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Sajjad1994
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The Portuguese began to enter Angola in the 16th century, and over the 15 May 2023, 07:30
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The Portuguese began to enter Angola in the 16th century, and over the next three hundred years slowly pushed into the interior of the sizable nation of Southern Africa, finally achieving complete occupation by the 1920’s. However, following Angolan independence in 1975, and despite a bloody civil war that lasted until 2002, the Angolan economy has grown at a double-digit pace since the 1990’s, due largely to expansive mineral and petroleum reserves. Conversely, Portugal is now broke and in debt, its economy shrinking by full percentage points every year. In a grand stroke of irony, Portugal’s Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho in 2011 suggested to Angola’s President Jose Eduardo dos Santos that “We should take advantage of this moment … to strengthen our bilateral relations.” President dos Santos replied, “We are aware of Portugal’s difficulties and we are open and available to help.” This “help” will likely come in the form of Angola’s investment in Portuguese industries that the International Monetary Fund has ordered be privatized as a condition of a 78 billion dollar bailout. Already, the country that once mined Angola for slaves and raw material is now virtually helpless as Angola purchases Lisbon’s prime real estate, using much of it to build luxury resorts where Angolan officials go for holidays.

Despite the stunning reversal of fortune, Angola is not without its difficulties. Corruption is rampant, and Angola has one of the highest levels of income inequality in the world—in the capital city of Luanda, hamburgers go for 50 dollars and designer jeans cost twice what they do in London or New York, while two thirds of the population lives on less than 2 dollars a day.
1. Which of the following is NOT stated as a component of Portugal and Angola’s historical relationship?

(A) Portuguese traders sold Angolan slaves.
(B) Raw material was taken from Angola by the Portuguese.
(C) The two nations were at war.
(D) The Portuguese increasingly dominated Angola over a period of several hundred years.
(E) Angola achieved independence from Portugal in the 20th century.

2. The “grand stroke of irony” (Highlighted) is best described as:

(A) two countries dedicated to strengthening bilateral relations share economic problems.
(B) a former colonial possession is now being called upon to assist its former possessor
(C) slavery has ended, and yet people still live in poverty
(D) the cost of living in Luanda is very high, and yet most people are poor
(E) the Portuguese economy was once thriving and is now dwindling


RC Butler 2023 - Practice Two RC Passages Everyday.
Passage # 148 Date: 15-May-2023
This question is part of RC Butler 2023. Click here for Details

Manhattan GRE 5lb.
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C
ShowHide Answer Question #2
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B
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gupta.vinit
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The Portuguese began to enter Angola in the 16th century, and over the 24 Sep 2023, 23:47
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Can anyone please explain the above answers?
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Deepak1784
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The Portuguese began to enter Angola in the 16th century, and over the 25 Sep 2023, 01:33
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1st question - the war between 2 nations has not been mentioned . The passage says - civil war in Angola (that's the trap )

2nd question - Portugal is now broke and is asking Angola's help to

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The Portuguese began to enter Angola in the 16th century, and over the 25 Sep 2023, 08:37
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Official Explanation

1. Which of the following is NOT stated as a component of Portugal and Angola’s historical relationship?

Explanation

You are asked for the choice NOT in the passage. You are told that Portugal once mined Angola for slaves and raw material, so (A) and (B) are out. The beginning of the passage concerns Portugal taking over Angola over a period beginning in the 16th century and culminating in the 1920’s, so kill (D). The passage refers to Angolan independence in 1975 — since that date is during the 20th century (1900’s = 20th century, 2000’s = 21st century, etc.), kill (E). You are told that a civil war in Angola lasted until 2002, not a war against the Portuguese, so (C) is the answer.

Answer: C
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The Portuguese began to enter Angola in the 16th century, and over the 25 Sep 2023, 08:40
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Official Explanation

2. The “grand stroke of irony” (Highlighted) is best described as:

The grand stroke of irony the author refers to is Angola helping Portugal. Why is this ironic? You are told that the country that once mined Angola for slaves and raw material is now virtually helpless… (B) is the best match. (A) and (E) are not at all ironic. While (C) and (D) at least present some kind of contrast, they are not the stroke of irony to which the author refers.

Answer: B
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The Portuguese began to enter Angola in the 16th century, and over the 23 Nov 2024, 00:43
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Sajjad1994
Official Explanation

1. Which of the following is NOT stated as a component of Portugal and Angola’s historical relationship?

Explanation

You are asked for the choice NOT in the passage. You are told that Portugal once mined Angola for slaves and raw material, so (A) and (B) are out. The beginning of the passage concerns Portugal taking over Angola over a period beginning in the 16th century and culminating in the 1920’s, so kill (D). The passage refers to Angolan independence in 1975 — since that date is during the 20th century (1900’s = 20th century, 2000’s = 21st century, etc.), kill (E). You are told that a civil war in Angola lasted until 2002, not a war against the Portuguese, so (C) is the answer.

Answer: C
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Sajjad1994 - The passage only mentions that Angola was mined for slaves.

Nowhere in the passage does the author clearly mention that a) they were mined by Portugal traders b) they were further sold by the Portugal authorities.

Knowing that GMAT plays with modifiers and nuances like these, how can we accept option A as a clear inference from the passage?


Additionally, Option C seems more logical - For 3 centuries, Portugal tried to enter Angola, and bw 1920 - 1975 the colonization was reversed, how can we then say that we can't infer that the 2 countries were at war?
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The Portuguese began to enter Angola in the 16th century, and over the 23 Nov 2024, 08:43
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Hi glagad, I believe option C is valid. See, two countries might have been at war, or not - we do not know. So we cannot infer this from the passage.
Coming to option A, when Portugal took complete ownership of Angola, it was only them who could do the trading (buy or sell) of minerals and slaves. So, option A can be inferred. Hope this helps.
glagad
Sajjad1994
Official Explanation

1. Which of the following is NOT stated as a component of Portugal and Angola’s historical relationship?

Explanation

You are asked for the choice NOT in the passage. You are told that Portugal once mined Angola for slaves and raw material, so (A) and (B) are out. The beginning of the passage concerns Portugal taking over Angola over a period beginning in the 16th century and culminating in the 1920’s, so kill (D). The passage refers to Angolan independence in 1975 — since that date is during the 20th century (1900’s = 20th century, 2000’s = 21st century, etc.), kill (E). You are told that a civil war in Angola lasted until 2002, not a war against the Portuguese, so (C) is the answer.

Answer: C
Sajjad1994 - The passage only mentions that Angola was mined for slaves.

Nowhere in the passage does the author clearly mention that a) they were mined by Portugal traders b) they were further sold by the Portugal authorities.

Knowing that GMAT plays with modifiers and nuances like these, how can we accept option A as a clear inference from the passage?


Additionally, Option C seems more logical - For 3 centuries, Portugal tried to enter Angola, and bw 1920 - 1975 the colonization was reversed, how can we then say that we can't infer that the 2 countries were at war?
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The Portuguese began to enter Angola in the 16th century, and over the 04 May 2025, 13:54
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Hi samarpan.g28, In the question they ask for stated facts, not inferences. Although E is a more solid answer, so IMO glagad has a valid point.
samarpan.g28
Hi glagad, I believe option C is valid. See, two countries might have been at war, or not - we do not know. So we cannot infer this from the passage.
Coming to option A, when Portugal took complete ownership of Angola, it was only them who could do the trading (buy or sell) of minerals and slaves. So, option A can be inferred. Hope this helps.
glagad
Sajjad1994
Official Explanation

1. Which of the following is NOT stated as a component of Portugal and Angola’s historical relationship?

Explanation

You are asked for the choice NOT in the passage. You are told that Portugal once mined Angola for slaves and raw material, so (A) and (B) are out. The beginning of the passage concerns Portugal taking over Angola over a period beginning in the 16th century and culminating in the 1920’s, so kill (D). The passage refers to Angolan independence in 1975 — since that date is during the 20th century (1900’s = 20th century, 2000’s = 21st century, etc.), kill (E). You are told that a civil war in Angola lasted until 2002, not a war against the Portuguese, so (C) is the answer.

Answer: C
Sajjad1994 - The passage only mentions that Angola was mined for slaves.

Nowhere in the passage does the author clearly mention that a) they were mined by Portugal traders b) they were further sold by the Portugal authorities.

Knowing that GMAT plays with modifiers and nuances like these, how can we accept option A as a clear inference from the passage?


Additionally, Option C seems more logical - For 3 centuries, Portugal tried to enter Angola, and bw 1920 - 1975 the colonization was reversed, how can we then say that we can't infer that the 2 countries were at war?
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The Portuguese began to enter Angola in the 16th century, and over the 28 Oct 2025, 05:18
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I think both Option A and B are equally right

It is nowhere mentioned that Portuguese 'SOLD' the slaves. It is just said that Portuguese 'MINED' Slaves which means used people for slaves. But whether they sold them or not is not mentioned even a bit nor can be inferred. So it is definitely correct

Also nothing about having war is mentioned so it is equally right
Sajjad1994
Official Explanation

1. Which of the following is NOT stated as a component of Portugal and Angola’s historical relationship?

Explanation

You are asked for the choice NOT in the passage. You are told that Portugal once mined Angola for slaves and raw material, so (A) and (B) are out. The beginning of the passage concerns Portugal taking over Angola over a period beginning in the 16th century and culminating in the 1920’s, so kill (D). The passage refers to Angolan independence in 1975 — since that date is during the 20th century (1900’s = 20th century, 2000’s = 21st century, etc.), kill (E). You are told that a civil war in Angola lasted until 2002, not a war against the Portuguese, so (C) is the answer.

Answer: C
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