Hi everyone,
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------P1In paragraph one we are given the main topic of the passage: Language as a means of assimilation into the culture of US. The author then proceeds by saying that language affects also social structures and that this led to episodes of discriminations.
Purpose: The purpose of this paragraph is to highlight the role of language as a means of assimilation into a culture and claiming that in the US this phenomenon led to episodes of discrimination
P2Here the author claims that usually after the second/third generation, immigrants replace the language of their ancestors with english as their primary language. Then we are given that this is not true for the Spanish communities in the US because the members of such communities go back and forth to their native lands and so they keep in touch with their traditions....
Purpose: The purpose of this paragraph is to claim that unlike other immigrants, the spanish immigrants in the US are likely to keep their identities/language/traditions
P3Here the author analyses the purposes of bilingual schools. We are given that in the past such schools served the purpose of helping children to succeed also in english subjects while in the present they serve the purpose of preserving the traditions of such children. The the author claims that bilingual schools have an important role also in the political sphere as they can help either to integrate or to do the opposite.
Purpose: The purpose of this paragraph is to analyze the role of bilingual schools
P4The author here claims that the studies above mentioned are inconclusive but that the considerations around bilingual schools served to unite spanish communities. As a matter of fact Spanish communities see bilingual schools as something that strengthens their culture and they feel valued by their presence. Lastly the author thinks that the latter view serves the purpose of uniting.
Purpose: The purpose here is to evaluate the impact of bilingual schools on the spanish communities
P5In the last paragraph the author claims that forcing english as the official language in the US might be counterproductive a it would alienate those who do not speak it.
Purpose: The purpose here is to claim that declaring english as the official language would alienate and not unite people
Main pointThe main point of this passage is to evaluate the impact of English as the primary language in the US, using the Spanish communities/bilingual schools to make a few considerations.
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1. It can be inferred from the passage that one of the characteristics of immigrant groups to the United States has traditionally been that, after immigration, relatively few members of the group
Pre-thinking
Inference question
Let's keep in mind P2 because in this paragraph we'll find all the information required
(A) became politically active in their new communities
Out of scope. Immigrants working in the political sphere are not even discussed throughout the passage
(B) moved back and forth repeatedly between the United States and their former communities
Yes. The reason why we can infer this is that the paragraph opens up with a claim:
Traditionally, English has replaced the native language of immigrant groups by the second or third generation. And then proceeds to explain the reasons why such statement does not apply to the Spanish communities. Such reason is that they went back and forth to their home countries.
So the author's logic is as follow: [b]The revolving phenomenon causes the retain of the Spanish language for Spanish immigrants.
We are asked to make an inference about the people who did not retain their language.
Hence we can infer that such people did not go back and forth to their original country because if so the would retain their original language.
[/b]
(C) used their native languages in their new communities
This option seems to be tempting. The reason why this option is wrong is that the entity discussed in the question stem is the immigrants in general and not immigrants after 2/3 generations.
(D) suffered discrimination in their new communities at the hands of the cultural majority
Cannot be inferred
(E) sought assimilation into the dominant culture of the new communities they were entering
cannot be inferred
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2. The passage suggests that one of the effects of the debate over bilingual education is that it has
Pre-thinking
Inference question
The effects of bilingual education are discussed in P3 and P4
(A) given the Hispanic community a new-found pride in its culture
Inconsistent. The passage tells us that for the Spanish communities having their bilingual school was a way to feel valued but we cannot infer that it is a NEW feeling.
(B) hampered the education of Spanish-speaking students
The results of the studies about bilingual schools are inconclusive. Hence cannot be inferred
(C) demonstrated the negative impact on imposing English as the official United States language
Nothing is demonstrated per the passage
(D) provided a common banner under which the Spanish-speaking communities could rally
From P4: "The issue of bilingual education has, nevertheless, served to unite the leadership of the nation’s Hispanic communities. "
(E) polarized the opinions of local Spanish-speaking community leaders
cannot be inferred
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3. In lines 38-39, the phrase “different political agendas” refers specifically to conflicting opinions regarding the
Pre-thinking
Detail question
From P3: "The issue is important for people with different political agendas, from absorption at one pole to separatism at the other."
(A) means of legislating the assimilation of minorities into United States society
Means of legislating are not discussed
(B) methods of inducing Hispanics to adopt English as their primary language
not in line with pre-thinking
(C) means of achieving nondiscriminatory education for Hispanics
not in line with pre-thinking
(D) official given responsibility for decisions regarding bilingual education
not in line with pre-thinking
(E) 2extent to which Hispanics should blend into the larger United States society
in line with pre-thinking
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4. In lines 64-65 the author says that “It would be unwise to require the universal use of English.” One reason for this, according to the author, is that
Pre-thinking
Detail question
From the last paragraph one of the reason is: "given the present state of understanding about the effects of bilingual education on learning"
(A) it is not clear yet whether requiring the universal use of English would promote or hinder the education of children whose English is limited
in line with pre-thinking
(B) the nation’s Hispanic leaders have shown that bilingual education is most effective when it includes the maintenance of the Spanish language in the schools
Nothing of the sort has been showed
(C) requiring the universal use of English would reduce the cohesion of the nation’s Hispanic communities and leadership
not the reason
(D) the question of language in the schools should be answered by those who evaluate bilingual education, not by people with specific political agendas
out of scope
(E) it has been shown that bilingual education is necessary to avoid disadvantaging in their general learning children whose English is limited
not mentioned
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5. In the last paragraph, the author of the passage is primarily concerned with discussing
Pre-thinking
Function question
The author wants to highlight why the introduction of english as the official language would be counterproductive for cohesion purposes
(A) reasons against enacting a measure that would mandate the forced inclusion of immigrant groups within the dominant United culture
In line with pre-thinking
(B) the virtues and limitations of declaring English the official language of the United States
The virtues are not discussed
(C) the history of attitudes within the Hispanic community toward bilingual education in the United States
Out of scope
(D) the importance for immigrant groups of maintaining large segments of their culture to pass on to their children
out of scope
(E) the difference in cultures between Hispanics and other immigrant groups in the United States
out of scope
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