A Marxist sociologist has argued that racism stems from the class stru

My Notes:
Author says Marxist Sociologist's views --> Racism --> Class Struggle --> Capitalism

Author's POV -->
--> Agrees with MS's view on discrimination against blacks in US
--> But says MS 'definition of discrimination extends to --> Chinese in California and Jews in Med. Europe

However (Author questions the validity) the definition does not hold true for Chinese in California and Jews in Med Europe.
But what does MS do --> Disposes both the examples unconvincingly (Not convincing %)
Author's stand -- Presents MS's View and definition and questions the view with example and explain MS's response for other examples cited in passage.

Q1) The passage supplies information that would answer which of the following questions?

A. What accounts for the prejudice against the Jews in Medieval Europe?
B. What conditions caused the discrimination against Oriental people in California in the early twentieth century?
C. What groups are not in ethnic competition with each other in the United States.
D. What explanation did the Marxist sociologist give for the existence of racial prejudice?
E. What evidence did the Marxist sociologist provide to support his thesis?

Ans: D
Author presents the views of Marxist Sociologist that racism stems from capitalism. He tries to explain the existence of racial prejudice. Option D clearly mentions this.

Q2) The author considers the Marxist sociologist’s thesis about the origin of racial prejudice to be

A. unoriginal
B. unpersuasive
C. offensive
D. obscure
E. speculative

Ans: B
Author says sociologist's explanation about racism works for discrimination against black in US, but disposes of similar events such as discrimination against Chinese in California and Jews in Europe. Author then go on to say that sociologist disposes these events unconvincingly , which means author has not bought into the explanation provided by sociologist. This leads us to answer choice B.

Q3) It can be inferred from the passage that the Marxist sociologist would argue that in a non-capitalist society racial prejudice would be

A. Pervasive
B. tolerated
C. ignored
D. forbidden
E. nonexistent

Ans: E
Author does not present any other scenario where racial prejudice can occur other than capitalism. Sociologist says racial prejudice happens due to capitalism, so it can be safely inferred that racial prejudice in non-capitalist society does not exist.

Q4) According to the passage, the Marxist sociologist’s chain of reasoning required him to assert that prejudice toward oriental people in California was

A. directed primarily against the Chinese
B. similar in origin to prejudice against the Jews
C. understood by Oriental people as ethnic competition
D. provoked by workers
E. nonracial in character

Ans: E
In the last few lines, author says Sociologist disposes the other events rather unconvincgly and author says that sociologist does not believe the prejudice against oriental people in California was non racial.