Standard history texts rarely contain more than a few scattered and pe

Question

Standard history texts rarely contain more than a few scattered and pedestrian passages discussing male-female relations during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries-the critical period of feminist activism. The discussion in the available passages is usually restricted to the United States and Britain, limited primarily to the bare legal and social facts, and heavily weighted toward the later phases of the suffrage movement. So narrow a focus inevitably makes the suffragists appear a  transient and extra-ordinary phenomenon , 'for it screens out the gathering momentum of the women's rights movement throughout the nineteenth century. A fair survey of feminism would see the pressure for women's emancipation building from the 1830's and 1840's and reaching well beyond the issue of suffrage. In fact, the well-documented militant suffrage campaign emerged late in the movement and its bitterness derived from the fact that, by the turn of the century, the vote had become a symbol—to both men and women—of much more than electoral equality.

The customarily perfunctory presentation of feminism ignores the fact that a major shift in sex relations (let alone transformations so rapid and revolutionary as those industrialism has caused in the West) necessarily produces severe cultural trauma. What touches on conventions of manliness and womanliness risks intruding on the most sensitive human situations of all personal relationships between men and women. Although the women's rights movement therefore had nearly universal ramifications, most historians have treated it as a relatively minor, circumscribed phenomenon.

Surely, it should be easy to see that by the late nineteenth century— in the wake of at least two generations of feminist organization and crusading—this supposedly marginal curiosity, called by its unperceptive opponents the woman problem had become an earth-shaking debate of the Western world, fully as serious as contemporaneous class or national conflicts. After all, the world's largest oppressed 'minority was threatening mutiny—something no thinking person could ignore. None did. Even where feminist activity was minor or nonexistent, it nevertheless provoked deep concern and much discussion. Tolstoi, for example, in a Russia nearly untouched by feminism, was as worried about keeping women in their place as was Britain's William Gladstone. The woman problem was argued, shouted, and agonized about endlessly. By the final decades of the century, it permeated everything. It is difficult to find any major cultural figures of the period who did not passionately address the subject of the rights of women. As for lesser figures, the quantity of writings produced by now-forgotten feminists and antifeminists surely outweighs the material on any other modern social issue. For some — thinkers of the caliber of Nietzsche, Ibsen, Shaw the debate over sexual roles became an ever-recurring theme in their work, if not an obsession.    1 
 1. The author's primary purpose in the passage is to

(A) pinpoint ways in which the legal history of the women's rights movement has been misreported
(B) suggest alternative ways of screening information about the women's rights movement
(C) explain why the women's rights movement was inevitable for much of Western society
(D) present evidence that the early phase of the women's rights movement was as important as its later phase
(E) take issue with the prevalent treatment of the women's rights movement by historians

2 
 2. According to the author, most textbook discussions of male-female relations are unfair because they do not recognize which of the following aspects of the women's rights movement?

(A) Its duration
(B) Its bitterness
(C) Its militant aspect
(D) The pressures on its members
(E) The legal questions it addressed

3 
 3. The author refers to the political conflicts contemporary with late--nineteenth—century feminism in order to

(A) explain the bitterness of the militant suffrage campaign
(B) explain the longevity of the militant suffrage campaign
(C) suggest that there was a lack of communication between men and women
(D) suggest the magnitude of the women's rights movement
(E) suggest that feminists were a political minority

4 
 4. The passage suggests that many standard historical treatments of the women's rights movement have which of the following failings?

(A) They treat a narrow aspect of the women's rigths movement as though it constituted the whole.
(B) They suggest that the women's rights movement was one of the overwhelming cultural changes caused by industrialization.
(C) They imply that feminist activity in Russia was of little consequence.
(D) They argue about the women's rights movement endlessly.
(E) They contribute to the already overwhelming amount fo literature on feminism.

5 
 5. It is most likely that the author mentions the literature on feminism by obscure authors in order to emphasize the

(A) range of arguments that characterized writings on feminism
(B) pressure exerted on major writers to address popular concerns
(C) reason for the recurrence of debate over sexual roles
(D) pervasive concern with feminism among a variety of writers
(E) attractiveness of feminism as a topic for writers of fiction

6 
 6. The passage as a whole suggests that the author's attitude toward the idea that the suffragists constituted a “transient and extraordinary phenomenon” (  Highlighted  ) is one of

(A) amused tolerance
(B) grudging agreement
(C) deliberate neutrality
(D) complete disagreement
(E) veiled contempt

7 
 7. According to the passage, the militant suffrage campaign was important because it

(A) persuaded many writers to support the women's rights movement
(B) involved men as well as women
(C) symbolized a group of wider issues
(D) was based on the efforts of two generations of organizers
(E) provided the impetus for revolutionary societal changes

8 
 8. The author would probably view the discrepancy between the amount of information on the women's rights movement in textbooks and the amount written by the feminists and antifeminists mentioned in the passage as

(A) a cultural distortion that is characteristic of the twentieth-century
(B) a paradox that emphasizes the fundamental inadequacy of most textbook discussions of feminist activity
(C) an indication that the textbook writers have randomly selected aspects of feminism to discuss
(D) evidence that most of the overlooked material was written by people outside the United States and Britain
(E) evidence that the original writings have been deservedly forgotten   
    GMAT Club Reading Comprehension (RC) Quiz-I 2024   
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 Passage # 09  |  Date: 05 March 2024
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missionmba2025 · Answer

1. The author's primary purpose in the passage is to

The passage describes how standard history texts ignores a part of the women rights. The passage then builds on how the movement shaped and the significance it had on the writers of the late nineteenth century.

(A) pinpoint ways in which the legal history of the women's rights movement has been misreported

This is not correct. The author doesn't argue that the history of women's movement has been misreported. The passage provides us with information that some aspect of the movement was not reported and the writers only focused on the later part of the movement. Hence, we can eliminate A.

(B) suggest alternative ways of screening information about the women's rights movement

No alternatives are suggested. Hence, eliminate B.

(C) explain why the women's rights movement was inevitable for much of Western society

This information is presented only in the second half of the last paragraph. Hence, this option doesn't represents the main purpose.

(D) present evidence that the early phase of the women's rights movement was as important as its later phase

While the passage starts stating that the women's rights movement had started earlier than what is mentioned by historians, the primary passage encompasses other aspects as well. Hence, this option is narrow in scope.

(E) take issue with the prevalent treatment of the women's rights movement by historians

This is correct. The passage opens with "Standard history texts rarely  contain  more than a few scattered". The use of present tense indicates that the issue is an ongoing one. Option E is better than D.

2. According to the author, most textbook discussions of male-female relations are unfair because they do not recognize which of the following aspects of the women's rights movement?

(A) Its duration

Refer to the this part of the passage " and heavily weighted toward the later phases of the suffrage movement. So narrow a focus inevitably ". Hence, the author believes that the duration is not correct.

(B) Its bitterness

Not true. Eliminate B.

(C) Its militant aspect

Not mentioned in the passage. Infact the passage in its last paragraph supports the wide coverage of the movement. Eliminate C.

(D) The pressures on its members

No such reference is made in the passage. Eliminate D.

(E) The legal questions it addressed

No such reference is made in the passage. Eliminate E.

3. The author refers to the political conflicts contemporary with late--nineteenth—century feminism in order to

Refer to the first sentence of the last paragraph "Surely, it should be easy to see that by the  late nineteenth century — in the wake of at least two generations of feminist organization and crusading—this supposedly marginal curiosity, called by its unperceptive opponents  the woman problem had become an earth-shaking debate of the Western world , fully as serious as contemporaneous class or national conflicts"

(A) explain the bitterness of the militant suffrage campaign

This is not correct. The sentence emphasis on the outreach of the movement.

(B) explain the longevity of the militant suffrage campaign

While the sentence does mention of the timeframe "in the wake of at least two generations of feminist organization", indicating longevity, the main purpose was to show the magnitude of impact the movement had. Hence, eliminate B.

(C) suggest that there was a lack of communication between men and women

No such reference has been made. Eliminate C.

(D) suggest the magnitude of the women's rights movement

This is correct. The reference is to show the impact the movement had in the late--nineteenth—century

(E) suggest that feminists were a political minority

The reference is not correct. Eliminate E.

4. The passage suggests that many standard historical treatments of the women's rights movement have which of the following failings?

(A) They treat a narrow aspect of the women's rigths movement as though it constituted the whole.

This is correct. Refer to the first paragraph " The discussion in the available passages is usually restricted to the United States and Britain, limited primarily to the bare legal and social facts, and heavily weighted toward the later phases of the suffrage movement. So narrow a focus inevitably makes the suffragists appear a  transient and extra-ordinary phenomenon , 'for it screens out the gathering momentum of the women's rights movement throughout the nineteenth century ."
The author agrees that not all aspects of the movement was represented by the historians.

(B) They suggest that the women's rights movement was one of the overwhelming cultural changes caused by industrialization.

This is incorrect. We can eliminate B.

(C) They imply that feminist activity in Russia was of little consequence.

No such reference was made. Eliminate C.

(D) They argue about the women's rights movement endlessly.

This is incorrect. The passage has been written in positive light of the womens' movement. This option shows otherwise. Eliminate D.

(E) They contribute to the already overwhelming amount fo literature on feminism.

Incorrect. Infact the author in the first paragraph indicates how the movement was not documented in its entirity. Hence, eliminate E.

5. It is most likely that the author mentions the literature on feminism by obscure authors in order to emphasize the

The answer to this question can be found in the last paragraph " As for lesser figures, the quantity of writings produced by now-forgotten feminists and antifeminists surely outweighs the material on any other modern social issue ."

(A) range of arguments that characterized writings on feminism

The last paragraph talks about the impact the women's movement had in the late nineteenth century. Hence, we can elimiante this option.

(B) pressure exerted on major writers to address popular concerns

No reference to any pressure is mentioned in the passage. Hence, we can eliminate B.

(C) reason for the recurrence of debate over sexual roles

Incorrect. No such details is presented. Eliminate C.

(D) pervasive concern with feminism among a variety of writers

Correct. The writers in the late nineteenth century addressed woment's movement because of the concern. Refer this part of the passage " it nevertheless provoked deep concern and much discussion ".

(E) attractiveness of feminism as a topic for writers of fiction

The last part, " a topic for writers of fiction ", of the this option is incorrect. Eliminate E.

6. The passage as a whole suggests that the author's attitude toward the idea that the suffragists constituted a “transient and extraordinary phenomenon” (  Highlighted  ) is one of

(A) amused tolerance

The author doesn't show any tolerance to the fact that women's movement didn't receive its due coverage. This option is not correct.

(B) grudging agreement

The author doesn't agree that the movement was a transient one. Eliminate B.

(C) deliberate neutrality

The author is not neutral in his apprach. The author is in disagreement with the view. Eliminate C.

(D) complete disagreement

This is more inline with the tone of the passage.

(E) veiled contempt

This is incorrect. Eliminate E.

7. According to the passage, the militant suffrage campaign was important because it

The reference to the militant suffrage campaign is in the first paragraph (last sentence)

(A) persuaded many writers to support the women's rights movement

No such reference has been mentioned. This is mentioned in the third paragraph. Eliminate A.

(B) involved men as well as women

While the line does mention "the vote had become a symbol—to both men and women—of much more than", the reference to the militant suffrage campaign is to indicate the wide spread nature. ELiminate B.

(C) symbolized a group of wider issues

This is correct. Refer to the part " of  much more than electoral equality . "

(D) was based on the efforts of two generations of organizers

Incorrect. This reference is in the last paragraph.

(E) provided the impetus for revolutionary societal changes

This is the result of the movement as a whole not limited to militant suffrage campaign. Option C is better than E.

8. The author would probably view the discrepancy between the amount of information on the women's rights movement in textbooks and the amount written by the feminists and antifeminists mentioned in the passage as

Explanation

(A) a cultural distortion that is characteristic of the twentieth-century

No reference to cultural distortion is indicated in the passage. Hence, we can eliminate A.

(B) a paradox that emphasizes the fundamental inadequacy of most textbook discussions of feminist activity

This option is limited in scope. Hence, we can eliminate B.

(C) an indication that the textbook writers have randomly selected aspects of feminism to discuss

This seems correct. The author in the last paragraph mentions that huge writings was available by late nineteenth century. Refer to " the quantity of writings produced by now-forgotten feminists and antifeminists surely outweighs the material on any other modern social issue ". The passage starts with " Standard history texts rarely contain more than a few scattered and pedestrian passages discussing male-female relations during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries-the critical period of feminist activism ". Hence, not all writings of the movements were captured corrected.

(D) evidence that most of the overlooked material was written by people outside the United States and Britain

This is not correct. Eliminate D.

(E) evidence that the original writings have been deservedly forgotten

The word "deservedly " is a huge red flag in this option. Eliminate E.

Answers :
1. E
2. A
3. D 
4. A
5. D
6. D
7. C
8. C

mayankdgmat · Answer

1. The author's primary purpose in the passage is to

IMO C

(A) pinpoint ways in which the legal history of the women's rights movement has been misreported
Author never says it was misreported, it was minimal initially

(B) suggest alternative ways of screening information about the women's rights movement
No alternative way

(C) explain why the women's rights movement was inevitable for much of Western society 
Yes, at the end of 19th century movement become inevitable

(D) present evidence that the early phase of the women's rights movement was as important as its later phase
No, nothing mention abot relative importance

(E) take issue with the prevalent treatment of the women's rights movement by historians
No issue taken up, instead explained the chronology of movement from period prespective

2. According to the author, most textbook discussions of male-female relations are unfair because they do not recognize which of the following aspects of the women's rights movement?

Pl refer "A fair survey of feminism would see the pressure for women's emancipation building from the 1830's and 1840's and reaching well beyond the issue of suffrage."

IMO D

(A) Its duration
inconsistent with above para

(B) Its bitterness
inconsistent with above para

(C) Its militant aspect
inconsistent with above para

(D) The pressures on its members
consistent with above para

(E) The legal questions it addressed
inconsistent with above para

3. The author refers to the political conflicts contemporary with late--nineteenth—century feminism in order to

IMO A

Should consistent with "its bitterness derived from the fact that, by the turn of the century, the vote had become a symbol—to both men and women—of much more than electoral equality."

(A) explain the bitterness of the militant suffrage campaign
Consistent with above para

(B) explain the longevity of the militant suffrage campaign
inconsistent with above para

(C) suggest that there was a lack of communication between men and women
inconsistent with above para
(D) suggest the magnitude of the women's rights movement
inconsistent with above para

(E) suggest that feminists were a political minority
inconsistent with above para

4. The passage suggests that many standard historical treatments of the women's rights movement have which of the following failings?

IMO A

(A) They treat a narrow aspect of the women's rigths movement as though it constituted the whole.
yes, Passage says "So narrow a focus inevitably makes the suffragists appear a transient and extra-ordinary phenomenon"

(B) They suggest that the women's rights movement was one of the overwhelming cultural changes caused by industrialization.
No, it was mentioned in shift in sex relations

(C) They imply that feminist activity in Russia was of little consequence.
Russia example was given later in passage to show that activity was inevitable in every part

(D) They argue about the women's rights movement endlessly.
No, they were narrow focussed

(E) They contribute to the already overwhelming amount fo literature on feminism.
Nothing this sort od mentioned.

5. It is most likely that the author mentions the literature on feminism by obscure authors in order to emphasize the

IMO A

(A) range of arguments that characterized writings on feminism
Range of arguments is presented in following part of passage "It is difficult to find any major cultural figures of the period who did not passionately address the subject of the rights of women. As for lesser figures, the quantity of writings produced by now-forgotten feminists and antifeminists surely outweighs the material on any other modern social issue. For some — thinkers of the caliber of Nietzsche, Ibsen, Shaw the debate over sexual roles became an ever-recurring theme in their work, if not an obsession."

(B) pressure exerted on major writers to address popular concerns
No pressure was there it was poularity

(C) reason for the recurrence of debate over sexual roles
It was just one example, but no reason was given

(D) pervasive concern with feminism among a variety of writers
No concern was shown

(E) attractiveness of feminism as a topic for writers of fiction
Fiction was not mentioned anywhere

6. The passage as a whole suggests that the author's attitude toward the idea that the suffragists constituted a “transient and extraordinary phenomenon” (Highlighted) is one of

IMO E

(A) amused tolerance
No tolerance shown

(B) grudging agreement
No agreement is shown

(C) deliberate neutrality
no neutrality is shown

(D) complete disagreement
disagreement about what

(E) veiled contempt
Yes, contempt that focus was too narrow

7. According to the passage, the militant suffrage campaign was important because it

IMO E

"militant suffrage campaign emerged late in the movement and its bitterness derived from the fact that, by the turn of the century, the vote had become a symbol—to both men and women—of much more than electoral equality."

(A) persuaded many writers to support the women's rights movement
No mention of many writers support in above para

(B) involved men as well as women
it was not important because it involed men and women, but it done something for movement

(C) symbolized a group of wider issues
we dont know weather the symobilzed wider or narrow issue

(D) was based on the efforts of two generations of organizers
Which 2 generations, no mention

(E) provided the impetus for revolutionary societal changes
Yes, it was more than just voting right means it has revolutionary effect

8. The author would probably view the discrepancy between the amount of information on the women's rights movement in textbooks and the amount written by the feminists and antifeminists mentioned in the passage as

Explanation

IMO A

(A) a cultural distortion that is characteristic of the twentieth-century
Yes, culture change has led to increase in writing about movement by feminists and antifeminists

(B) a paradox that emphasizes the fundamental inadequacy of most textbook discussions of feminist activity
it is not paradox, it wasn't considered important earlier

(C) an indication that the textbook writers have randomly selected aspects of feminism to discuss
Either they selected randomly or knowingly we dont know

(D) evidence that most of the overlooked material was written by people outside the United States and Britain
No such evidence

(E) evidence that the original writings have been deservedly forgotten
No they are not forgetten they have just limited scope

Anugmat740 · Answer

1. The author's primary purpose in the passage is to

(A) pinpoint ways in which the legal history of the women's rights movement has been misreported- Author mentioned that it was underreported and not misreported.

(B) suggest alternative ways of screening information about the women's rights movement - Author does not suggest any alternative way of screening information.

(C) explain why the women's rights movement was inevitable for much of Western society - Refer to the line "Even where feminist activity was minor or nonexistent, it nevertheless provoked deep concern and much discussion." In this the author mention the women movement outside the Western Society also.

(D) present evidence that the early phase of the women's rights movement was as important as its later phase - Author main focus is on the critical phase when the revolution starts.

(E) take issue with the prevalent treatment of the women's rights movement by historians  - Correct, author mentions that the issue is not handled well and key aspect of the movement are not captured by many historians.

2. According to the author, most textbook discussions of male-female relations are unfair because they do not recognize which of the following aspects of the women's rights movement? 
Refer to the line "The discussion in the available passages is usually restricted to the United States and Britain,  limited primarily to the bare legal and social facts , and heavily weighted toward the later phases of the suffrage movement." 
(A) Its duration
(B) Its bitterness
(C) Its militant aspect
(D) The pressures on its members
 (E) The legal questions it addressed  - Correct.

3. The author refers to the political conflicts contemporary with late--nineteenth—century feminism in order to 
Refer to the line "In fact, the well-documented  militant suffrage campaign emerged late in the movement and its bitterness derived  from the fact that.." The militant suffrage campaign is not given its due credit in the movement.

(A) explain the bitterness of the militant suffrage campaign 
(B) explain the longevity of the militant suffrage campaign
(C) suggest that there was a lack of communication between men and women
(D) suggest the magnitude of the women's rights movement
(E) suggest that feminists were a political minority

4. The passage suggests that many standard historical treatments of the women's rights movement have which of the following failings? 
Refer to the line "A fair survey of feminism would see the pressure for women's emancipation building from the 1830's and 1840's and reaching well beyond the issue of suffrage." 
 (A) They treat a narrow aspect of the women's rigths movement as though it constituted the whole. -  The movement does not consider important events which leads to the women's right movement.

(B) They suggest that the women's rights movement was one of the overwhelming cultural changes caused by industrialization.

(C) They imply that feminist activity in Russia was of little consequence.

(D) They argue about the women's rights movement endlessly.
(E) They contribute to the already overwhelming amount fo literature on feminism.

5. It is most likely that the author mentions the literature on feminism by obscure authors in order to emphasize the 
Refer to the line "As for lesser figures, the quantity of writings produced by now-forgotten feminists and antifeminists surely outweighs the material on any other modern social issue"
This is mentioned to highlight the feminism issue is widespread among the authors.

(A) range of arguments that characterized writings on feminism
(B) pressure exerted on major writers to address popular concerns
(C) reason for the recurrence of debate over sexual roles
 (D) pervasive concern with feminism among a variety of writers 
(E) attractiveness of feminism as a topic for writers of fiction

6. The passage as a whole suggests that the author's attitude toward the idea that the suffragists constituted a “transient and extraordinary phenomenon” (Highlighted) is one of

(A) amused tolerance - No amusement is shown by the author.

(B) grudging agreement - The author is not in agreement of the view

(C) deliberate neutrality - Author view is that they are not fair.

(D) complete disagreement  - Correct, author agree that they are not a fair survey

(E) veiled contempt - Contempt is not the view of the author.

7. According to the passage, the militant suffrage campaign was important because it 
Refer to the line "In fact, the well-documented militant suffrage campaign emerged late in the movement and its bitterness derived from the fact that, by the turn of the century,  the vote had become a symbol—to both men and women—of much more than electoral equality. 
Other than vote other important issue related to feminism arises from militant suffrage campaign, symbolizing much wider issues than just electoral equality.

(A) persuaded many writers to support the women's rights movement
(B) involved men as well as women
 (C) symbolized a group of wider issues 
(D) was based on the efforts of two generations of organizers
(E) provided the impetus for revolutionary societal changes

8. The author would probably view the discrepancy between the amount of information on the women's rights movement in textbooks and the amount written by the feminists and antifeminists mentioned in the passage as

Explanation

(A) a cultural distortion that is characteristic of the twentieth-century

(B) a paradox that emphasizes the fundamental inadequacy of most textbook discussions of feminist activity

(C) an indication that the textbook writers have randomly selected aspects of feminism to discuss -  The author mentions that the historical writing is narrow, written only in contect of United States and Britain. It overlooked certain aspects. The included aspect makes them as extra-ordinary and key triggers for the feminist movement. The writing is not hollistically written and randomly selected.

(D) evidence that most of the overlooked material was written by people outside the United States and Britain - Refer to the line " The discussion in the available passages is  usually restricted to the United States and Britain "

(E) evidence that the original writings have been deservedly forgotten - It is forgotten but not deservedly.

IMO EEAADDCC

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Hello Everyone!

The competition mode is off, and you can see your responses now.

OAs are revealed.

E A D A D D C B

Official explanation will posted at 8:45 am Pacific.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

1. The author's primary purpose in the passage is to

Explanation

(A)  This option is not the primary purpose of the passage. While the passage mentions the limitation of focusing on legal and social facts, the main concern is the broader treatment of the women's rights movement, not specifically the misreporting of its legal history.

(B)  The passage does criticize the narrow focus and limited coverage of male-female relations in standard history texts, but it doesn't suggest alternative ways of screening information. Instead, it advocates for a more comprehensive and fair survey of feminism.

(C)  The passage doesn't primarily focus on explaining why the women's rights movement was inevitable. It discusses the development and significance of the movement but doesn't delve into the inevitability of it in Western society.

(D)  This option aligns closely with the passage's main purpose but it is not the best one. The author argues for a fair survey of feminism that recognizes the importance of the early phases of the women's rights movement and emphasizes that the suffrage campaign emerged late in the movement.

(E)   This is the correct answer. The passage consistently challenges the conventional and narrow treatment of the women's rights movement by historians. It argues for a broader, more inclusive, and nuanced understanding of the movement's significance.

In summary,  option (E)  accurately captures the main purpose of the passage, as the author is primarily taking issue with how historians have traditionally treated the women's rights movement.

Answer: E

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

2. According to the author, most textbook discussions of male-female relations are unfair because they do not recognize which of the following aspects of the women's rights movement?

Explanation

(A)   This is the correct answer. The passage suggests that standard history texts do not recognize the full duration of the women's rights movement. The author argues that discussions are heavily weighted toward the later phases of the suffrage movement, making it appear as a transient phenomenon. The author advocates for a fair survey that acknowledges the pressure for women's emancipation building from the 1830s and 1840s, well beyond suffrage.

(B)  The bitterness of the militant suffrage campaign is mentioned in the passage, but it is not the primary aspect the author argues is unfairly treated in standard history texts. The focus is more on the broader duration and momentum of the women's rights movement.

(C)  While the passage does mention the emergence of the militant suffrage campaign and its bitterness, the primary critique is about the narrow focus on suffrage and the failure to recognize the broader duration and momentum of the women's rights movement. The militant aspect is a part of this argument but not the central focus.

(D)  The passage does discuss the bitterness of the suffrage movement, but it doesn't specifically emphasize the pressures on its members. The primary concern is the overall treatment and coverage of the women's rights movement in history texts.

(E)  While the passage criticizes the discussions in standard history texts for being limited to bare legal and social facts, this is not the primary aspect the author is arguing is unfair. The broader concern is the narrow focus on legal and social facts, as well as the limited geographical coverage, which results in an incomplete understanding of the women's rights movement.

Answer: A

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

3. The author refers to the political conflicts contemporary with late--nineteenth—century feminism in order to

Explanation

The passage mentions that by the late nineteenth century, in the wake of at least two generations of feminist organization and crusading, the women's rights movement had become an earth-shaking debate of the Western world, fully as serious as contemporaneous class or national conflicts. The author uses the reference to class or national conflicts to underscore the significance and magnitude of the women's rights movement. The point is that the debate over women's rights was not a minor or isolated issue but rather a substantial and widespread societal concern, comparable in seriousness to major political conflicts of the time.

Therefore, the mention of political conflicts helps the author emphasize the magnitude and societal importance of the women's rights movement during the late nineteenth century.

Answer: D

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

4. The passage suggests that many standard historical treatments of the women's rights movement have which of the following failings?

Explanation

(A)  This is the correct answer.  The passage criticizes standard history texts for their limited focus on specific aspects of the women's rights movement, especially the later phases of the suffrage movement, and suggests that this narrow focus makes the suffragists appear as the entire representation of the movement.

(B)  The passage does not suggest that standard historical treatments make this specific claim. It focuses more on the narrow and limited coverage of the women's rights movement.

(C)  The passage actually provides an example of Tolstoi's concerns about women's roles in Russia, suggesting that feminist activity in Russia was significant. The author doesn't imply that it was of little consequence.

(D)  The passage mentions that the  "woman problem"  was argued, shouted, and agonized about endlessly. However, this is not the primary criticism of standard historical treatments. The main issue is their narrow focus rather than the perpetual argumentation.

(E)  The passage doesn't specifically address the volume of literature on feminism. Instead, it criticizes the limited and narrow coverage of the women's rights movement in standard history texts.

Answer: A

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

5. It is most likely that the author mentions the literature on feminism by obscure authors in order to emphasize the

Explanation

(A)  This option suggests that the mention of literature by obscure authors emphasizes the diverse range of arguments in writings on feminism. However, the passage doesn't explicitly discuss the specific arguments within the literature; instead, it focuses on the quantity of writings as a testament to the widespread concern with feminism.

(B)  This option suggests that the obscure authors' literature puts pressure on major writers to address popular concerns. However, the passage does not provide evidence or indicate that the obscure authors were exerting pressure on major writers. Instead, it emphasizes the pervasive concern with feminism across a variety of writers.

(C)  The passage mentions that the debate over sexual roles became an ever-recurring theme in the works of some major cultural figures. However, the mention of literature by obscure authors does not serve to explain the recurrence of this debate.

(D)  This is the correct answer.  The passage suggests that the quantity of writings by now-forgotten feminists and antifeminists outweighs the material on any other modern social issue. The purpose of mentioning literature by obscure authors is to emphasize the widespread and pervasive concern with feminism across a variety of writers.

(E)  The passage doesn't explicitly discuss the attractiveness of feminism as a topic for writers of fiction. It focuses more on the extensive engagement with feminist issues by a diverse group of writers, regardless of the literary genre.

Answer: D

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

6. The passage as a whole suggests that the author's attitude toward the idea that the suffragists constituted a “transient and extraordinary phenomenon” (Highlighted) is one of

Explanation

(A)  The author does not display amusement or tolerance toward the idea that suffragists were a  "transient and extraordinary phenomenon."  Instead, the author critiques this view and argues for a more comprehensive understanding of the women's rights movement.

(B)  The author does not show agreement with the notion that suffragists were a transient phenomenon. On the contrary, the passage consistently emphasizes disagreement with this idea and advocates for a fairer representation of the women's rights movement.

(C)  The author's stance is not one of deliberate neutrality. The passage conveys a clear perspective that challenges the conventional treatment of the women's rights movement, advocating for a more accurate and comprehensive portrayal.

(D)  This is the correct answer.  The passage consistently reflects the author's strong disagreement with the idea that suffragists were a transient and extraordinary phenomenon. The author actively challenges this view and presents a counterargument throughout the passage.

(E)  The author's tone is not contemptuous. While the passage criticizes the narrow focus of historical texts, it does so in a reasoned and assertive manner, not with contempt.

Answer: D

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

7. According to the passage, the militant suffrage campaign was important because it

Explanation

(A)  The passage does not specifically mention that the militant suffrage campaign persuaded writers to support the women's rights movement. The emphasis is more on the symbolic significance of the campaign.

(B)  While the passage mentions that the vote became a symbol for both men and women, it doesn't explicitly state that the militant suffrage campaign involved men actively participating in the movement.

(C)  This is the correct answer.  The passage highlights that the militant suffrage campaign symbolized more than just the quest for electoral equality. It represented broader issues within the women's rights movement.

(D)  The passage mentions that the militant suffrage campaign emerged late in the movement after at least two generations of feminist organization and crusading. However, it doesn't explicitly state that the campaign was based on the efforts of these organizers.

(E)  The passage does not suggest that the militant suffrage campaign provided the impetus for revolutionary societal changes. The focus is more on the symbolic nature of the campaign and its representation of broader issues.

In summary,  option (C)  is the most fitting answer as it aligns with the passage's emphasis on the symbolic significance of the militant suffrage campaign, representing wider issues within the women's rights movement.

Answer: C

cosmic_matters1 · Answer

Brother, you did not post explaination for question 8.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Here you go.

Official Explanation

8. The author would probably view the discrepancy between the amount of information on the women's rights movement in textbooks and the amount written by the feminists and antifeminists mentioned in the passage as

Explanation

Explanation

The author of the passage is critiquing the standard approach taken by history textbooks towards the discussion of the women's rights movement, particularly during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The author argues that these textbooks often provide only superficial coverage of feminist activism, focusing primarily on the suffrage movement in the United States and Britain while neglecting broader historical contexts and global perspectives. The author asserts that such narrow focus distorts the significance and depth of the women's rights movement, portraying it as a transient phenomenon rather than a profound and far-reaching social transformation.

The passage emphasizes several key points:

Limited Coverage : Standard history textbooks typically offer scant and superficial discussions of male-female relations during the critical periods of feminist activism. They tend to focus narrowly on the suffrage movement, especially in the US and Britain, overlooking broader historical contexts and global perspectives.

Neglect of Early Feminist Movements : The passage argues that the suffrage movement emerged relatively late in the broader women's rights movement, which had been building momentum since the 1830s and 1840s. The suffrage campaign, while significant, was just one aspect of a broader struggle for women's emancipation.

Cultural Significance : The author contends that the transformation in sex relations brought about by industrialization had profound cultural ramifications, comparable in significance to contemporaneous class or national conflicts. The debate over women's rights became a central and pervasive issue in Western society during the late nineteenth century.

Global Impact : The passage suggests that the women's rights movement had universal ramifications, even in regions where feminist activity was minimal or nonexistent. Prominent cultural figures across different countries engaged with the debate over sexual roles, highlighting the global relevance of the issue.

(A)  While the passage criticizes the way feminism is represented in twentieth-century textbooks, it does not suggest that this distortion is characteristic of the twentieth century alone. Rather, it critiques the standard approach taken by historians and textbook writers in general.

(B)   This choice accurately reflects the author's argument. The passage highlights the paradox between the limited coverage of feminism in textbooks and the extensive writings produced by feminists and antifeminists during the same period.

(C)  The passage suggests that textbook coverage is narrow and selective rather than random. It focuses on suffrage movements in the US and Britain while overlooking broader historical contexts and global perspectives.

(D)  While the passage acknowledges the global impact of the women's rights movement, it does not specifically attribute the discrepancy in coverage to material produced outside the US and Britain. Rather, it criticizes the narrow focus of textbooks on these regions.

(E)  The passage does not suggest that the writings of feminists and antifeminists have been forgotten. On the contrary, it highlights the extensive writings produced on the subject during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, arguing that they have been overlooked by standard history textbooks.

Answer: B

KittyDoodles · Answer

Hi Experts,

Please can you all provide a breakdown of the passages.

Thanks

kabirgandhi · Answer

GMAT Ninja, VeritasPrep

kabirgandhi · Answer

Brutal Passage. Can anyone help explain Q7?

Standard history texts rarely contain more than a few scattered and pe

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GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

Standard history texts rarely contain more than a few scattered and pe

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615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

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