Many scholars believe that official medieval persecutions of various

Question

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.

Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument that the scholars' belief is questionable?

(A) Official persecutions in medieval times were   usually preceded by officially sanctioned   propaganda campaigns vilifying the groups to be   persecuted.

(B) Medieval minority communities often existed   under the direct protection of official   institutions.

(C) Some groups, such as those accused of witchcraft, were the victims of spontaneous mob violence as well as of occasional official persecution. 
 
(D) Many medieval leaders refused to authorize the dissemination of information misrepresenting the religious practices of officially protected minorities. 
 
(E) Convicted felons were often legally excluded from participation in medieval society, but this practice was seen as a form of punishment and not of persecution.

ankushsambare · Answer

Prethinking: Argument says scholars are wrong because
 
 little evidence of popular hatred 
 targets were groups challenging rulers  
We need evidence that supports  official persecution was NOT due to popular unrest  or  was driven by authorities instead .
Check options:
(A) Supports weakening scholars
Propaganda before persecutions = authorities creating hostility, not reacting to it → strengthens argument.
(B) Not relevant
(C) Mob violence doesn’t address official persecution cause
(D) Protecting minorities weakens connection, but not directly
(E) Not about persecution cause
Answer:  (A)

guddo · Answer

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.
 
 Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument that the scholars' belief is questionable?

The author questions the scholars’ view that medieval authorities persecuted minority groups reluctantly, merely to calm popular hostility. The best strengthener should suggest that the persecutions were driven by the authorities themselves, not by preexisting popular unrest.  Official propaganda before persecution  would strongly support that idea.

(A) Official persecutions in medieval times were usually preceded by officially sanctioned propaganda campaigns vilifying the groups to be persecuted.

Correct. If authorities first spread propaganda against the groups they later persecuted, then the persecution looks less like a reluctant response to popular hostility and more like an official campaign created or encouraged by the authorities.

(B) Medieval minority communities often existed under the direct protection of official institutions.

Wrong. This could even support the scholars’ view that authorities were not naturally hostile to minority groups.

(C) Some groups, such as those accused of witchcraft, were the victims of spontaneous mob violence as well as of occasional official persecution.

Wrong. This supports the idea that popular hostility sometimes existed, so it does not strengthen the author’s challenge.

(D) Many medieval leaders refused to authorize the dissemination of information misrepresenting the religious practices of officially protected minorities.

Wrong. This suggests some leaders protected minorities from false attacks, which does not support the idea that official persecution was driven by authorities.

(E) Convicted felons were often legally excluded from participation in medieval society, but this practice was seen as a form of punishment and not of persecution.

Wrong. This is about felons and punishment, not minority-group persecution.

Answer: (A)

yc168 · Answer

OE for reference:

Overview:  
The argument's conclusion is that a certain explanation for medieval authorities' persecution of minority groups is "highly questionable." The explanation that the argument challenges is that "official 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." Two points are presented in support of this challenge.

To answer this question, you need to determine which answer choice provides information that would most strengthen the case already made against the view that medieval authorities were reluctant to persecute minority groups and did so only to soothe popular unrest caused by underlying popular hostility to the groups in question. That is, you should pick the answer choice that, when combined with the two points already made in the argument, makes the strongest case  against  that view.

The Correct Answer:

A  This answer choice strongly suggests that medieval authorities who persecuted minorities were motivated by their own ill will toward those minorities. This fits very well with the second point that the argument raised—that medieval authorities carried out persecutions that targeted exactly those groups that most effectively disputed the authorities' right to govern. And most importantly, (A) directly undercuts the view that official persecutions were carried out reluctantly by authorities who sought only to soothe popular unrest caused by underlying popular hostility. If the authorities were concerned with soothing this popular unrest, they would not launch propaganda campaigns that are presumably aimed at encouraging popular hostility. Since the scholars held that medieval authorities were reluctant to persecute minorities, (A) strengthens the case against the scholars' belief.

The Incorrect Answer Choices:

B  This statement suggests that medieval minority communities might have needed to be protected against the hostility of various elements of the population. But in that case, it is more likely that popular hostility to minorities was a persistent problem and, therefore, more likely that the authorities undertook persecutions of minority groups reluctantly and only in order to soothe such unrest. So (B) does not strengthen the argument's case against the scholars' belief, but actually weakens it.

C  This answer choice suggests that popular hostility toward a group could result in serious public unrest. This could have given medieval authorities an incentive for acting in ways that would soothe such unrest. So (C) reinforces the scholars' view rather than strengthening the argument against it.

D  This statement provides some support for the view that the medieval authorities themselves were not hostile to minority groups. And it thus provides some support for the scholars' view that the authorities were reluctant to undertake the persecution of such groups.

E  The issue in the argument is whether certain scholars have correctly explained medieval authorities' persecutions of minority groups. Information to the effect that convicted felons were not considered victims of persecution tells us nothing about how minority groups came to be victims of official persecution. So (E) does nothing to strengthen the argument against the scholars' view.

Many scholars believe that official medieval persecutions of various

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 Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

Many scholars believe that official medieval persecutions of various

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