Years after the movement to obtain civil rights for black people

Question

Years after the movement to obtain civil rights
for black people in the United States made its
most important gains, scholars are reaching for
a theoretical perspective capable of clarifying its
 (5)  momentous developments. New theories of social
movements are being discussed, not just among
social psychologists, but also among political
theorists.

Of the many competing formulations of the
 (10)  “classical” social psychological theory of social
movement, three are prominent in the literature on
the civil rights movement: “rising expectations,”
“relative deprivation,” and “J-curve.” Each
conforms to a causal sequence characteristic of
 (15)  classical social movement theory, linking some
unusual condition, or “system strain,” to the
generation of unrest. When these versions of the
classical theory are applied to the civil rights
movement, the source of strain is identified as a
 (20)  change in black socioeconomic status that occurred
shortly before the widespread protest activity of the
movement.

For example, the theory of rising expectations
asserts that protest activity was a response to
 (25)  psychological tensions generated by gains
experienced immediately prior to the civil rights
movement. Advancement did not satisfy ambition,
but created the desire for further advancement.
Only slightly different is the theory of relative
 (30)  deprivation. Here the impetus to protest is identified
as gains achieved during the premovement period,
coupled with simultaneous failure to make any
appreciable headway relative to the dominant
group. The J-curve theory argues that the movement
 (35)  occurred because a prolonged period of rising
expectations and gratification was followed by a
sharp reversal.

Political theorists have been dismissive of these
applications of classical theory to the civil rights
 (40)  movement. Their arguments rest on the conviction
that, implicitly, the classical theory trivializes the
political ends of movement participants, focusing
rather on presumed psychological dysfunctions;
reduction of complex social situations to simple
 (45)  paradigms of stimulus and response obviates the
relevance of all but the shortest-term analysis.
Furthermore, the theories lack predictive value:
“strain” is always present to some degree, but
social movement is not. How can we know which
 (50)  strain will provoke upheaval?

These very legitimate complaints having
frequently been made, it remains to find a means of
testing the strength of the theories. Problematically,
while proponents of the various theories have
 (55)  contradictory interpretations of socioeconomic
conditions leading to the civil rights movement,
examination of various statistical records regarding
the material status of black Americans yields ample
evidence to support any of the three theories. The
 (60)  steady rise in median black family income supports
the rising expectations hypothesis; the stability
of the economic position of black vis-à-vis white
Americans lends credence to the relative deprivation
interpretation; unemployment data are consistent
 (65)  with the J-curve theory. A better test is the
comparison of each of these economic indicators
with the frequency of movement-initiated events
reported in the press; unsurprisingly, none
correlates significantly with the pace of reports
 (70)  about movement activity.   1 
 1. It can be inferred from the passage that the classical theory of social movement would not be appropriately applied to an annual general election because such an election

(A) may focus on personalities rather than on political issues
(B) is not provoked primarily by an unusual condition
(C) may be decided according to the psychological needs of voters
(D) may not entail momentous developments
(E) actually entails two or more distinct social movements

2 
 2. According to the passage, the “rising expectations” and “relative deprivation” models differ in which one of the following ways?

(A) They predict different responses to the same socioeconomic conditions.
(B) They disagree about the relevance of psychological explanations for protest movements.
(C) They are meant to explain different kinds of social change.
(D) They describe the motivation of protesters in slightly different ways.
(E) They disagree about the relevance of socioeconomic status to system strain.

3 
 3. The author implies that political theorists attribute which one of the following assumptions to social psychologists who apply the classical theory of social movements to the civil rights movement?

(A) Participants in any given social movement have conflicting motivations.
(B) Social movements are ultimately beneficial to society.
(C) Only strain of a socioeconomic nature can provoke a social movement.
(D) The political ends of movement participants are best analyzed in terms of participants’ psychological motivations.
(E) Psychological motivations of movement participants better illuminate the causes of social movements than do participants’ political motivations.

4 
 4. Which one of the following statements is supported by the results of the “better test” discussed in the last paragraph of the passage?

(A) The test confirms the three classical theories discussed in the passage.
(B) The test provides no basis for deciding among the three classical theories discussed in the passage.
(C) The test shows that it is impossible to apply any theory of social movements to the civil rights movement.
(D) The test indicates that press coverage of the civil rights movement was biased.
(E) The test verifies that the civil rights movement generated socioeconomic progress.

5 
 5. The validity of the “better test” (line 65) as proposed by the author might be undermined by the fact that

(A) the press is selective about the movement activities it chooses to cover
(B) not all economic indicators receive the same amount of press coverage
(C) economic indicators often contradict one another
(D) a movement-initiated event may not correlate significantly with any of the three economic indicators
(E) the pace of movement-initiated events is difficult to anticipate

6 
 6. The main purpose of the passage is to

(A) persuade historians of the indispensability of a theoretical framework for understanding recent history
(B) present a new model of social movement
(C) account for a shift in a theoretical debate
(D) show the unity underlying the diverse classical models of social movement
(E) discuss the reasoning behind and shortcomings of certain social psychological theories

auradediligodo · Accepted Answer

Hi everyone, 
Took 13:20 minutes and got 5/6 correct. Took 5:30 minutes to read, write down paragraphs summaries and main point formulation.

P1: New theories of social movements
P2: 3 theories and their mechanism
P3: 3 theories described 
P4: Complaints by the political theorists
P5: How the theories should be validated

MP: Present 3 theories and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of those

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
 1.  It can be inferred from the passage that the classical theory of social movement would not be appropriately applied to an annual general election because such an election

Pre-thinking:
 We know that the classical theory of social movements goes against the 3 theories discussed in P2.
Now Each of those theories talks about an unusual condition prior to any development. Hence let's infer that the classical theory does not entail any unusual condition.

(A) may focus on personalities rather than on political issues
 Personalities are outside of the scope. Hence incorrect

(B) is not provoked primarily by an unusual condition
 In line with pre-thinking. Hence correct

(C) may be decided according to the psychological needs of voters
 Cannot be inferred as a difference from the information given. Hence incorrect

(D) may not entail momentous developments
 Very vague answer and it does not clearly shows as a difference. hence incorrect

(E) actually entails two or more distinct social movements
 Cannot be inferred from the given information. Hence incorrect

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.  According to the passage, the “rising expectations” and “relative deprivation” models differ in which one of the following ways?

Pre-thinking:
 Looking at paragraph 3 we can find the main difference: "coupled with simultaneous failure to make any
appreciable headway relative to the dominant
group."

(A) They predict different responses to the same socioeconomic conditions.
 Same responses actually. Hence incorrect

(B) They disagree about the relevance of psychological explanations for protest movements.
 Not mentioned. Hence incorrect

(C) They are meant to explain different kinds of social change.
 No. They all want to explain the same social change. Hence incorrect

(D) They describe the motivation of protesters in slightly different ways.
 Yes. We need to make an inference here. In the first theory the motivation comes from getting more and more. In the second case the motivation comes always from further gains but is associated with failures. Hence correct

(E) They disagree about the relevance of socioeconomic status to system strain.
 Never mentioned. hence incorrect

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3 . The author implies that political theorists attribute which one of the following assumptions to social psychologists who apply the classical theory of social movements to the civil rights movement?

Pre-thinking:
 Lets have a look at P4 where this is discussed:"Their arguments rest on the conviction
that, implicitly, the classical theory trivializes the
 political ends  of movement participants, focusing
rather on presumed  psychological dysfunctions ;"

It seems that the mistake is to not consider at all the political ends and to focus only on PD

(A) Participants in any given social movement have conflicting motivations.
 Too general and it does not addresses the matter at hand. Hence incorrect

(B) Social movements are ultimately beneficial to society.
 Never mentioned. Hence incorrect

(C) Only strain of a socioeconomic nature can provoke a social movement.
 To extreme and never mentioned. Hence incorrect

(D) The political ends of movement participants are best analyzed in terms of participants’ psychological motivations.
 Political ends are not considered at all. Hence incorrect

(E) Psychological motivations of movement participants better illuminate the causes of social movements than do participants’ political motivations.
 In line with pre-thinking. Hence correct

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4.  Which one of the following statements is supported by the results of the “better test” discussed in the last paragraph of the passage?

Pre-thinking:
 The better test is a test that shows correlation between actions and results. It seems that such correlation didn't show up when analyzing the theories.

(A) The test confirms the three classical theories discussed in the passage.
 Opposite. Hence incorrect

(B) The test provides no basis for deciding among the three classical theories discussed in the passage.
 In line with pre-thinking.hence corret

(C) The test shows that it is impossible to apply any theory of social movements to the civil rights movement.
 Not according to the passage. Hence incorrect

(D) The test indicates that press coverage of the civil rights movement was biased.
 Press coverage is not at issue. Hence incorrect

(E) The test verifies that the civil rights movement generated socioeconomic progress.
 The test should test the theories not the accuracy of the results. Hence incorrect

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5.  The validity of the “better test” (line 65) as proposed by the author might be undermined by the fact that

Pre-thinking:
 The press coverage was somehow not accurate, biased.

(A) the press is selective about the movement activities it chooses to cover
 If the press does not cover those movements the test inevitably can't be accurate. Hence correct

(B) not all economic indicators receive the same amount of press coverage
 Press coverage reports events not economic indicators. Hence incorrect

(C) economic indicators often contradict one another
 Irrelevant to the discussion.Hence incorrect

(D) a movement-initiated event may not correlate significantly with any of the three economic indicators
 If so the test would show no correlation and it would still be accurate. Hence incorrect

(E) the pace of movement-initiated events is difficult to anticipate
 No matter if so because the important factor is that the movement-initiated event is reported by the press. Hence incorrect

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6.  The main purpose of the passage is to

Pre-thinking:
 Refer to main point above to analyze the answer choices.

(A) persuade historians of the indispensability of a theoretical framework for understanding recent history
 No attempt at persuading. Hence incorrect

(B) present a new model of social movement
 No new model presented. Hence incorrect

(C) account for a shift in a theoretical debate
 No shift. Hence incorrect

(D) show the unity underlying the diverse classical models of social movement
 Partial scope. Hence incorrect

(E) discuss the reasoning behind and shortcomings of certain social psychological theories
 Correct since the theories are analyzed and the shortcomings are presented. Hence correct

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It is a good day to be alive, cheers!

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

Topic and Scope:

The theoretical underpinnings of the black civil rights movement; specifically, whether the classical social psychological model satisfactorily explains the movement and its success.

Purpose and Main Idea:

Author wants to explain and evaluate the classical theory as it applies to the civil rights movement, and ends up echoing the complaints of political theorists that the classical theory doesn’t hit the mark.

Paragraph Structure:

Para 1  announces the problem—the need to come up with a theoretical basis for the black civil rights movement—and identifies the two groups whose views will be mentioned in the course of the passage (without, it should be noted, the author’s taking a position herself. Yet.)

Para 2  focuses on the  “classical”  theory of social movements as expounded by social psychologists, and names three strains or formulations of that theory, although they go undefined for the moment.  Para 2  ends with the conclusion to which all three lead: namely, that the civil rights movement was triggered by socioeconomic changes. We have to take that on faith until  Para 3  tells us a little more about each of the three classical theories and the conclusion each leads to. As promised at the end of  Para 2 , they all point to socioeconomic causes. No sooner does  Para 4  begin than the explanations in the previous two para’s are dismissed, at least by political theorists, who believe (not surprisingly) that social psychological theories blur the political factors underlying the movement, and that such theories make predicting future social movements impossible.

Finally in  Para 5  the author herself takes a stand, calling the political theorists’ objections  “legitimate”  ( line 51 ) and evaluating various tests that have been run on the classical theories. The results are inconclusive, but do not bode well for wider acceptance of the classical social psychological model on the topic of the black civil rights movement.

1. It can be inferred from the passage that the classical theory of social movement would not be appropriately applied to an annual general election because such an election

Explanation

Tricky, because the concept of elections never comes up directly. You need to infer that the answer will come out of  Para 2 , where the classical theory and its variants are most completely defined, and so it does. All three variations, we’re told,  “  to a causal sequence characteristic of”  the classical theory in which  “some unusual condition”  is linked  “to the generation of unrest”  ( lines 14-17 ). If an unusual condition is therefore a necessary condition of the classical theory, then of course the election proposed in the stem—an annual event—would not qualify.

(A)  Contrary to (A), personalities can be studied under the classical theory, but in any event the content of the election is irrelevant to the issue of whether the classical theory would apply.

(C) , too, is an aspect of the election itself that has no bearing on how the classical theory is described and applied. If voters’ psychological needs were relevant to the election results, presumably the classical theory could encompass them—if, that is, the theory could be applied.

(D)  picks up the phrase  “momentous developments”  from  para 1 , where it’s used to describe the black civil rights movement itself. No connection to the question whatsoever.

(E)  need not be so—an election need not  “entail two or more distinct social movements,”  but so what if it did? Nowhere are we told that the presence of simultaneous social movements renders the classical theory inadequate or inapplicable.

• A major theme running through all of the passages on this PrepTest X has been: Know where in the passage each question is pointing you to. Even a question like 22, which seems out of left field, must connect with the passage somehow. Think about the passage logic, and move decisively.

ANSWER: B

MikeScarn · Answer

This question can be found in Paragraph 4. See Below:

Simply put, the Political Theorists are saying that social psychologists who apply classical theory trivialize political motivations ("political ends") rather than focusing on psychological motivations (psychological dysfunctions).

(C)  Only  strain of a socioeconomic nature can provoke a social movement.

This was never implied about social psychologists who apply classical theory.

(D) The political ends of movement participants are   best   analyzed in terms of participants’ psychological motivations.

Extreme language.

(E) Psychological motivations of movement participants better illuminate the causes of social movements than do participants’ political motivations.

This is what the quoted sentences imply.

Diya52 · Answer

Can someone explain why in Q6, the main purpose of the passage is E and not D?

XyLan · Answer

Excerpt from the passage:  
  scholars are reaching for a theoretical perspective capable of clarifying its momentous developments. New theories of social movements are being discussed, not just among social psychologists, but also among political theorists. 
 
  Main purpose:  
 Author wants to explain and evaluate the classical theory as it applies to the civil rights movement, and ends up echoing the complaints of political theorists that the   classical theory doesn’t hit the mark.

The author highlights that  Political theorists  have been  dismissive  of the  “classical” social psychological theory.

Answer choice analysis:  
 
  The author does  NOT  favor  “classical” social psychological theory.  Thus, NO point in persuading historians of the  indispensability  of a theoretical framework. 
  It's too vague to be considered the main purpose because the  mere  presentation of a new model has  NEVER  been the intent. 
  There is  NO  shift in theoretical debate.
   A shift implies a confirmation and then dismissal of the idea.   
However, in the passage, the author 
 1) is projecting the new theories of social movements, not just among social psychologists, but also among political theorists, and 
2) evaluates their (  new theories of social movements  )  appropriability .  
  
The author does confirm HOW the classical models of the social movement are  similar  in nature in  para-3 .
However, it's  NOT  the main intent of the passage because the author ends up echoing the  complaints  of political theorists that the classical theory does  NOT  hit the mark. 
    Aha ! 
The author enlights how the different formulations of the social psychological theory  reasons  to explain a phenomenon. 
However, According to political theorists: they  failed (  shortcomings  )  to address the issue.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

5. The validity of the “better test” (line 65) as proposed by the author might be undermined by the fact that

Explanation

(B)  Tempting if you read it too quickly. However, if all of the economic indicators relevant to the movement and the classical theory were in fact reported by the press (and they might have been), then the author’s  “better test”  would be unharmed. So the possible holes in press coverage do not, in and of themselves, act to weaken the author’s test.

(C)  Yes, they may, but such a contradiction would only be meaningful if the evidence lent support to more than one of the theories, in which case we might have trouble sorting them out. But none of the three theories gains support from the test.

(D)  distorts the thrust of the test, which is to compare the economic indicators with  “the pace of reports about movement activity”  (lines 64-65). No one  “event,”  movement initiated or otherwise, is part of the test.

(E)  The issue isn’t whether the press, or anyone else, can keep pace with change, but rather how the press kept up with the black civil rights movement years ago and how the reports of activity correlated with economic indicators.

Answer: A

Hope it helps

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

2. According to the passage, the “rising expectations” and “relative deprivation” models differ in which one of the following ways?

Explanation

This question clearly sends you to  para 3 , where the two models are described, if sketchily. The relative deprivation model is, we’re told,  “only slightly different”  from the rising expectations model, and happily we needn’t spend much time figuring out why:  correct choice (D) states the obvious.

(A)  Neither model seems to have much predictive value. In any event, the two models are described insofar as each explains the civil rights movement of the past; we aren’t told nearly enough to make a judgment on the predictions each would make.

(B)  Au contraire, the relevance of a psychological explanation is something about which the two models in question agree. It’s what each is based on.

(C)  No, each is described as explaining the same social change—the black civil rights movement. Each does so differently, which brings us back to  (D).

(E)  is the one people choose if they work too hard, grabbing the phrase  “system strain”  from  para 2  (why, heaven only knows, because the two models aren’t described until a para later) and overthinking the  “slight difference”  briefly alluded to in  line 29 . In fact, so far as we can tell, the big difference between the two models is that while both models believe that protest began because of socioeconomic gains that predated the movement,  “relative deprivation”  brings in a second factor  (lines 32-34) . If anything, both models believe that socioeconomic status is relevant to the issues at hand.

Answer: D

Hope it helps

bidskamikaze · Answer

Tough, Tough passage!

Took 19 minutes to read and answer all questions correctly.

1. It can be inferred from the passage that the classical theory of social movement would not be appropriately applied to an annual general election because such an election

(A) may focus on personalities rather than on political issues
(B) is not provoked primarily by an unusual condition
(C) may be decided according to the psychological needs of voters
(D) may not entail momentous developments
(E) actually entails two or more distinct social movements

2. According to the passage, the “rising expectations” and “relative deprivation” models differ in which one of the following ways?

(A) They predict different responses to the same socioeconomic conditions.
(B) They disagree about the relevance of psychological explanations for protest movements.
(C) They are meant to explain different kinds of social change.
(D) They describe the motivation of protesters in slightly different ways.
(E) They disagree about the relevance of socioeconomic status to system strain.

3. The author implies that political theorists attribute which one of the following assumptions to social psychologists who apply the classical theory of social movements to the civil rights movement?

(A) Participants in any given social movement have conflicting motivations.
(B) Social movements are ultimately beneficial to society.
(C) Only strain of a socioeconomic nature can provoke a social movement.
(D) The political ends of movement participants are best analyzed in terms of participants’ psychological motivations.
(E) Psychological motivations of movement participants better illuminate the causes of social movements than do participants’ political motivations.

4. Which one of the following statements is supported by the results of the “better test” discussed in the last paragraph of the passage?

(A) The test confirms the three classical theories discussed in the passage.
(B) The test provides no basis for deciding among the three classical theories discussed in the passage.
(C) The test shows that it is impossible to apply any theory of social movements to the civil rights movement.
(D) The test indicates that press coverage of the civil rights movement was biased.
(E) The test verifies that the civil rights movement generated socioeconomic progress.

5. The validity of the “better test” (line 65) as proposed by the author might be undermined by the fact that

(A) the press is selective about the movement activities it chooses to cover
(B) not all economic indicators receive the same amount of press coverage
(C) economic indicators often contradict one another
(D) a movement-initiated event may not correlate significantly with any of the three economic indicators
(E) the pace of movement-initiated events is difficult to anticipate

6. The main purpose of the passage is to

(A) persuade historians of the indispensability of a theoretical framework for understanding recent history
(B) present a new model of social movement
(C) account for a shift in a theoretical debate
(D) show the unity underlying the diverse classical models of social movement
(E) discuss the reasoning behind and shortcomings of certain social psychological theories

A better test is the comparison of each of these economic indicators with the frequency of movement-initiated events reported in the press; unsurprisingly, none correlates significantly with the pace of reports about movement activity. It is clear that this better test doesn't provide much support to any of the three classical theories discussed. Option B is the obvious answer. (B) The test provides no basis for deciding among the three classical theories discussed in the passage. 5. The validity of the “better test” (line 65) as proposed by the author might be undermined by the fact that Another tough question

A better test is the comparison of each of these economic indicators with the frequency of movement-initiated events reported in the press; unsurprisingly, none correlates significantly with the pace of reports about movement activity. (A) the press is selective about the movement activities it chooses to cover - If the press is selective about the movement activities it chooses to cover, then authors observation - unsurprisingly, none correlates significantly with the pace of reports about movement activity. becomes doubtful. Keep A. (B) not all economic indicators receive the same amount of press coverage - Tempting. But it doesn't matter whether economic indicators receive coverage; What matters is the movement activities receive similar coverage. (C) economic indicators often contradict one another - What about movement activities? If economic indicators often contradict one another, then it would be EASIER to decide what led to movement! Eliminate. (D) a movement-initiated event may not correlate significantly with any of the three economic indicators - Ok, but are most movement-initiated events like that? We can't say. Eliminate. (E) the pace of movement-initiated events is difficult to anticipate - We don't need to anticipate. We need to co-relate the press reports with economic indicators. Eliminate. (A) seems to be only viable option. 6. The main purpose of the passage is to Finally! Another easy question!

(A) persuade historians of the indispensability of a theoretical framework for understanding recent history - Author isn't trying to persuade the historians. (B) present a new model of social movement - No new model is presented. (C) account for a shift in a theoretical debate - There is no shift in debate. (D) show the unity underlying the diverse classical models of social movement - This is only a partial purpose. (E) discuss the reasoning behind and shortcomings of certain social psychological theories - Correct. E is the right option.

PriyamRathor · Answer

Hello  KarishmaB ,

I took 16 mins to complete this passage. Got 5/6 Correct.
Below is the breakdown: -

Question 1 includes time to read the passage and answer.

I have a few questions: -

1.  Is LSAT RC difficult than GMAT RC ?  ( I am done with Social Science and Humanities Passage of GMAT OG. Hence, I have to depend on LSAT )
2.  What about my timings above ? Did I take more time ? Do we need to apply the 2 min rule per question of GMAT RC in LSAT RC also ? 
3. According to me , If I want to reduce the time , I have to speed up my Reading. Any tip how to do so without reducing the accuracy ?
( I have observed that whenever I try to do fast Reading , I end up doing more mistakes )

Thanks.

KarishmaB · Answer

GMAT and LSAT passages are similar in difficulty but GMAT passages are usually not this long. We have short and dense passages in GMAT. 
Considering that we have slightly less than 2 mins per question in GMAT and that CR questions often take 2-3 mins per question, it does make sense to stick to the less than 2 mins per question rule. Of course, first 3 or so mins will be spent in reading the passage but then every subsequent question should be answered in under a minute. You would normally have 3-4 questions from a passage so that would add up to about 6-8 mins. 
How much leeway, if at all, we have in case we are working with LSAT RC questions will depend on the question so I cannot give you any guidelines for that. 
To get an accurate sense of your speed and time management, work on some official GMAT RCs.

To increase your reading speed, practice reading faster every time you need to read anything (not just while doing GMAT questions). There are some bad habits that we develop over time such as monologuing which we must consciously try to avoid. Do know that increase in speed takes place but not in a span of a few days. It needs consistent practice of a few months. 
Also, try to improve your verbal question solving skills. That will automatically lead to some improvement in time management.

VerbalBot · Answer

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Years after the movement to obtain civil rights for black people

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Years after the movement to obtain civil rights for black people

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