The idea that equipping homes with electrical appliances and other “mo

Question

The  idea  that equipping homes with electrical appliances and other “modern” household technologies would eliminate drudgery, save labor time, and increase leisure for women who were full-time home workers remained largely unchallenged until the women’s movement of the 1970’s spawned the groundbreaking and influential works of sociologist Joann Vanek and historian Ruth Cowan. Vanek analyzed 40 years of time-use surveys conducted by home economists to argue that electrical appliances and other modern household technologies reduced the effort required to perform specific tasks, but ownership of these appliances did not correlate with less time spent on housework by full-time home workers.  In fact, time spent by these workers remained remarkably constant—at about 52 to 54 hours per week—from the 1920’s to the 1960’s, a period of significant change in household technology.  In surveying two centuries of household technology in the United States, Cowan argued that the “industrialization” of the home often resulted in more work for full-time home workers because the use of such devices as coal stoves, water pumps, and vacuum cleaners tended to reduce the workload of married-women’s helpers (husbands, sons, daughters, and servants) while promoting a more rigorous standard of housework. The full-time home worker’s duties also shifted to include more household management, child care, and the post-Second World War phenomenon of being “Mom’s taxi.”   1 
 A 
1. According to the passage, which of the following is true about the  idea  mentioned in the highlighted text?

(A) It has been undermined by data found in time-use surveys conducted by home economists.

(B) It was based on a definition of housework that was explicitly rejected by Vanek and Cowan.

(C) It is more valid for the time period studied by Cowan than for the time period studied by Vanek.

(D) It is based on an underestimation of the time that married women spent on housework prior to the industrialization of the household.

(E) It inaccurately suggested that new household technologies would reduce the effort required to perform housework.

2 
 C 
2. The passage is primarily concerned with

(A) analyzing a debate between two scholars

(B) challenging the evidence on which a new theory is based

(C) describing how certain scholars’ work countered a prevailing view

(D) presenting the research used to support a traditional theory

(E) evaluating the methodology used to study a particular issue

3 
 D 
3. The passage suggests that Vanek and Cowan would agree that modernizing household technology did not

(A) reduce the workload of servants and other household helpers

(B) raise the standard of housework that women who were full-time home workers set for themselves

(C) decrease the effort required to perform household tasks

(D) reduce the time spent on housework by women who were full-time home workers

(E) result in a savings of money used for household maintenance

4 
 E 
4. According to the passage, Cowan asserts which of the following about married women's helpers over the past two centuries ?

A) they were encouraged to participate more actively in the work of the household by the advent of modern conveniences.

B) the industrialization of the home affected the time spent on housework in the same way.

C) they spent more time on household tasks because of the more rigorous standards of housework promoted by the industrialization of the home.

D) they had less leisure time after the industrialization of the home than has been assumed by most historians.

E) they spent less time on housework with the advent of such devices as the coal stove and the water pump.

5 
 B 
5. Which of the following best describes the function of the highlighted sentence :  In fact, time spent by these workers .............household technology.  ?

A. It offers an alternative interpretation of a phenomenon described in the previous sentence.

B. It provides the specific evidence on which an argument described in the previous sentence is based.

C. It shifts the focus of the argument developed earlier in the passage.

D. It introduces evidence that has not been taken into account by Vanek and Cowan.

E. It introduces a topic for discussion that will be developed in the rest of the passage.

nalinnair · Accepted Answer

Read the passage and answered the second and third question in 3 min 8 sec.
Please highlight the relevant text for Q1.

2) The passage is primarily concerned with
A. analyzing a debate between two scholars
 Incorrect. The Passage puts forth the scholars arguments and findings but does not analyze these. 
B. challenging the evidence on which a new theory is
based
 Incorrect. The passage does not discuss a new theory but a prevailing belief. 
C. describing how certain scholars’ work countered a
prevailing view
 Correct. The prevailing view mentioned in the first sentence has been countered by the work done by 2 scholars. 
D. presenting the research used to support a
traditional theory
 Incorrect. Traditional theory is not supported. In fact, a prevailing view has been challenged. 
E. evaluating the methodology used to study a
particular issue
 Incorrect. The passage does not discuss methodology. It presents the findings of two scholars against a prevalent view.

3) The passage suggests that Vanek and Cowan would
agree that modernizing household technology did not
A. reduce the workload of servants and other
household helpers
 Incorrect. In fact Cowen agreed that this thing did happen. Refer line: "Cowan argued that the “industrialization” of the home often resulted in more work for full-time home workers because the use of such devices as coal stoves, water pumps, and vacuum cleaners tended to  reduce the workload of married-women’s helpers (husbands, sons, daughters, and servants) ...." 
B. raise the standard of housework that women who
were full-time home workers set for themselves
 Incorrect. This is also something that Cowen agreed happened. Refer same line as A above: "Cowan argued that the “industrialization” of the home often resulted in .......while  promoting a more rigorous standard of housework ." 
C. decrease the effort required to perform household
tasks
 Incorrect. Again, Vanek agreed that this did happen. Refer lines: "Vanek analyzed 40 years of time-use surveys conducted by home economists to argue that electrical appliances and other modern household technologies  reduced the effort required to perform specific tasks ,...." 
D. reduce the time spent on housework by women
who were full-time home workers
 Correct. Both Vanek and Cowen agreed that this DID NOT happen. Refer lines: "but ownership of these appliances  did not correlate with less time spent on housework  by full-time home workers" and "Cowan argued that the “industrialization” of the home often  resulted in more work for full-time home workers " 
E. result in a savings of money used for household maintenance
 Incorrect. Both scholars never discussed money being saved.

nalinnair · Answer

Ok. Regarding the first question, I am guessing the idea mentioned in the highlighted text refers to the idea mentioned in the first sentence of the passage.

1) According to the passage, which of the following is
true about the idea mentioned in the highlighted text?
A. It has been undermined by data found in time-use
surveys conducted by home economists.
 Correct. Findings from the surveys conducted byCowen and Vanek challenge the idea in the first sentence. 
B. It was based on a definition of housework that was
explicitly rejected by Vanek and Cowan.
 Incorrect. Definition of housework is not even discussed in the passage. 
C. It is more valid for the time period studied by
Cowan than for the time period studied by Vanek.
 Incorrect. The passage does not provide information to infer this. 
D. It is based on an underestimation of the time that
married women spent on housework prior to the
industrialization of the household.
 Incorrect. The passage does not say that the prevalent view or the idea is based on an underestimation of the time that married women spent on housework prior to the industrialization of the household. In fact, the passage says that the belief that time saved from industrialization meant more leisure time for women is not correct based on the findings of the two scholars. 
E. It inaccurately suggested that new household
technologies would reduce the effort required to
perform housework.
 Incorrect. In fact the scholars agreed that new household technologies reduced the effort required to perform housework.

keats · Answer

The passage suggests that Vanek and Cowan would agree that modernizing household technology  did not

A. reduce the workload of servants and other household helpers
 B. raise the standard of housework that women who were full-time home workers set for themselves 
C. decrease the effort required to perform household tasks
D. reduce the time spent on housework by women who were full-time home workers
E. result in a savings of money used for household maintenance

Can anyone help me with the reasoning for option B here? Is it totally out of scope answer or 180-degree opposite? I am not sure if these lines from the passage helps to answer this question - 'Cowan argued that the “industrialization” of the home often resulted in more work for full-time home workers because the use of such devices as coal stoves, water pumps, and vacuum cleaners tended to reduce the workload of married-women’s helpers (husbands, sons, daughters, and servants)  while promoting a more rigorous standard of housework.  '

abrakadabra21 · Answer

1) According to the passage, which of the following is
true about the idea mentioned in the highlighted text?
A. It has been undermined by data found in time-use
surveys conducted by home economists.
B. It was based on a definition of housework that was
explicitly rejected by Vanek and Cowan.
C. It is more valid for the time period studied by
Cowan than for the time period studied by Vanek.
D. It is based on an underestimation of the time that
married women spent on housework prior to the
industrialization of the household.
E. It inaccurately suggested that new household
technologies would reduce the effort required to
perform housework.

Vanek analyzed 40 years of time-use surveys conducted by home economists to argue that electrical appliances and other modern household technologies reduced the effort required to perform specific tasks, but ownership of these appliances did not correlate with less time spent on housework by full-time home workers.

How come the idea was undetermined - "It has been undermined by data found in time-use
surveys conducted by home economists." 
 
Vanek analyzed these data and found that ownership of these appliances did not correlate with less time spent on housework by full-time home workers.
so it was somehow weakening against the idea.

E. It inaccurately suggested that new household
technologies would reduce the effort required to
perform housework.

what is wrong with it?

abhimahna · Answer

The passage states that the economists agree that the efforts have been reduced. Hence, we cannot say that the idea mentioned is  inaccurately   suggesting the efforts reduction. Hence, E is wrong.

The passage clearly states a prevailing view which was not questioned until 1930 and then it presents information that undermine this view. Thus, A is per our analysis.

abhimahna · Answer

B is completely opposite. It clearly suggests that the workload of married-women’s helpers has reduced and the standard of housework is promoted.

Notice that the questions asks DID NOT. So, we need to find something that is exactly opposite to what modernizing household technology would do.

It is mentioned in the passage that although the efforts have reduced, the time spend is almost the same.

Hence, Choice D "reduce the time spent on housework by women who were full-time home workers" is wrong.

urfrndniks · Answer

1) A. It has been undermined by data found in time-use surveys conducted by home
economists ... the analysis of the time-use surveys is said to be done by Vanek in order
to disprove (undermine) the idea (prevailing belief) mentioned in the highlighted text.
CORRECT
B. It was based on a definition of housework that was explicitly rejected by Vanek and
Cowan … the passage only mentions the idea in the first line and nowhere states the
basis of the idea.
C. It is more valid for the time period studied by Cowan than for the time period studied
by Vanek … a typical mathematical answer. There is nowhere a relative comparison of
the two scholar’s works. Moreover, both scholars have disproved the validity of the
highlighted idea through their arguments … 180 degree answer
D. It is based on an underestimation of the time that married women spent on housework
prior to the industrialization of the household … the idea talks explicitly about the post
industrialization of the household and certainly not about any underestimation.
E. It inaccurately suggested that new household technologies would reduce the effort
required to perform housework … the idea exclusively believes in reducing the time
not the effort … effort reduction is mentioned in the passage as an inference out of
Vanek’s analysis.

2) analyzing a debate between two scholars … there is no debate and certainly not
between the two scholars mentioned … they’re both on the same side.
B. challenging the evidence on which a new theory is based … challenging implies the
author must have an opinion and the tone should be negative. There is no theory.
C. describing how certain scholars’ work countered a prevailing view … Exactly what the
passage does. CORRECT.
Line 30
D. presenting the research used to support a traditional theory … there is no theory in the
passage … even if the idea were to be considered a theory the answer choice runs 180
degree.
E. evaluating the methodology used to study a particular issue … evaluating means a
balanced tone.

3)A. reduce the workload of servants and other household helpers … 180 degrees answer …
in lines 20 - 27 Cowan argues for the exact opposite
B. raise the standard of housework that women who were full-time home workers set for
themselves … full time home workers setting standards for themselves is nowhere
mentioned in the passage
C. decrease the effort required to perform household tasks ... 180 degrees … line 12
Vanek says the exact opposite to this choice.
D. reduce the time spent on housework by women who were full-time home workers …
lines 12 – 15 (Vanek) and lines 21 – 22 (Cowan) confirm this answer choice accurately.
CORRECT
E. result in a savings of money used for household maintenance … money savings is not
even remotely associated with the passage

bbb789 · Answer

there is another question about this passage that I want to ask..

According to the passage, Cowan asserts which of the following about married women's helpers over the past two centuries ?

a) they were encouraged to participate more actively in the work of the household by the advent of modern conveniences
b) the industrialization of the home affected the time spent on housework in the same way
c) they spent more time on household tasks because of the more rigorous standards of housework promoted by the industrialization of the home.
d) they had less leisure time after the industrialization of the home than has been assumed by most historians
e) they spent less time on housework with the advent of such devices as the coal stove and the water pump.

I chose C, and the correct answer is E. Is there anybody who can explain the reasoning here?

origen87 · Answer

Cowan argued that the “industrialization” of the home often resulted in more work for full-time home workers because the use of such devices as coal stoves, water pumps, and vacuum cleaners tended to reduce the workload of married-women’s helpers (husbands, sons, daughters, and servants) while promoting a more rigorous standard of housework.

These devices were used by helpers and not married women. Now the helpers used to do the same things before, now with the new devices the standard went up and at the same time time for the work went down.

Hope this helps!

souvonik2k · Answer

There is one additional question in Gmatprep for this passage:

Which of the following best describes the function of the highlighted sentence?
A. It offers an alternative interpretation of a phenomenon described in the previous sentence.
B. It provides the specific evidence on which an argument described in the previous sentence is based.
C. It shifts the focus of the argument developed earlier in the passage.
D. It introduces evidence that has not been taken into account by Vanek and Cowan.
E. It introduces a topic for discussion that will be developed in the rest of the passage.

Skywalker18 · Answer

Took 5 mins in total , including 2 mins to read the passage. All correct

1) According to the passage, which of the following is true about the idea mentioned in the highlighted text?
A. It has been undermined by data found in time-use surveys conducted by home economists. - Correct
The idea that equipping homes with electrical appliances and other “modern” household technologies would eliminate drudgery, save labor time, and increase leisure for women who were full-time home workers remained largely unchallenged

In fact, time spent by these workers remained remarkably constant—at about 52 to 54 hours per week—from the 1920’s to the 1960’s, a period of significant change in household technology.

2) The passage is primarily concerned with
C. describing how certain scholars’ work countered a prevailing view

The idea that equipping homes with electrical appliances and other “modern” household technologies would eliminate drudgery, save labor time, and increase leisure for women who were full-time home workers  remained largely unchallenged  until the women’s movement of the 1970’s spawned the groundbreaking and influential works of sociologist Joann Vanek and historian Ruth Cowan.

3) The passage suggests that Vanek and Cowan would agree that modernizing household technology did not
D. reduce the time spent on housework by women who were full-time home workers --
In fact, time spent by these workers remained remarkably constant—at about 52 to 54 hours per week—from the 1920’s to the 1960’s, a period of significant change in household technology.

Cowan argued that the “industrialization” of the home often resulted in more work for full-time home workers because the use of such devices as coal stoves, water pumps, and vacuum cleaners tended to reduce the workload of married-women’s helpers (husbands, sons, daughters, and servants) while promoting a more rigorous standard of housework.

NandishSS · Answer

HI workout , u1983 , broall Mod Please add below questions to the passage, so that all 5 can be solved once

According to the passage, Cowan asserts which of the following about married women's helpers over the past two centuries ? A) they were encouraged to participate more actively in the work of the household by the advent of modern conveniences B) the industrialization of the home affected the time spent on housework in the same way C) they spent more time on household tasks because of the more rigorous standards of housework promoted by the industrialization of the home. D) they had less leisure time after the industrialization of the home than has been assumed by most historians E) they spent less time on housework with the advent of such devices as the coal stove and the water pump. OA: E Which of the following best describes the function of the highlighted sentence? A. It offers an alternative interpretation of a phenomenon described in the previous sentence. B. It provides the specific evidence on which an argument described in the previous sentence is based. C. It shifts the focus of the argument developed earlier in the passage. D. It introduces evidence that has not been taken into account by Vanek and Cowan. E. It introduces a topic for discussion that will be developed in the rest of the passage. OA:B

Manukaran · Answer

Still not clear about the response to first question.

I selected E. The passage says: "ownership of these appliances did not correlate with less time spent on housework".

Also, A uses the words "home economists". Joann Vanek was a sociologist and Ruth Cowan was a historian. Where does the passage suggest that these were "home economists"? What am I missing.

Thanks.

Businessconquerer · Answer

LOOK THE ISSUE AT HAND IS THAT YOU NEED TO IDENTIFY A COMMON GROUND ON WHICH BOTH WOMEN WILL AGREE UPON. YOU ARE CORRECT IN ASSUMING B BUT, IT IS BASED ENTIRELY UPON ONE OF THE TWO'S VIEW. WHAT BOTH OF THEM SAID OR AT-LEAST IMPLIED IS THAT THE TIME DID NOT REDUCE, SEE WHERE WOMAN 1 SAYS IT ACTUALLY REMAINED CONSTAND AND WOMAN 2 SAID TIME INCREASED. SO, IF IT REMAINED CONSTANT, OR INCREASED, IT DIDNOT DECRESE IN ANY OF THEIR OPINION. HENCE, D

jabhatta2 · Answer

GMATNinja

On Question 1 -- Why not E

From the paragraph -- it seems like the idea got it totally wrong ...The idea thought industrialization would save labor time but it didnt

Per the paragraph -- seems like time spent remained constant

"time spent by these workers remained remarkably constant—at about 52 to 54 hours per week—from the 1920’s to the 1960’s, a period of significant change in household technology"

Hence why is (E) wrong in that case ?

Businessconquerer · Answer

LONG ANSWER SHORT, "MONEY ISN'T RELATED TO TIME, GMAT NEEDS BUSINESSMEN NOT SHAKESPEARE" 
IF YOU GOT IT, IT IS GREAT BUT IF YOU DIDN'T, READ THIS

FIRST THING FIRST IDEA DOESN'T THINK, ITS OK I KNOW U KNOW, JUST ITS ODD TO SAY IT. YES YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT THE TIME REMAINING CONSTANT. A CONSTANT TIME AND INCREASED TIME BOTH NEGATE REDUCTION IN TIME, DO THEY NOT??? FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU SAY THAT YOU BOUGHT 10 TICKETS TO A GAME IN JANUARY, YOU BOUGHT THE CONSTANT NUMBER IN FEBRUARY, AND THEN YOUR FRIEND SAID THAT IN MARCH YOU INCREASED THE NUMBER OF TICKETS YOU BOUGHT. BUT, IN ALL THREE MONTHS, THE NUMBER OF TICKETS DIDN'T REDUCE. SIMILAR LOGIC FOR THE OPTION D

NOW WHY NOT E. SINCE THEY ARE HOUSEWIVES, ITS SAFE TO ASSUME THEY ARE NOT BEING PAID.NEXT THING WRONG IS THAT THEY ARE TALKING OF MAINTENANCE HOWEVER THE MAJOR POINT IS REDUCING EFFORT AND TIME ON STUFF BY BUYING MACHINERY OR OTHER MEANS. MONEY IS A GIVE AWAY, AND SO IS MAINTENANCE. E REEKS OF INCORRECT DETAILS BUT YES IT CAN BE CONFUSING IF YOU TREAT TIME AND MONEY AS RELATED TERMS. THEY ARE NOT. AS LONG AS THEY DONOT SHOW YOU AN ANALOGY, TWO TERMS ON GMAT ARE M UNRELATED

GMATNinja · Answer

First, take another look at the "idea" referenced in the question: "equipping homes with electrical appliances and other “modern” household technologies would  eliminate drudgery, save labor time, and increase leisure  for women who were full-time home workers." Now, let's look at the answer choice in the context of this idea:

In your analysis, you point out that " time spent  remained constant." (E) specifies a reduction in  effort , not a reduction in  time.

The author of the passage states that surveys conducted by home economists originally intended to show that "modern household technologies  reduced the effort required to perform specific tasks."  After analyzing data from these surveys, Vanek found that "ownership of these appliances  did not correlate with less time  spent on housework by full-time home workers." So, while specific tasks required less effort, the time spent on housework remained constant.

Because of this evidence, we cannot say that the suggestion that household technologies reduced the effort required to perform housework is "inaccurate," as stated in answer choice (E).

I hope that helps!

jabhatta2 · Answer

karishma   GMATNinja   SajjadAhmad ,  GMATNinjaTwo ,  bm2201

For Q4 -- why is E accurate ?

Per the passage, the font in in purple clearly states the "Workload" has reduced for helpers

Putting on my critical thinking hat -- i thought okay, even if the workload has reduced -- does not necessarily mean, the overall time spent on household chores by these helpers has reduced.

It's quite possible even with less work-load because of technological advancement , the time spent on chores by these helpers still remains the same.

Example : if tomorrow, my work load has been cut by half -- i still may end up spending 8 hours at work because a) i could stretch out the existing 50 % work i still have on my plate b) i could be given additional brand new chores

Put on my Critical reasoning cap -- i thought E was iffy.

Instead, i found it hard to eliminate B (I chose B)

B has to be true in-fact because if B is not true, the entire argument   put forth by Cowan and Vanek falls apart (B is a necessary assumption to be true)

Thoughts ?

pallavinaik · Answer

GMATNinja  Could you please explain answer to the first question ? As per my understanding Vanek and Cowan are sociologist and are not economist then how A is the answer ?

The idea that equipping homes with electrical appliances and other “mo

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

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

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

The idea that equipping homes with electrical appliances and other “mo

Prep Toolkit

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

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards