The founders of the Republic viewed their revolution primarily in poli

Question

New Project RC Butler 2019  -  Practice 2 RC Passages Everyday   
Passage # 259, Date : 10-Aug-2019
 This post is a part of New Project RC Butler 2019 .  Click here for Details

The founders of the Republic viewed their revolution primarily in political rather than economic or social terms. And they talked about education as essential to the public good—a goal that took precedence over knowledge as occupational training or as a means to self-fulfillment or self-improvement. Over and over again the Revolutionary generation, both liberal and conservative in outlook, asserted its conviction that the welfare of the Republic rested upon an educated citizenry and that schools, especially free public schools, would be the best means of educating the citizenry in civic values and the obligations required of everyone in a democratic republican society. All agreed that the principal ingredients of a civic education were literacy and the inculcation of patriotic and moral virtues, some others adding the study of history and the study of principles of the republican government itself.

The founders, as was the case of almost all their successors, were long on exhortation and rhetoric regarding the value of civic education, but they left it to the textbook writers to distill the essence of those values for school children. Texts in American history and government appeared as early as the 1790s. The textbook writers turned out to be very largely of conservative persuasion, more likely Federalist in outlook than Jeffersonian, and almost universally agreed that political virtue must rest upon moral and religious precepts. Since most textbook writers were New Englander, this meant that the texts were infused with Protestant and, above all, Puritan outlooks.

In the first half of the Republic, civic education in the schools emphasized the inculcation of civic values and made little attempt to develop participatory political skills. That was a task left to incipient political parties, town meetings, churches and the coffee or ale houses where men gathered for conversation. Additionally as a reading of certain Federalist papers of the period would demonstrate, the press probably did more to disseminate realistic as well as partisan knowledge of government than the schools. The goal of education, however, was to achieve a higher form of unum for the new Republic. In the middle half of the nineteenth century, the political values taught in the public and private schools did not change substantially from those celebrated in the first fifty years of the Republic. In the textbooks of the day their rosy hues if anything became golden. To the resplendent values of liberty, equality, and a benevolent Christian morality were now added the middle-class virtues-especially of New England-of hard work, honesty and integrity, the rewards of individual effort, and obedience to parents and legitimate authority. But of all the political values taught in school, patriotism was preeminent; and whenever teachers explained to school children why they should love their country above all else, the idea of liberty assumed pride of place.   1 
 A 
 1. The passage deals primarily with the

A. Content of early textbooks on American history and government
B. Role of education in late eighteenth-and early to mid-nineteenth-century America
C. Influence of New England Puritanism on early American values
D. Origin and development of the Protestant work ethic in modern America
E. Establishment of universal free public education in America

2 
 E 
 2. According to the passage, the founders of the Republic regarded education primarily as

A. A religious obligation
B. A private matter
C. An unnecessary luxury
D. A matter of individual choice
E. A political necessity

3 
 C 
 3. The author states that textbooks written in the middle part of the nineteenth century

A. Departed radically in tone and style from earlier textbooks
B. Mentioned for the first time the value of liberty
C. Treated traditional civic virtues with even greater reverence
D. Were commissioned by government agencies
E. Contained no reference to conservative ideas

4 
 D 
 4. Which of the following would LEAST likely have been the subject of an early American textbook?

A. Basic rules of English grammar
B. The American Revolution
C. Patriotism and other civic virtues
D. Vocational education
E. Principles of American government

5 
 B 
 5. The author’s attitude toward the educational system she discusses can best be described as

A. Cynical and unpatriotic
B. Realistic and analytical
C. Pragmatic and frustrated
D. Disenchanted and bitter
E. Idealistic and naive

6 
 B 
 6. The passage provides information that would be helpful in answering which of the following questions?

A. Why were a disproportionate share of early American textbooks written by New England authors?
B. Was the Federalist party primarily a liberal or conservative force in early American politics?
C. How many years of education did the founders believe were sufficient to instruct young citizens in civic virtue?
D. What were that names of some of the Puritan authors who wrote early American textbooks?
E. Did most citizens of the early Republic agree with the founders that public education was essential to the welfare of the Republic?

7 
 A 
 7. The author implies that an early American Puritan would likely insist that

A. Moral and religious values are the foundation of civic virtue
B. Textbooks should instruct students in political issues of vital concern to the community
C. Textbooks should give greater emphasis to the value of individual liberty than to the duties of patriotism
D. Private schools with a particular religious focus are preferable to public schools with no religious instruction
E. Government and religion are separate institutions and the church should not interfere in political affairs

8 
 D 
 8. According to the passage citizens of the early Republic learned about practical political matters in all of the following ways EXCEPT

A. Reading newspapers
B. Attending town meetings
C. Conversing about political matters
D. Reading textbooks
E. Attending church

Source:  1000 RC 
Difficulty Level:   650

Gmat20201 · Accepted Answer

1 )The passage deals primarily with the

Soln:

Lets first get idea what each para of the passage is trying to convey

I Para-  The founders of the Republic viewed education as essential to public good and all agreed to it that education was utmost imp.
  II Para - But the task of what has to be taught was left on writers of Textbooks. And this writers were largely conservative ( like federalists) 
 and they universally agreed that political virtue must rest upon moral and religious precepts.
 III Para - Schools taught civic values and political skills were learned through other modes ( church/ newspaper/town meeting etc)In the middle half of the nineteenth century, the political values taught in the public and private schools did not change substantially from those taught in the first fifty years of the Republic. But of all the political values taught in school, patriotism was preeminent

Lets do POE for each question now since we have some idea what the passage is talking about.

A. Content of early textbooks on American history and government
 Yes the passage primarily talks about content of early textbooks ( refer para summary above). So lets hold this ans choice

B. Role of education in late eighteenth-and early to mid-nineteenth-century America- 
 Para I talks about the role of education that its important. But thats not the main idea. It is introductory idea so we eliminate B

C. Influence of New England Puritanism on early American values
 - Passage talks about Puritanism in Para II but its influence is not discussed overall. So we eliminate C

D. Origin and development of the Protestant work ethic in modern America
 - Not discussed about origin and development of protestant work. So eliminate

E. Establishment of universal free public education in America
 - Para I talks about free public education but that is not the main idea.

Ans Choice A correct

2. According to the passage, the founders of the Republic regarded education primarily as

" The founders of the Republic viewed their revolution primarily in political rather than economic or social terms. And they talked about education as essential to the public good" Para I
 
A. A religious obligation- Eliminate
B. A private matter - Eliminate
C. An unnecessary luxury- Eliminate
D. A matter of individual choice- Eliminate
E. A political necessity -  CORRECT

Question 3

3. The author states that textbooks written in the middle part of the nineteenth century

" In the middle half of the nineteenth century, the political values taught in the public and private schools did not change substantially from those celebrated in the first fifty years of the Republic. In the textbooks of the day their rosy hues if anything became golden" Refer Last PARA

A. Departed radically in tone and style from earlier textbooks - Eliminate does not match the passage info referred above
B. Mentioned for the first time the value of liberty- Eliminate
C. Treated traditional civic virtues with even greater reverence -  CORRECT 
D. Were commissioned by government agencies- Eliminate
E. Contained no reference to conservative ideas- Eliminate

4. Which of the following would LEAST likely have been the subject of an early American textbook?

"The founders of the Republic viewed their revolution primarily in political rather than economic or social terms. And they talked about education as essential to the public good— a goal that took precedence over knowledge as occupational training  or as a means to self-fulfillment or self-improvement. "

A. Basic rules of English grammar - Eliminate ( no where mentioned in the passage)
B. The American Revolution - Eliminate 
C. Patriotism and other civic virtues- Eliminate
D. Vocational education-  Correct ( refer the bold part above for reference, clearly refers to occupational training) 
E. Principles of American government- Eliminate

5. The author’s attitude toward the educational system she discusses can best be described as

A. Cynical and unpatriotic - eliminate. Last line of passage refers to patriotic feeling. 
B. Realistic and analytical -  Correct . Author is realistic as well as analytical  
C. Pragmatic and frustrated- no where hints frustration so eliminate
D. Disenchanted and bitter - no statement expresses this attitude so eliminate
E. Idealistic and naive - Eliminate

6. The passage provides information that would be helpful in answering which of the following questions?
 " The textbook writers turned out to be very largely of conservative persuasion, more likely Federalist in outlook than Jeffersonian,"
 
A. Why were a disproportionate share of early American textbooks written by New England authors?- Eliminate
B. Was the Federalist party primarily a liberal or conservative force in early American politics? -  YES ( refer lines above)- we can clearly ans this question that federalist party was conservative force. 
C. How many years of education did the founders believe were sufficient to instruct young citizens in civic virtue?- No where mentioned in the passage so eliminate
D. What were that names of some of the Puritan authors who wrote early American textbooks?- No names mentioned ,so Eliminate
E. Did most citizens of the early Republic agree with the founders that public education was essential to the welfare of the Republic?- We cannot answer this question . Para I talks about " All agreed that the principal ingredients of a civic education were literacy and the inculcation of patriotic and moral virtues, some others adding the study of history and the study of principles of the republican government itself." But all refers to revolutionary generation . We have no definite ans that most citizen of early republic agree or not. So do not get into trap ans choice. Eliminate.

Question 7

7. The author implies that an early American Puritan would likely insist that

"The textbook writers turned out to be very largely of conservative persuasion, more likely Federalist in outlook than Jeffersonian, and almost universally agreed that political virtue must rest upon moral and religious precepts. Since most textbook writers were New Englander, this meant that the texts were infused with Protestant and, above all, Puritan outlooks. "

A. Moral and religious values are the foundation of civic virtue-  Correct  
B. Textbooks should instruct students in political issues of vital concern to the community - Eliminate
C. Textbooks should give greater emphasis to the value of individual liberty than to the duties of patriotism- Eliminate
D. Private schools with a particular religious focus are preferable to public schools with no religious instruction- Eliminate
E. Government and religion are separate institutions and the church should not interfere in political affairs- Eliminate

Question 8

8. According to the passage citizens of the early Republic learned about practical political matters in all of the following ways EXCEPT

" In the first half of the Republic, civic education in the schools emphasized the inculcation of civic values and made little attempt to develop participatory political skills. That was a task left to incipient political parties, town meetings, churches and the coffee or ale houses where men gathered for conversation. Additionally as a reading of certain Federalist papers of the period would demonstrate, the press probably did more to disseminate realistic as well as partisan knowledge of government than the schools"

A. Reading newspapers- Yes
B. Attending town meetings - Yes
C. Conversing about political matters- Yes
D. Reading textbooks- NO
E. Attending church- Yes

Ans choice D

Hope this helps !

AniJain · Answer

Please explain Q2, Q4, Q6 and well Q8 too !

Abhinav_1630 · Answer

Answer to Q8 is mentioned in the First 3 lines of the last para!

In the first half of the Republic, civic education in the schools emphasized the inculcation of civic values and made little attempt to develop participatory political skills. That was a task left to incipient  political parties, town meetings, churches and the coffee or ale houses where men gathered for conversation . Additionally  as a reading of certain Federalist papers of the period would demonstrate , the press probably did more to disseminate realistic as well as partisan knowledge of government than the schools.

huongguyen · Answer

2. According to the passage, the  founders of the Republic  regarded education primarily as
Scope:  The  founders of the Republic  viewed their revolution primarily in political rather than economic or social terms. And they talked about  education as essential  to the public good—a goal that took precedence over knowledge as occupational training or as a means to self-fulfillment or self-improvement.  
 A. A religious obligation
B. A private matter
C. An unnecessary luxury
D. A matter of individual choice
 
E. A political necessity

huongguyen · Answer

3. The author states that textbooks written in the  middle part of the nineteenth  century
Scope:  The goal of education, however, was to achieve a higher form of unum for the new Republic. In the  middle half of the nineteenth  century, the political values taught in the public and private schools  did not change  substantially from those celebrated in the first fifty years of the Republic. In the textbooks of the day their rosy hues if anything became golden.

A.  Departed radically  in tone and style from earlier textbooks
B. Mentioned for  the first time  the value of liberty
C. Treated traditional civic virtues with even greater reverence
D. Were commissioned by  government agencies   -> not mentioned 
E. Contained no reference to  conservative ideas   -> not mentioned

huongguyen · Answer

7. The author implies that an early American Puritan would likely insist that
Scope:  The textbook writers turned out to be very largely of conservative persuasion, more likely Federalist in outlook than Jeffersonian, and almost universally agreed that political virtue must rest upon  moral and religious  precepts.  Since  most textbook writers were New Englander, this meant that the texts were infused with Protestant and, above all,  Puritan  outlooks.
 
A.  Moral and religious  values are the foundation of civic virtue
B. Textbooks should instruct students in political issues of  vital concern  to the community
C. Textbooks should give greater emphasis to the value of individual liberty than to the  duties of patriotism 
D. Private schools with a particular religious focus are  preferable  to public schools with  no religious instruction 
E. Government and religion are separate institutions and the  church  should not interfere in political affairs

GAngstA · Answer

for question 5th, i am stuck with option B and E, why E is incorrect.

bM22 · Answer

Hi  GAngstA ,

Naive would mean lack of judgement, but from what we can see in the passage, author is very clear in her points, she doesn't seem to be siding with any one view point and very realistically describes the educational system. Thus E is very much out of scope and option B is the better answer.

Hope This Helps.
Thanks.

JOBS07 · Answer

EMPOWERgmatVerbal   Sajjad1994   GMATNinja   KarishmaB

Can any expert please explain Q1. I am not able to arrive at A as the option. The actual content of the textbook is hardly mentioned anywhere (even in para 2). Only the attitudes of the writers of these texts have been mentioned.

Overall the passage seems to broadly emphasise on what was being taught/propagated in these schools and why was so done? (as in option B).

Not debating the OA (only if its official), but I need your evaluation.

Thanks in advance!

Sajjad1994 · Answer

I think  B  should be the answer. I am not sure about A being the OA.

VerbalBot · Answer

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The founders of the Republic viewed their revolution primarily in poli

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The founders of the Republic viewed their revolution primarily in poli

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