1. The passage suggests that Ferguson would be most likely to agree with which of the following claims about the “multiplier effect” (Highlighted)?

Difficulty Level: 650

Explanation

STEP 1: ANALYZE THE QUESTION STEM

The key word “suggests” identifies this as an Inference question. The correct answer will be fully supported by information in the passage about Ferguson’s point of view on the “multiplier effect.”

STEP 2: RESEARCH THE RELEVANT TEXT

The additional context clue “multiplier effect” and the line number in the question direct your research to the first paragraph. The first words of the sentence in line identify the description of the “multiplier effect” that follows as that of Behrman, not Ferguson. Skim this section to refresh your memory of the “multiplier effect.” The passage map locates Ferguson’s opinion in the beginning of the second paragraph, so reread that section as well, specifically looking for Ferguson’s view of Behrman’s discussion of the “multiplier effect.”

STEP 3: MAKE A PREDICTION

Behrman describes the “multiplier effect” as the mechanism by which each dollar of distributed Marshall Plan funds resulted in an additional four to six dollars made available for use by the European national banks. Lines in the passage state “Ferguson concedes Behrman’s economic analysis,” but Ferguson goes on to dispute Behrman’s conclusion. Predict that the correct answer will include “the multiplier effect is valid,” “Behrman’s conclusion is incorrect,” or both. Notice that, once you clearly understand the relationship of the two historians’ views, a detailed understanding of the mechanism of the “multiplier effect” is unnecessary.

STEP 6: EVALUATE THE ANSWER CHOICES

(B) matches both concepts in the prediction and is correct.

(A) is a distortion of Ferguson’s view. Ferguson agrees with Behrman’s economic analysis, but not Behrman’s assessment of the impact of the “multiplier effect.”

(C) is not mentioned in the passage and is incorrect. Be careful if you happen to know that some nonparticipating countries were hostile to the Marshall Plan; the text only discusses the United States and the participating Western European countries.

(D) and (E) are misused details from the passage that answer the wrong question. (D) is Behrman’s view, and (E) is LaFeber’s view; neither is Ferguson’s.

Answer: B

2. Which of the following statements best describes the function of the last sentence in the passage?

Difficulty Level: 650

Explanation

STEP 1: ANALYZE THE QUESTION STEM

The phrase “best describes the function . . .” identifies this as a Logic question. The correct answer to a Logic question will explain how or why the author uses a feature of the passage, not the content of the feature. The context clue “last sentence in the passage” identifies the feature.

STEP 2: RESEARCH THE RELEVANT TEXT

Always begin the research for a Logic question with the purpose of the passage; then predict the relationship of the specified feature to the author’s purpose. From the passage map, the author’s purpose is to “describe three historians’ views” of the Marshall Plan. The final sentence is one of those views, that of LaFeber, who is described as critical of the motives of the United States in offering the Marshall Plan; he believes the Marshall Plan was primarily intended to bind the U.S. and European economies and to revitalize industry in the United States. Consult the passage map to refresh your memory of the opinions of the other two historians: “Many historians” think it was very good; Behrman is firmly in the “Marshall Plan was a success” camp; and Ferguson is somewhere in the middle.

STEP 3: MAKE A PREDICTION

A good prediction would be to describe a historian’s view that is critical of the Marshall Plan.

STEP 4: EVALUATE THE ANSWER CHOICES

(A) matches the prediction and is correct. The “many” historians in the first sentence believe the Marshall Plan was a major foreign policy success. LaFeber’s view undermines this idea by pointing out the possibility that the intended benefit of the Marshall Plan devolved to the United States, not Europe.

(B) is not discussed in the passage and is incorrect. The author simply presents the differing views of the historians and does not “resolve” them.

(C) and (E) are 180, or opposite, choices. In the last sentence, LaFeber is challenging, not supporting, the idea that the Marshall Plan was a foreign-policy success.

(D) is a misused detail from the text. The passage discusses the “multiplier effect” that impacted the return on the dollars spent on the Marshall Plan, but LaFeber’s view on the “multiplier effect” is not mentioned.

Answer: A