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Question 3:

Modern cultural anthropology has its origins in, and developed in reaction to, 19th century "ethnology".

Does it mean ethnology is a branch of anthropology? Or Does it mean anthropology is a branch of ethnology?

I can not find any text from which I can infer the first case. And if bold sentence is the only reference than second case looks better.

But answer choice says it is case 1.

If it is given that A is a part of B, can we infer B is also a part of A?

I think that the key fact is that the sentence says that modern cultural anthropology has its origins in ethnology, not anthropology as a all. So in general, ethnology is a branch of anthropology, and Modern cultural anthropology developed in reaction to ethnology

I am not 100% sure that this is the correct explanation but I've seen it this way :)
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AkshdeepS
Question 3:

Modern cultural anthropology has its origins in, and developed in reaction to, 19th century "ethnology".

Does it mean ethnology is a branch of anthropology? Or Does it mean anthropology is a branch of ethnology?

I can not find any text from which I can infer the first case. And if bold sentence is the only reference than second case looks better.

But answer choice says it is case 1.

If it is given that A is a part of B, can we infer B is also a part of A?

oblivion441
Hi,

Though I got rest two questions incorrect, I got third correct. So, the second line of third para says that "Some ethnologists of this group".. from there I inferred that enthology is a branch of anthropology.


Could you please post your reasons for questions 1 & 2. It will be really helpful
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Wonderwoman31

Of course, I tell you my way of reasoning, even though I am not sure this is the correct way.

So for question 1, A is really attractive, although it differs from C because:
Structuralism= similarities due to similar thoughts
Coping with the cold is not as strong as developing similar customs and INNOVATIONS,
Plus "with no interaction and vastly different climates" is specified, and strengthen the argument, whereas it is not mentioned in A


For question 2, the answer is D because the author is explaining how ethnology was interpreted by different points of view and the effects that these points of view have had on modern anthropology.
C might be tempting although it is not about the theories OF m.c.a. but the theories that HAVE LED TO m.c.a

BTW these questions are REALLY tricky

Hope this helps :)
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Wonderwoman31

Of course, I tell you my way of reasoning, even though I am not sure this is the correct way.

So for question 1, A is really attractive, although it differs from C because:
Structuralism= similarities due to similar thoughts
Coping with the cold is not as strong as developing similar customs and INNOVATIONS,
Plus "with no interaction and vastly different climates" is specified, and strengthen the argument, whereas it is not mentioned in A


For question 2, the answer is D because the author is explaining how ethnology was interpreted by different points of view and the effects that these points of view have had on modern anthropology.
C might be tempting although it is not about the theories OF m.c.a. but the theories that HAVE LED TO m.c.a

BTW these questions are REALLY tricky

Hope this helps :)

Hi,

I wanted to specifically discuss question 1. So, the difference, I have understood, in choices is that in choice A people developed similarities when faced with similar situations. While, in Option C people developed similarities even when there were different situations.

I think the passage was saying the first. That is why I marked A. Please let me know your thoughts on this.
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Wonderwoman31
Yes, it is correct.
"apparent patterns of development reflect fundamental similarities in the structure of human thought" such as Inventions, that are similar in completely different cultures because the way of reasoning of humans is similar.

I think you chose A because you thought it was referring to "such similarities reflected similar adaptations to similar environments" while this is the Steward theory.
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Wonderwoman31
Yes, it is correct.
"apparent patterns of development reflect fundamental similarities in the structure of human thought" such as Inventions, that are similar in completely different cultures because the way of reasoning of humans is similar.

I think you chose A because you thought it was referring to "such similarities reflected similar adaptations to similar environments" while this is the Steward theory.

Hi,

Yeah, maybe I referred to Steward's theory and I should have referred Strauss' theory. But, while I attempting the passage, I re-read the passage and could not infer out Strauss suggesting Option C.

In case, it is clearer to you. Could you make Strauss' theory little simpler to me?
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Stewards says that humans react the same ways because they adapt to similar environments (as animals do). Whilst Strauss says that "pattern of development" lay in the similar way of thinking, which is directly related to innovations more than to reactions to similar climates
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I got 2 correct:
Q1 and Q3.

Hello Experts GMATNinja Sir, VeritasKarishma Ma'am,

Regarding Q2: How can the historical perspective be an answer?
The structure of passage is:
P1: Modern Anthropology is described and its derivation is stated
P2: Ethnology is discussed and one school of thought is detailed
P3: Second thought of Ethnology is detailed ( passed through similar phase of transformation)
P4: Disagreement among anthropologists for similar phase of transformation and further evidences.

All in all passage seems to describe the evolution of anthropology and it's theories.
I weigh C over D.
Can you please help me explain how D beats C ?

Regards,
Rishav
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I got 2 correct:
Q1 and Q3.

Hello Experts GMATNinja Sir, VeritasKarishma Ma'am,

Regarding Q2: How can the historical perspective be an answer?
The structure of passage is:
P1: Modern Anthropology is described and its derivation is stated
P2: Ethnology is discussed and one school of thought is detailed
P3: Second thought of Ethnology is detailed ( passed through similar phase of transformation)
P4: Disagreement among anthropologists for similar phase of transformation and further evidences.

All in all passage seems to describe the evolution of anthropology and it's theories.
I weigh C over D.
Can you please help me explain how D beats C ?

Regards,
Rishav

Rishav,

You are missing the common link in all of these: 19th century ethnology

Para 1: Modern cultural anthropology has its origins in 19th century "ethnology".
Para 2: A field of special interest of ethnology is discussed and a 19th century school of thought is shared.
Para 3: The other 19th century school of thought of ethnology is shared.
Para 4: 20th century anthropologists rejected 19th century ideas because of conflicting empirical facts.

All of this is in the past 19th century (1800s) and 20th century (1900s).

The passage is all about a historical perspective of 19th century ethnology.
Answer (D)

As for C- explain the theories of modern cultural anthropology,
we don't know the theories of modern cultural anthropology. The passage just says that modern cultural anthropology has its roots in 19th century ethnology. After that it discusses 19th century ethnology only.
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VeritasKarishma
rish2708
I got 2 correct:
Q1 and Q3.

Hello Experts GMATNinja Sir, VeritasKarishma Ma'am,

Regarding Q2: How can the historical perspective be an answer?
The structure of passage is:
P1: Modern Anthropology is described and its derivation is stated
P2: Ethnology is discussed and one school of thought is detailed
P3: Second thought of Ethnology is detailed ( passed through similar phase of transformation)
P4: Disagreement among anthropologists for similar phase of transformation and further evidences.

All in all passage seems to describe the evolution of anthropology and it's theories.
I weigh C over D.
Can you please help me explain how D beats C ?

Regards,
Rishav

Rishav,

You are missing the common link in all of these: 19th century ethnology

Para 1: Modern cultural anthropology has its origins in 19th century "ethnology".
Para 2: A field of special interest of ethnology is discussed and a 19th century school of thought is shared.
Para 3: The other 19th century school of thought of ethnology is shared.
Para 4: 20th century anthropologists rejected 19th century ideas because of conflicting empirical facts.

All of this is in the past 19th century (1800s) and 20th century (1900s).

The passage is all about a historical perspective of 19th century ethnology.
Answer (D)

As for C- explain the theories of modern cultural anthropology,
we don't know the theories of modern cultural anthropology. The passage just says that modern cultural anthropology has its roots in 19th century ethnology. After that it discusses 19th century ethnology only.

Thanks Ma'am,

I get it!! Closely looking, I missed the point that anthropology has its origin from "ethonology". So in a way P1 talks about what ethonology has given out.
Earlier I thought the central idea was anthropology.

Regards,
Rishav
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Hi All,

I am still confused with question 1 and question 3. In question 1 why it's not A?
A- Two indigenous groups, from separate and isolated polar latitudes, developed similar customs in coping with the cold climate.
When it's mentioned " from separate and isolated polar latitudes" and they still developed similar customs in coping with the cold climate. It can be due to the similarity in their thought patterns.

While in C ---
C- Two ancient cultures with no interaction and vastly different climates were found by archaeologists to have developed strangely similar customs and innovations. ---> It can support Independent Invention..

Q: 3 In question 3 we have in the passage "Modern cultural anthropology has its origins in, and developed in reaction to, 19th century "ethnology", "

When Modern anthropology has its origins in and its developed in reaction to ethnology than how it can be the branch of anthropology?
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Regarding Q3=>
My observation from the last paragraph:
By the mid-20th century, the examples of people skipping stages, such as going from hunter-gatherers to post-industrial service occupations in one generation, were so numerous that 19th century social evolutionism was effectively disproved.

If we take a hint from this, shouldn't Ethnology be synonymous to Social Evolution?
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VeritasKarishma why is option A wrong for Q2?
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VeritasKarishma why is option A wrong for Q2?

The primary purpose of a passage is the reason an author writes a passage. If the author had written this passage to "show that the basic tenets of 19th century social evolutionism are false", one paragraph would have discussed the 19th century social evolutionism and rest of the paragraphs would have showed why it is false. Reason 1 why they make no sense... Reason 2 why they make no sense... etc. But that is not the author's intent.

Para 1: Modern cultural anthropology has its origins in 19th century "ethnology".
Para 2: A field of special interest of ethnology is discussed and a 19th century school of thought is shared.
Para 3: The other 19th century school of thought of ethnology is shared.
Para 4: 20th century anthropologists rejected 19th century ideas because of conflicting empirical facts.

The historical perspective (19th and 20th century) of ethnology is given.
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VeritasKarishma can you please explain Q1 in detail and how to eliminate incorrect options? Thanks in advance!
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VeritasKarishma can you please explain Q1 in detail and how to eliminate incorrect options? Thanks in advance!

ayushgmatclub1

Referring to the passage, 3rd paragraph:

"Others, such as Claude Lévi-Strauss have argued that apparent patterns of development reflect fundamental similarities in the structure of human thought - called structuralism."

So structuralism is the fundamental similarity in the structure of human thought.

So people not in contact with each other and in different environments may have similar thoughts.

A- Two indigenous groups, from separate and isolated polar latitudes, developed similar customs in coping with the cold climate.

This says that the environment might make them establish similar habits. Incorrect.

B- Many of the customs of a South Pacific island culture are linked to the mainland cultures 3000 miles away; it is believed that some contact from primitive raft journeys took place between the cultures.

This indicates "diffusion" that the passage talks about.

C- Two ancient cultures with no interaction and vastly different climates were found by archaeologists to have developed strangely similar customs and innovations.

Correct. No contact, no similarity in environment and still similar thoughts. Points to structuralism.

D- Many of the modern astronomical and mathematical systems used today have been adapted from techniques developed by the Maya over 4,000 years ago.

Influence from previous generations. Incorrect.

E- Many important intellectual advances in human history, such as the development of calculus and evolutionary theory, took place independently of one another.

Different theories evolving independently. Incorrect.

Answer (C)
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VeritasKarishma why is option A wrong for Q2?

The primary purpose of a passage is the reason an author writes a passage. If the author had written this passage to "show that the basic tenets of 19th century social evolutionism are false", one paragraph would have discussed the 19th century social evolutionism and rest of the paragraphs would have showed why it is false. Reason 1 why they make no sense... Reason 2 why they make no sense... etc. But that is not the author's intent.

Para 1: Modern cultural anthropology has its origins in 19th century "ethnology".
Para 2: A field of special interest of ethnology is discussed and a 19th century school of thought is shared.
Para 3: The other 19th century school of thought of ethnology is shared.
Para 4: 20th century anthropologists rejected 19th century ideas because of conflicting empirical facts.

The historical perspective (19th and 20th century) of ethnology is given.


Hi VeritasKarishma,

Would like to seek clarification regarding this explanation. If the aim of the passage was to provide historical perspective of ethnology in the 19th century, what was the point of the author including the last paragraph? Why would he bother to add this paragraph explaining how 20th century anthropologists have essentially voided all truths to the work of the 19th century ethnologists?
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