Social historians have noted that European social and political though

Question

Social historians have noted that European social 
and political thought of the nineteenth and early 
twentieth centuries was marked by the popularity of
"grand theories," influential intellectual movements
(5) such as Freudianism or Marxism that attempted to 
account for a broad range of historical phenomena 
with a single, ambitious explanation. Freudianism, 
for example, views culture, politics, and other forms 
of social interaction as the products of specific human
(10) psychological traits that Sigmund Freud and his 
followers believed were universal. Similarly, Marxism 
sees these interactions as arising from universal 
economic factors. Such theories naturally tend toward 
historical determinism, the view that history develops
(15) according to universal and necessary laws.

Grand theories were sometimes so influential that,
in certain intellectual circles, challenging them was 
tantamount to denying scientific fact. In recent years, 
however, the authority wielded by these theories has
(20) been tarnished by the occurrence of events that do 
not fit them. In some cases, they have also been 
discredited by being linked to political systems that 
have been seen to fail or that have inflicted injustices 
on their citizens. It is not that works such as those of
(25) Freud and Marx, written in the nineteenth and early 
twentieth centuries, were implausible explanations of 
phenomena that preceded them, but that, as history has
progressed, they have been revealed as products of 
their era, possessing inherent explanatory limitations,
(30) rather than the universal truths they purported to be.

Despite the decline of grand theories, people have 
what one scholar calls "a nostalgia for determinism."
The attraction of grand theories was the sense they 
conveyed that history is logical and proceeds
(35) according to certain universal laws; in discarding 
these theories, we seem to have lost faith in historical 
determinism. But while we no longer believe in the 
deterministic explanations of history offered by grand
theories, we still long for the cognitive satisfaction
(40) provided by a belief in historical inevitability. This 
leaves us in a curious state of intellectual discomfort.
But perhaps this discomfort is no bad thing, for it 
might finally persuade us to relinquish the vain hope 
for inevitability and hence restore us to the
(45) contemplation of historical contingency, particularity, 
and novelty, all of which can serve as stimuli to 
serious thought. Perhaps what is needed is a historical
perspective that seeks to include, as grand theories 
did not and could not, the particular and unrepeatable
(50) details of historical events. Rather than forcing these 
details into an inflexible progression, such a 
perspective might instead explain history by means of 
laws that constrain rather than necessitate. In this way
it might permit us the kind of narrative satisfaction
(55) provided by the arrangement of events in a cogent 
story. In short, it would allow for the possibility of 
historical explanation without viewing history as 
fully determined.    1 
 1. Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main point of the passage?

(A) Social historians argue that grand theories, though serviceable in the nineteenth century, are inadequate given the complexity of twentieth-century events.
(B) Grand theories were too deterministic and so failed to adequately explain even the era in which they were developed.
(C) Though seductive in their logic and coherence, grand theories not only led to political injustice but also failed to account for certain universal truths.
(D) The decline of grand theories illustrates the futility of viewing history as fully determined and the importance of recognizing the role of historical contingency.
(E) Though grand theories neglected to account for universal truths, they at least provided narrative satisfaction.

2 
 2. Which one of the following most accurately characterizes the author's attitude toward the "nostalgia for determinism" mentioned in line 32?

(A) wary of its repressive political implications
(B) disdainful of its sentimentality and lack of originality
(C) sympathetic but mindful of its inevitable disappointment
(D) fearful of how it may prolong the influence of grand theories
(E) optimistic that it will help to limit the contemplation of contingency

3 
 3. Which one of the following most accurately describes the organization of the passage?

(A) description of a group of theories followed by a series of examples illustrating their predictive accuracy
(B) explanation of the decline in influence of a group of theories followed by a defense of their logical coherence and rigor
(C) identification of the mistake common to a group of theories followed by a discussion of an alternative theoretical perspective
(D) summary of the history of a group of theories followed by speculation regarding the future of the group
(E) identification of the essential features of a group of theories followed by a description of some of the salient differences among these theories

4 
 4. The author introduces the concept of "cognitive satisfaction" in line 39 primarily in order to

(A) suggest why the wish for history to proceed with the clarity and logic of a good story is a vain hope
(B) explain why the demise of grand theories gave rise to nostalgia
(C) show that the notion of satisfaction derived from the comfort of universal laws became less popular as grand theories declined
(D) question the applicability of narrative techniques to the unrepeatable details of human events
(E) argue that interest in universal determinants in history will decline as new narrative conventions develop
 
 5 
 5. According to the passage, which one of the following best describes the reason why Freudianism is considered a grand theory?

(A) It viewed human psychological traits as universal rather than particular to the individual.
(B) It had adherents who treated the theory as if it were scientific fact.
(C) It attempted to explain history in a way that provided narrative satisfaction.
(D) It attempted to account for a broad range of phenomena by means of a single explanation.
(E) It emphasized the importance of contingency, particularity, and novelty as stimuli to serious thought.

6 
 6. It can be inferred from the passage that the author would most likely agree with which one of the following statements?

(A) Since history is not fully explainable, we cannot hope for narrative satisfaction.
(B) Since historical contingency cannot be predicted, the study of history must avoid contingency.
(C) There are enough features common to all people's experiences to provide the foundation for universal laws of history.
(D) The works of Marx and Freud illustrate the historical perspective that should be used for studying events in the nineteenth century.
(E) The study of history is impaired by the imposition of universal patterns.

RC Butler 2023  -  Practice Two RC Passages Everyday.   
Passage # 48 Date: 06-Mar-2023
 This question is a part of RC Butler 2023 .  Click here for Details

Source:   LSAT Official PrepTest 82   
 Difficulty Level: Will be updated after 50+ timer attempts

PriyankaKommu · Answer

Hello, since these are LSAT passages and tend to be a bit more dense, how long would you recommend someone should spend on these passages while timing themselves? For each set of passage + questions? 
Thanks in advance!

Sajjad1994 · Answer

It depends on the length of the passage and the number of the question. For this particular question 4 minutes to read the passage and 7-8 minutes to answer the questions is fine.

Jiyaa22 · Answer

please explain ques 2 and 3

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

2. Which one of the following most accurately characterizes the author's attitude toward the "nostalgia for determinism" mentioned in line 32?

Explanation

The correct answer is (C) sympathetic but mindful of its inevitable disappointment.

The author's attitude toward the  "nostalgia for determinism"  mentioned in line 32 is sympathetic, as the author acknowledges that people are attracted to grand theories because they provide a sense of logical order and universal laws in explaining history. However, the author is also mindful of the inevitable disappointment that comes with such nostalgia, as grand theories have been discredited and revealed to have inherent limitations as history has progressed. The author does not express disdain, fear, or optimism about the nostalgia for determinism, but rather acknowledges it while recognizing its limitations. Therefore,  option (C)  is the most accurate characterization of the author's attitude.

Answer: C

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

3. Which one of the following most accurately describes the organization of the passage?

Explanation

The most accurate description of the organization of the passage is:

(C)  identification of the mistake common to a group of theories followed by a discussion of an alternative theoretical perspective.

The passage begins by discussing the  "grand theories"  of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, such as Freudianism and Marxism, and how they attempted to provide single, ambitious explanations for a broad range of historical phenomena. It then highlights the inherent limitations of these theories and how they have been discredited over time. The passage goes on to discuss the nostalgia for determinism and the cognitive satisfaction provided by a belief in historical inevitability, but argues for a historical perspective that includes the particular and unrepeatable details of historical events and allows for the possibility of historical explanation without viewing history as fully determined. This can be seen as an alternative theoretical perspective to the grand theories discussed earlier in the passage, which is presented as a solution to the mistake common to those theories.

Answer: C

Danush649 · Answer

Sajjad1994 
could you share the answer for question 6. I'm not able to verify the answer from the passage.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

6. It can be inferred from the passage that the author would most likely agree with which one of the following statements?

Difficulty Level:   700

Explanation

The author would most likely agree with statement  (E) "The study of history is impaired by the imposition of universal patterns."  This can be inferred from the passage where the author criticizes  "grand theories"  of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, such as Freudianism and Marxism, for attempting to provide single, overarching explanations for complex historical phenomena. The author argues that these grand theories have inherent limitations and are products of their era, and that history should be studied with a perspective that includes the particular and unrepeatable details of historical events, rather than imposing inflexible universal patterns. The author suggests that historical explanation should not view history as fully determined, indicating a preference for a perspective that avoids imposing universal patterns and allows for the possibility of historical contingency.

Answer: E

Shadyshades · Answer

Great passage ! 
Can you please explain the solution of Q4 ?

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

4. The author introduces the concept of "cognitive satisfaction" in line 39 primarily in order to

Difficulty Level:   700

Explanation

(A) suggest why the wish for history to proceed with the clarity and logic of a good story is a vain hope:  
This answer option is not correct because the author does not argue that the wish for history to proceed with the clarity and logic of a good story is a vain hope. In fact, the author suggests that such a wish is understandable, but that it is a hope that is better left unrealized.

(B) explain why the demise of grand theories gave rise to nostalgia:   
This answer option is correct. In line 39, the author introduces the concept of "cognitive satisfaction" in order to explain why people still long for historical determinism, despite the decline of grand theories. The author suggests that the attraction of grand theories was the sense they conveyed that history is logical and proceeds according to certain universal laws, and that people miss this sense of certainty and inevitability.

(C) show that the notion of satisfaction derived from the comfort of universal laws became less popular as grand theories declined:  
This answer option is not correct because the author does not suggest that the notion of satisfaction derived from the comfort of universal laws became less popular as grand theories declined. Rather, the author suggests that people still long for historical determinism, despite the decline of grand theories.

(D) question the applicability of narrative techniques to the unrepeatable details of human events:  
This answer option is not correct because the author does not question the applicability of narrative techniques to the unrepeatable details of human events. Rather, the author suggests that a historical perspective that seeks to include the particular and unrepeatable details of historical events, rather than forcing them into an inflexible progression, might permit us the kind of narrative satisfaction provided by the arrangement of events in a cogent story.

(E) argue that interest in universal determinants in history will decline as new narrative conventions develop:  
This answer option is not correct because the author does not argue that interest in universal determinants in history will decline as new narrative conventions develop. Rather, the author suggests that a historical perspective that seeks to include the particular and unrepeatable details of historical events, rather than forcing them into an inflexible progression, might permit us the kind of narrative satisfaction provided by the arrangement of events in a cogent story.

Answer: B

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Social historians have noted that European social and political though

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Social historians have noted that European social and political though

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