Quote:
1. Which of the following statements best explains America’s sudden shift from isolationism to imperialism?
A) America was becoming a manufacturing nation, requiring markets for the disposal of surplus products.
B) The United States had an over-exaggerated opinion on the progress made towards industrialization.
C) Markets and investment fields of the world were being divided up among the United States' rivals in Europe.
D) America required overseas territorial possessions in order to encroach on the lands of its enemies.
E) The United States changed its foreign policy because the country was undergoing a commercial and industrial revolution.
Lets look at this part of the passage.
Quote:
Such strategic considerations, however, do not explain the whole of the new imperialistic policy. Economic motives played a greater part.
This is what option 'E' says. Hence 'E' is the correct answer.
Quote:
2. Which of the following best describes the purpose of the third paragraph of the passage?
A) to explain how military considerations were responsible for the rise of imperialism.
B) to describe the foundations of the Industrial Revolution and its effect on America.
C) to outline the territories affected by America's foreign policy decisions in the post-Civil War years.
D) to use the Monroe Doctrine as a metaphor for America's growing imperialism.
E) to provide the major and minor reasons behind the United States' policy shift in 1898.
A - author clearly says that military considerations were not the only reasons for the rise of imperialism. - INCORRECT
B - This passage does not discuss the foundation of industrial revolution in America - INCORRECT
C - Though discussed, this is not purpose of the 3rd paragraph. - INCORRECT
D - Monroe Doctrine links imperialism to military considerations and this is what author is trying to debunk, stating that economic motives are probably responsible for America's growing imperialism. - INCORRECT
E - This is the purpose - CORRECT
Quote:
3. Which of the following inferences is best supported by the passage?
A) The United States did not actively pursue new territories until 1898.
B) America declined Sweden's proposal to purchase its West Indian territory for largely economic reasons.
C) The United States was threatened by the economic success of countries such as Panama and Cuba.
D) Prior to 1898, the United States political leadership had largely pursued an isolationist strategy.
E) The motivations of American financiers were influenced at least in part by the military.
The whole passage is about America's policy shift from isolationism to imperialism and the year 1898 marked this paradigm shift as mentioned in the final statement of paragraph 1 . Hence 'D' is the correct answer.
Quote:
4. Which of the following is the author's overall goal in composing this passage?
A) To discuss the various changes in the US foreign policy at the end of the 19th century.
B) To present the reasons responsible for a new foreign policy development in a historical context.
C) To ascribe a shift in the US foreign policy to economic as well as militaristic considerations.
D) To contrast two different causes for a major adjustment in US foreign policy
E) To highlight the unfair annexation of three countries by the US during the late nineteenth century.
Tricky one. Options look so similar.
A - though discussed, this is not the overall goal. The overall goal is to ascribe this paradigm shift i.e. shift from isolationism to imperialism to economic considerations. - INCORRECT
B - Correct as discussed in A - CORRECT.
C - Author ascribes more to economic considerations than to military considerations - INCORRECT.
D & E are clearly incorrect