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Updated on: 10 Dec 2019, 22:54
Originally posted by AkshdeepS on 17 Nov 2018, 11:34.
Last edited by Sajjad1994 on 10 Dec 2019, 22:54, edited 2 times in total.
Last edited by Sajjad1994 on 10 Dec 2019, 22:54, edited 2 times in total.
Updated Complete Topic (1136)
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Question 1
B
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
95%
(hard)
Question Stats:
24% (03:03) correct
76%
(03:21) wrong
based on 644
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Question 2
C
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
85%
(hard)
Question Stats:
40% (01:34) correct 60%
(01:45) wrong
based on 708
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Question 3
D
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
65%
(hard)
Question Stats:
44% (00:55) correct 56%
(00:59) wrong
based on 645
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
The industrial revolution in nineteenth-century Europe brought about an explosion in productivity as the quantity of manufactured goods increased while costs plummeted. However, the incomes of the workers who produced the goods did not keep pace with the growing fortunes of the industrialists. It was in this context that Karl Marx conceived of the economic and political theory that would become known as communism. Marx argued that as productivity improved, existing social structures inevitably become inefficient, stifling further growth. Thus, the increasing divide between the owners and the workers would eventually necessitate a revolution. The twentieth century saw Marxist revolutions spread throughout the globe. Country after country watched peasants rise up against the ruling classes and impose governments based upon Marx’s ideas. The only problem was that while Marx saw communism as emerging from contradictions in capitalist countries, all of these emerging communist states had pre-industrial, feudal economies.
As the twentieth century drew to a close, these Marxist states either embraced capitalist principles, as Russia and China did, or devolved into totalitarian kleptocracies, as Cuba and North Korea did. Meanwhile, the industrialized countries in the West entered the twenty-first century with their capitalist economies intact. What happened? As explanation, Neo-Marxists offer the novel, if simplistic, concept of “false consciousness.” According to this theory, citizens of capitalistic states are unable to accurately assess their chances of upward mobility, and thus accept economic inequity as an unfortunate but “natural” transition phase between poverty and wealth. While this theory is most likely to accurately describe the mindset of many, it remains, as yet, entirely within the realm of conjecture.
As the twentieth century drew to a close, these Marxist states either embraced capitalist principles, as Russia and China did, or devolved into totalitarian kleptocracies, as Cuba and North Korea did. Meanwhile, the industrialized countries in the West entered the twenty-first century with their capitalist economies intact. What happened? As explanation, Neo-Marxists offer the novel, if simplistic, concept of “false consciousness.” According to this theory, citizens of capitalistic states are unable to accurately assess their chances of upward mobility, and thus accept economic inequity as an unfortunate but “natural” transition phase between poverty and wealth. While this theory is most likely to accurately describe the mindset of many, it remains, as yet, entirely within the realm of conjecture.
1. Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the explanation provided by the Neo-Marxists for why communist revolutions have not occurred in industrialized countries?
A. Many citizens of capitalistic countries believe that they eventually will become wealthy regardless of their current economic status.
B. Citizens of communist countries saw their standards of living decline following communist revolutions in their countries.
C. There are more wealthy people in capitalistic countries than there are in countries with other economic systems.
D. The standard of living in countries such as North Korea and Cuba was lower at the end of the twentieth century than it was in capitalist countries.
E. Citizens of capitalistic countries tend to have higher rates of literacy than do those of communist countries.
2. The passage suggests that the countries that actually had communist revolutions differed from the countries that Marx predicted would have communist revolutions in which of the following ways?
A. The countries that Marx predicted would have communist revolutions had larger economies than did those that actually had communist revolutions.
B. The countries that had communist revolutions were industrialized whereas Marx predicted that agricultural countries would have communist revolutions.
C. The countries that actually had communist revolutions tended to have economies dominated by sectors different from those predicted by Marx.
D. The countries that actually had communist revolutions had more inefficient social structures than did those predicted by Marx.
E. The countries that actually had communist revolutions did not suffer from the false consciousness predicted by Marx.
3. The author of the passage would most likely describe the concept of false consciousness as
A. compelling if impossible to substantiate
B. supported by history
C. inevitable but inefficient
D. creative but unproven
E. accurate but unfortunate
A. Many citizens of capitalistic countries believe that they eventually will become wealthy regardless of their current economic status.
B. Citizens of communist countries saw their standards of living decline following communist revolutions in their countries.
C. There are more wealthy people in capitalistic countries than there are in countries with other economic systems.
D. The standard of living in countries such as North Korea and Cuba was lower at the end of the twentieth century than it was in capitalist countries.
E. Citizens of capitalistic countries tend to have higher rates of literacy than do those of communist countries.
2. The passage suggests that the countries that actually had communist revolutions differed from the countries that Marx predicted would have communist revolutions in which of the following ways?
A. The countries that Marx predicted would have communist revolutions had larger economies than did those that actually had communist revolutions.
B. The countries that had communist revolutions were industrialized whereas Marx predicted that agricultural countries would have communist revolutions.
C. The countries that actually had communist revolutions tended to have economies dominated by sectors different from those predicted by Marx.
D. The countries that actually had communist revolutions had more inefficient social structures than did those predicted by Marx.
E. The countries that actually had communist revolutions did not suffer from the false consciousness predicted by Marx.
3. The author of the passage would most likely describe the concept of false consciousness as
A. compelling if impossible to substantiate
B. supported by history
C. inevitable but inefficient
D. creative but unproven
E. accurate but unfortunate
18 Nov 2018, 03:15
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Question Explanation
Q:1
This is a weaken question as evidenced by the word weaken. The task of the question is indicated by the phrase Which of the following, if true, would weaken. The subject of this question is the explanation offered by the Neo-Marxists for why communist revolutions have not occurred in industrialized countries. In order to answer the question, determine what the passage states about the subject, evaluate the answer choices, and eliminate any choice which does not weaken the subject. According to the passage, citizens of capitalistic states are suffering from a “false consciousness” so that they are unable to accurately assess their chances of upward mobility. The result is that these citizens thus accept economic inequity.
Choice A: No. The assertion that citizens believe that they eventually will become wealthy regardless of their current economic status may seem tempting, but is a reversal. The Neo-Marxists suggest that citizens of capitalistic countries choose not to revolt because they believe that they will experience a “natural” transition phase between poverty and wealth, meaning that they believe their economic status will improve, so this choice matches the Neo-Marxist explanation.
Choice B. Correct. If citizens of communist countries saw their standards of living decline following communist revolutions in their countries, then citizens of capitalistic countries who observed this phenomenon might well opt against revolution. This answer choice provides a reason for the lack of revolt in capitalistic countries that is different from the reason provided by the Neo-Marxists’ explanation and thus weakens their explanation.
Choice C: No. This choice may seem tempting due to the reference to more wealthy people in capitalistic countries. However, this choice is a reversal, because it is consistent with the Neo-Marxist explanation. Marx and Neo-Marxists assume that capitalistic countries will have many wealthy people, and that a revolution will result from the increasing divide between the owners and the workers. Therefore, this answer choice is consistent with the Neo-Marxists’ explanation and does not weaken it.
Choice D: No. The recycled language end of the twentieth century and North Korea and Cuba may make this choice seem tempting. However, this choice is recycled language. The passage states that North Korea and Cuba are no longer communist countries and that these countries have devolved into totalitarian kleptocracies. As such, the fact that these countries have a lower standard of living does not undermine the Neo-Marxists’ explanation, which is based on a comparison between communist and capitalist countries.
Choice E: No. This choice may seem tempting due to the reference to higher rates of literacy. However, this choice is based on the emotional appeal of literacy as a desirable quality. If literacy is a positive quality, and people in capitalistic countries have a higher rate of literacy, then people in capitalistic countries may not want to have a communist [revolution]. This choice is incorrect, because the passage itself does not provide a way to connect rates of literacy with a reason for the lack of communist revolutions.
The correct answer is choice B.
Q : 2
The phrase the passage suggests in the question stem indicates this is an inference question. The task of the question is indicated by the phrase differed…in which of the following ways. The subject of the question is how countries that actually had communist revolutions differed from the countries that Marx predicted would have communist revolutions. In order to answer the question, determine what the passage states about the subject and evaluate the answer choices, eliminating any choice which cannot be supported by the text. The passage states that Mark conceived of communism in the context of the industrial revolution. Due to improvements in productivity from industrialization, Marx predicted that an increasing divide between the owners and the workers would eventually necessitate a revolution. However, while Marx saw communism as emerging from contradictions in capitalist countries, all of these emerging communist states had pre-industrial, feudal economies. Thus, while Marx predicted that the industrialized countries would have communist revolutions, the countries that actually had them had pre-industrial, feudal economies.
Choice A: No. The phrase larger economies may make this choice seem tempting because the passage describes the emerging communist states as having pre-industrial, feudal economies. However, the passage provides no such comparison between the size of the economies, only the type of each economy.
Choice B: No. While the phrases communist revolutions, industrialized, and agricultural may make this choice seem appealing, this choice is a reversal. The passage states that, contrary to Marx’s expectations, all of these emerging communist states had pre-industrial, feudal economies.
Choice C: Correct. Marx predicted that industrialized countries would experience communist revolutions. The countries that had communist revolutions had pre-industrial, feudal economies, so their economies were of a different nature than Marx predicted.
Choice D: No. The recycled language social structures and inefficient may make this choice seem tempting. However, the passage provides no such comparison between the efficiency of the social structures of the different countries, other than to state that the social structures of industrialized countries grew more inefficient, which disagrees with the comparison in this choice.
Choice E: No. The recycled phrase false consciousness may make this choice seem tempting. However, this choice is a reversal. The passage states that false consciousness is an idea from the Neo-Marxists. At no point is this concept attributed to Marx.
The correct answer is choice C.
Q : 3
The phrase the author of the passage would most likely in the question stem indicates this is an inference question. The task of the question is indicated by the word describe. The subject of the question is the concept of false consciousness. In order to answer the question, consider how the author described false consciousness and whether the author took a side or expressed an opinion regarding false consciousness, then evaluate the answer choices, eliminating any choice which cannot be supported by the text. While the author states in the second paragraph that the concept is novel and is likely to accurately describe the mindset of many, the author also describes the theory as simplistic and entirely within the realm of conjecture.
Choice A: No. Although the word compelling may make this choice tempting because the passage states that the concept is likely to accurately describe the mindset of many, the phrase impossible to substantiate is extreme language. The author does describe false consciousness as entirely within the realm of conjecture, but never goes so far as to claim it is impossible to substantiate.
Choice B: No. The large amount of historical references in the passage may make this choice seem tempting. However, the phrase supported by history makes this choice a reversal, since the author actually describes the concept of false consciousness as entirely within the realm of conjecture, meaning that it has no evidence or support.
Choice C: No. Although the recycled language inefficient and inevitable may make this choice seem tempting, this choice is a reversal of fact. The passage uses these words in reference to Marx’s predictions about communist revolutions, not about the Neo-Marxist concept of false consciousness.
Choice D: Correct. The author states that the concept of false consciousness is novel and accurately describes the mindset of many, while also describing it as simplistic and entirely within the realm of conjecture. Thus, this answer choice accurately expresses the author’s view that false consciousness has some merit but has not been proven to be true.
Choice E: No. Although the recycled language accurate may make this answer choice tempting because the passage states that the concept is likely to accurately describe the mindset of many, the word unfortunate is too extreme. The description of the view as simplistic does indicate a negative tone, but the author does not indicate that the view is unfortunate.
The correct answer is choice D.
Q:1
This is a weaken question as evidenced by the word weaken. The task of the question is indicated by the phrase Which of the following, if true, would weaken. The subject of this question is the explanation offered by the Neo-Marxists for why communist revolutions have not occurred in industrialized countries. In order to answer the question, determine what the passage states about the subject, evaluate the answer choices, and eliminate any choice which does not weaken the subject. According to the passage, citizens of capitalistic states are suffering from a “false consciousness” so that they are unable to accurately assess their chances of upward mobility. The result is that these citizens thus accept economic inequity.
Choice A: No. The assertion that citizens believe that they eventually will become wealthy regardless of their current economic status may seem tempting, but is a reversal. The Neo-Marxists suggest that citizens of capitalistic countries choose not to revolt because they believe that they will experience a “natural” transition phase between poverty and wealth, meaning that they believe their economic status will improve, so this choice matches the Neo-Marxist explanation.
Choice B. Correct. If citizens of communist countries saw their standards of living decline following communist revolutions in their countries, then citizens of capitalistic countries who observed this phenomenon might well opt against revolution. This answer choice provides a reason for the lack of revolt in capitalistic countries that is different from the reason provided by the Neo-Marxists’ explanation and thus weakens their explanation.
Choice C: No. This choice may seem tempting due to the reference to more wealthy people in capitalistic countries. However, this choice is a reversal, because it is consistent with the Neo-Marxist explanation. Marx and Neo-Marxists assume that capitalistic countries will have many wealthy people, and that a revolution will result from the increasing divide between the owners and the workers. Therefore, this answer choice is consistent with the Neo-Marxists’ explanation and does not weaken it.
Choice D: No. The recycled language end of the twentieth century and North Korea and Cuba may make this choice seem tempting. However, this choice is recycled language. The passage states that North Korea and Cuba are no longer communist countries and that these countries have devolved into totalitarian kleptocracies. As such, the fact that these countries have a lower standard of living does not undermine the Neo-Marxists’ explanation, which is based on a comparison between communist and capitalist countries.
Choice E: No. This choice may seem tempting due to the reference to higher rates of literacy. However, this choice is based on the emotional appeal of literacy as a desirable quality. If literacy is a positive quality, and people in capitalistic countries have a higher rate of literacy, then people in capitalistic countries may not want to have a communist [revolution]. This choice is incorrect, because the passage itself does not provide a way to connect rates of literacy with a reason for the lack of communist revolutions.
The correct answer is choice B.
Q : 2
The phrase the passage suggests in the question stem indicates this is an inference question. The task of the question is indicated by the phrase differed…in which of the following ways. The subject of the question is how countries that actually had communist revolutions differed from the countries that Marx predicted would have communist revolutions. In order to answer the question, determine what the passage states about the subject and evaluate the answer choices, eliminating any choice which cannot be supported by the text. The passage states that Mark conceived of communism in the context of the industrial revolution. Due to improvements in productivity from industrialization, Marx predicted that an increasing divide between the owners and the workers would eventually necessitate a revolution. However, while Marx saw communism as emerging from contradictions in capitalist countries, all of these emerging communist states had pre-industrial, feudal economies. Thus, while Marx predicted that the industrialized countries would have communist revolutions, the countries that actually had them had pre-industrial, feudal economies.
Choice A: No. The phrase larger economies may make this choice seem tempting because the passage describes the emerging communist states as having pre-industrial, feudal economies. However, the passage provides no such comparison between the size of the economies, only the type of each economy.
Choice B: No. While the phrases communist revolutions, industrialized, and agricultural may make this choice seem appealing, this choice is a reversal. The passage states that, contrary to Marx’s expectations, all of these emerging communist states had pre-industrial, feudal economies.
Choice C: Correct. Marx predicted that industrialized countries would experience communist revolutions. The countries that had communist revolutions had pre-industrial, feudal economies, so their economies were of a different nature than Marx predicted.
Choice D: No. The recycled language social structures and inefficient may make this choice seem tempting. However, the passage provides no such comparison between the efficiency of the social structures of the different countries, other than to state that the social structures of industrialized countries grew more inefficient, which disagrees with the comparison in this choice.
Choice E: No. The recycled phrase false consciousness may make this choice seem tempting. However, this choice is a reversal. The passage states that false consciousness is an idea from the Neo-Marxists. At no point is this concept attributed to Marx.
The correct answer is choice C.
Q : 3
The phrase the author of the passage would most likely in the question stem indicates this is an inference question. The task of the question is indicated by the word describe. The subject of the question is the concept of false consciousness. In order to answer the question, consider how the author described false consciousness and whether the author took a side or expressed an opinion regarding false consciousness, then evaluate the answer choices, eliminating any choice which cannot be supported by the text. While the author states in the second paragraph that the concept is novel and is likely to accurately describe the mindset of many, the author also describes the theory as simplistic and entirely within the realm of conjecture.
Choice A: No. Although the word compelling may make this choice tempting because the passage states that the concept is likely to accurately describe the mindset of many, the phrase impossible to substantiate is extreme language. The author does describe false consciousness as entirely within the realm of conjecture, but never goes so far as to claim it is impossible to substantiate.
Choice B: No. The large amount of historical references in the passage may make this choice seem tempting. However, the phrase supported by history makes this choice a reversal, since the author actually describes the concept of false consciousness as entirely within the realm of conjecture, meaning that it has no evidence or support.
Choice C: No. Although the recycled language inefficient and inevitable may make this choice seem tempting, this choice is a reversal of fact. The passage uses these words in reference to Marx’s predictions about communist revolutions, not about the Neo-Marxist concept of false consciousness.
Choice D: Correct. The author states that the concept of false consciousness is novel and accurately describes the mindset of many, while also describing it as simplistic and entirely within the realm of conjecture. Thus, this answer choice accurately expresses the author’s view that false consciousness has some merit but has not been proven to be true.
Choice E: No. Although the recycled language accurate may make this answer choice tempting because the passage states that the concept is likely to accurately describe the mindset of many, the word unfortunate is too extreme. The description of the view as simplistic does indicate a negative tone, but the author does not indicate that the view is unfortunate.
The correct answer is choice D.
General Discussion
AdityaHongunti
20 Nov 2018, 02:48
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