It is impossible to describe the arts in the United States without ref

Question

It is impossible to describe the arts in the United States without reference to our extraordinary ethnic and cultural diversity, but recognition of the full spectrum of different traditions has been slow in coming. The story of the realization of America's extraordinary artistic diversity can be told in three chapters, culminating in the fairly recent proliferation of cultural centers of color, and demonstrates that art, like life, can flourish in many different settings.

The settlement houses of the late 1800s, supported by private philanthropy and founded to provide artistic training, produce performances, and mount exhibitions, were designed to address the needs of poor European immigrants. As the communities in which settlement houses were located changed, so did their constituencies; and most of these organizations now serve communities of color. The oldest and best known,  Hull House  in Chicago, serves one of the country's largest multiethnic communities with immigrants from Asia, Latin America, Africa, and other parts of the world.

In the 1930s, a variety of visual, performing, and literary arts projects were initiated under the aegis of the Works Progress Administration and aimed not only at providing employment for artists but at generally encouraging a wide range of cultural expression. The achievements of these programs were substantial. The Negro Unit of the Federal Theater Project employed some 500 blacks in New York and produced dramas focusing on Nat Turner, Harriet Tubman, and Pierre Toussaint. The Federal Music Project featured all-black opera casts and preserved, recorded, and published Negro folk music, and thousands of African-Americans attended art classes funded by the Project in the South Side Community Art Center in Chicago and at the Harlem Art Center.

The 1960s saw a grassroots movement among artists of color, when an unprecedented number of college-trained artists of color who possessed an understanding of the art forms of the larger society as well as those of their own communities, and who were tired of being rejected or stereotyped by established arts institutions, began to create informal groups and networks. They experimented with new artistic forms, often interdisciplinary, ethnocentric productions, in the process developing new audiences for the arts. The country was also in the throes of a cultural upheaval in which established models were challenged by young people from all racial, ethnic, and economic groups. Many of the cultural institutions established during this period, such as the Free Southern Theater of the Student nonviolent Coordinating Committee and El Teatro Campesino of the United Farmworkers, were integral parts of the civil rights struggle. The mood of activism, experimentation, and optimism was not limited to artists of color, but it was in this cultural ferment that the concept of nonprofit, community-based, ethnically specific organizations of color took root.

Many of the "culturally elite" regarded these efforts with skepticism because these "radical artists" attacked the prevailing view that tended to rate cultures and their aesthetics strictly by European standards. But the result was not the devaluation of one experience at the expense of another. Rather, ethnically specific arts organizations, by preserving and sharing their own cultural heritages, promoted the unique cultural and artistic pluralism of the United States.    1 
 1. The author is primarily concerned with

(A) celebrating cultural diversity in the United States
(B) presenting a definition of art and aesthetics
(C) explaining the concept of the settlement house
(D) describing the realization of America's artistic diversity
(E) encouraging the growth of cultural centers

2 
 2. The author's purpose in mentioning Hull House ( Highlighted ) is to

(A) give an illustration of an ethnically specific arts organization of color
(B) explain in further detail the process of establishing a settlement house
(C) show how patterns of immigration help determine the ethnic make-up of communities
(D) provide an example of a settlement house that now serves a community of color
(E) describe a model for cultural centers that serve ethnically diverse communities

3 
 3. According to the passage, all of the following are true of the artists of color who worked during the 1960s EXCEPT:

(A) They developed new forms of artistic expression.
(B) They contributed to the civil rights movement.
(C) They worked with people fromother disciplines.
(D) They often focused on their own ethnic traditions.
(E) They benefited greatly from government grants.

4 
 4. The passage suggests that the primary function of the Works Progress Administration was to

(A) fund arts organizations
(B) encourage artistic expression
(C) establish cultural centers
(D) create jobs for the unemployed
(E) maximize cultural diversity

5 
 5. With which of the following statements would the author most likely agree?

(A) Familiarity with one aesthetic tradition can blind people to the beauty of an alternative tradition.
(B) Government support for the arts is necessary if culture is to flourish.
(C) Counter-cultural revolutions are most successful when lead by artists rather than intellectuals.
(D) The European tradition of aesthetics is less valid than the traditions of people of color.
(E) The cultural contribution of an artist depends upon the level of formal education attained by the artist.

6 
 6. The author regards the achievements of the artists of color of the 1960s as

(A) well-intentioned but amateurish
(B) innovative but unimportant
(C) radical and invaluable
(D) political and misguided
(E) predictable and derivative

RC Butler 2022  -  Practice Two RC Passages Everyday.   
Passage # 13 Date: 07-Jan-2022
 This question is a part of RC Butler 2022 .  Click here for Details

Source: GMAT RC Passages (Docs)

RohiniK · Accepted Answer

1. The author is primarily concerned with

(A) celebrating cultural diversity in the United States
(B) presenting a definition of art and aesthetics
(C) explaining the concept of the settlement house
(D) describing the realization of America's artistic diversity
(E) encouraging the growth of cultural centers

The sentence from the passage - The story of the realization of America's extraordinary artistic diversity can be told in three chapters.

(A) celebrating cultural diversity in the United States - author talk about cultural diversity but in terms of art and artists and not in general cultural diversity
(B) presenting a definition of art and aesthetics - doesn't present any kind of definition of art
(C) explaining the concept of the settlement house - settlement is mentioned only in the paragraph 2 
 (D) describing the realization of America's artistic diversity - Based on above copied sentence 
 (E) encouraging the growth of cultural centers - it is a part of the passage but not the theme

100mitra · Answer

5. With which of the following statements would the author most likely agree?  
  Actually this question stem is little tricky, I kept option A on hold and moved ahead, B,C D and E elimination was easy, and left with only Option A

(A) Familiarity with one aesthetic tradition can blind people to the beauty of an alternative tradition.
  Correct: the only option left, and supported by sentence in passage,” Many of the "culturally elite" regarded these efforts with skepticism because these "radical artists" attacked the prevailing view that tended to rate cultures and their aesthetics strictly by European standards”  
(B) Government support for the arts is necessary if culture is to flourish.
  Wrong:   Passage does not mention more details of government support to come to above conclusion, out of scope.
(C) Counter-cultural revolutions are most successful when lead by artists rather than intellectuals.
  Wrong:   Revolutions comparison between artists and intellectuals, not mentioned in passage, Irrelevant 
(D) The European tradition of aesthetics is less valid than the traditions of people of color.
  Wrong:   Tradition comparison between European aesthetics and people of color aesthetics 
(E) The cultural contribution of an artist depends upon the level of formal education attained by the artist.
  Wrong:   Irrelevant, Formal education has not been mentioned in passage, which contributes with cultural artists

6. The author regards the achievements of the artists of color of the 1960s as  
(A) well-intentioned but amateurish  – it was not unprofessional  
(B) innovative but unimportant  – it was important and innovative  
  (C) radical and invaluable 
– Correct, “The mood of activism, experimentation, and optimism was not limited to artists of color, but it was in this cultural ferment that the concept of nonprofit, community-based, ethnically specific organizations of color took root”  
(D) political and misguided  – No political involvement and Guidance was present  
(E) predictable and derivative  – due to diversity it was not predictable and more originality was present in the art by artists

RohiniK · Answer

2. The author's purpose in mentioning Hull House (Highlighted) is to

(A) give an illustration of an ethnically specific arts organization of color
(B) explain in further detail the process of establishing a settlement house
(C) show how patterns of immigration help determine the ethnic make-up of communities
(D) provide an example of a settlement house that now serves a community of color
(E) describe a model for cultural centers that serve ethnically diverse communities

copied from the passage -  The settlement houses of the late 1800s , supported by private philanthropy and founded to provide artistic training, produce performances, and mount exhibitions, were designed to address the needs of poor European immigrants.  As the communities in which settlement houses were located changed , so did their constituencies; and  most of these organizations now serve communities of color. The oldest and best known, Hull House in Chicago

Parts highlighted in blue will lead to answer choice D

(A) give an illustration of an ethnically specific arts organization of color
(B) explain in further detail the process of establishing a settlement house
(C) show how patterns of immigration help determine the ethnic make-up of communities 
 (D) provide an example of a settlement house that now serves a community of color 
 (E) describe a model for cultural centers that serve ethnically diverse communities

RohiniK · Answer

3. According to the passage, all of the following are true of the artists of color who worked during the 1960s EXCEPT:

(A) They developed new forms of artistic expression.
(B) They contributed to the civil rights movement.
(C) They worked with people fromother disciplines.
(D) They often focused on their own ethnic traditions.
(E) They benefited greatly from government grants.

copied reference text from the passage

(A) They developed new forms of artistic expression. - They experimented with new artistic forms,
(B) They contributed to the civil rights movement. - were integral parts of the civil rights struggle
(C) They worked with people fromother disciplines. - college-trained artists of color who possessed an understanding of the art forms of the larger society as well as those of their own communities
(D) They often focused on their own ethnic traditions. - college-trained artists of color who possessed an understanding of the art forms of the larger society as well as those of their own communities 
 (E) They benefited greatly from government grants. - not mentioned

RohiniK · Answer

6. The author regards the achievements of the artists of color of the 1960s as

(A) well-intentioned but amateurish
(B) innovative but unimportant
(C) radical and invaluable
(D) political and misguided
(E) predictable and derivative

(A) well-intentioned but amateurish - partly correct. First part is correct but not the later part
(B) innovative but unimportant - unimportant is incorrect 
 (C) radical and invaluable - correct 
 (D) political and misguided - no political intention was mentioned in the para
(E) predictable and derivative - irrelevant

mayankkkk · Answer

Can anyone explain question 5th and 6th?

RohiniK · Answer

4th question - text copied from the passage - 
the Works Progress Administration and aimed not only at providing employment for artists but at generally encouraging a wide range of cultural expression.

Not only ar providing employment suggests the answer choice D

Posted from my mobile device

RohiniK · Answer

For the 5th question - text copied from the passage 
Many of the "culturally elite" regarded these efforts with skepticism because these "radical artists" attacked the prevailing view that tended to rate cultures and their aesthetics strictly by European standards.

Which means culturally elite people were rating cultures and their aesthetics strictly by European Standards 
That means their were blind by European standards. This suggests answer choice A

Posted from my mobile device

gloomybison · Answer

I am not sure about Q4 and Q6...
For Q4 passage says "In the 1930s, a variety of visual, performing, and literary arts projects were initiated under the aegis of the Works Progress Administration and aimed not only at providing employment for artists but at generally encouraging a wide range of cultural expression" creating job for unemployed is a little bit off and too broad, you can attract talent from other organizations and still be technically provide employment...
Also how are we supposed to decide what the priority is in a "not only but also" sentence? I guess they are providing employment for artists and creating cultural expression are of same value

For Q6 ı picked A, though not %100 defending it. But how is C correct? I may understand radical since it mentions upheavals, rise of movements etc. but invaluable? really? 
ı picked A because it says grassroot (dictionary definition; the most basic level of an activity or organization) movement, kinda indicating an amateurish vibe and well-intentioned since many people fed up with rejections and stereotypes come together to build something

100mitra · Answer

Paraphrasing   
  Para 1:   Introduction to realization of America's extraordinary artistic diversity
  Para 2:   Since 1800, formation of small communities from various location 
  Para 3:   1930, literary arts projects were initiated & provided employment for artists, encouraging a wide range of cultural expression. Thousands of African-Americans attended art classes funded by the Project 
  Para 4:   1960 Tired of being rejected or stereotyped by established arts institutions, began to create informal groups and networks, developing new audiences for the arts. Art was not limited to artists of colour, but it was in this cultural ferment that took root for specific organizations of colour.
  Para 5:   artists attacking prevailing view to rate cultures and European standards resulted in preserving and sharing their own cultural heritages, promoted the unique cultural and artistic pluralism of the United States.

1. The author is primarily concerned with  
(A) celebrating cultural diversity in the United States
  Wrong:   celebration of the existence of a variety of cultural or ethnic groups within a society is not mentioned in the passage, but Author does mention about the formation of various arts and artists formation

(B) presenting a definition of art and aesthetics
  Wrong:   Author gives details about the art and artist formation from various regions, experience and not biased on colour, but does not define about art and aesthetics

(C) explaining the concept of the settlement house
  Wrong:   Author only mentions about its foundation to provide artistic training, produce performances, and mount exhibitions, were designed to address the needs of poor European immigrants, but as the communities in which settlement houses were located changed, so did their constituencies

(D) describing the realization of America's artistic diversity
  Correct: based on below lines from each para, indicates Author describing about realization of America's artistic diversity
Para 1: The story of the realization of America's extraordinary artistic diversity can be told in three chapters
Para 2: Hull House in Chicago, serves one of the country's largest multi ethnic communities with immigrants from Asia, Latin America, Africa, and other parts of the world – American artistic diversity example 
Para 3: arts projects were initiated under the aegis of the Works Progress Administration and aimed not only at providing employment for artists but at generally encouraging a wide range of cultural expression – development of American artistic diversity
Para 4: The mood of activism, experimentation, and optimism was not limited to artists of colour, but it was in this cultural ferment
Para 5: ethnically specific arts organizations, by preserving and sharing their own cultural heritages, promoted the unique cultural and artistic pluralism of the United States

(E) encouraging the growth of cultural centers
  Wrong:   Author does not encourage the growth of culture centers, he briefs about the formation of cultural centers

2. The author's purpose in mentioning  Hull House  is to  
  As mentioned in the passage   “As the communities in which settlement houses were located changed, so did their constituencies; and most of these organizations now serve communities of colour. The oldest and best known, Hull House in Chicago, serves one of the country's largest multi ethnic communities with immigrants from Asia, Latin America, Africa, and other parts of the world.”
 Settlement house = Communities = Example “Hull House”

(A) give an illustration of an ethnically specific arts organization of colour
  Wrong:   Hull House is not draw picture about specific arts organization of colour, but as mentioned in passage, it is largest multi ethnic communities with immigrants from Asia, Latin America, Africa, and other parts of the world
(B) explain in further detail the process of establishing a settlement house
  Wrong:   No explanation is given, only states as an example of settlement house 
(C) show how patterns of immigration help determine the ethnic make-up of communities
  Wrong:   Author does not show pattern of immigration, only shares details about the communities, who are interested in art
(D) provide an example of a settlement house that now serves a community of colour
  Correct: as per sentence from passage mentioned above   
(E) describe a model for cultural centers that serve ethnically diverse communities
  Wrong:   Hull House does serves a ethnically diverse communities, but Author has not described further details related to settlement houses and their models

100mitra · Answer

3. According to the passage, all of the following are true of the artists of color who worked during the 1960s  EXCEPT :  
 Lines mentioned in passage is marked as solution of question

(A) They developed new forms of artistic expression.
 who were tired of being rejected or stereotyped by established arts institutions, began to create informal groups and networks

(B) They contributed to the civil rights movement.
 Many of the cultural institutions established during this period, such as the Free Southern Theater of the Student nonviolent Coordinating Committee and El Teatro Campesino of the United Farmworkers, were integral parts of the civil rights struggle

(C) They worked with people from other disciplines.
 They experimented with new artistic forms, often interdisciplinary, ethnocentric productions, in the process developing new audiences for the arts

(D) They often focused on their own ethnic traditions.
 college-trained artists of color who possessed an understanding of the art forms of the larger society as well as those of their own communities

(E) They benefited greatly from government grants.
  Wrong: Not mentioned in the passage

4.The passage suggests that the primary function of the Works Progress Administration was to  
  Explanation:   as mentioned in passage, “In the 1930s, a variety of visual, performing, and literary arts projects were initiated under the aegis of the Works Progress Administration and aimed not only at providing employment for artists but at generally encouraging a wide range of cultural expression”

(A) fund arts organizations   – No  
(B) encourage artistic expression   – Trap! Its not artistic expression, its cultural expression.  
(C) establish cultural centers   – No  
  (D) create jobs for the unemployed – Yes   
(E) maximize cultural diversity   – No, they were encouraging, not maximizing

VerbalBot · Answer

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It is impossible to describe the arts in the United States without ref

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It is impossible to describe the arts in the United States without ref

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