one region to another.
(E) National events had little impact on local customs and administrative organization.

English villagers lived UNDER resident squires means resident squires had significant authority.
Note that the other options are clearly incorrect.

(B) Church members were selected on the basis of their social status within the community.
Incorrect. Passage mentions: "Third, England had an all-embracing state church".

(C) Low population density restricted agricultural and economic growth.
Incorrect. Passage mentions: England was overcrowded and land-hungry;

(D) There was little diversity in local institutions from one region to another.
Incorrect. Passage mentions: the remarkable extent to which diversity in New England local institutions was directly imitative of regional differences in the mother country.
This implies that there was diversity in England too.

(E) National events had little impact on local customs and administrative organization.
Incorrect. Passage mentions: it is a mistake for their authors to conclude that village institutions are all that mattered, simply because their functions are all that the records of village institutions reveal.
It implies that only village institutions are not all that mattered so perhaps regional and national events had impact. We don't know for sure but certainly (E) is not correct.
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KarishmaB
Thank you for this explanation. Would this part of the passage ("Allen's work is a rather extreme example of the “country community” school of seventeenth-century English history whose intemperate excesses in removing all national issues from the history of that period have been exposed by Professor Clive Holmes.") also further disprove Choice E?
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Colonial historian David Allen's intensive study of five communities i 30 Jun 2022, 04:58
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KarishmaB
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Hey can someone help me this question ? GMATNinja egmat VeritasKarishma

I still can't wrap my head around
how can we infer answer choice A from Fourth, a high proportion of English villagers lived under paternalistic resident squires; no such class existed in New England.
This doesn't tell us that resident squire had significant authority

4. According to the passage, which of the following was true of most villages in seventeenth-century England?

(A) The resident squire had significant authority.
(B) Church members were selected on the basis of their social status within the community.
(C) Low population density restricted agricultural and economic growth.
(D) There was little diversity in local institutions from one region to another.
(E) National events had little impact on local customs and administrative organization.

English villagers lived UNDER resident squires means resident squires had significant authority.
Note that the other options are clearly incorrect.

(B) Church members were selected on the basis of their social status within the community.
Incorrect. Passage mentions: "Third, England had an all-embracing state church".

(C) Low population density restricted agricultural and economic growth.
Incorrect. Passage mentions: England was overcrowded and land-hungry;

(D) There was little diversity in local institutions from one region to another.
Incorrect. Passage mentions: the remarkable extent to which diversity in New England local institutions was directly imitative of regional differences in the mother country.
This implies that there was diversity in England too.

(E) National events had little impact on local customs and administrative organization.
Incorrect. Passage mentions: it is a mistake for their authors to conclude that village institutions are all that mattered, simply because their functions are all that the records of village institutions reveal.
It implies that only village institutions are not all that mattered so perhaps regional and national events had impact. We don't know for sure but certainly (E) is not correct.


KarishmaB
Thank you for this explanation. Would this part of the passage ("Allen's work is a rather extreme example of the “country community” school of seventeenth-century English history whose intemperate excesses in removing all national issues from the history of that period have been exposed by Professor Clive Holmes.") also further disprove Choice E?
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Sure, it does though the last sentence recaps the entire paragraph and tells us in clear words what the author wants to say, so we can bank our answer on that.
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Colonial historian David Allen's intensive study of five communities i 13 Apr 2023, 06:43
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KarishmaB
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Hey can someone help me this question ? GMATNinja egmat VeritasKarishma

I still can't wrap my head around
how can we infer answer choice A from Fourth, a high proportion of English villagers lived under paternalistic resident squires; no such class existed in New England.
This doesn't tell us that resident squire had significant authority

4. According to the passage, which of the following was true of most villages in seventeenth-century England?

(A) The resident squire had significant authority.
(B) Church members were selected on the basis of their social status within the community.
(C) Low population density restricted agricultural and economic growth.
(D) There was little diversity in local institutions from one region to another.
(E) National events had little impact on local customs and administrative organization.

English villagers lived UNDER resident squires means resident squires had significant authority.
Note that the other options are clearly incorrect.

(B) Church members were selected on the basis of their social status within the community.
Incorrect. Passage mentions: "Third, England had an all-embracing state church".

(C) Low population density restricted agricultural and economic growth.
Incorrect. Passage mentions: England was overcrowded and land-hungry;

(D) There was little diversity in local institutions from one region to another.
Incorrect. Passage mentions: the remarkable extent to which diversity in New England local institutions was directly imitative of regional differences in the mother country.
This implies that there was diversity in England too.

(E) National events had little impact on local customs and administrative organization.
Incorrect. Passage mentions: it is a mistake for their authors to conclude that village institutions are all that mattered, simply because their functions are all that the records of village institutions reveal.
It implies that only village institutions are not all that mattered so perhaps regional and national events had impact. We don't know for sure but certainly (E) is not correct.
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KarishmaB MartyTargetTestPrep

For option D, it is given that he "overstates" the diversity. then can we say that there was little diversity and hence, option D to be correct.
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Colonial historian David Allen's intensive study of five communities i 13 Apr 2023, 07:18
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shanks2020
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4. According to the passage, which of the following was true of most villages in seventeenth-century England?

(A) The resident squire had significant authority.
(B) Church members were selected on the basis of their social status within the community.
(C) Low population density restricted agricultural and economic growth.
(D) There was little diversity in local institutions from one region to another.
(E) National events had little impact on local customs and administrative organization.

KarishmaB MartyTargetTestPrep

For option D, it is given that he "overstates" the diversity. then can we say that there was little diversity and hence, option D to be correct.
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We can't.

Here's what the passage says:

However, he overstates his case with the declaration that he has proved "the remarkable extent to which diversity in New England local institutions was directly imitative

Notice that the sentence does not say that he "overstates the diversity."

It says something else, that he "overstates his case with the declaration that he has proved" something.

So, the passage does not say anything that indicates that there was "little diversity."
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Colonial historian David Allen's intensive study of five communities i 14 Apr 2023, 05:15
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Took me around 10 minutes, still got 1 incorrect. How fast should I be completing it, if I am targeting 42-45 in verbal ?
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Colonial historian David Allen's intensive study of five communities i 17 Apr 2023, 13:34
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Devesh0514
Took me around 10 minutes, still got 1 incorrect. How fast should I be completing it, if I am targeting 42-45 in verbal ?
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The verbal section is 65 minutes long and has 36 questions, so you have, on average, about 1 min and 48 seconds per question. You spent 10 minutes on these 5 questions, so that's 2 mins per question on average. That's not bad, but you went "over-budget" by about a minute in total.

That said, one thing we like to say to our students is that good timing comes from having a good approach to questions, not the other way around. Bad things tend to happen when test-takers rush through the passages and questions to hit specific timing milestones.

So rather than asking, "how fast should I be completing it?", ask yourself, "Did I spend way too long on a particular question or two? Did I let myself get sucked into a battle with a question that stumped me?" If so, then you need to work on your test-taking habits -- namely, letting go and moving on when you're stumped. If you can do that, your times will naturally improve.

For more on learning to let go, check out this video on how to manage time on the GMAT.

I hope that helps a bit!
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Colonial historian David Allen's intensive study of five communities i 20 May 2023, 09:43
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PhantomAY
Process map:

Paragraph 1 - DA conduct detailed study to suggest continuity between English and colonial in 2 different aspects (agr and admin org). But his argument is over stated (author's opinion).

Paragraph 2 - this is due to ignoring differences, in 4 different aspects (details - skim and refer back later when being asked). Just focus on village insti is too narrow, and DA's view is distorted (author's opinion)

Paragraph 3 - DA's view ignore national issues (CH debunk it), no conclusion can be drawn from 1 e.g. (details). Again, just focus on village is not enough.

1. The passage suggests that Professor Clive Holmes would most likely agree with which of the following statements?
refer to "Allen's work is a rather extreme example of the “country community” school of seventeenth-century English history whose intemperate excesses in removing all national issues from the history of that period have been exposed by Professor Clive Holmes"
(A) An understanding of seventeenth-century English local institutions requires a consideration of national issues. this coincides with the detail above
(B) The "country community" school of seventeenth- century English history distorts historical evidence in order to establish continuity between old and new institutions. this is author's opinions not HC's
(C) Most historians distort reality by focusing on national concerns to the exclusion of local concerns. this is author's opinions not HC's
(D) National issues are best understood from the perspective of those at the local level. focusing on local level is not narrow as indicated in the passage
(E) Local histories of seventeenth-century English villages have contributed little to the understanding of village life. it contributes, but not enough, "little" is too extreme


2. It can be inferred from the passage that the author of the passage considers Allen's "discovery" (see highlighted text) to be
refer to "What conclusion can be drawn, for example, from Allen's discovery that Puritan clergy who had come to the colonies from East Anglia were one-third to one-half as likely to return to England by 1660 as were Puritan ministers from western and northern England? We are not told in what way, if at all, this discovery illuminates historical understanding."
(A) already known to earlier historians this might be true, but not author's main intention
(B) based on a logical fallacy attractive answer, but no logic error because on conclusion is given
(C) improbable but nevertheless convincing author find it not convincing
(D) an unexplained, isolated fact correct answer, isolated facts didn't give us any conclusion
(E) a new, insightful observation author's tone is mostly negative, so incorrect answer


3. It can be inferred that the author of the passage considers Allen's research on seventeenth-century Massachusetts colonies to be

(A) inconsequential but interesting "interesting" is not mentioned
(B) largely derivative "largely" is too extreme and not mentioned
(C) detailed but problematic correct answer, refer to "meticulous scholarship on the detailed microcosmic level" for "detailed", and author's tone for "problematic"
(D) highly commendable contradicts author's tone
(E) overly theoretical this is not mentioned


4. According to the passage, which of the following was true of most villages in seventeenth-century England?
First, England was overcrowded and land-hungry; New England was sparsely populated and labor-hungry. Second, England suffered the normal European rate of mortality; New England, especially in the first generation of English colonists, was virtually free from infectious diseases. Third, England had an all-embracing state church; in New England membership in a church was restricted to the elect. Fourth, a high proportion of English villagers lived under paternalistic resident squires; no such class existed in New England.
(A) The resident squire had significant authority.correct answer, refers to "a high proportion of English villagers lived under paternalistic resident squires; no such class existed in New England", "paternalistic" translate to "authority"
(B) Church members were selected on the basis of their social status within the community. this is not mentioned
(C) Low population density restricted agricultural and economic growth. contradicts "England was overcrowded and land-hungry"
(D) There was little diversity in local institutions from one region to another. not mentioned
(E) National events had little impact on local customs and administrative organization. this is not mentioned


5. The author of the passage is primarily concerned with

(A) substantiating a claim about a historical event this is not about a historical event, but about evaluating Allen's work
(B) reconciling two opposing ideas about a historical era didn't reconcile 2 opposing idea
(C) disputing evidence a scholar uses to substantiate a claim about a historical event it didn't dispute the evidence but the approach Allen took
(D) analyzing two approaches to scholarly research and evaluating their methodologies it only analyzed Allens' work
(E) criticizing a particular study and the approach to historical scholarship it represents correct answer
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Hi, pls help me with this question-

3. It can be inferred that the author of the passage considers Allen's research on seventeenth-century Massachusetts colonies to be

(A) inconsequential but interesting "interesting" is not mentioned
(B) largely derivative "largely" is too extreme and not mentioned
(C) detailed but problematic correct answer, refer to "meticulous scholarship on the detailed microcosmic level" for "detailed", and author's tone for "problematic"
(D) highly commendable contradicts author's tone
(E) overly theoretical this is not mentioned

Here why is option B wrong? Since the passage does mention that Allen's study is based on micro issues and derives conclusions largely from village regions. I chose B considering that it is largely derivative of the village and micro areas. Pls let me know why is it wrong.
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Colonial historian David Allen's intensive study of five communities i 07 Jul 2023, 16:15
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Question 3


Quote:
Hi, pls help me with this question-

It can be inferred that the author of the passage considers Allen's research on seventeenth-century Massachusetts colonies to be

(A) inconsequential but interesting "interesting" is not mentioned

(B) largely derivative "largely" is too extreme and not mentioned

(C) detailed but problematic correct answer, refer to "meticulous scholarship on the detailed microcosmic level" for "detailed", and author's tone for "problematic"

(D) highly commendable contradicts author's tone

(E) overly theoretical this is not mentioned

Here why is option B wrong? Since the passage does mention that Allen's study is based on micro issues and derives conclusions largely from village regions. I chose B considering that it is largely derivative of the village and micro areas. Pls let me know why is it wrong.
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As you correctly suggest, Allen's study "derives" conclusions from his study of "the records of village institutions." But answer choice (B) is using the word "derivative" in a different sense.

More specifically, something can be described as "derivative" if it lacks originality. In other words, if I call something derivative, I'm criticizing it for lacking originality.

While the author criticizes Allen for certain problems (such as ignoring national issues), he or she never criticizes Allen for lacking originality. For that reason, we can't infer the author thinks Allen's work is "largely derivative," and (B) is wrong.

I hope that helps!
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Colonial historian David Allen's intensive study of five communities i 30 Nov 2023, 01:09
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Can anyone explain why the answer to question 1 is A and not B? To be honest I am confused as I do not see how A is correct and B is wrong. A cannot be inferred from the 1st sentence of the last paragraph, else, why did we eliminate B?
I am not satisfied with the explanations given so far, as they have not explained in detail the answer choices. Any experts willing to chime in? GMATNinja KarishmaB MartyMurray GMATninja2
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Colonial historian David Allen's intensive study of five communities i 30 Nov 2023, 02:55
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danymasri98
Can anyone explain why the answer to question 1 is A and not B? To be honest I am confused as I do not see how A is correct and B is wrong. A cannot be inferred from the 1st sentence of the last paragraph, else, why did we eliminate B?
I am not satisfied with the explanations given so far, as they have not explained in detail the answer choices. Any experts willing to chime in? GMATNinja KarishmaB MartyMurray GMATninja2
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1. The passage suggests that Professor Clive Holmes would most likely agree with which of the following statements?

(A) An understanding of seventeenth-century English local institutions requires a consideration of national issues.
(B) The "country community" school of seventeenth- century English history distorts historical evidence in order to establish continuity between old and new institutions.
(C) Most historians distort reality by focusing on national concerns to the exclusion of local concerns.
(D) National issues are best understood from the perspective of those at the local level.
(E) Local histories of seventeenth-century English villages have contributed little to the understanding of village life.

It is an extrapolatory question. The answer is not written in the passage. We have to infer it based on what is given.

We know very little about Professor Clive. There is just one sentence:
Allen's work is a rather extreme example of the "country community" school of seventeenth-century English history whose intemperate excesses in removing all national issues from the history of that period have been exposed by Professor Clive Holmes.

Professor Clive has exposed the inadequacy of that school of history which removes all national issues and focuses only on local institutions.

So what would Professor Clive agree with?

(A) An understanding of seventeenth-century English local institutions requires a consideration of national issues.

Correct. He is likely to agree that to understand local institutions, we need to consider national issues.

(B) The "country community" school of seventeenth- century English history distorts historical evidence in order to establish continuity between old and new institutions.

All we know is the Professor Clive considers national issues important in a study of history. Did he believe that "country community" school distorts historical evidence in order to establish continuity between old and new institutions? We don't know. Forget Professor Clive, we don't even know whether the author believes this even though he uses these words at various places.
The author has mentioned that Alan has created a distorted picture of reality by ignoring many differences. He says Alan suggests there was continuity. But the author doesn't say that Alan distorted evidence in order to establish continuity. He says that Alan ignored some evidence. Was it to establish continuity? - he doesn't say.
All in all, (B) is certainly not the answer.

Answer (A)
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Colonial historian David Allen's intensive study of five communities i 21 Nov 2024, 21:39
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Answer to 2nd question, "an unexplained, isolated fact"

I do agree its unexplained. But, how is it an isolated fact?

"Allen's discovery that Puritan clergy who had come to the colonies from East Anglia were one-third to one-half as likely to return to England by 1660"

> how is 1/3rd or 1/2 of a group following same behavior an isolated fact?

"as were Puritan ministers from western and northern England?"

> Here they give an additional example. So again pointing not an isolated fact.

Really confused by the answer choice.
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Colonial historian David Allen's intensive study of five communities i 23 Nov 2024, 11:54
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Q1) A
While the passage does not directly quote Holmes as saying A, it provides a strong implication that Holmes critiques the "country community" school for removing all national issues from their analysis. This critique suggests Holmes values integrating national issues into the understanding of local institutions.
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Colonial historian David Allen's intensive study of five communities i 26 Nov 2024, 15:01
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Question 2


Adarsh_24
Answer to 2nd question, "an unexplained, isolated fact"

I do agree its unexplained. But, how is it an isolated fact?

"Allen's discovery that Puritan clergy who had come to the colonies from East Anglia were one-third to one-half as likely to return to England by 1660"

> how is 1/3rd or 1/2 of a group following same behavior an isolated fact?

"as were Puritan ministers from western and northern England?"

> Here they give an additional example. So again pointing not an isolated fact.

Really confused by the answer choice.
Show more
All you did there was break up the single fact into two parts: "Puritan clergy who had come to the colonies from East Anglia were one-third to one-half as likely to return to England by 1660 as were Puritan ministers from western and northern England". The fact compares the rates at which the two groups (in bold) returned to England by 1660, and that comparison is rightly regarded as a single fact.

This fact is "isolated" because it is not part of a larger group of data or a broader pattern -- it's just a single data point that, according to the author, doesn't tell us much on its own.

For a bit more on question 2, check out this post: https://gmatclub.com/forum/colonial-his ... l#p2712591.
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Colonial historian David Allen's intensive study of five communities i 26 Nov 2024, 19:55
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Question 2


Adarsh_24
Answer to 2nd question, "an unexplained, isolated fact"

I do agree its unexplained. But, how is it an isolated fact?

"Allen's discovery that Puritan clergy who had come to the colonies from East Anglia were one-third to one-half as likely to return to England by 1660"

> how is 1/3rd or 1/2 of a group following same behavior an isolated fact?

"as were Puritan ministers from western and northern England?"

> Here they give an additional example. So again pointing not an isolated fact.

Really confused by the answer choice.
All you did there was break up the single fact into two parts: "Puritan clergy who had come to the colonies from East Anglia were one-third to one-half as likely to return to England by 1660 as were Puritan ministers from western and northern England". The fact compares the rates at which the two groups (in bold) returned to England by 1660, and that comparison is rightly regarded as a single fact.

This fact is "isolated" because it is not part of a larger group of data or a broader pattern -- it's just a single data point that, according to the author, doesn't tell us much on its own.

For a bit more on question 2, check out this post: https://gmatclub.com/forum/colonial-his ... l#p2712591.
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I see where I have went wrong. Thank you for the correction.
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Colonial historian David Allen's intensive study of five communities i 13 May 2025, 22:07
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reason for picking "A" and not ""B" for Q1??
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