In a new book about the antiparty feeling of the early political leaders of the United States, Ralph Ketcham argues that the first six Presidents differed decisively from later Presidents because the first six held values inherited from the classical humanist tradition of eighteenth-century England. In this view, government was designed not to satisfy the private desires of the people but to make them better citizens; this tradition stressed the disinterested devotion of political leaders to the public good. Justice, wisdom, and courage were more important qualities in a leader than the ability to organize voters and win elections. Indeed, leaders were supposed to be called to office rather than to run for office. And if they took up the burdens of public office with a sense of duty, leaders also believed that such offices were naturally their due because of their social preeminence or their contributions to the country. Given this classical conception of leadership, it is not surprising that the first six Presidents condemned political parties. Parties were partial by definition, self-interested, and therefore serving something other than the transcendent public good. Even during the first presidency (Washington's), however, the classical conception of virtuous leadership was being undermined by commercial forces that had been gathering since at least the beginning of the eighteenth century. Commerce—its profit-making, its self-interestedness, its individualism—became the enemy of these classical ideals. Although Ketcham does not picture the struggle in quite this way, he does rightly see Jackson's tenure (the seventh presidency) as the culmination of the acceptance of party, commerce, and individualism. For the Jacksonians, nonpartisanship lost its relevance, and under the direction of Van Buren, party gained a new legitimacy. The classical ideals of the first six Presidents became identified with a privileged aristocracy, an aristocracy that had to be overcome in order to allow competition between opposing political interests. Ketcham is so strongly committed to justifying the classical ideals, however, that he underestimates the advantages of their decline. For example, the classical conception of leadership was incompatible with our modern notion of the freedoms of speech and press, freedoms intimately associated with the legitimacy of opposing political parties. 1 1. The passage is primarily concerned with (A) describing and comparing two theories about the early history of the United States (B) describing and analyzing an argument about the early history of the United States (C) discussing new evidence that qualifies a theory about the early history of the United States (D) refuting a theory about political leadership in the United States (E) resolving an ambiguity in an argument about political leadership in the United States 2 2. According to the passage, the author and Ketcham agree on which of the following points? (A) The first six Presidents held the same ideas about political parties as did later Presidents in the United States. (B) Classical ideals supported the growth of commercial forces in the United States. (C) The first political parties in the United States were formed during Van Buren's term in office. (D) The first six Presidents placed great emphasis on individualism and civil rights. (E) Widespread acceptance of political parties occurred during Andrew Jackson's presidency. 3 3. It can be inferred that the author of the passage would be most likely to agree that modern views of the freedoms of speech and press are (A) values closely associated with the beliefs of the aristocracy of the early United States (B) political rights less compatible with democracy and individualism than with classical ideals (C) political rights uninfluenced by the formation of opposing political parties (D) values not inherent in the classical humanist tradition of eighteenth-century England (E) values whose interpretation would have been agreed on by all United States Presidents 4 4. Which of the following, if true, provides the LEAST support for the author's argument about commerce and political parties during Jackson's presidency? (A) Many supporters of Jackson resisted the commercialization that could result from participation in a national economy. (B) Protest against the corrupt and partisan nature of political parties in the United States subsided during Jackson's presidency. (C) During Jackson's presidency the use of money became more common than bartering of goods and services. (D) More northerners than southerners supported Jackson because southerners were opposed to the development of a commercial economy. (E) Andrew Jackson did not feel as strongly committed to the classical ideals of leadership as George Washington had felt. 5 5. The author of the passage would most likely to agree with which of following statements about Ketcham? (A) He overemphasizes the influence of classical ideals on the first six Presidents of the United States. (B) He fails to recognize that classical ideals had little influence on politics in the United States. (C) He does not pay adequate attention to the negative aspects of the first six Presidents’ commitment to classical ideals. (D) He inaccurately suggests that classical ideals gave rise to our modern notion of democracy. (E) He underestimates the effect of ideologies other than the humanist tradition on the first six Presidents. 6 6. Which of the following best describes the attitude of the first six Presidents toward political parties as it is discussed in the passage? (A) Political parties were essential to the notions of democracy on which the United States government was based. (B) Personal character in leadership was as important as affiliation with a political party. (C) Political parties were one way to ensure that government could meet the needs of all citizens. (D) Political parties, though undesirable, were inevitable in a democratic political system. (E) Political parties represented opposing political interests rather than the general public good.

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In a new book about the antiparty feeling of the early political

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GMATNinja

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08 Feb 2023, 09:48

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Question 1

Kimberly77

Great explanation url=[https://gmatclub.com:443/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&un=GMATNinja]GMATNinja[/url], regarding question 1. I still find it very hard to comprehend to the level especially when under exam/timed condition that " The Presidents didn't have theories about the the early history of the US, because they were living through that history. In this context, only someone coming after the fact (such as a historian), could present such a theory."

My understanding of A is Ketcham's theory of two leadership ideologies are being compared to one another in the passage. So somehow A still wins over B. Where is my understaanding still going wrong here? Thanks GMATNinja

This one is pretty nuanced! Even in your analysis, though, notice that you've only described one theory: Ketcham's theory. WITHIN that one theory, Ketcham describes two different styles of leadership, but that discussion is still under the umbrella of just one theory.

If the author presented the work of another scholar with a different theory, then we could say that the passage is primarily concerned with "describing and comparing two theories." Or if the author presented his/her own full theory, we could say the same.

However, the author doesn't do any of that. Instead, he/she just analyzes Ketcham's argument regarding the early presidents.

That's why (A) is out and (B) is the correct answer to question 1.

I hope that helps!

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KarishmaB

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5. The author of the passage would most likely to agree with which of following statements about Ketcham?

(A) He overemphasizes the influence of classical ideals on the first six Presidents of the United States. - need explanation on this

(B) He fails to recognize that classical ideals had little influence on politics in the United States. - not mentioned in the passage

(C) He does not pay adequate attention to the negative aspects of the first six Presidents’ commitment to classical ideals.

(D) He inaccurately suggests that classical ideals gave rise to our modern notion of democracy. - classical conception of leadership was incompatible with our modern notion of the freedoms of speech and press, freedoms intimately associated with the legitimacy of opposing political parties.
Ketcham didnt even suggest that classical ideals gave rise to modern notion of democracy. It's just that he didnt wanted the classical notion to decline

(E) He underestimates the effect of ideologies other than the humanist tradition on the first six Presidents. - he underestimated the effect of one ideology - commerce and the ideologies usage is incorrect?

GMATNinja TargetTestPrep VeritasKarishma - can you please check my analysis and answer my questions
Thanks

5. The author of the passage would most likely to agree with which of following statements about Ketcham?

(A) He overemphasizes the influence of classical ideals on the first six Presidents of the United States.
The author does not say that Ketcham overemphasised the influence of classical ideals on first 6 Presidents. The author just informs us that Ketcham talks about the influence of classical ideals on first 6 Presidents.
The author instead says that Ketcham over justifies classical ideals (not their influence on Presidents)

(B) He fails to recognize that classical ideals had little influence on politics in the United States.

First 6 Presidents had adopted the classical ideals. Is the author saying that classical ideals had little influence on US politics? Perhaps not. Then whether Ketcham recognised this or not is out of question.

(C) He does not pay adequate attention to the negative aspects of the first six Presidents’ commitment to classical ideals.

Last two lines:
Ketcham is so strongly committed to justifying the classical ideals, however, that he underestimates the advantages of their decline. For example, the classical conception of leadership was incompatible with our modern notion of the freedoms of speech and press, freedoms intimately associated with the legitimacy of opposing political parties.

The author says that Ketcham does not pay attention to the negative aspects of commitment to classical ideals. Hence (C) is correct.

(D) He inaccurately suggests that classical ideals gave rise to our modern notion of democracy.

The author does not say that Ketcham suggests that classical ideals gave rise to modern notion of democracy.

(E) He underestimates the effect of ideologies other than the humanist tradition on the first six Presidents.

The author doesn't talk about what Ketcham felt about the effect of other ideologies. He only talks about what Ketcham felt about classical ideology.

Answer (C)

KarishmaB MartyTargetTestPrep

In Question 6, I understand that it is mentioned that political parties did not represent general good. But where is it written that they represented "opposing political interests"?

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14 Apr 2023, 08:32

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shanks2020

In Question 6, I understand that it is mentioned that political parties did not represent general good. But where is it written that they represented "opposing political interests"?

Question 6 asks the following:

Which of the following best describes the attitude of the first six Presidents toward political parties as it is discussed in the passage?

We see that the passage says the following:

it is not surprising that the first six Presidents condemned political parties. Parties were partial by definition, self-interested, and therefore serving something other than the transcendent public good.

While, the passage doesn't directly say that parties "represented opposing political interests," it does say that parties were "self-interested," and thus they represented at least their own interests, which presumably differed and thus likely were opposing.

Here's what the credited answer says:

(E) Political parties represented opposing political interests rather than the general public good.

While that choice is not directly supported by the passage, and while this question could perhaps be more tightly constructed, we can say that that choice is the one that "best describes" the attitude of the first six presidents toward political parties.

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MartyTargetTestPrep

shanks2020

In Question 6, I understand that it is mentioned that political parties did not represent general good. But where is it written that they represented "opposing political interests"?

MartyTargetTestPrep

Thanks for the wonderful explanation!
Just wondering, is the same would have been right had it been a CR inference question. This is like saying "I will look after myself" is same as "I will not like you". I have seen in various official RC questions, where inference takes a lot of assumptions.
Is that something normal for GMAT RC questions? and we should try looking answer from that perspective?

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15 Apr 2023, 00:20

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KarishmaB

nikitamaheshwari

5. The author of the passage would most likely to agree with which of following statements about Ketcham?

(A) He overemphasizes the influence of classical ideals on the first six Presidents of the United States. - need explanation on this

(B) He fails to recognize that classical ideals had little influence on politics in the United States. - not mentioned in the passage

(C) He does not pay adequate attention to the negative aspects of the first six Presidents’ commitment to classical ideals.

(D) He inaccurately suggests that classical ideals gave rise to our modern notion of democracy. - classical conception of leadership was incompatible with our modern notion of the freedoms of speech and press, freedoms intimately associated with the legitimacy of opposing political parties.
Ketcham didnt even suggest that classical ideals gave rise to modern notion of democracy. It's just that he didnt wanted the classical notion to decline

(E) He underestimates the effect of ideologies other than the humanist tradition on the first six Presidents. - he underestimated the effect of one ideology - commerce and the ideologies usage is incorrect?

GMATNinja TargetTestPrep VeritasKarishma - can you please check my analysis and answer my questions
Thanks

5. The author of the passage would most likely to agree with which of following statements about Ketcham?

(A) He overemphasizes the influence of classical ideals on the first six Presidents of the United States.
The author does not say that Ketcham overemphasised the influence of classical ideals on first 6 Presidents. The author just informs us that Ketcham talks about the influence of classical ideals on first 6 Presidents.
The author instead says that Ketcham over justifies classical ideals (not their influence on Presidents)

(B) He fails to recognize that classical ideals had little influence on politics in the United States.

First 6 Presidents had adopted the classical ideals. Is the author saying that classical ideals had little influence on US politics? Perhaps not. Then whether Ketcham recognised this or not is out of question.

(C) He does not pay adequate attention to the negative aspects of the first six Presidents’ commitment to classical ideals.

Last two lines:
Ketcham is so strongly committed to justifying the classical ideals, however, that he underestimates the advantages of their decline. For example, the classical conception of leadership was incompatible with our modern notion of the freedoms of speech and press, freedoms intimately associated with the legitimacy of opposing political parties.

The author says that Ketcham does not pay attention to the negative aspects of commitment to classical ideals. Hence (C) is correct.

(D) He inaccurately suggests that classical ideals gave rise to our modern notion of democracy.

The author does not say that Ketcham suggests that classical ideals gave rise to modern notion of democracy.

(E) He underestimates the effect of ideologies other than the humanist tradition on the first six Presidents.

The author doesn't talk about what Ketcham felt about the effect of other ideologies. He only talks about what Ketcham felt about classical ideology.

Answer (C)

It is not mentioned verbatim but implied.

this tradition stressed the disinterested devotion of political leaders to the public good ... Given this classical conception of leadership, it is not surprising that the first six Presidents condemned political parties. Parties were partial by definition, self-interested, and therefore serving something other than the transcendent public good.

Parties were self-serving and partial to themselves. So different parties would have different views on what the course of action should be in each case. For the first 6 Presidents, everyone would think about general public good and decide accordingly. So their philosophy was based on the same ideology - general public good. But the ideologies of parties would be different from each other. They would be opponents of each other.

Take a simple example:

A's ideology is public good - The project should go to the lowest bidder with acceptable quality

Political party 1 - I will take the project.
Political party 2 - I will take the project.
The parties will look after their own self interest and become opponents.

Hence (E) works and as Marty mentioned, it is the best option of the lot.

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