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Difficulty:
65%
(hard)
Question Stats:
54% (01:46) correct
46%
(02:36)
wrong
based on 35
sessions
History
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Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Many scholars believe that official medieval persecutions of various minority groups were undertaken very reluctantly by medieval authorities and only in order to soothe popular unrest caused by underlying popular hostility to the groups in question. This belief is highly questionable. For one thing, there are few indications of any profound underlying popular hostility toward persecuted groups in cases where persecutions were particularly violent and sustained. For another, the most serious and widespread persecutions carried out by medieval authorities seem to have had as targets exactly those groups that most effectively disputed these authorities' right to govern.
The argument proceeds by
(A) referring to the large numbers of scholarly adherents of a certain view to support the claim that the view is correct
(B) providing reasons to suspect the reliability of any conclusions based on evidence concerning the distant past
(C) attempting to make a particular comparison seem absurd by adducing evidence that suggests that the events compared share only traits that are irrelevant to the claim the comparison is intended to support
(D) citing both a lack of evidence supporting a particular explanation and further evidence that suggests an alternative explanation
(E) establishing a general principle and using the principle to justify a conclusion about a particular category of cases
The argument proceeds by
(A) referring to the large numbers of scholarly adherents of a certain view to support the claim that the view is correct
(B) providing reasons to suspect the reliability of any conclusions based on evidence concerning the distant past
(C) attempting to make a particular comparison seem absurd by adducing evidence that suggests that the events compared share only traits that are irrelevant to the claim the comparison is intended to support
(D) citing both a lack of evidence supporting a particular explanation and further evidence that suggests an alternative explanation
(E) establishing a general principle and using the principle to justify a conclusion about a particular category of cases
10 May 2026, 10:10
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Prethinking: Author is attacking a belief by showing lack of evidence for it + giving alternative reason for persecutions.
Check options:
(A) Not about number of scholars → irrelevant
(B) Not about reliability of history in general → too broad
(C) No comparison made → wrong
(D) Matches exactly: no evidence for popular hostility + alternative explanation (political threat to authorities)
(E) No general principle used → wrong
Answer: (D)
Check options:
(A) Not about number of scholars → irrelevant
(B) Not about reliability of history in general → too broad
(C) No comparison made → wrong
(D) Matches exactly: no evidence for popular hostility + alternative explanation (political threat to authorities)
(E) No general principle used → wrong
Answer: (D)
10 May 2026, 13:45
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Many scholars believe that official medieval persecutions of various minority groups were undertaken very reluctantly by medieval authorities and only in order to soothe popular unrest caused by underlying popular hostility to the groups in question. This belief is highly questionable. For one thing, there are few indications of any profound underlying popular hostility toward persecuted groups in cases where persecutions were particularly violent and sustained. For another, the most serious and widespread persecutions carried out by medieval authorities seem to have had as targets exactly those groups that most effectively disputed these authorities' right to govern.
The argument proceeds by
The argument challenges the scholars’ explanation that medieval authorities persecuted minority groups mainly to calm popular hostility. It does so in two ways: first, it says there is little evidence of such popular hostility in the worst cases; second, it suggests another explanation, namely that authorities targeted groups that challenged their power. So the argument uses both absence of support and an alternative explanation.
(A) referring to the large numbers of scholarly adherents of a certain view to support the claim that the view is correct
Wrong. The argument does not use the number of scholars as support. It challenges the scholars’ view.
(B) providing reasons to suspect the reliability of any conclusions based on evidence concerning the distant past
Wrong. The argument does not say historical evidence generally is unreliable. It uses historical evidence to make its point.
(C) attempting to make a particular comparison seem absurd by adducing evidence that suggests that the events compared share only traits that are irrelevant to the claim the comparison is intended to support
Wrong. There is no central comparison being attacked in this way.
(D) citing both a lack of evidence supporting a particular explanation and further evidence that suggests an alternative explanation
Correct. The lack of evidence is the lack of signs of deep popular hostility. The alternative explanation is that authorities persecuted groups that challenged their right to govern.
(E) establishing a general principle and using the principle to justify a conclusion about a particular category of cases
Wrong. The argument does not establish a general rule and then apply it. It directly evaluates a specific historical explanation.
Answer: (D)
The argument proceeds by
The argument challenges the scholars’ explanation that medieval authorities persecuted minority groups mainly to calm popular hostility. It does so in two ways: first, it says there is little evidence of such popular hostility in the worst cases; second, it suggests another explanation, namely that authorities targeted groups that challenged their power. So the argument uses both absence of support and an alternative explanation.
(A) referring to the large numbers of scholarly adherents of a certain view to support the claim that the view is correct
Wrong. The argument does not use the number of scholars as support. It challenges the scholars’ view.
(B) providing reasons to suspect the reliability of any conclusions based on evidence concerning the distant past
Wrong. The argument does not say historical evidence generally is unreliable. It uses historical evidence to make its point.
(C) attempting to make a particular comparison seem absurd by adducing evidence that suggests that the events compared share only traits that are irrelevant to the claim the comparison is intended to support
Wrong. There is no central comparison being attacked in this way.
(D) citing both a lack of evidence supporting a particular explanation and further evidence that suggests an alternative explanation
Correct. The lack of evidence is the lack of signs of deep popular hostility. The alternative explanation is that authorities persecuted groups that challenged their right to govern.
(E) establishing a general principle and using the principle to justify a conclusion about a particular category of cases
Wrong. The argument does not establish a general rule and then apply it. It directly evaluates a specific historical explanation.
Answer: (D)
