Historian: The vast majority of scholars studying the American Civil

Question

Historian: The vast majority of scholars studying the American Civil War regard Confederate generals as superior to their Union counterparts. They also acknowledge that the Confederate soldier was, on average, more committed to the cause and, therefore, willing to fight harder than the Union soldier. However, most of these same scholars agree with my contention that when the Civil War began in 1861, it was already true that the Confederacy could not prevail without the intervention of a major foreign power such as Great Britain or France.

Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the historian's contention?

(A) Both the Confederate and Union troops started the war using similar single-shot muzzle-loading guns to which bayonets could be attached.

(B) The Confederacy had a greater proportion of officers who had attended the United States Military Academy at West Point and had served with distinction in the Mexican War.

(C) The Union had four times the total population of the Confederacy and most of the industrial manufacturing in North America.

(D) The Confederacy won several important victories early in the war and earned the respect of foreign leaders.

(E) By the end of the war in 1865, many Union soldiers were armed with the new Spencer repeating rifles that fired seven shots before reloading; the Confederate army continued to rely on slower, single-shot weapons for its soldiers.

Correct Answer: C

This question asks for the answer choice that strengthens the contention that it was true at the start of the Civil War that the Confederacy could not have won without foreign intervention.

The correct answer is Choice C, because it provides two  overwhelming Union advantages to counter the superior generals  and  more committed soldiers on the Confederate side . It is also  a factor that was in place at the beginning of the war .

Choice E also provides a   significant advantage to the Union  , but this advantage was   not in place at the beginning of the war   as required by the historian's contention.

Choice A provides a factor that provides a similarity between the Confederate and Union forces.

Choice B gives a factor that might be considered another advantage for the Confederacy.

Choice D is irrelevant because it is not an advantage for either side, but just a report of the results earlier in the war.

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

VERITAS PREP OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

(Don't get caught up in the terminology you do not need to know what the union and confederacy are...)

Explanation: This question asks for the answer choice that strengthens the contention that it was true  at the start of the Civil War in 1861  - that the Confederacy could not have won without foreign intervention. This is despite the fact that the Confederacy had advantages in troops being more committed and in having better generals. What is needed is a very strong advantage for the union that will counter this and in fact help explain the union victory.

The correct answer is Choice C, because it provides two overwhelming Union advantages to counter the superior generals and more committed soldiers on the Confederate side. It is also a factor that was in place at the beginning of the war. This answer is saying that the Union had four times as many people and nearly all of the manufacturing.

Choice E also provides a significant advantage to the Union, but this advantage was not in place at the beginning of the war as required by the historian’s contention.

Choice A provides a factor that provides a similarity between the Confederate and Union forces and so could not explain why the Confederates would need help in order to win.

Choice B gives a factor that might be considered another advantage for the Confederacy.

Choice D is irrelevant because it is not an advantage for either side but just a report of the results earlier in the war.

Lucky2783 · Answer

First lets sort out that what is contention 'Scholars are saying C were better than U' , our historian is saying that 'C were helped by major foreign power' and most of the scholars agree to this .

a) Both the Confederate and Union troops started the war using similar single-shot muzzle-loading guns to which bayonets could be attached.
 ---this is just another fact . it is not strengthening the historian contention. 
b) The Confederacy had a greater proportion of officers who had attended the United States Military Academy at West Point and had served with distinction in the Mexican War.
 --- This one too does not supports the historian's contention. 
c) The Union had four times the total population of the Confederacy and most of the industrial manufacturing in North America.
 ---this looks promising , as this stmt tells us that most of the C were less in number and U were more and so C would not have prevailed without help of foreign power. 
d) The Confederacy won several important victories early in the war and earned the respect of foreign leaders.
 ---this one is very tricky (atleast for me) and here is my reasoning , C had earned respect of foreign leaders , when would this happen when C were fighting alone or were helped by Foreign Power .
 C would earn more respect when former is the case i.e. they were fighting without foreign help. however historian days that they were helped by foreign powers and this is his contention.
 so this is also a wrong choice.
e) By the end of the war in 1865, many Union soldiers were armed with the new Spencer repeating rifles that fired seven shots before reloading; the Confederate army continued to rely on slower, single-shot weapons for its soldiers.
 ---Ok . So C were using slower single shot guns, how come they were helped by foreign powers ? this is easy to out option.

Correct answer is C . 
Suggestions and discussions on above reasoning are welcome. 
Thanks
Lucky

consider +1 kudo if you like this post.

rajthakkar · Answer

I am non native and dont know much about american civil war....so my question is that how can we assume that all the population was involved in war? 
consider this scenario....If the contenders have less population but more soldiers than the union hs....then???

Lucky2783 · Answer

I dont think we are talking about entire population.
there were two soldier groups U and C where U=4C and U contains more people from industry .

Posted from my mobile device

Ksterr · Answer

I have no knowledge of the civil war and didn't find this question difficult. The passage starts and praises the confederate troops throughout until the last sentence.
The "However" signals a contrast is coming and the last sentence basically says that the confederate could not win the war without the help of the union.

So to strengthen this question, I was looking for an answer that further explains why the confederacy couldn't win without the union's help.

A) & E) are details
B) Does not add any detail about the union.
D) Weakener, praises the confederacy

Ans: C) the only choice that shows the power of the union in respect to the confederacy

hdwnkr · Answer

A,B and D are off. 
Between C and E.

C shows the superiority of the Union Soldiers. E shows the superiority of the rifles. Hence, C.

noTh1ng · Answer

E refers to the end of the war. However the argument talks about the beginning of the war. So clearly insufficient. A,B,D are simply out of scope or weaken the argument, hence C is the only remaining and therefore the correct choice.

appsy01 · Answer

E and C were both Strong contenders, but with E the time period is 1865 and the author is saying that it was clear in 1861 itself the Confederates were at a disadvantage against union

With C, I was thinking about the population factor as well. But, on the second part, we are told that most of the industrial manufacturing stayed with Union. So, even if the soldiers are superior, without proper equipment, they would be at a disadvantage and help from foreign nations regarding this would improve their chances...

sairam595 · Answer

Dear experts, Please explain why option C is correct but not E

abrakadabra21 · Answer

Historian: The vast majority of scholars studying the American Civil War regard Confederate generals as superior to their Union counterparts. They also acknowledge that the Confederate soldier was, on average, more committed to the cause and, therefore, willing to fight harder than the Union soldier. However, most of these same scholars agree with my contention that  when the Civil War began in 1861, it was already true that the Confederacy could not prevail without the intervention of a major foreign power such as Great Britain or France.

Two type of soldier
Confederate soldier & Union soldier

Contention : Confederacy could not prevail without the intervention of a major foreign power such as Great Britain or France.
Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the historian's contention?

c) The Union had four times the total population of the Confederacy and most of the industrial manufacturing in North America.

Population strength advantage & industrial manufacturing advantage over Confederacy so  CORRECT

e)  By the end of the war in 1865 , many Union soldiers were armed with the new Spencer repeating rifles that fired seven shots before reloading; the Confederate army continued to rely on slower, single-shot weapons for its soldiers.

abrakadabra21 · Answer

E is wrong because of "By the end of the war in 1865" while we have to prove that  When the Civil War began in 1861, it was already true  that the Confederacy could not prevail without the intervention of a major foreign power such as Great Britain or France.

rakaisraka · Answer

I'm not able to understand what exactly we need to strengthen?

sayantanc2k · Answer

The historian is the speaker, and he says, " my contention  that when the Civil War began in 1861, it was already true that the Confederacy could not prevail without the intervention of a major foreign power such as Great Britain or France."

Therefore the contention that needs to be strengthened is "when the Civil War began in 1861, it was already true that the Confederacy could not prevail without the intervention of a major foreign power such as Great Britain or France."

rakaisraka · Answer

Thanks , can you please suggest how option C strengthens?

sayantanc2k · Answer

Conclusion: The Confederacy could not prevail without the intervention of a major foreign power such as Great Britain or France.

As option C states, if the Union had four times the population of Confederacy, Confederacy would be outnumbered unless it is supported by some other form of power (foreign power). Thus option C strengthens the conclusion: it would be difficult for Confederacy to prevail unless adequate (foreign) support to compensate for its lower population was available.

gmatexam439 · Answer

Historian: The vast majority of scholars studying the American Civil War regard Confederate generals as superior to their Union counterparts. They also acknowledge that the Confederate soldier was, on average, more committed to the cause and, therefore, willing to fight harder than the Union soldier. However, most of these same scholars agree with my contention that when the Civil War began in 1861, it was already true that the Confederacy could not prevail without the intervention of a major foreign power such as Great Britain or France.

Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the historian's contention?

a) Both the Confederate and Union troops started the war using similar single-shot muzzle-loading guns to which bayonets could be attached. - Out of scope 
b) The Confederacy had a greater proportion of officers who had attended the United States Military Academy at West Point and had served with distinction in the Mexican War. - This weakens the argument 
c) The Union had four times the total population of the Confederacy and most of the industrial manufacturing in North America. - Correct 
d) The Confederacy won several important victories early in the war and earned the respect of foreign leaders. - Earning respect doesn't tell us as to why Confederacy required foreign support 
e) By the end of the war in 1865, many Union soldiers were armed with the new Spencer repeating rifles that fired seven shots before reloading; the Confederate army continued to rely on slower, single-shot weapons for its soldiers. - The conclusion is in respect to "even before the civil war started". So 1965, a much later time period, is out of scope

u1983 · Answer

Background:   Confed  is superior to  Union  for  reason 1 & 2 .
 Conclusion :    Still for a victory  , foreign intervention was required.

Thoughts :  There must be some reason where  cofed< union .  Thus, the foreign intervention was required in favour of   cofed  to make them stronger than the other.

Option 01 : Incorrect :  C & U both used same weapon => same strength..... so more a neutral point towards the argument.
 Option 02 : Incorrect :  C > U in terms of experience => C stronger ...... so weakening the argument.
 Option 04 : Incorrect :  C > U in terms of experience and/or history => C stronger ...... so weakening the argument.
 Option 05 : Incorrect :  Completely out of scope , as it talks about the type of weapon used after the war by the two mentioned parties.

Option 03 : Correct :  U>C .... in terms of 1.number & 2. access to industrial mfg =>U stronger ...... so strengthening the argument....... Hence   Answer C ].

Helium · Answer

This question asks for the answer choice that strengthens the contention that it was true at the start of the Civil War that the Confederacy could not have won without foreign intervention. The correct answer is Choice C, because it provides two overwhelming Union advantages to counter the superior generals and more committed soldiers on the Confederate side. It is also a factor that was in place at the beginning of the war. Choice E also provides a significant advantage to the Union, but this advantage was not in place at the beginning of the war as required by the historian's contention. Choice A provides a factor that provides a similarity between the Confederate and Union forces. Choice B gives a factor that might be considered another advantage for the Confederacy. Choice D is irrelevant because it is not an advantage for either side, but just a report of the results earlier in the war.

longhaul123 · Answer

mikemcgarry  can you please help me with this question . The conclusion of the argument is that the CG was more superior than the union counter parts and so we have to strengthen this conclusion. But its hard to understand why option C which talks about the UC is the correct answer

Historian: The vast majority of scholars studying the American Civil

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Historian: The vast majority of scholars studying the American Civil

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