Despite their many differences of temperament and of literary perspect

The best answer is B. This question asks you to identify the choice that best states the primary concern, or central topic, of the author's discussion. Thus, the best answer must be comprehensive enough to include all aspects of the author's discussion. Choice A mentions one aspect of the author's discussion, which appears in the third paragraph along with the topic mentioned in choice C. Neither of these choices includes the matters under discussion in paragraphs one, two, and four. Choices D and E mention topics not discussed in the passage. Choice B presents a broad topic that includes the matters discussed in all four paragraphs of the passage.



The best answer is C. This question asks you to evaluate the three statements designated with Roman numerals in terms of "the humanistic perspective of the five writers." Paragraph one discusses the "humanistic perspective" (line 5) and ex- plains its "basic premises" (lines 5-8). After looking back at paragraph one, you can decide whether or not the' 'humanis- tic perspective" presupposes statements I, II, and/or III. The last sentence of paragraph one says that" . . . all knowledge begins with self-knowledge"; thus, the statement I is a presupposition of the "humanistic perspective." Lines 5-13 explain in some detail the point briefly stated in statement II. The point made in statement III is neither stated nor implied in the passage.



The best answer is D. This question asks you to identify the function of a quotation in the author's discussion. First, locate the quotation from Whitman in lines 24-27. The first two sentences of the paragraph make the point that the five writers under discussion emphasize not the individual, but the "human as universal" (line 21). The author of the passage then says, "Thus, for Emerson . . . while, for Whitman" (lines 22-24). The use of the word "Thus" indicates that the author is giving a specific instance or example of the point. The only choice that states a purpose for the quotation compatible with the author's point in this paragraph is D.



The best answer is A. The author of the passage, in the first sentence of the fourth paragraph, says that the five writers assumed "that intuition and imagination offer a surer road to truth" than the scientific method, and that they presumed "an organic relationship between the self and the cosmos of which only intuition and imagination can properly take account" (lines 55-57). Choice A restates this point by saying that the scientific method "is not the best way to obtain an understanding of the relationship between the individual and the cosmos." Choices B, C, D, and E mention plausible possible objections to the use of the scientific method, but none of these are mentioned in the passage.



The best answer is B. This question asks you to evaluate statements I, II, and III and decide whether each of the three statements is compatible with the beliefs of the authors as they are presented in the passage. The statement I concerns democracy, which is discussed in the passage in lines 39-46. It is clear from these lines that I is not compatible with the authors' beliefs as they are presented in the passage. Statement II begins''Nature alone exists.. ."; this part of the statement directly contradicts the discussion of the humanistic perspective in the first paragraph of the passage. Statement III summarizes the basic points made about the humanistic perspective in the first paragraph.



The best answer is D. In the fourth paragraph of the passage, the author says that the five writers assume that intuition and imagination "offer a surer road to truth" (lines 48-49). The author of the passage then gives two illustrations of this assumption, one of which is the writers' emphasis on "interpretation of experience as, in essence, symbolic." Choice A can be eliminated because the fourth paragraph states that intuition and imagination are alternatives to logic and scientific method. The material in choices B and C is not implied in the fourth paragraph. Choice E suggests, correctly, that intuition and imagination connect the self to the world, but the resolution of conflicts between the self and world mentioned in E is not discussed in the passage.



The best answer is C. First, reread the lines cited in the question. They appear at the end of the third paragraph, which begins with a statement of the five writers ' belief in the necessity for ' 'harmonious reconciliation of two universal psychological tendencies. . ." (lines 31-32), tendencies of withdrawal, on the one hand, and outreach, on the other (lines 32-38). The next sentence introduces the "democratic ethic" as an illustration of such reconciliation. Thus, choice C is the only choice that expresses the connection between the first part of the paragraph and the example of the democratic ethic.



The best answer is D. This question asks you to connect the quoted phrase to "the thinking of the five writers ." Choice A is inadequate because nothing in the passage suggests that the five writers asserted the importance of the democratic ethic. Choice B mentions the concept of the freedom of the individual, which is certainly implicit in the five writers' beliefs, but the relationship cited in the quoted phrase cannot be said to justify their concept. Choice C makes a statement unsupported by the passage. Choice E is related to the quoted phrase, in that the writers' faith in the imagination, which is the mental pathway to understanding the relationship cited in the quoted phrase, led them to see the writer as a seer. The necessary connection between the quoted phrase and the writers' beliefs, however, comes from their shared humanistic perspective, explained in detail in the first and fourth paragraphs, a perspective that is grounded in the idea contained in the quoted phrase.



The best answer is B. Choices A and E mention areas of study not relevant to the subject of the passage, the common beliefs of five writers. Choices C and D each mention one area, theology and political science, respectively, that could be seen as connected to the discussion presented in the passage. However, the principal concerns of sociology and anthropology are not connected with the subject of the passage. The central concerns of the passage, presenting the ideas and beliefs of significant thinkers, are the principal concerns of the fields of history and literature.
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P1 - common perspective that 5 authors share
P2 - common perspective is almost always universalized.
P3 - What is common +1 in all 5 and how?
p4 - 3rd common ; example
Main point - 3 common perspective that 5 authors share - how - examples.

1. The author's discussion of Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, Melville, and Whitman is primarily concerned with explaining\

primarily concerned? - share certain beliefs. Common to all these writers is their humanistic perspective

(A) some of their beliefs about the difficulties involved in self-realization - not about difficulties
(B) some of their beliefs concerning the world and the place that humanity occupies in the universal order - best of the lot.
(C) some of their beliefs concerning the relationship between humanism and democracy - no relationship b/w these two.
(D) the way some of their beliefs are shaped by differences in temperament and literary outlook - well passage is not about this. its about, even though these all differences, they have some common ground.
(E) the effects of some of their beliefs on their writings - no

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2. According to the passage, the humanistic perspective of the five writers presupposes which of the following?
1. The structure of the universe can be discovered through self-knowledge. ---- This preference is expressed most clearly in the Transcendentalist principle that the structure of the universe literally duplicates the structure of the individual self; therefore, all knowledge begins with self-knowledge.
II. The world can be explained in terms of humanity. - prefers to explain humans and the world in terms of humanity itself.
III. The spiritual and the material worlds are incompatible.

(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) I and II only - correct
(D) II and III only
(E) I, II, and III

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3. The author quotes Whitman primarily in order to

where "every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you."

(D) illustrate a way the poet expresses the relationship of the individual to the humanistic universe - D reflect it the best.

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4. According to the passage, the five writers object to the scientific method primarily because they think it

A third assumption common to the five writers is that intuition and imagination offer a surer road to the truth than does abstract logic or scientific method.

(A) is not the best way to obtain an understanding of the relationship between the individual and the cosmos

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5. Which of the following statements would be com- patible with the beliefs of the five writers as described in the passage?
I. Democracy works as a form of government because every individual is unique. --- Democracy not explained much.
II. Nature alone exists, and each person is nothing more than a shadow of that substance which is the world. --- too extreme choice.
III. The human mind is capable of discovering the meaning of life and understanding the order in the universe. ---- This preference is expressed most clearly in the Transcendentalist principle that the structure of the universe literally duplicates the structure of the individual self; therefore, all knowledge begins with self-knowledge.

(A) I only
(B) III only
(C) I and II only
(D) I and III only
(E) I, II, and III

cant find I and II. ---- that is why selecting B.

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6. It can be inferred that intuition is important to the five writers primarily because it provides them with

“It is illustrated by their emphasis upon the introspection-their belief that the clue to external nature is to be found in the inner world of individual psychology and by their interpretation of experience as, in essence, symbolic.”

(D) clues to the interpretation of symbolic experience

---------------------------------------------------

7. The author discusses "the democratic ethic" in the highlighted text in order to

individual virtue and happiness depend upon self-realization, which, in turn, depends upon the harmonious reconciliation of two universal psychological tendencies: first, the self-asserting impulse of the individual to withdraw, to remain unique and separate, and to be responsible only to himself or herself, and second, the self-transcending impulse of the individual to embrace the whole world in the experience of a single moment and to know and become one with that world.

To give example of previous define lines.

(C) illustrate the relationship between the self's desire to be individual and its desire to merge with all other selves

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9. The passage is most relevant to which of the following areas of study?

(A) Aesthetics and logic
(B) History and literature - correct
(C) Theology and sociology
(D) Anthropology and political science
(E) Linguistics and art self and the world
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workout in question #6 (E) option is not complete sentence

question #6. It can be inferred that intuition is important to the five writers primarily because it provides them with

(A) information useful for understanding abstract logic and the scientific method
(B) the discipline needed in the search for truth
(C) inspiration for their best writing
(D) clues to the interpretation of symbolic experience
(E) the means of resolving conflicts between the

aragonn Question asks the idea of relation an organic relationship between the self and the cosmos is important for these writers because

Let`s apply POE

(A) enables them to assert the importance of the democratic ethic ( this option is out of scope, because democratic ethic is only one of the assumption from whole passage + irrelevant )

(B) justifies their-concept of the freedom of the individual WRONG I would say only one side out of many their beliefs and assumptions

(C) sustains their faith in the existence of a deity (HINT: if you answered the 1st question correctly it can help you to keep this option so far) keep it. Meanwhile let`s move to the next option.


(D) is the foundation of their humanistic view of existence ( it is nowhere mentioned in the passage that is the foundation ) out of scope

(E) is the basis for their claim that the writer is a seer (though they conceived writer as a seer, this option doesn’t answer the target question WHY the organic relationship was important ? conceiving as a seer was just one of the transitional stages to their primary goal.



As you see I eliminated A, B, D, and E. now you need to get back to C option.

Below is the last sentence of the last paragraph, the key words are in bold. So they achieved confidence in their metaphysical insights. Metaphysical - means transcending physical matter or the laws of nature. Clearly option C mentions faith in deity.


These writers' faith in the imagination and in themselves as practitioners of imagination led them to conceive of the writer as a seer and enabled them to achieve supreme confidence in their own moral and metaphysical insights.

workout aragonn dave13 GMATNinja AjiteshArun Skywalker18
Can you please explain what wrong in Q3 with D ? I preferred C over D I was confused between them
In Q4 I was confused b/w A and E though I choose A I would like to know why E is wrong
In Q7 why B and E are wrong ?
In Q8 why D is choosen over E ?

Hi teaserbae, could you try to explain your thoughts on these questions and the choices you mentioned? If we know what you were thinking, we'll be in a better position to help
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Official Explanation

RC39461.01-10

1. The author's discussion of Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, Melville, and Whitman is primarily concerned with explaining

(A) some of their beliefs about the difficulties involved in self-realization
(B) some of their beliefs concerning the world and the place that humanity occupies in the universal order
(C) some of their beliefs concerning the relationship between humanism and democracy
(D) the way some of their beliefs are shaped by differences in temperament and literary outlook
(E) the effects of some of their beliefs on their writings

Main idea

Understanding the primary concern of the passage implies understanding the passage as a whole. The passage starts by stating that these five American writers have many differences, but that it will focus on those beliefs that they share. The passage suggests that all five of the writers hold that humans are the spiritual center of the universe and that in them alone is the clue to nature, history, and ultimately the cosmos.

A. The passage continues by providing more specific evidence for this assertion, outlining beliefs that the writers hold in common. Note that the first sentences of each paragraph from the second onward identify a particular perspective, belief, or assumption that the writers hold in common.

B. The scope of this choice is too narrow. The third paragraph of the passage discusses two apparently conflicting psychological tendencies that the writers suggest must be reconciled in order to achieve self-actualization. However, this point is not of great concern throughout the rest of the passage.

C. Correct. As discussed above, the passage is primarily concerned with beliefs the writers share concerning the fundamental role of humanity in the universal order.

C. The scope of this choice is too narrow. In the third paragraph, the passage considers the role of democracy in the five writers' thinking. However, it is only one of several such issues that the passage discusses.

D. This choice presents an idea contrary to the primary concern of the passage: the passage focuses not on the differences among these writers, but rather on the beliefs, concerns, and assumptions they share.

E. The passage primarily focuses on the common beliefs of these writers, not on any particular effects that these beliefs have on the writers' work.

The correct answer is B.

Official Explanation

RC39461.01-30

3. The author quotes Whitman primarily in order to

(A) show that the poet does not agree with Emerson
(B) indicate the way the poet uses the humanist ideal to praise himself
(C) suggest that the poet adapts the basic premises of humanism to his own individual outlook on the world
(D) illustrate a way the poet expresses the relationship of the individual to the humanistic universe
(E) demonstrate that the poet is concerned with the well- being of all humans

Evaluation

The second paragraph stresses that these five writers emphasize the human as universal, freed from the accidents of time, space, birth, and talent; they see this idea as falling within the general notion that humans are the spiritual center of the universe.

In this second paragraph the author presents two examples of writing, one from Emerson and one from Whitman, which demonstrate this emphasis. Answering the question requires recognizing that Whitman's statement illustrates the idea that each individual human has such a general relationship with the universe.

A. The quotations from Emerson and Whitman are intended to illustrate the same idea—namely, the human as universal—not to show how these two writers differ.

B. The author quotes Whitman to illustrate a general idea shared by the five writers rather than to indicate how Whitman uses the humanist ideal to praise himself. Furthermore, this choice is incorrect because the quotation itself indicates something true of all the “children of Adam”—all of humanity—rather than something true of Whitman specifically.

C. Once again, the author's quotation of Whitman is not meant to indicate anything distinctive about Whitman, but rather to illustrate a perspective he shared with the other four writers.

D. Correct. The author quotes Whitman to illustrate how Whitman expresses—as do each of the other writers under consideration—the relationship of each individual to a humanistic universe.

E. The quotation illustrates Whitman's view of the relationship of the individual to the universe. Even though Whitman may in fact be concerned with the well-being of all humans, the quotation itself in no way suggests this.

The correct answer is D.

Official Explanation

RC39461.01-20

4. According to the passage, the five writers object to the scientific method primarily because they think it

(A) is not the best way to obtain an understanding of the relationship between the individual and the cosmos
(B) is so specialized that it leads to an understanding of separate parts of the universe but not of the relationships among those parts
(C) cannot provide an adequate explanation of intuition and imagination
(D) misleads people into believing they have an understanding of truth, when they do not
(E) prevents people from recognizing the symbolic nature of experience

Evaluation

The final paragraph of the passage indicates that the five writers suggest that the scientific method provides a less sure way to arrive at truth than do intuition and imagination. In particular, these authors propose that intuition and imagination allow us to recognize, in a way the scientific method cannot, the organic relationship between the self and the cosmos.

A. Correct. As indicated above, the passage indicates that these five writers believe that the scientific method is not a sure way to obtain an understanding of how the individual self relates to the cosmos.

B. The passage suggests that these five writers objected to use of the scientific method to obtain understanding of how the individual relates to the cosmos, not because it is too “specialized.”

C. The passage suggests that these five writers believed that intuition and imagination were surer means of arriving at truth than the scientific method. This does not imply that the scientific method is incapable of providing an adequate explanation of intuition and imagination themselves.

D. The passage does not indicate whether the writers believed that, as a result of the scientific method, people falsely believed that they understood the truth. The passage does suggest that the writers believed that the scientific method cannot lead to certain types of fundamental truths. However, this does not imply that these authors thought that any beliefs arrived at through the scientific method are inherently false.

E. The passage indicates that the writers did not believe that the scientific method could effectively lead to recognizing the symbolic nature of experience. Nevertheless, it does not indicate that they believe that the scientific method prevents people from recognizing the symbolic nature of experience.

The correct answer is A.

Official Explanation

RC39461.01-40

6. It can be inferred that intuition is important to the five writers primarily because it provides them with

(A) information useful for understanding abstract logic and the scientific method
(B) the discipline needed in the search for truth
(C) inspiration for their best writing
(D) clues to the interpretation of symbolic experience
(E) the means of resolving conflicts between the self and the world

Inference

The final paragraph states that the five writers all held that intuition and imagination offer a surer road to truth than does abstract logic or scientific method. Furthermore, the author states that this is illustrated, in part, by their interpretation of experience as, in essence, symbolic. This suggests that intuition's value is largely related to its ability to assist in interpreting symbolic experience.

A. The passage suggests that the writers believed intuition to be a surer road to truth than are abstract logic and the scientific method. Nevertheless, it does not indicate that these writers believed intuition to be useful for understanding abstract logic or the scientific method.

B. The passage suggests that the writers believed intuition to be helpful in arriving at the truth. However, it does not indicate that this is because it provides them with any sort of discipline needed in the search for the truth.

C. It may be true that intuition served as inspiration for the five writers' best writing. However, the passage provides no information that allows us to make such an inference.

D. Correct. The passage suggests that these writers believed intuition to be important because intuition (and imagination) assist in the interpretation of symbolic experience.

E. The passage nowhere indicates that intuition is involved in the resolution of conflicts between the self and the world.

The correct answer is D.

Official Explanation

RC39461.01-50

7. The author discusses "the democratic ethic" in the highlighted text in order to

(A) explain the relationship between external experience and inner imagination
(B) support the notion that the self-contains two conflicting and irreconcilable factions
(C) illustrate the relationship between the self's desire to be individual and its desire to merge with all other selves
(D) elaborate on the concept that the self constantly desires to realize its potential
(E) give an example of the idea that, in order to be happy, the self must reconcile its desires with external reality

Evaluation

The passage discusses the democratic ethic as a specific instance of two conflicting impulses: the desire to be responsible to the self versus the desire to transcend the self and become one with the world. In particular, the democratic ethic relates to the conflict between one's duty to self and one's duty to society.

A. The passage's discussion of the democratic ethic relates to the conflict of the individual's self-asserting and self-transcending impulses. However, the democratic ethic is brought up to illustrate rather than explain this idea. Furthermore, the democratic ethic does not deal specifically with inner imagination and external experience, but rather with conflicting duties.

B. The passage nowhere indicates that the self has two irreconcilable factions. The discussion of the democratic ethic is part of a discussion regarding the importance of the harmonious reconciliation of two psychological tendencies.

C. Correct. As discussed above, the author's discussion of the democratic ethic is intended to illustrate the relationship between one's duty to oneself and one's duty to be a part of society; we can interpret the latter as one form of becoming one with the world.

D. The passage does not indicate that these five writers believed that the self constantly desires to realize its own potential.

E. The passage does not indicate that these five writers believed that happiness requires a reconciliation of the self's desires with external reality.

The correct answer is C.

Official Explanation

RC39461.01-60

8. It can be inferred that the idea of "an organic relationship between the self and the cosmos" in the highlighted text is necessary to the thinking of the five writers because such a relationship
(A) enables them to assert the importance of the democratic ethic
(B) justifies their-concept of the freedom of the individual
(C) sustains their faith in the existence of a deity
(D) is the foundation of their humanistic view of existence
(E) is the basis for their claim that the writer is a seer

Inference

The passage discusses the idea of an organic relationship between the self and the cosmos in the context of discussion of the five writers' shared beliefs that the clue to external nature is to be found in the inner world of individual psychology and that experience is, essentially, symbolic.

The passage indicates that these views presume the idea that there is an organic relationship between the self and the cosmos. This presumption of an organic relationship is, it seems, the basis of their humanistic view of existence.

A. It is possible to assert the importance of the democratic ethic without holding to these writers' view regarding an organic relationship between the self and the cosmos. In fact, this view may have played a part in their promotion of the democratic ethic. Nevertheless, the writers certainly could have asserted that this ethic was important without presuming such a view.

B. The passage indicates tension between the idea of individual freedom and the individual's duty to society, a view that these writers link to the organic relationship between the self and the cosmos. It is therefore unclear specifically how this idea justifies these five authors' conception of the freedom of the individual.

C. The passage indicates that these authors do not specifically deny the existence of a deity. However, their belief in the humanistic view of existence stands in tension with a belief in a deity. Therefore, it is unlikely that the idea of an organic relationship between the self and the cosmos—a concept that underlies that humanistic view—would sustain whatever faith they might have in the existence of a deity distinct from the universe itself.

D. Correct. As indicated above, these five writers' humanistic view of existence presupposes an organic relationship between the self and the cosmos.

E. The passage indicates that the writers' faith in the imagination and in themselves underlies their claim that the writer is a seer, not their idea that there is an organic relationship between the self and the cosmos.

The correct answer is D.

Official Explanation

RC39461.01-70

9. The passage is most relevant to which of the following areas of study?

(A) Aesthetics and logic
(B) History and literature
(C) Theology and sociology
(D) Anthropology and political science
(E) Linguistics and art

Evaluation

The passage discusses five historically important literary figures; it follows that this passage is most relevant to history and literature.

A. Because the passage discusses only thematic characteristics of these five writers, it has little to do with aesthetics, that is, the study of beauty. Furthermore, it does not discuss any general features of reasoning and argumentation, so it has little to do with the study of logic.

B. Correct. Because the passage focuses on five historically important literary figures, it is most relevant to the study of history and literature.

C. The passage does not focus on the study of religion or on the structure and functioning of human society. Therefore, the passage has little to do with to either theology or sociology.

D. The passage does not focus on either human society and culture or on political activity and behavior. Therefore, it has little to do with either anthropology or political science.

E. The passage does not engage in a study of language or the structure of language, so it has little to do with linguistics. Furthermore, it is relevant to only one particular type of art, literature, and so is of only limited relevance to the study of art in general.

The correct answer is B.

I would really appreciate some help in understanding question 6, this is the only question I got wrong and I still dont get it.




My understanding:
Intuition and imagination offer a surer road to the truth and to show this fact, examples are given
1. "Their emphasis upon introspection"
2. "Their interpretation of experience as symbolic.

However I still dont get it, how can it be inferred that intuition is important to five writers because it provides them with "clues to the interpretation of symbolic experience".

I would have done with "D" however I wasnt unable to eliminate B. also, can someone tell me on what basis can we eliminate B

(B) the discipline needed in the search for truth,


HELP GMATNinjaTwo AjiteshArun
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That's just so strange! How is the passage about "literature"?

9. The passage is most relevant to which of the following areas of study?
(A) Aesthetics and logic
(B) History and literature
(C) Theology and sociology
(D) Anthropology and political science
(E) Linguistics and art

Can anyone please explain why Option B is correct instead of C.

Here the whole passage talks about views which falls under theology and sociology. For eg, The poets focus on human experience and its relation with the cosmos, which is more aligned with theology. Also author touches the concept of Democracy, which falls under sociology.

If the option would have been theology and literature, I would have agreed but I am not able to relate this passage with History and Literature.

Hi HASTOWINGMAT,

Theology is the study of God, or religious belief, but in the passage, author mostly discusses the common perspective of the literary authors: Without denying outright the existence either of a deity or of brute matter, this perspective nevertheless rejects them as exclusive principles of interpretation and prefers to explain humans and the world in terms of humanity itself."
Also it doesn't focus on sociology at all. Since the question says "most" relevant, option B seems an apt choice as the passage mostly focuses on historically important literary figures and their perspectives of humanity and knowledge. We can see also the author mentioning the literary works of the respective writers, portraying their thoughts.

Hope this Helps.
Thanks.

On question 7, the correct answer takes it way too far.

(C) illustrate the relationship between the self's desire to be individual and its desire to merge with all other selves.

To merge with all other selves is an extreme interpretation.

Posted from my mobile device

Nikhil GMATNinja - could you please explain if this passage is still relevant? Don't you think it is a really tough passage?