Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 02:41 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 02:41
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
   1   2 
User avatar
Sajjad1994
User avatar
GRE Forum Moderator
Joined: 02 Nov 2016
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 17,289
Own Kudos:
49,302
Given Kudos: 6,179
GPA: 3.62
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Posts: 17,289
Kudos: 49,302
Concord staked its claim to be the birthplace of Independence during t 14 Sep 2021, 12:23
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Official Explanation

2. The primary purpose of this passage is to

Difficulty Level: 500

Explanation

The question asks for the Purpose of the passage as a whole. Find a choice that accurately describes the passage in its entirety and does not focus on just one part of it.

(A) The passage links political and economic development as simultaneous achievements, rather than saying that economic development led to political freedom; in fact, the concept of political freedom is not mentioned at all.

(B) While the fourth paragraph does detail the community split that intensified after religious pluralism took hold, this split was already occurring as a result of the economic changes discussed in the third paragraph: The ties that once joined neighbors together were fraying. This choice is too narrow.

(C) Although the passage does mention that social alienation was a result of the changes that occurred in the 19th century, the passage does not claim that this alienation was a necessary, or required, result. Rather, the passage merely explains that it was a result.

(D) This choice incorrectly emphasizes Concord’s place in American history. The author only goes so far as to mention that Concord was a leading center of Middlesex County.

(E) CORRECT. The passage explains that Concord was probably at its political and economic pinnacle and then goes on to describe the impact on societal norms: old work customs and unified religious worship were replaced by a labor market and voluntary choice.

Answer: E
avatar
jim441
avatar
Joined: 29 Apr 2022
Last visit: 14 Dec 2023
Posts: 193
Own Kudos:
51
Given Kudos: 276
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, Marketing
GMAT 1: 690 Q48 V35 (Online)
WE:Engineering (Manufacturing)
GMAT 1: 690 Q48 V35 (Online)
Posts: 193
Kudos: 51
Concord staked its claim to be the birthplace of Independence during t 04 Jan 2023, 07:52
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
What should be the ideal time for the completion of this passage?
I took around 12 mins (including reading), got 4/5
User avatar
Sajjad1994
User avatar
GRE Forum Moderator
Joined: 02 Nov 2016
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 17,289
Own Kudos:
49,302
 [1]
Given Kudos: 6,179
GPA: 3.62
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Posts: 17,289
Kudos: 49,302
 [1]
Concord staked its claim to be the birthplace of Independence during t 04 Jan 2023, 08:07
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
jim441
What should be the ideal time for the completion of this passage?
I took around 12 mins (including reading), got 4/5
Show more

There is no hard and fast rule as such but just as a soft reminder, 4:30 to 5:00 minutes to read the passage and approx 6 minutes to answer the question is a fine time for this passage. No worry if you can cover such an other passage within 11 minutes. Timing improves with practice.

Good luck!
User avatar
RiyaJ0032
User avatar
Joined: 13 Dec 2021
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 201
Own Kudos:
17
Given Kudos: 53
Posts: 201
Kudos: 17
Concord staked its claim to be the birthplace of Independence during t 13 Dec 2024, 00:19
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
But how do you infer B to be the answer

where is it given that economy was stagnant or in relative decline

1840's we only know that -

a) the social fabric changed
b) Many people were kept out of prosperity

but does this mean that economy was stagnant?

KarishmaB please help

or any expert,
cjmoore16
Sunaina7

4. It can be inferred from the passage that which of the following was true of Concord’s economy in the 1840s?

(A) Manufacturing was a growing industry, overtaking farming in importance.
(B) The economy likely was stagnant or in decline relative to the previous decade.
(C) Land ownership among adult males was on the rise.
(D) The sale and consumption of alcohol declined sharply.

This question tripped me up too. When narrowing down to A and B I went for A because "manufacturing was humming" and thus indicating it was growing. However, upon further inspection, recognizing that manufacturing is an industry that would contribute to economic prosperity (if manufacturing was growing) and since Concord had reached "its political and economic pinnacle", you can safely say that manufacturing was not growing. Nor does the passage mention it overtook farming; it could be a small component that did experienced accelerated growth, but then plateaued.

In case C, D , or E tripped you up, here is my view

C - Passage states that "64% of adult males were landless", however, there is no indication that this is growing into the 1840s
D - I associated the temperance with the drinking associated with work related activities and goes too far to say that it had a sharp decline on alcohol sales overall and thus had an effect on the economy
E - Think about the labor that is used to build a home. People used to freely help one another but now people paid others to construct buildings (as mentioned in the third paragraph). This does not mean the rate increased or decreased, it just means the expectation of "free" community labor changed

Hope this helps.
Show more
User avatar
chillblade
User avatar
Joined: 12 Nov 2024
Last visit: 22 Jul 2025
Posts: 7
Own Kudos:
3
 [1]
Given Kudos: 31
Posts: 7
Kudos: 3
 [1]
Concord staked its claim to be the birthplace of Independence during t 14 Dec 2024, 09:04
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Check 1st line of 2nd paragraph.

" A decade later, by the mid-1830s, with over two thousand inhabitants, Concord was probably at its political and economic pinnacle "

Pinnacle means highest point. Therefore, 1840s wasn't as prosperous economically as 1830s.
RiyaJ0032
But how do you infer B to be the answer

where is it given that economy was stagnant or in relative decline

1840's we only know that -

a) the social fabric changed
b) Many people were kept out of prosperity

but does this mean that economy was stagnant?

KarishmaB please help

or any expert,
cjmoore16
Sunaina7

4. It can be inferred from the passage that which of the following was true of Concord’s economy in the 1840s?

(A) Manufacturing was a growing industry, overtaking farming in importance.
(B) The economy likely was stagnant or in decline relative to the previous decade.
(C) Land ownership among adult males was on the rise.
(D) The sale and consumption of alcohol declined sharply.

This question tripped me up too. When narrowing down to A and B I went for A because "manufacturing was humming" and thus indicating it was growing. However, upon further inspection, recognizing that manufacturing is an industry that would contribute to economic prosperity (if manufacturing was growing) and since Concord had reached "its political and economic pinnacle", you can safely say that manufacturing was not growing. Nor does the passage mention it overtook farming; it could be a small component that did experienced accelerated growth, but then plateaued.

In case C, D , or E tripped you up, here is my view

C - Passage states that "64% of adult males were landless", however, there is no indication that this is growing into the 1840s
D - I associated the temperance with the drinking associated with work related activities and goes too far to say that it had a sharp decline on alcohol sales overall and thus had an effect on the economy
E - Think about the labor that is used to build a home. People used to freely help one another but now people paid others to construct buildings (as mentioned in the third paragraph). This does not mean the rate increased or decreased, it just means the expectation of "free" community labor changed

Hope this helps.
Show more
User avatar
suman94
User avatar
Joined: 01 May 2025
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 9
Own Kudos:
5
Given Kudos: 56
Products:
GMAT Club Tests
Posts: 9
Kudos: 5
Concord staked its claim to be the birthplace of Independence during t 04 May 2025, 11:46
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The modern capitalist arrangement is mentioned in the context of farm work, more specifically, the change in working methods. The result is the cutting of camaraderie or previous ties between people, or social values. However, does it amount to a change in social structure?

Landowning patterns and the wealth disparity, as mentioned in the first few sentences of the paragraph, can be considered as a change in social structure. However, it is not clear from the passage how it is related to the change in farm working methods.

bM22
ravigupta2912
Not convinced with Q5. The question is about the purpose of a noun entity i.e. "modern capitalistic arrangements". The function of the noun entity is to present a contrast.

The function of the sentence "On the farms, the old work customs—the huskings, roof-raisings, and apple bees—by which people cooperated to complete essential chores gave way to modern capitalist arrangements." is to illustrate a change but the function of that sentence cannot be reduced to a mere phrase.

I am being precise with the question here. Thoughts anyone?


Hi ravigupta2912,

Quote:
(A) Illustrate one aspect of a change in the town’s social structure

Consider the lines: "The ties that once joined neighbors together were fraying. On the farms, the old work customs—the huskings, roof-raisings, and apple bees—by which people cooperated to complete essential chores gave way to modern capitalist arrangements. When men needed help, they hired it, and paid the going rate, which no longer included the traditional ration of grog. With a new zeal for temperance, employers abandoned the custom of drinking with workers in what had been a ritual display of camaraderie.".

We are not asked a mere function of the phrase, but implicitly what changes did “modern capitalist arrangements” bring. Now though the phrase is mentioned as a result of some changes in practices, but what did it bring with itself were the distinctions between the people. How earlier there was trust, friendship among people and how it changed to arrangements on basis on requirements, in turn implying that the town’s social structure had changed.

Hope This Helps.
Thanks.
Show more
   1   2 
Moderators:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7445 posts
GMATNinjaTwo
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
234 posts
Sajjad1994
GRE Forum Moderator
17289 posts
miag
188 posts