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Re: In a 1918 editorial, W.E.B. Du Bois advised African Americans to stop
[#permalink]
03 Mar 2022, 11:10
03 Mar 2022, 11:10
GMATNinja wrote:
tejyr wrote:
Anyone pls explain how Q4(The author of the passage refers to Washington call ... In order to) the answer is d.
I am getting option a (also same(...continuum...) is included in passage just before mentioning Washington's call and also in og solution also same mentioned for a)
Posted from my mobile device
I am getting option a (also same(...continuum...) is included in passage just before mentioning Washington's call and also in og solution also same mentioned for a)
Posted from my mobile device
The OA is in fact (D), as listed in the 2017 Verbal review (question #77).
Quote:
The editorial surprised many African Americans who viewed Du Bois as an uncompromising African American leader and a chief opponent of the accommodationist tactics urged by Booker T.Washington. In fact, however, Du Bois often shifted positions along the continuum between Washington and confrontationists such as William Trotter.
On one end of the spectrum, you have Washington, an accommodationist. On the other end, you have Trotter, a confrontationist. Rather than aligning himself with either side consistently, "Du Bois often shifted positions along the continuum between Washington and confrontationists such as William Trotter."
Du Bois was often viewed as a "chief opponent of the accommodationist tactics urged by Booker T.Washington." However, in some instances, he would be on Washington's side. For example, Du Bois supported Washington's call to African Americans in 1895. This is evidence that Du Bois would shift his political views rather than firmly aligning himself with either side.
(A) is wrong because Du Bois did not have a "characteristic position on the continuum between accommodationism and confrontationism." The call to African Americans in 1895 does not show that Du Bois regularly aligned himself with accommodationism. Rather, it showed that he was willing to SHIFT his position along the continuum.
(D) is the best answer.
GMATNinja
I am still confused between A and D.
By characteristic position, I understand that because Du Bois kept on shifting his position, it can be either accommodationism or confrontationism depending upon the situation (but not both together at any particular point in time). So any answer choice pointing out any one of the 2 positions may be the correct answer for the 1895 sentence purpose per se.
I marked A because the question asks purpose of Washington's call to African Americans in 1895. I would have marked D if the question would have asked the purpose of 1903 sentence because there is a contrasting word "however" in this sentence which actually indicates the tendency to shift political positions. On the contrary, 1895 sentence actually plays the role of introducing his fluctuating (shifting) characteristic position as accommodationism basis the situation in that year (it can be either accommodationism or confrontationism as he keeps on shifting)- what option A states. Then in 1903, he shifted his characteristic position- what option D states.
I understand the OA is D so we cannot challenge the same. However, the explanation is not satisfactory basis my above contention. Hope you could provide some better explanation.
Re: In a 1918 editorial, W.E.B. Du Bois advised African Americans to stop
[#permalink]
22 Mar 2022, 09:52
22 Mar 2022, 09:52
3
Kudos
Expert Reply
Question 4
Kushchokhani wrote:
GMATNinja wrote:
tejyr wrote:
Anyone pls explain how Q4(The author of the passage refers to Washington call ... In order to) the answer is d.
I am getting option a (also same(...continuum...) is included in passage just before mentioning Washington's call and also in og solution also same mentioned for a)
Posted from my mobile device
I am getting option a (also same(...continuum...) is included in passage just before mentioning Washington's call and also in og solution also same mentioned for a)
Posted from my mobile device
The OA is in fact (D), as listed in the 2017 Verbal review (question #77).
Quote:
The editorial surprised many African Americans who viewed Du Bois as an uncompromising African American leader and a chief opponent of the accommodationist tactics urged by Booker T.Washington. In fact, however, Du Bois often shifted positions along the continuum between Washington and confrontationists such as William Trotter.
On one end of the spectrum, you have Washington, an accommodationist. On the other end, you have Trotter, a confrontationist. Rather than aligning himself with either side consistently, "Du Bois often shifted positions along the continuum between Washington and confrontationists such as William Trotter."
Du Bois was often viewed as a "chief opponent of the accommodationist tactics urged by Booker T.Washington." However, in some instances, he would be on Washington's side. For example, Du Bois supported Washington's call to African Americans in 1895. This is evidence that Du Bois would shift his political views rather than firmly aligning himself with either side.
(A) is wrong because Du Bois did not have a "characteristic position on the continuum between accommodationism and confrontationism." The call to African Americans in 1895 does not show that Du Bois regularly aligned himself with accommodationism. Rather, it showed that he was willing to SHIFT his position along the continuum.
(D) is the best answer.
GMATNinja
I am still confused between A and D.
By characteristic position, I understand that because Du Bois kept on shifting his position, it can be either accommodationism or confrontationism depending upon the situation (but not both together at any particular point in time). So any answer choice pointing out any one of the 2 positions may be the correct answer for the 1895 sentence purpose per se.
I marked A because the question asks purpose of Washington's call to African Americans in 1895. I would have marked D if the question would have asked the purpose of 1903 sentence because there is a contrasting word "however" in this sentence which actually indicates the tendency to shift political positions. On the contrary, 1895 sentence actually plays the role of introducing his fluctuating (shifting) characteristic position as accommodationism basis the situation in that year (it can be either accommodationism or confrontationism as he keeps on shifting)- what option A states. Then in 1903, he shifted his characteristic position- what option D states.
I understand the OA is D so we cannot challenge the same. However, the explanation is not satisfactory basis my above contention. Hope you could provide some better explanation.
If a person has a "characteristic position," you'd expect that person to consistently take that position. For instance, if someone is a diehard Denver Broncos fan, their "characteristic position" would be pro-Broncos. If someone cheered for a different team every year, you wouldn't say that they had a "characteristic position" of cheering for any one team -- instead, they are characterized by the fact that they keep changing their position.
Similarly, you wouldn't say that Du Bois held a "characteristic position" of supporting Washington in 1895 or supporting Trotter in 1903 -- that's way too narrow to be characteristic. Du Bois' only characteristic position is that he DIDN'T consistently pick a side.
So, why did the author discuss Washington's call to African Americans in 1895? Think about the structure of the first paragraph to answer that question:
- First, the author introduces a position: Du Bois' accommodationist message during WWI.
- Then, the author states that this position surprised people who saw Du Bois as confrontationist.
- Then, the author makes his/her argument: it should NOT be surprising, because Du Bois "often" shifted positions.
- Finally, the author includes two examples as evidence for this argument.
From this, it's clear that the author's purpose is to support the argument that Du Bois often shifted positions. That's what we're looking for in an answer choice. We find it in (D), and you can eliminate (A).
I hope that helps!
Re: In a 1918 editorial, W.E.B. Du Bois advised African Americans to stop
[#permalink]
28 Jul 2022, 23:56
28 Jul 2022, 23:56
Simple passage but a couple of tricky questions
1. Primary Purpose
C. accounting for a particular position adopted by Du Bois during the First World War.
The author has written this passage to explain why DB took this wavering position, a position that shifted from one side to another
Not to contest/challenge any view (D option)
2.B
Passage says: DB aligned himself with T, less for ideological reasons than because Trotter had described to him Washington’s efforts
3. C (POE)
A-We are not told abt anything abt contributions following the editorial. Just that people were surprised
B-Nowhere mentioned that contributions had the "same" effect
C- OK
D- Nothing abt Trotter's tactics
E- nothing about civil rights
4.D
Author says DB shifted his positions and then explains 2 scenarios - case where he supported Washington and another where he suppored Trotter
5. E (Tough one of the lot)
between D and E
Passage says: Du Bois believed that African Americans’ contributions to past war efforts had brought them some legal and political advances...Upon learning of systematic discrimination experienced by African Americans(AA) in the military, he called on them to “return fighting” from the war.
so DB knew that AA had made some advances/gains but when he learnt there was against discrimination during war, he asked AA to come back.
D: says DB recognized the discrimination , but asked AA to stop fighting for equality: Wrong (DB said "come back")
E: says DB knew that AA had made some gains, and so in the editorial he asked AA to stop fighting and proclaim solidarity : Correct
1. Primary Purpose
C. accounting for a particular position adopted by Du Bois during the First World War.
The author has written this passage to explain why DB took this wavering position, a position that shifted from one side to another
Not to contest/challenge any view (D option)
2.B
Passage says: DB aligned himself with T, less for ideological reasons than because Trotter had described to him Washington’s efforts
3. C (POE)
A-We are not told abt anything abt contributions following the editorial. Just that people were surprised
B-Nowhere mentioned that contributions had the "same" effect
C- OK
D- Nothing abt Trotter's tactics
E- nothing about civil rights
4.D
Author says DB shifted his positions and then explains 2 scenarios - case where he supported Washington and another where he suppored Trotter
5. E (Tough one of the lot)
between D and E
Passage says: Du Bois believed that African Americans’ contributions to past war efforts had brought them some legal and political advances...Upon learning of systematic discrimination experienced by African Americans(AA) in the military, he called on them to “return fighting” from the war.
so DB knew that AA had made some advances/gains but when he learnt there was against discrimination during war, he asked AA to come back.
D: says DB recognized the discrimination , but asked AA to stop fighting for equality: Wrong (DB said "come back")
E: says DB knew that AA had made some gains, and so in the editorial he asked AA to stop fighting and proclaim solidarity : Correct
