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 B 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 E 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 D 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 A 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 C 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 E 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.

Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 06:02

It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 06:02

Toolkit

Reading Comprehension (RC)

GMAT Club Daily Prep

Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.

Go to My Error Log Learn more

Request Expert Reply

Confirm Cancel

Nov 20
UCR MBA Impact - Live Q&A with UCR AdCom & Student
07:30 AM PST
-
08:30 AM PST
Learn what truly sets the UC Riverside MBA apart and how it helps in your professional growth
Nov 22
GMAT RC Masterclass
11:00 AM IST
-
01:00 PM IST
Do RC/MSR passages scare you? e-GMAT is conducting a masterclass to help you learn – Learn effective reading strategies Tackle difficult RC & MSR with confidence Excel in timed test environment
Nov 23
Conquer Algebra on the GMAT Focus Edition
11:00 AM IST
-
01:00 PM IST
Attend this free GMAT Algebra Webinar and learn how to master the most challenging Inequalities and Absolute Value problems with ease.
Nov 25
Try OnDemand GMAT Masterclass
10:00 AM EST
-
11:00 AM EST
Prefer video-based learning? The Target Test Prep OnDemand course is a one-of-a-kind video masterclass featuring 400 hours of lecture-style teaching by Scott Woodbury-Stewart, founder of Target Test Prep and one of the most accomplished GMAT instructors.

Back to Forum

Create Topic

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

1 2 3

bM22

Retired Moderator

Joined: 05 May 2016

Last visit: 17 Jul 2025

Posts: 716

Own Kudos:

784

Given Kudos: 1,316

Location: India

Schools: IIM (A) IIM (A) IIM-A '24 (A) ISB '24 (A)

Products:

Schools: IIM (A) IIM (A) IIM-A '24 (A) ISB '24 (A)

Posts: 716

Kudos: 784

23 Aug 2021, 09:38

Kudos

Bookmarks

nikitamaheshwari

Can someone please explain Q5?

GMATNinja

Hi nikitamaheshwari,

Let us know if the below explanation by expert helps.
https://gmatclub.com/forum/in-a-new-book-about-the-antiparty-feeling-of-the-early-political-leade-176249.html#p2465269

Thanks.

nikitamaheshwari

Joined: 19 Jan 2020

Last visit: 12 Feb 2022

Posts: 77

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 131

Posts: 77

Kudos: 6

25 Aug 2021, 03:24

Kudos

Bookmarks

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

KarishmaB

Tutor

Joined: 16 Oct 2010

Last visit: 18 Nov 2025

Posts: 16,267

Own Kudos:

76,992

[5]

Given Kudos: 482

Location: Pune, India

Expert

Expert reply

Posts: 16,267

Kudos: 76,992

[5]

25 Aug 2021, 23:29

Kudos

Bookmarks

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)

GMATNinja

GMAT Club Verbal Expert

Joined: 13 Aug 2009

Last visit: 18 Nov 2025

Posts: 7,443

Own Kudos:

69,783

Given Kudos: 2,060

Status: GMAT/GRE/LSAT tutors

Location: United States (CO)

GMAT 1: 780 Q51 V46 Verified score

GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51 Verified score

GRE 1: Q170 V170 Verified score

GRE 2: Q170 V170 Verified score

Products:

Expert

Expert reply

GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51 Verified score

GRE 1: Q170 V170 Verified score

GRE 2: Q170 V170 Verified score

Posts: 7,443

Kudos: 69,783

11 Sep 2021, 08:33

Kudos

Bookmarks

Question 1

nikitamaheshwari

GMATNinja

asthagupta

Could someone please tell why option A is incorrect for first question?

Quote:

Q1 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

The passage does discuss two different types of leadership: the classical conception of leadership (embraced by the first 6 presidents) and the party system (embraced by Jacksonians), but it does not discuss two theories about the early history of the United States. Instead the passage only discusses Ralph Ketcham's argument ("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"). The author of the passage describes and analyzes Ketcham's view, pointing out the argument's strengths and weaknesses.

Thus, choice (B) is a better answer.

C) Qualifies a claim means limiting the scope. So, here the author disagrees about certain aspects of Ketcham's theory. Do we call that as qualifies the claim or
D) Can you explain why this answer choice i s wrong?

Quote:

(C) [The passage is primarily concerned with] discussing new evidence that qualifies a theory about the early history of the United States

In the passage, the author discusses a "new book" written by Ralph Ketcham. Then, the author disagrees with certain aspects of Ketcham's theory.

So, does the author qualify this theory? Sure, I think you could say that. But does the author discuss "new evidence" that qualifies this theory, as specified in (C)? No, he/she does not. The only "new" thing in the passage IS Ketcham's book. The author qualifies Ketcham's theory with information that doesn't seem to be particularly new.

That's why you can eliminate (C).

Here's (D):

Quote:

(D) refuting a theory about political leadership in the United States

The author doesn't wholly reject Ketcham's argument. He/she actually admits that Ketcham gets some stuff right ("Ketcham does rightly see Jackson's tenure (the seventh presidency) as the culmination of the acceptance of party, commerce, and individualism.")

In addition, the author doesn't necessarily think that Ketcham's theory itself is incorrect. Sure, the author mentions that the divide between the first six presidents and later presidents isn't as clean-cut as Ketcham argues. But the author's main criticism isn't that Ketcham's theory is wrong, but that Ketcham's sense of good and bad is biased. So it's really not the theory that the author takes issue with, but the analysis of that theory.

For those reasons, you can get rid of (D).

I hope that helps!

Kushchokhani

Joined: 05 Jan 2020

Last visit: 03 Apr 2024

Posts: 513

Own Kudos:

645

[1]

Given Kudos: 692

Status:Admitted to IIM Shillong (PGPEx 2023-24)

Affiliations: CFA Institute; ICAI; BCAS

Location: India

WE 2: EA to CFO (Consumer Products)

GPA: 3.78

WE:Corporate Finance (Commercial Banking)

Products:

Posts: 513

Kudos: 645

[1]

02 Jul 2022, 05:41

Kudos

Bookmarks

Bunuel Sajjad1994

1st line of passage- "antipaty" should be replaced with "antiparty"

Screenshots attached- please check highlighted portion

Attachments

2022-07-02 (1).png [ 121.14 KiB | Viewed 2849 times ]

2022-07-02.png [ 196.79 KiB | Viewed 2891 times ]

himanshu0123

Joined: 27 Mar 2016

Last visit: 20 Mar 2023

Posts: 190

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 101

Posts: 190

Kudos: 5

06 Oct 2022, 01:27

Kudos

Bookmarks

in Q5) where is D] mentioned in the passage.

Sajjad1994

GRE Forum Moderator

Joined: 02 Nov 2016

Last visit: 18 Nov 2025

Posts: 17,289

Own Kudos:

49,302

[1]

Given Kudos: 6,179

GPA: 3.62

Products:

Posts: 17,289

Kudos: 49,302

[1]

06 Oct 2022, 01:31

Kudos

Bookmarks

himanshu0123

in Q5) where is D] mentioned in the passage.

Read the explanation to question #5 in the post in the link below.

https://gmatclub.com/forum/in-a-new-boo ... l#p2847611

Cheers

Kimberly77

Joined: 16 Nov 2021

Last visit: 07 Sep 2024

Posts: 435

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 5,898

Location: United Kingdom

GMAT 1: 450 Q42 V34 Verified score

Products:

GMAT 1: 450 Q42 V34 Verified score

Posts: 435

Kudos: 45

04 Feb 2023, 03:20

Kudos

Bookmarks

Great explanation GMATNinja, 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

GMATNinja

GMAT Club Verbal Expert

Joined: 13 Aug 2009

Last visit: 18 Nov 2025

Posts: 7,443

Own Kudos:

69,783

[1]

Given Kudos: 2,060

Status: GMAT/GRE/LSAT tutors

Location: United States (CO)

GMAT 1: 780 Q51 V46 Verified score

GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51 Verified score

GRE 1: Q170 V170 Verified score

GRE 2: Q170 V170 Verified score

Products:

Expert

Expert reply

GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51 Verified score

GRE 1: Q170 V170 Verified score

GRE 2: Q170 V170 Verified score

Posts: 7,443

Kudos: 69,783

[1]

08 Feb 2023, 09:48

Kudos

Bookmarks

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!

shanks2020

Joined: 02 Dec 2018

Last visit: 21 Mar 2024

Posts: 239

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 70

Posts: 239

Kudos: 39

14 Apr 2023, 07:11

Kudos

Bookmarks

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)

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"?

MartyTargetTestPrep

Target Test Prep Representative

Joined: 24 Nov 2014

Last visit: 11 Aug 2023

Posts: 3,476

Own Kudos:

5,579

[1]

Given Kudos: 1,430

Status:Chief Curriculum and Content Architect

Affiliations: Target Test Prep

GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V51 Verified score

Expert

Expert reply

GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V51 Verified score

Posts: 3,476

Kudos: 5,579

[1]

14 Apr 2023, 08:32

Kudos

Bookmarks

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.

shanks2020

Joined: 02 Dec 2018

Last visit: 21 Mar 2024

Posts: 239

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 70

Posts: 239

Kudos: 39

14 Apr 2023, 09:50

Kudos

Bookmarks

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?

KarishmaB

Tutor

Joined: 16 Oct 2010

Last visit: 18 Nov 2025

Posts: 16,267

Own Kudos:

76,992

Given Kudos: 482

Location: Pune, India

Expert

Expert reply

Posts: 16,267

Kudos: 76,992

15 Apr 2023, 00:20

Kudos

Bookmarks

shanks2020

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.

abhdha72

Joined: 31 Aug 2020

Last visit: 19 Oct 2025

Posts: 7

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 35

Location: India

Concentration: Marketing, General Management

Schools: Simon '25 (S)

GMAT 1: 620 Q45 V30 Verified score

GPA: 4

WE:Business Development (Consumer Packaged Goods)

Products:

Schools: Simon '25 (S)

GMAT 1: 620 Q45 V30 Verified score

Posts: 7

Kudos: 7

02 Jul 2023, 19:56

Kudos

Bookmarks

can someone explain the meaning of E option in question 5?

Sajjad1994

GRE Forum Moderator

Joined: 02 Nov 2016

Last visit: 18 Nov 2025

Posts: 17,289

Own Kudos:

49,302

Given Kudos: 6,179

GPA: 3.62

Products:

Posts: 17,289

Kudos: 49,302

03 Jul 2023, 12:01

Kudos

Bookmarks

abhdha72

can someone explain the meaning of E option in question 5?

Explained here

https://gmatclub.com/forum/in-a-new-boo ... l#p2847611

Best.

jaikhurana2003

Joined: 13 Jul 2023

Last visit: 13 Aug 2023

Posts: 1

Kudos: 0

13 Jul 2023, 20:36

Kudos

Bookmarks

I need the ans for ques number 6

Sajjad1994

GRE Forum Moderator

Joined: 02 Nov 2016

Last visit: 18 Nov 2025

Posts: 17,289

Own Kudos:

49,302

Given Kudos: 6,179

GPA: 3.62

Products:

Posts: 17,289

Kudos: 49,302

14 Jul 2023, 14:37

Kudos

Bookmarks

jaikhurana2003

I need the ans for ques number 6

Explanation to question #6 is posted here in the link below.

https://gmatclub.com/forum/in-a-new-boo ... l#p3189287

socialsloth

Joined: 30 Sep 2022

Last visit: 18 Nov 2025

Posts: 19

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 98

Products:

Posts: 19

Kudos: 5

21 Sep 2025, 23:09

Kudos

Bookmarks

For Question 1, is option B the correct answer or is it option C? at certain institutions, they claim C to be the right answer choice.

socialsloth

Joined: 30 Sep 2022

Last visit: 18 Nov 2025

Posts: 19

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 98

Products:

Posts: 19

Kudos: 5

21 Sep 2025, 23:40

Kudos

Bookmarks

Hey @experts could someone clarify what is the exact answer mentioned for Question 1 in the GMAT OG?

I found some experts contradicting, saying (C) better summarises the purpose of passage.

i.e. discusses new evidence and qualifies

Kushchokhani

Bunuel Sajjad1994

1st line of passage- "antipaty" should be replaced with "antiparty"

Screenshots attached- please check highlighted portion

GMATNinja

GMAT Club Verbal Expert

Joined: 13 Aug 2009

Last visit: 18 Nov 2025

Posts: 7,443

Own Kudos:

69,783

[1]

Given Kudos: 2,060

Status: GMAT/GRE/LSAT tutors

Location: United States (CO)

GMAT 1: 780 Q51 V46 Verified score

GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51 Verified score

GRE 1: Q170 V170 Verified score

GRE 2: Q170 V170 Verified score

Products:

Expert

Expert reply

GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51 Verified score

GRE 1: Q170 V170 Verified score

GRE 2: Q170 V170 Verified score

Posts: 7,443

Kudos: 69,783

[1]

24 Sep 2025, 09:56

Kudos

Bookmarks

Question 1

socialsloth

Hey @‌experts could someone clarify what is the exact answer mentioned for Question 1 in the GMAT OG?

I found some experts contradicting, saying (C) better summarises the purpose of passage.

i.e. discusses new evidence and qualifies

(C) can be eliminated because the passage does not discuss any "new" evidence. For more on that, check out this post: https://gmatclub.com/forum/in-a-new-boo ... l#p2858089.

And if you're wondering why choice (A) should be eliminated, check out the following posts:

1 2 3

Moderators:

GMATNinja

GMAT Club Verbal Expert

7443 posts

GMATNinjaTwo

GMAT Club Verbal Expert

231 posts

Sajjad1994

GRE Forum Moderator

17289 posts

miag

188 posts

Prep Toolkit

Announcements

How the UC Riverside MBA Helps You Thrive Personally & Professionally

Thursday, Nov 20, 2025
10:30am NY / 3:30pm London / 9pm Mumbai

Master in Management, Finance, Business Analytics and more Master’s Programs!

Live Profile Evaluation Chat Session with ARINGO

Wednesday, November 19, 2025
09:00 am PDT | 10:30 pm IST
Location: GMAT Club Chat

Top GMAT Focus Debriefs

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

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

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

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards