Prominent sociologists Rodney Stark and Robert Wuthnow differ both

Question

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Passage # 38, Date: 19-Apr-2020
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Prominent sociologists Rodney Stark and Robert Wuthnow differ both stylistically and substantially in their respective approaches to the contentious question of the extent to which secularization has taken hold within contemporary American culture and has influenced religious practice. Stark’s blunt attack on the basic secularization thesis represents both the strength and weakness of his work. He compellingly challenges readers’ convictions concerning any overarching religious decline, while circumventing more subtle issues related to the shifting relationship between religious practice and (non-politicized) public and intellectual life. Wuthnow’s cautious account of various transformations in American religious life, by contrast, provides an evenhanded depiction of several critical cultural developments, such as the de-centralizing of traditional denominational divisions in favor of a more prominent and more polarizing division between liberal and conservative movements. He properly links this division, which emerged in the 1940s and 1950s and has gained momentum since the 1960s, to challenges posed by emerging scientific and historical-critical scholarship, as well as to the predictable pressures of greater religious and cultural diversity. Missing from Wuthnow’s analysis, however, is any decisive refutation of the secularization thesis, leaving open the question of whether the division he describes is ultimately secondary to an encroaching secular culture. Although Wuthnow clearly understands American religious transformations in terms far removed from decline, in failing to address the topic directly he leaves his readers’ secularist assumptions unchallenged. While Stark’s analysis of liberal religion may be overly simplistic and his embrace of authoritarian religious structures uncritical, he does succeed in drawing attention to the most significant questions currently facing the discipline.    1  
 1. The passage is primarily concerned with

A. addressing two competing perspectives on an important sociological question
B. calling into question many readers' assumptions concerning one contentious sociological topic
C. criticizing one sociologist's approach to a topic central to the discipline
D. evaluating the writings of two sociologists in relationship to a controversial topic
E. explaining new developments within the sociological study of religion and culture

2  
 2. The author cites the emergence of increasing religious and cultural diversity in order to

A. emphasize the importance of increasing pluralism as a dynamic that has, in the last century, transformed the American religious landscape
B. describe transformations in American society that contribute to the further secularization of public life
C. reference two cultural dynamics about which sociologists who study religion are largely in agreement
D. inquire into other religious changes that have accompanied the growth of a scientific and historically sensitive modern mindset
E. identify certain factors that have encouraged the deepening of an important religious schism

3  
 3. The author suggests that Wuthnow claims that contemporary religious practice within the United States compared to that of 100 years ago

A. has undergone at least a partial decline
B. has not undergone any decline
C. is marked by a sharper fundamental contrast
D. recognizes fewer distinct denominations
E. has a greater number of divisions

AnirudhaS · Answer

1. The passage is primarily concerned with

A. addressing two competing perspectives on an important sociological question
B. calling into question many readers' assumptions concerning one contentious sociological topic
C. criticizing one sociologist's approach to a topic central to the discipline
 D. evaluating the writings of two sociologists in relationship to a controversial topic 
E. explaining new developments within the sociological study of religion and culture

Explanation of question 1 
I'll be honest this passage was really hard to understand. My strategy was to stick to the tone of the author and roughly understand what the author intends. Plus I am pretty sure this is the last time I'll encounter Stark & Wuthnow in my life, so all I have to do is get the answer correct (hopefully) and move on...
Two answer choices come close, A and D
Choosing D over A, because pretty much everything in the passage is about the works of these two scholars. In A, I am not 100% sure this topic is about sociological question. Lets assume it is, is it important. Not a lot going on for A then.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. The author cites the emergence of increasing religious and cultural diversity in order to
A. emphasize the importance of increasing pluralism as a dynamic that has, in the last century, transformed the American religious landscape
B. describe transformations in American society that contribute to the further secularization of public life
C. reference two cultural dynamics about which sociologists who study religion are largely in agreement
D. inquire into other religious changes that have accompanied the growth of a scientific and historically sensitive modern mindset
 E. identify certain factors that have encouraged the deepening of an important religious schism

Explanation of question 2 
The passage states "He properly links this division, which emerged in the 1940s and 1950s and has gained momentum since the 1960s, to challenges posed by emerging scientific and historical-critical scholarship, as well as to the predictable pressures of greater religious and cultural diversity."
So Wuthnow links 
polarizing division between liberal and conservative movements --> greater religious and cultural diversity
Think its between D and E. lets look closer.
D - He does try to link this division to the religious diversity. But not really inquire into the religious changes.
E - Wuthnow tries to link the division to religious diversity. This is one of the factors which widen the gap of religious diversity. this is the answer.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. The author suggests that Wuthnow claims that contemporary religious practice within the United States compared to that of 100 years ago
A. has undergone at least a partial decline
 B. has not undergone any decline 
C. is marked by a sharper fundamental contrast
D. recognizes fewer distinct denominations
E. has a greater number of divisions

Explanation of question 3 
The passage states -  "Although Wuthnow clearly understands American religious transformations in terms  far removed from decline ,.."  So according to Wuthnow, American religious transformations were not undergoing any decline.

bM22 · Answer

1. The passage is primarily concerned with

A. addressing two competing perspectives on an important sociological question
 B. calling into question many readers' assumptions concerning one contentious sociological topic
 C. criticizing one sociologist's approach to a topic central to the discipline
D. evaluating the writings of two sociologists in relationship to a controversial topic
E. explaining new developments within the sociological study of religion and culture

Correct Answer - B
 Explanation - It can be clearly seen in the whole of the passage that the author compares the works of the 2 sociologists, throughout can at the end mentions that
Rodney Stark still draws attention to the most significant questions currently facing the discipline, which Wuthnow was not able to do.
Option A - incorrect, becuase he does address the 2 competing perspectives, but what he addresses is the main concern.
Option C - incorrect, not discussed in the passage.
Option D - incorrect, as the evaluation does happen but for what is the main purpose of the passage.
Option E - incorrect, as the author doesnt explain, he just compares.

2. The author cites the emergence of increasing religious and cultural diversity in order to

A. emphasize the importance of increasing pluralism as a dynamic that has, in the last century, transformed the American religious landscape
B. describe transformations in American society that contribute to the further secularization of public life
C. reference two cultural dynamics about which sociologists who study religion are largely in agreement
D. inquire into other religious changes that have accompanied the growth of a scientific and historically sensitive modern mindset
 E. identify certain factors that have encouraged the deepening of an important religious schism

Correct Answer - E
 Explanation - as mentioned in the passage: "Wuthnow’s cautious account of various transformations in American religious life, by contrast, provides an evenhanded depiction of several critical cultural developments, such as the de-centralizing of traditional denominational divisions in favor of a more prominent and more polarizing division between liberal and conservative movements. He properly links this division, which emerged in the 1940s and 1950s and has gained momentum since the 1960s, to challenges posed by emerging scientific and historical-critical scholarship, as well as to the predictable pressures of greater religious and cultural diversity."
We can say author is discussing certain factors that increased the division between liberals and conservationists.
Option A- incorrect, as not mentioned in the passage.
Option B- incorrect, as secularization was of religion, not of social life.
Option C- incorrect, not related to the question.
Option D- incorrect, not related to the question.

3. The author suggests that Wuthnow claims that contemporary religious practice within the United States compared to that of 100 years ago

A. has undergone at least a partial decline
B. has not undergone any decline
C. is marked by a sharper fundamental contrast
D. recognizes fewer distinct denominations
 E. has a greater number of divisions
 
confused b/w B & E.

Correct Answer - E
 Explanation - as author mentions that : "Although Wuthnow clearly understands American religious transformations in terms far removed from decline, in failing to address the topic directly he leaves his readers’ secularist assumptions unchallenged."
Option A - incorrect not discussed by Wuthnow.
Option C - incorrect, out of scope.
Option D - incorrect, could be but E is better, since D is incomplete.
Option B - incorrect, not discussed in detail by Wuthnow.

kris19 · Answer

1. The passage is primarily concerned with
 passage analysis: two differing socialists came up with their analysis of a contentious question - secularisation - in contemporary American culture. Passage talks about their work and the scope.

A. addressing two competing perspectives on an important sociological question
 not correct: passage gives details about two competing perspectives of secularisation, but it also talks about their limitations

B. calling into question many readers' assumptions concerning one contentious sociological topic
 not correct: passage is not calling into question readers' assumptions

C. criticizing one sociologist's approach to a topic central to the discipline
 not correct: no criticism of any sociologist's approach is given

D. evaluating the writings of two sociologists in relationship to a controversial topic
 correct: author of the passage gives two sociologists views and limitations of their work, in an evaluating mode. Also, the passage says 'approaches to the contentious question', meaning their work related to a controversial topic

E. explaining new developments within the sociological study of religion and culture
 not correct: not about new developments but about two differing works 
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. The author cites the emergence of increasing religious and cultural diversity in order to

A. emphasize the importance of increasing pluralism as a dynamic that has, in the last century, transformed the American religious landscape
 correct: The author talks about Wuthnow's work, which provides evenhanded depiction of cultural developments such as 'de-centralizing of traditional denominational divisions in favor of a more prominent and more polarizing division between liberal and conservative movements. He properly links this division, which emerged in the 1940s and 1950s and has gained momentum since the 1960s'. Clearly the author stresses the polarisation between liberal and conservative movements, which are the results of emerging diversity

B. describe transformations in American society that contribute to the further secularization of public life
 not correct: no discussion of further secularisation of public life in the passage

C. reference two cultural dynamics about which sociologists who study religion are largely in agreement
 not correct: details about two sociologists are given, we can't infer how other sociologists agree about effects of emerging diversity

D. inquire into other religious changes that have accompanied the growth of a scientific and historically sensitive modern mindset
 not correct: no discussion of sensitive modern mindset

E. identify certain factors that have encouraged the deepening of an important religious schism
 not correct: emerging diversity has resulted in polarisation of liberal and conservative movements but not deepening of religious schism 
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. The author suggests that Wuthnow claims that contemporary religious practice within the United States compared to that of 100 years ago

A. has undergone at least a partial decline
 not correct: no discussion of decline in religious practice in contemporary America culture

B. has not undergone any decline
 not correct: now 'greater religious and cultural diversity' compared to that of 100 years ago

C. is marked by a sharper fundamental contrast
 not correct: no discussion of fundamental constrast

D. recognizes fewer distinct denominations
 not correct: opposite, passage says 'de-centralizing of traditional denominational divisions'

E. has a greater number of divisions
 correct: Wuthnow’s cautious account provides an evenhanded depiction of several critical cultural developments, such as the de-centralizing of traditional denominational divisions. So more de-centralisation means more number of divisions

SiffyB · Answer

1. The passage is primarily concerned with
 
A. addressing two competing perspectives on an important sociological question
B. calling into question many readers' assumptions concerning one contentious sociological topic
C. criticizing one sociologist's approach to a topic central to the discipline
  D. evaluating the writings of two sociologists in relationship to a controversial topic 
 E. explaining new developments within the sociological study of religion and culture

The two choices competing here are (A) and (D). Others can be eliminated basis out of scope or limited scope issues.
Now, turning out attention to the two choices at hand. To describe this question/topic, the author uses the word 'contentious' which means controversial. We don't know whether the question is important or not. It can be controversial and still not important!
Also, the author evaluates the words of these two sociologists. Merely addressing their perspectives is not the goal. For these reasons, I went ahead with (D).

2. The author cites the emergence of increasing religious and cultural diversity in order to
 
  A. emphasize the importance of increasing pluralism as a dynamic that has, in the last century, transformed the American religious landscape 
 B. describe transformations in American society that contribute to the further secularization of public life
C. reference two cultural dynamics about which sociologists who study religion are largely in agreement
D. inquire into other religious changes that have accompanied the growth of a scientific and historically sensitive modern mindset
E. identify certain factors that have encouraged the deepening of an important religious schism

When we talk about diversity, we mean a lot of different types of a particular thing. Diversity of religion means a lot of religions. Pressures of religious diversity is linked to the division between liberal and conservative movements. This is clearly stated in option (A) which says that pluralism is very important as a dynamic and its importance has been emphasized by stating how it transformed the American religious landscape.

3. The author suggests that Wuthnow claims that contemporary religious practice within the United States compared to that of 100 years ago
 
A. has undergone at least a partial decline
B. has not undergone any decline
C. is marked by a sharper fundamental contrast
  D. recognizes fewer distinct denominations 
 E. has a greater number of divisions

"..de-centralizing of traditional denominational divisions in favor of a more prominent and more polarizing division between liberal and conservative movements". This means that the number of distinct denominational divisions have been reduced to 2 (liberal and conservative). This resonates with option (D), which is our correct answer.

Gowtham91 · Answer

Q1.
A. The author is not addressing anything, but rather evaluating the pros and cons of 2 views.
B. There is no assumption and the author cannot question it.
C. Although he praises Wuthnow, he does not criticise stark. This is not the primary purpose of the passage.
 D. Correct  The author is evaluating the pros and cons of the response of 2 sociologists, to the question at hand. 
E. No. Although the author explains the developments, it is only the view point of the sociologist and hence this is not the primary purpose of the passage.

Q2. (not sure)
 B. Correct  The author cites this as a view of Wuthrow to explain that the divisions/ polarisations caused the secularisation (answer to the controversy in hand)

Q3. 
 E. Correct  This can be inferred from "evenhanded depiction of several critical cultural developments, such as the de-centralizing of traditional denominational divisions in favor of a more prominent and more polarizing division between liberal and conservative movements."

Sajjad1994 · Answer

OAs of this RC are posted now, this was a 700-Level passage and i received no good result.

1. D
2. E
3. C

Only person with good result is  AnirudhaS . 1/3 is not a good result at all for 700+ seekers. Good Luck for the next RCs.

AnirudhaS · Answer

Hi  SajjadAhmad , can we have the official explanations please?

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

1. The passage is primarily concerned with

Difficulty Level:  Medium

Explanation

This is a primary purpose question, as indicated by the phrase primarily concerned with. The subject of the question is the passage as a whole. The task of the question is to determine why the author wrote the passage. In order to answer the question, determine why the author wrote the passage, then evaluate the answer choices, eliminating any choice which does not match the author’s primary purpose. According to the passage, sociologists Rodney Stark and Robert Wuthnow differ both stylistically and substantially in their respective approaches to the contentious question of the extent to which secularization has taken hold within contemporary American culture and has influenced religious practice. The author then critiques the work of both sociologists.

Choice A:  No. The phrase two competing perspectives on an important sociological question may make this choice seem tempting, but it is a memory trap reminiscent of the first sentence of the passage which states prominent sociologists Rodney Stark and Robert Wuthnow differ both stylistically and substantially in their respective approaches to the contentious question of the extent to which secularization has taken hold within contemporary American culture and has influenced religious practice. While the two sociologists differ in the styles of their approaches, Stark mounts a blunt attack on the basic secularization thesis and Wuthnow’s analysis is missing any decisive refutation of the secularization thesis, there is no evidence in the passage to support the idea that their approaches are competing. Therefore, this is a no such comparison answer choice.

Choice B:  No. The recycled language readers' assumptions may make this choice seem appealing because the passage states that Stark compellingly challenges readers’ convictions concerning any overarching religious decline. However, the same is not true of Wuthnow, who leaves his readers’ secularist assumptions unchallenged. Further, this is not the primary purpose of the passage which is to critique the works of sociologists Stark and Wuthnow regarding the contentious question regarding secularization and its influence on religious practice.

Choice C:  No. The word criticizing is extreme language and one sociologist's approach is not the primary purpose of the passage which is to critique the works of sociologists Stark and Wuthnow regarding the contentious question regarding secularization and its influence on religious practice.

Choice D:  Correct. This answer choice is supported by the passage as the author evaluates the writings of two sociologists, Stark and Wuthnow, in relationship to a controversial topic, which the passage refers to as a contentious question of the extent to which secularization has taken hold within contemporary American culture and has influenced religious practice.

Choice E:  No. The recycled language developments and religion and culture may make this choice seem appealing. However, the primary purpose of the passage is not to explain new developments since no specific new developments are addressed. The purpose is to critique the works of sociologists Stark and Wuthnow regarding the contentious question regarding secularization and its influence on religious practice.

The correct answer is choice D.

2. The author cites the emergence of increasing religious and cultural diversity in order to

Difficulty Level:   Very Hard

Explanation

The phrase in order to in the question stem indicates that this is a purpose question. The subject of the question is the emergence of increasing religious and cultural diversity. The task of the question is indicated by the words author cites…in order to. To answer the question, determine why the author mentioned the subject, then evaluate the answer choices, eliminating any choice which does not match the author’s purpose. The passages states that Wuthnow’s cautious account of various transformations in American religious life, by contrast, provides an evenhanded depiction of several critical cultural developments, such as the decentralizing of traditional denominational divisions in favor of a more prominent and more polarizing division between liberal and conservative movements. He properly links this division, which emerged in the 1940s and 1950s and has gained momentum since the 1960s, to challenges posed by emerging scientific and historical-critical scholarship, as well as to the predictable pressures of greater religious and cultural diversity.

Choice A: No. The phrase transformed the American religious landscape may make this choice seem tempting, but it is a memory trap reminiscent of the phrase in the passage that states various transformations in American religious life. However, there is no evidence in the passage to support the idea that the author cites the emergence of increasing religious and cultural diversity (rephrased as increasing pluralism in the answer choice) in order to emphasize the importance of this diversity. In fact, the author mentions it as predictable pressures.

Choice B: No. The recycled language secularization and public life may make this choice seem appealing. However, the author states that missing from Wuthnow’s analysis, however, is any decisive refutation of the secularization thesis, leaving open the question of whether the division he describes is ultimately secondary to an encroaching secular culture. Therefore, the author does not mention the emergence of increasing religious and cultural diversity as contributing to the further secularization of public life.

Choice C: No. The recycled language cultural may make this choice seem appealing. However, the phrase largely in agreement is extreme language. The passage only mentions two sociologists, Stark and Wuthnow, not sociologists in general, and there is no evidence that they are largely in agreement regarding increasing religious and cultural diversity.

Choice D: No. The phrase scientific and historically sensitive modern mindset may make this choice seem tempting, but it is a memory trap reminiscent of the phrase in the passage that states emerging scientific and historical-critical scholarship. While the author does mention American religious transformation, there is no inquiry into other religious changes.

Choice E: Correct. This answer choice is supported by the passage. An important religious schism in the answer choice is a paraphrase polarizing division between liberal and conservative movements in the passage. The passages states that Wuthnow’s cautious account of various transformations in American religious life, by contrast, provides an evenhanded depiction of several critical cultural developments, such as the decentralizing of traditional denominational divisions in favor of a more prominent and more polarizing division between liberal and conservative movements. He properly links this division, which emerged in the 1940s and 1950s and has gained momentum since the 1960s, to challenges posed by emerging scientific and historical-critical scholarship, as well as to the predictable pressures of greater religious and cultural diversity.

The correct answer is choice E.

3. The author suggests that Wuthnow claims that contemporary religious practice within the United States compared to that of 100 years ago

Difficulty Level:   Very Hard

Explanation

The word suggests in the question stem indicates that this is an inference question. The subject of this question is Wuthnow’s claims about contemporary religious practice within the United States compared to that of 100 years ago. The task of the question is indicated by the word suggests. 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. According to the passage, Wuthnow’s cautious account of various transformations in American religious life, by contrast, provides an evenhanded depiction of several critical cultural developments, such as the decentralizing of traditional denominational divisions in favor of a more prominent and more polarizing division between liberal and conservative movements. He properly links this division, which emerged in the 1940s and 1950s and has gained momentum since the 1960s, to challenges posed by emerging scientific and historical-critical scholarship, as well as to the predictable pressures of greater religious and cultural diversity.

Choice A:  No. The use of the recycled language decline may make this answer choice seem appealing. However, this choice is a reversal. The author states that Wuthnow clearly understands American religious transformations in terms far removed from decline, in failing to address the topic directly he leaves his readers’ secularist assumptions unchallenged.

Choice B:  No. The use of the recycled language decline may make this answer choice seem appealing. However, this choice is a reversal. The author states that Wuthnow clearly understands American religious transformations in terms far removed from decline, in failing to address the topic directly he leaves his readers’ secularist assumptions unchallenged.

Choice C:  Correct. This choice is supported by the passage. The phrase sharper fundamental contrast in the answer choice is a paraphrase of a more prominent and more polarizing division between liberal and conservative movements in the text. The passage continues with he properly links this division, which emerged in the 1940s and 1950s and has gained momentum since the 1960s which continues the idea of a contrast and provides the necessary timeframe.

Choice D:  No. The phrase fewer distinct denominations may make this choice seem tempting, but it is a memory trap reminiscent of the phrase several critical cultural developments, such as the decentralizing of traditional denominational divisions in the text. Although the denominations have been decentralized, there is no indication that there are fewer of them.

Choice E:  No. The phrase greater number is extreme language. Although the passage mentions the decentralizing of traditional denominational divisions in favor of a more prominent and more polarizing division between liberal and conservative movements, there is no such comparison of the number of divisions.

The correct answer is choice C.

Hope it helps

lavanya.18 · Answer

The second question is confusing, even after reading all the explanations given by people here, I'm still very much confused.
Got 2/3 in this passage. Really hoping to get all right in such kind of confusing passages.

Prominent sociologists Rodney Stark and Robert Wuthnow differ both

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GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

Prominent sociologists Rodney Stark and Robert Wuthnow differ both

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