In current historiography, the picture of a consistent, unequivocal de

Question

In current historiography, the picture of a consistent, unequivocal decline in women’s status with the advent of capitalism and industrialization is giving way to an analysis that not only emphasizes both change (whether improvement or decline) and continuity but also accounts for geographical and occupational variation. The history of women’s work in English farmhouse cheese making between 1800 and 1930 is a case in point. In her influential  Women Workers and the Industrial Revolution  (1930), Pinchbeck argued that the agricultural revolution of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, with its attendant specialization and enlarged scale of operation, curtailed women’s participation in the business of cheese production. Earlier, she maintained, women had concerned themselves with feeding cows, rearing calves, and even selling the cheese in local markets and fairs. Pinchbeck thought that the advent of specialization meant that women’s work in cheese dairying was reduced simply to processing the milk. “Dairymen” (a new social category) raised and fed cows and sold the cheese through factors, who were also men. With this narrowing of the scope of work, Pinchbeck believed, women lost business ability, independence, and initiative.

Though Pinchbeck portrayed precapitalist, preindustrial conditions as superior to what followed, recent scholarship has seriously questioned the notion of a golden age for women in precapitalist society. For example, scholars note that women’s control seldom extended to the disposal of the proceeds of their work. In the case of cheese, the rise of factors may have compromised women’s ability to market cheese at fairs. But merely selling the cheese did not necessarily imply access to the money: Davidoff cites the case of an Essex man who appropriated all but a fraction of the money from his wife’s cheese sales.

By focusing on somewhat peripheral operations, moreover, Pinchbeck missed a substantial element of continuity in women’s participation: throughout the period women did the central work of actually making cheese. Their persistence in English cheese dairying contrasts with women’s early disappearance from arable agriculture in southeast England and from American cheese dairying. Comparing these three divergent developments yields some reasons for the differences among them. English cheese-making women worked in a setting in which cultural values, agricultural conditions, and the nature of their work combined to support their continued participation. In the other cases, one or more of these elements was lacking.   1 
 E 
1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

(A) present recently discovered evidence that supports a conventional interpretation of a historical period
(B) describe how reinterpretations of available evidence have reinvigorated a once-discredited scholarly position
(C) explain why some historians have tended to emphasize change rather than continuity in discussing a particular period
(D) explore how changes in a particular occupation serve to counter the prevailing view of a historical period
(E) examine a particular area of historical research in order to exemplify a general scholarly trend

2 
 B 
2. Regarding English local markets and fairs, which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

(A) Both before and after the agricultural revolution, the sellers of agricultural products at these venues were men.
(B) Knowing who the active sellers were at these venues may not give a reliable indication of who controlled the revenue from the sales.
(C) There were no parallel institutions at which American cheese makers could sell their own products.
(D) Prior to the agricultural revolution, the sellers of agricultural products at these venues were generally the producers themselves.
(E) Prior to the agricultural revolution, women sold not only cheese but also products of arable agriculture at these venues.

3 
 Evaluation

This question focuses on the function of Pinchbeck’s work in the passage. Pinchbeck’s study of women’s work in cheese production is, according to the passage, an illustration of the view that women’s status declined consistently with the advent of industrialization. That view, the author claims, is being challenged by current historiography.

(A) The passage indicates that the conclusions of Pinchbeck, who represents earlier scholarship, did not anticipate recent work, but rather that recent work argues against those conclusions.

(B) Correct . Pinchbeck’s work illustrates earlier trends in historiography, trends that the author suggests are now  giving way to newer ideas .

(C) The passage does not focus on any ways in which recent historians have built on Pinchbeck’s work; instead, it discusses how they have argued against its conclusions.

(D) Pinchbeck’s work provides a point of reference only insofar as subsequent scholarship is arguing against it.

(E) Pinchbeck makes the argument that specialization caused women’s status to decline, but the passage is concerned with undermining this argument. 
3. The passage describes the work of Pinchbeck primarily in order to

(A) demonstrate that some of the conclusions reached by recent historians were anticipated in earlier scholarship
(B) provide an instance of the viewpoint that, according to the passage’s author, is being superseded
(C) illustrate the ways in which recent historians have built on the work of their predecessors
(D) provide a point of reference for subsequent scholarship on women’s work during the agricultural revolution
(E) show the effect that the specialization introduced in the agricultural and industrial revolutions had on women’s work

4 
 A 
4. It can be inferred from the passage that women did work in

(A) American cheesemaking at some point prior to industrialization
(B) arable agriculture in northern England both before and after the agricultural revolution
(C) arable agriculture in southeast England after the agricultural revolution, in those locales in which cultural values supported their participation
(D) the sale of cheese at local markets in England even after the agricultural revolution
(E) some areas of American cheese dairying after industrialization

GMATNinja · Accepted Answer

The author first tells us that the picture of women's status with the advent of capitalism and industrialization is changing. The old picture (a consistent, unequivocal decline in women’s status with the advent of capitalism and industrialization) is giving way to a new analysis. The author then describes the book by Pinchbeck as an example of the old picture. Finally, the author describes the flaws in this example, demonstrating how the new analysis, unlike the old picture, "emphasizes change (improvement or decline) and continuity and also accounts for geographical and occupational variations."

The author of the passage thus examines a particular area of historical research ("the history of women’s work in English farmhouse cheese making between 1800 and 1930") as an example of how the old picture of women's status is giving way to a new analysis. Choice (E) describes this overall purpose.

In the first paragraph, we are told that before the agricultural revolution, women sold cheese at local markets and fairs. In the second paragraph, we are told that "women’s control seldom extended to the disposal of the proceeds of their work" and that "selling the cheese did not necessarily imply access to the money." In other words, just because the women sold the cheese does not mean they controlled the money from those sales. Thus, choice (B) is the best answer.

As described in the explanation of the first question, the Pinchbeck book is described as an example of the old picture. The old picture is giving way (i.e. "being superseded) by a new analysis. Thus the passage describes the work of Pinchbeck primarily in order to (B) provide an instance of the viewpoint that, according to the passage’s author, is being superseded.

The key to this question lies in the following portion: "  persistence in English cheese dairying contrasts with women’s early disappearance from arable agriculture in southeast England and from American cheese dairying." If women  disappeared  from American cheese dairying with the advent of industrialization, then women must have worked in American cheese dairying prior to industrialization. Choice (A) is the best answer.

Poorvasha · Answer

Q4  is an inference question. You will find texts directly in the passage to answer this.

4. It can be inferred from the passage that women did work in

(A) American cheesemaking at some point prior to industrialization- The passage states that  "Their persistence in English cheese dairying contrasts with women’s early  disappearance from  arable agriculture in southeast England and  from American cheese dairying .". This implies they disappeared from American cheese dairying and this means they were involved in this before, hence, the disappearance. This can be inferred.
 
(B) arable agriculture in northern England both before and after the agricultural revolution -  The passage does not talk about arable agriculture in England so this can't be inferred.

(C) arable agriculture in southeast England after the agricultural revolution, in those locales in which cultural values supported their participation -  The passage states "Their persistence in English cheese dairying contrasts with  women’s early disappearance from arable agriculture in southeast England  and from American cheese dairying". hence, this can also not be inferred.

(D) the sale of cheese at local markets in England even after the agricultural revolution -  The passage states "Earlier, she maintained, women had concerned themselves with feeding cows, rearing calves, and even selling the cheese in local markets and fairs. Pinchbeck thought that the advent of specialization meant that women’s work in cheese dairying was reduced simply to processing the milk". Hence, their role was no longer in the sale of cheese and thus, this can't be inferred .

(E) some areas of American cheese dairying after industrialization-  It is clearly mentioned as quoted in options above that women disappeared form American cheese dairying.

GMATNinja · Answer

Passage breakdown 
In the first paragraph (P1), the author:

Provides an  old view  in historiography: with capitalization/industrialization came a "a consistent, unequivocal decline in women’s status."
 
 Contrasts the old view with a  new view : a more nuanced picture that takes into account change and continuity, as well as differences in geography/occupation. 
 Provides an example of the  old view : Pinchbeck's 1930 examination of the cheese-making industry.

In the second paragraph, the author:

Critiques Pinchbeck's argument  using "recent scholarship"

In the third paragraph, the author:

Undermines Pinchbeck's argument  using elements of the "new view" discussed in P1.

For more on the process of breaking down RC passages, check out  this article  and  our live RC videos .

Explanations for individual questions 
 
  Question 1  
  Question 2  
  Question 3  
  Question 4

manishkhare · Answer

Explanations:

This is the purpose of the passage : 
 "In current historiography, the picture of a consistent, unequivocal decline in women’s status with the advent of capitalism and industrialization is giving way to an analysis that not only emphasizes both change (whether improvement or decline) and continuity but also accounts for geographical and occupational variation."

what follows after these lines is an example from 18th century .

So Answer (E) is the correct choice.

Q2:

Look at the Paragraph 2: 
 " scholars note that women’s control seldom extended to the disposal of the proceeds of their work. In the case of cheese, the rise of factors may have compromised women’s ability to market cheese at fairs. But merely selling the cheese did not necessarily imply access to the money: Davidoff cites the case of an Essex man who appropriated all but a fraction of the money from his wife’s cheese sales."

So even though women used to produce and sell cheese ,they did not had the control on the earnings.

(B) is the correct choice.

Q3:

Paragraph 2: 
 " Though Pinchbeck portrayed precapitalist, preindustrial conditions as superior to what followed, recent scholarship has seriously questioned the notion of a golden age for women in precapitalist society."

Paragraph 3:
 "By focusing on somewhat peripheral operations, moreover, Pinchbeck missed a substantial element of continuity in women’s participation:"

Author does not agree with Pinchbeck studies and points out the flaws .

Only Option (B) talks about it.

Q4:

"Their persistence in English cheese dairying contrasts with women’s early disappearance from arable agriculture in southeast England and from American cheese dairying"

We can infer that women did work in American cheese dairying for some time.

Option A is the right choice.

Let me know if you have doubts .

KarishmaB · Answer

Question 1:

Here is what I make out from the passage:

Till now, there was a picture of a consistent, unequivocal decline in women’s status with the advent of capitalism and industrialization. This is exemplified through Pinchbeck's English cheese making in which women used to do everything in pre capitalist era but were confined to few tasks with the advent of capitalism.

It is now giving way to an analysis that not only emphasizes both  change and continuity  but also accounts for  geographical and occupational variation . The cheese making is discussed again showing that women’s control seldom extended to the disposal of the proceeds of their work so pre capitalist era wasn't all that it is made out to be. Also, it is discussed that women did the most imp work even in capitalist era. Then examples of agriculture and American cheese making are discussed to show differences in case of different occupations.

Now we use elimination on the options of question 1:

The primary purpose of the passage is to

(A) present recently discovered evidence that supports a conventional interpretation of a historical period
No, the conventional interpretation is giving way to a new interpretation. So incorrect.

(B) describe how reinterpretations of available evidence have reinvigorated a once-discredited scholarly position
There is no "coming back to an old theory". There is an old theory which is giving way to a new one now. Incorrect.

(C) explain why some historians have tended to emphasize change rather than continuity in discussing a particular period
The historians are now emphasising "change AND continuity". Incorrect

(D) explore how changes in a particular occupation serve to counter the prevailing view of a historical period
Changes in English cheese making are discussed to show support for the view prevailing till now. It does not counter it.

(E) examine a particular area of historical research in order to exemplify a general scholarly trend
British cheese making is discussed to exemplify how historical picture is giving way to new analysis.

Answer (E)

JAIN09 · Answer

hello  GMATNinja 
can please tell me what does q1 choice D mean?
i was confused between choiceD and E

zoezhuyan · Answer

Hi  GMATNinja ,

Frankly, I was struggling with D and E as well, 
i crossed off D because i cannot make sure Pinchbeck's work is prevailling view, 
while, you mentioned  Pinchbeck's book fits with the prevailing view because it focuses on the decline  , would you please elaborate further, why it is a prevailling view?

Thanks in advance

GMATNinja · Answer

"Prevailing" means "dominant" or "most apparent at the time".

We know that Pinchbeck's work is part of the prevailing view because the author structures the citation of Pinchbeck's work to illustrate the current approach to historical research. We can see this in the opening of the passage:

In current historiography, the picture of a consistent, unequivocal decline in women's status...is giving way to an analysis that not only emphasizes both change...and continuity but also accounts for geographical and occupational variation. The history of women's work in English farmhouse cheese making between 1800 and 1930 is a case in point. In her influential Women Workers and the Industrial Revolution (1930), Pinchbeck argued that...

In these first few sentences, we learn that:
 
 Current historiography is giving way to a new analysis. 
 This case of women's work in English farmhouse cheese is an example of the current historiography. 
 Pinchbeck's work is an example of this case.

In other words, if we ask, "Why does the author bring up PInchbeck's work?" then the answer is, "To illustrates the case of women's work in English farmhouse cheese, which itself shows how historical scholarship is changing more broadly."

But be careful about getting too hung up on the use of "prevailing" in Choice (D). Remember the full text of this choice:

We've established that we should eliminate (D) because the author's main purpose is  not  to explore changes in cheese making. That's too narrow of a focus to capture what the author's doing with the passage as a whole.

In any case, I hope that this clarifies how authors use the  structure  of their writing to link specific examples to more abstract statements. An extremely explicit statement isn't always necessary for us to connect these dots.

I hope this helps!

I'm happy to help,  JAIN09 . Let's zero in on the two choices you'd like to clear up:

Recall from my  previous post  that overall, the author examines a particular area of historical research (the history of women’s work in English farmhouse cheese making between 1800 and 1930) to illustrate how the old analysis of women's status (which portrayed a consistent, unequivocal decline) is giving way to a new analysis (one that acknowledges the presence of positive change, negative change, and continuity).

(D) is a tempting choice because  it sounds good . The author certainly talks about cheese making a lot, and does seem to counter a prevailing view of cheese making. However, our job as GMAT experts isn't to pick what sounds good. We need to answer the precise question being asked. This question is asking us for the  primary purpose of the passage , so that's what we need to find in our answer choices.

If we choose (D), we say that the  overall purpose  of this passage is to explore how  changes  in a particular occupation (various types of operations in cheese making) serve to  counter the prevailing view of a historical period  (the history of women's work in English farmhouse cheese between 1800 and 1930).

But is the author trying to show us how CHANGES in cheese making served to counter the prevailing view? The prevailing view is that women's status declined consistently and unequivocally (without any doubt) with the advent of capitalism and industrialization. Pinchbeck's book fits with the prevailing view because it focuses on the decline (i.e. negative changes) in women's status. But Pinchbeck's book (the prevailing view) MISSES a "substantial element of  continuity  in women’s participation: throughout the period women did the central work of actually making cheese."

The prevailing view is focused on the  changes  in cheese making (i.e. the decline in women's status). But the new analysis focuses on improvement, decline, AND continuity. So it's the  continuity  in English farmhouse cheesemaking--not the  changes --that serves to counter the prevailing view.

If we choose (E), we say that the  overall purpose  of this passage is to examine a particular area of historical research (the history of women's work in English farmhouse cheese between 1800 and 1930) in order to  exemplify a general scholarly trend  (the transition to the current style of historical analysis).

(E) is a much better fit for our understanding of the author's overall purpose. If there's any doubt left, double check the passage to confirm when and why the author brings up women's cheese making in the first place:

This passage sets out to tell us about a  change  in the historical analysis of women's status during industrialization. The history of women's work in English cheese is one example of this greater trend in historiography. Therefore, (E) is the correct answer to question #1.

I hope this explanation wasn’t too cheesy! (OK, fine. That was pretty awful. Cut me some slack: I'm a new dad, and working on my  dad jokes ....)

Gmatsaiyan · Answer

Official Answers and Explanations 
1. The primary purpose of the passage is to
A. present recently discovered evidence that supports a conventional interpretation of a historical period
B. describe how reinterpretations of available evidence have reinvigorated a once-discredited scholarly position
C. explain why some historians have tended to emphasize change rather than continuity in discussing a particular period
D. explore how changes in a particular occupation serve to counter the prevailing view of a historical period
E. examine a particular area of historical research in order to exemplify a general scholarly trend
 Main idea 
This question asks about the passage’s main purpose. The first paragraph initially describes a way in which historiography is changing: the idea of a consistent, monolithic decline in women’s status is being complicated by recent research. The rest of the passage uses the example of Pinchbeck’s interpretation of women’s work in English cheesemaking to show the limits of earlier ideas about women’s status: Pinchbeck’s work illustrates the idea of consistent decline, but recent scholarship has called that work into question.
A. The first paragraph suggests that Pinchbeck’s work represents the conventional position that women’s status declined consistently with the advent of capitalism; according to the passage, recent evidence undermines, rather than supports, that position.
B. According to the passage, reinterpretations of evidence have inspired new interpretations; they have not reinvigorated a discredited position.
C. The passage is concerned with noting both change and continuity, as stated in the first sentence.
D. In the passage, continuity, not change, in a particular occupation—English farmhouse cheesemaking—helps to counter the prevailing view.
E. Correct. The passage’s main purpose is to examine women’s work in English farmhouse cheesemaking so as to illustrate a trend in historiography of women’s status under capitalism and industrializatioThe correct answer is E.

2. Regarding English local markets and fairs, which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
A. Both before and after the agricultural revolution, the sellers of agricultural products at these venues were men.
B. Knowing who the active sellers were at these venues may not give a reliable indication of who controlled the revenue from the sales.
C. There were no parallel institutions at which American cheese makers could sell their own products.
D. Prior to the agricultural revolution, the sellers of agricultural products at these venues were generally the producers themselves.
E. Prior to the agricultural revolution, women sold not only cheese but also
products of arable agriculture at these venues.
 Inference 
The passage discusses English local markets and fairs in the first and second paragraphs: the first paragraph states that before the agricultural revolution, women had sold cheese in such venues but that after that, factors, who were men, sold the cheese. The second paragraph argues that even though English women in precapitalist, preindustrial times may have at one point sold cheese at fairs,
evidence indicates that in at least one case, a man appropriated most of the
money his wife made from her sales.
A. The first paragraph states that prior to the agricultural revolution, women sold cheese at local markets and fairs.
B. Correct. As the second paragraph indicates, women may have sold the cheese, but there is evidence to suggest that they did not necessarily control the revenue from its sale.
C. The passage does not provide evidence regarding any institutions at which American cheese makers sold their products.
D. While the passage indicates that the producers of English farmhouse cheese may have been the ones who sold that cheese at local markets and fairs, there is no evidence to suggest that this was necessarily the case for other agricultural products.
E. The passage provides no information regarding whether women sold products of arable agriculture in any venue.
The correct answer is B.

3. The passage describes the work of Pinchbeck primarily in order toA. demonstrate that some of the conclusions reached by recent historians were anticipated in earlier scholarship
B. provide an instance of the viewpoint that, according to the passage’s author, is being superseded
C. illustrate the ways in which recent historians have built on the work of their predecessors
D. provide a point of reference for subsequent scholarship on women’s work during the agricultural revolution
E. show the effect that the specialization introduced in the agricultural and industrial revolutions had on women’s work
 Evaluation 
This question focuses on the function of Pinchbeck’s work in the passage. Pinchbeck’s study of women’s work in cheese production is, according to the passage, an illustration of the view that women’s status declined consistently with the advent of industrialization. That view, the author claims, is being challenged by current historiography.
A. The passage indicates that the conclusions of Pinchbeck, who represents earlier scholarship, did not anticipate recent work, but rather that recent work argues against those conclusions.
B. Correct. Pinchbeck’s work illustrates earlier trends in historiography, trends that the author suggests are now giving way to newer ideas.
C. The passage does not focus on any ways in which recent historians have built on Pinchbeck’s work; instead, it discusses how they have argued against its conclusions. 
D. Pinchbeck’s work provides a point of reference only insofar as subsequent scholarship is arguing against it.
E. Pinchbeck makes the argument that specialization caused women’s status to decline, but the passage is concerned with undermining this argument.
The correct answer is B.

4. It can be inferred from the passage that women did work in
A. American cheesemaking at some point prior to industrialization
B. arable agriculture in northern England both before and after the agricultural revolution
C. arable agriculture in southeast England after the agricultural revolution, in those locales in which cultural values supported their participation
D. the sale of cheese at local markets in England even after the agriculturalrevolution
E. some areas of American cheese dairying after industrialization
 Inference 
This question focuses mainly on the final paragraph of the passage, in which women’s continued work in English cheese dairying is contrasted with what the passage calls their disappearance from arable agriculture in southeast England and from American cheese dairying, presumably during the period of industrialization. The correct answer will be a conclusion that can be drawn from
this information. 
A. Correct. That women “disappeared” from American cheese dairying during industrialization provides grounds for inferring that they did such dairying work at some point prior to industrialization.
B. The passage says that women disappeared from arable agriculture in southeast England, but it gives no information about their participation in arable agriculture in northern England.
C. The passage makes a blanket statement about women’s disappearance from arable agriculture in southeast England, so there is no reason to infer that any locales supported women’s participation in agriculture.
D. The first paragraph states that factors, who were men, sold cheese after the agricultural revolution.
E. The final paragraph explicitly states that women disappeared from American cheese dairying; thus, there is no basis for inferring that women worked in any areas of that field after industrialization.
The correct answer is A.

GMATNinja · Answer

The third paragraph offers specific accounting for differences in southeast England and America in the third paragraph, where the author points to "women's early disappearance from arable agriculture in southeast England and from American cheese dairying".

These "three divergent developments" take into account change, geographic variation, and occupational variation while still recognizing the continuity of women's participating in cheese dairying in other parts of England. (Mmm... cheese. :tongue_opt2)

I hope this helps!

shabuzen102 · Answer

Hi  GMATNinja ,

First congrats on being a new dad. My husband loves his dad jokes, daughter too young to understand, and I tolerate them. Keep you dad jokes going!
Second, I do have problems with this passage since the two views are not so clear. I understand what the old picture says - pretty clear: women's status is consistently declining with the advent of industrialization and capitalism. It has a stance, and it's saying something: it's making a statement and it has an opinion.

However, the "new way" in this passage is so subtle. The author doesn't explicitly states what that new way is, it says what the new way is focusing on. At the end of the passage, the stance is not clear to me - what are you trying to say? what is your opinion/ judgement on this? It's like this new guy is too afraid of being criticized that he's beating around the bush. Or it can also be that it's clear and I can't see it. Would you please help me? So I know what it emphasizes on ( an analysis that not only emphasizes both change (whether improvement or decline) and continuity but also accounts for geographical and occupational variation .), but what does it actually say? Also what exactly that change (whether improvement or decline) of this new analysis mentioned in the passage? and the geographical and occupational variation - where is it mentioned?

Thank you very much!

GMATNinja · Answer

Ah, the joys of reading comprehension passages. I agree that central ideas of the new "scholarly trend" are not laid out as cleanly as those of the formerly prevailing view. However, to understand why (E) is the correct choice for the primary purpose of the passage, we do not need to not need to sum up the new scholarly trend -- instead, we just need to determine whether the author's purpose was to exemplify the new trend by examining a particular area of historical research. As you mentioned, the new trend "not only emphasizes both change (whether improvement or decline) and continuity but also accounts for geographical and occupational variation. " So, how are these factors exemplified by the author's examination of English cheesemaking? Let's break it down: Change: The author discusses change in English cheesemaking by acknowledging that "rise of factors may have compromised women’s ability to market cheese at fairs," but then explains a nuance about this change that was overlooked by previous scholars. Continuity: The author then discusses continuity by stating that the old view "missed a substantial element of continuity in women’s participation: throughout the period women did the central work of actually making cheese." Geographical/Occupational variation: The author contrasts the persistence of women in English cheesemaking to the disappearance of women in American cheesemaking -- there's our geographical variation. In addition, he/she contrasts women in English cheesemaking to "women’s early disappearance from arable agriculture in southeast England" -- there's our occupational variation. So, while the new scholarly trend cannot be boiled down into a simple statement, it is clear that the author's intent is to examine the many facets of the trend by discussing women in English cheesemaking. I hope that clears it up! (PS: I did think of another cheese joke to include here, but it was not very Gouda.

)

Victz · Answer

Most people, including this guy, got Q1 (primary purpose) wrong by picking (D). I analyzed this question for quite a bit and summarized the following lessons to prevent myself (and hopefully others) from making similar mistakes in the future:

1. Why I got it wrong? 
The wrong answer choice sounded much more concrete and reminded me of something I read in the passage:
 - particular occupation: yeah, that's cheese making
- prevailing view of a historical period: yeah, that's the old view
- counter: yeah, I remember reading old vs. new views 
--> so pick this, all these sounded familiar
SHOULD HAVE DONE: focus on the important relational word "counter" --> ask myself why was the example doing there: to counter OR to support the old view!?

The right answer choice sounded too vague and too general:
 - a particular area of historical research: hmm... not sure...  SHOULD HAVE DONE: use my brain a bit to think what this is: "women’s work in English farmhouse cheese making" 
- a general scholarly trend: hmmm... I know regarding women vs. capitalism, there is an old view being replaced by a new view, but I'm not sure if this is a general trend... so wrong! 
- exemplify: didn't even pay much attention to this important relational word, b/c in my mind I've killed this choice b/c of how vague and general this answer choice sounded.  SHOULD HAVE DONE: don't be too picky on the specific words, focus on the meaning of the sentence

2. What did I learn from it? 
 - 1. A primary purpose can sound vague and general
- 2. I can easily fall into the wrong answer trap when the answer choice has words that sound familar/appeared in the passage.
 
 3. How to prevent similar mistakes? 
When I read the passage: focus on figuring out not only THE POINT of the passage, but also THE PURPOSE of each example.
When I go through the answer choices: focus on the meaning of & relationship within the entire sentence, instead of focusing on words.

HustleG · Answer

Hi, could anyone shed some light on what the author means with the following sentence 'Comparing these three divergent developments yields some reasons for the differences among them'? What 3 three divergent developments is the author referring to?

Thank you!

Thank you!

GMATNinja · Answer

The "three divergent developments" are mentioned by the author in the previous sentence. They are the persistence of women in English cheese dairying, the early disappearance of women from arable agriculture in southeast England, and the early disappearance of women from American cheese dairying.

The author indicates that when we compare these developments, we begin to understand why there were differences. Then, the last two sentences of the passage serve to explain what made the English cheese-dairying developments unique:

In other words, the cultural values, agricultural conditions, and nature of English cheese-making accounted for the persistence of women in English cheese dairying.

I hope that helps!

KarishmaB · Answer

Main points of the passage:

- In current historiography, the picture of a consistent, unequivocal decline in women’s status with the advent of capitalism and industrialization is giving way to an analysis that not only emphasizes both change (whether improvement or decline) and continuity but also accounts for geographical and occupational variation.

This means that previously, historians thought that there was a "consistent, unequivocal decline in women’s status with the advent of capitalism and industrialization" but now they believe that there was "change (whether improvement or decline) and continuity and also situation varied as per geography and occupation"

- Example: Cheese making

-  In 1930, Pinchbeck argued that the agricultural revolution of 18th & 19th centuries curtailed women’s participation in the business of cheese production. Before this revolution, women had concerned themselves with feeding cows, rearing calves, and even selling the cheese in local markets and fairs.

So the author points out that Pinchbeck argued that prior to industrialization, things were better for women but they slowly turned bad with industrialization.

-  Though Pinchbeck portrayed precapitalist, preindustrial conditions as superior to what followed, recent scholarship has seriously questioned the notion of a golden age for women in precapitalist society.

Then the author says that Pinchbeck portrayed preindustrial conditions as superior but recently that notion is being questioned. e.g. women did not control the money they earned even in preindustrial era.

- By focusing on somewhat peripheral operations, moreover, Pinchbeck missed a substantial element of continuity in women’s participation: throughout the period women did the central work of actually making cheese.

Then the author says that Pinchbeck missed a factor of continuity from preindustrial to industrialization era. So it was not all change for the worse from preindustrial to industrialization.

- Finally the author compares differences across geography.

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

(A) present recently discovered evidence that supports a conventional interpretation of a historical period

No. Conventional interpretation is not supported.

(B) describe how reinterpretations of available evidence have reinvigorated a once-discredited scholarly position

No reinterpretations of available evidence.

(C) explain why some historians have tended to emphasize change rather than continuity in discussing a particular period

The author does not explain "why" some historians have tended to emphasise change. He says that historians (such as Pinchbeck) used to consider that the period saw consistent decline in women's status but now the historians are taking a more balanced view.

(D) explore how changes in a particular occupation serve to counter the prevailing view of a historical period

He explains how cheese making "supports" the prevailing view (change and continuity and also situation varied as per geography and occupation)

(E) examine a particular area of historical research in order to exemplify a general scholarly trend

The general scholarly trend supports "change and continuity and also situation varied as per geography and occupation". The author examines cheese making to exemplify this view. 
Correct.

Answer (E)

Sneha2021 · Answer

VeritasKarishma   GMATNinja 
Hi Experts,
Why Q3 - D is incorrect?

3. The passage describes the work of Pinchbeck primarily in order to
(D) provide a point of reference for subsequent scholarship on women’s work during the agricultural revolution 
The work of Pinchbeck provides a point of reference in 2nd and 3rd para. The work by recent scholars was in response to Pinchbeck's work. So why can't we say work of PinchBeck provides a reference to introduce a new point of view.
 
(2nd Para - Though Pinchbeck portrayed precapitalist, preindustrial conditions as superior to what followed,  recent scholarship  has seriously questioned the notion of a golden age for women in precapitalist society AND By focusing on somewhat peripheral operations, moreover, Pinchbeck missed a substantial)

Thank you!

GMATNinja · Answer

You're correct that Pinchbeck's work is used as a  point of reference  in the passage. However, the question is asking about the author's  primary purpose  in describing Pinchbeck's work. So let's start by considering the  author's purpose  in each paragraph:

Paragraph 1: To argue that an  old idea  (that women's status saw an "unequivocal decline with the advent of capitalism and industrialization") is giving way to a  new idea  (that there was both change and continuity along with geographical/occupational variation).  Paragraph 2: To explain how Pinchbeck's work is an  example  of the  old idea , and to cite other scholars who argue against Pinchbeck's idea of "a golden age for women in precapitalist society."  Paragraph 3: To point out another flaw of Pinchbeck's work (her failure to recognize the continuity of women's participation in cheese-making) which is typical of the  old ideas  mentioned in the first paragraph.

So, when considering the  author's purpose , we see that Pinchbeck's work is mentioned specifically as an  example  of the  old ideas  which have given way to  new ideas . In other words, her work is mentioned as an "instance" of ideas that are being "superseded," which makes (B) the correct answer.

The problem with (D) is not that the statement is inherently false. The issue is that it doesn't identify the author's  primary purpose  in mentioning Pinchbeck's work.

I hope that helps!

M838TE · Answer

GMATNinja 
thanks again for the detail writeup. However, could you help solidify my understanding on the following sentences
" decline  in women’s status with the advent
... The history of women’s work in English farmhouse
cheese making between 1800 and 1930 is a case in
point .....In her influential Women Workers and the Industrial
Revolution (1930),  Pinchbeck "
Is the boldface hist of women's work in eng farmhouse cheese.. providing a case of the change, i.e., on the same side as the author mentioning of decline in women status giving way to new analysis? or is the *case* in point here referring to pinchbeck's work? Or, it's just prefacing the discussion between what the author sees and what pinchbeck saw in her book? the face that *case in point* sentence followed so closely to the "giving way to new analysis" and pinchbeck's example followed back to back confused me into thinking that pinchbeck is THE example for the new analysis.

Lastly, the third para's tone in "disappearance from the arable agriculture in different geographical region almost sounded like it agree with pinchbeck's take on women losing business ability at the end of the first para... though, the author say the intention was to compare three elements: women in English cheese making, women in southeast cheese, and American cheese. I understand all these contrasting cues/words the author threw out in the second of third para to show how the author disagrees with pinchbeck. I just failed to see the logical chain that these three diff geographical incidence support her main spiel..?
this whole passage made me feel illiterate. 
Thanks in advance.

In current historiography, the picture of a consistent, unequivocal de

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In current historiography, the picture of a consistent, unequivocal de

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