Historians generally agree that, of the great modern innovations, the

Question

Historians generally agree that, of the great modern innovations, the railroad had the most far-reaching impact on major events in the United States in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, particularly on the Industrial Revolution. There is, however, considerable disagreement among cultural historians regarding public attitudes toward the railroad, both at its inception in the 1830s and during the half century between 1880 and 1930, when the national rail system was completed and reached the zenith of its popularity in the United States. In a recent book, John Stilgoe has addressed this issue by arguing that the “romantic-era distrust” of the railroad that he claims was present during the 1830s vanished in the decades after 1880. But the argument he provides in support of this position is unconvincing.

What Stilgoe calls “romantic-era distrust” was in fact the reaction of a minority of writers, artistes, and intellectuals who distrusted the railroad not so much for what it was as for what it signified. Thoreau and Hawthorne appreciated, even admired, an improved means of moving things and people from one place to another. What these writers and others were concerned about was not the new machinery as such, but the new kind of economy, social order, and culture that it prefigured. In addition, Stilgoe is wrong to imply that the critical attitude of these writers was typical of the period: their distrust was largely a reaction against the prevailing attitude in the 1830s that the railroad was an unqualified improvement.

Stilgoe’s assertion that the ambivalence toward the railroad exhibited by writers like Hawthorne and Thoreau disappeared after the 1880s is also misleading. In support of this thesis, Stilgoe has unearthed an impressive volume of material, the work of hitherto unknown illustrators, journalists, and novelists, all devotees of the railroad; but it is not clear what this new material proves except perhaps that the works of popular culture greatly expanded at the time. The volume of the material proves nothing if Stilgoe’s point is that the earlier distrust of a minority of intellectuals did not endure beyond the 1880s, and, oddly, much of Stilgoe’s other evidence indicates that it did. When he glances at the treatment of railroads by writers like Henry James, Sinclair Lewis, or F. Scott Fitzgerald, what comes through in spite of Stilgoe’s analysis is remarkably like Thoreau’s feeling of contrariety and ambivalence. (Had he looked at the work of Frank Norris, Eugene O’Neill, or Henry Adams, Stilgoe’s case would have been much stronger.) The point is that the sharp contrast between the enthusiastic supporters of the railroad in the 1830s and the minority of intellectual dissenters during that period extended into the 1880s and beyond.   1 
 1. The passage provides information to answer all of the following questions EXCEPT:

(A) During what period did the railroad reach the zenith of its popularity in the United States?
(B) How extensive was the impact of the railroad on the Industrial Revolution in the United States, relative to that of other modern innovations?
(C) Who are some of the writers of the 1830s who expressed ambivalence toward the railroad?
(D) In what way could Stilgoe have strengthened his argument regarding intellectuals’ attitudes toward the railroad in the years after the 1880s?
(E) What arguments did the writers after the 1880s, as cited by Stilgoe, offer to justify their support for the railroad?

2 
 2. According to the author of the passage, Stilgoe uses the phrase “romantic-era distrust” (line 13) to imply that the view he is referring to was

(A) the attitude of a minority of intellectuals toward technological innovation that began after 1830
(B) a commonly held attitude toward the railroad during the 1830s
(C) an ambivalent view of the railroad expressed by many poets and novelists between 1880 and 1930
(D) a critique of social and economic developments during the 1830s by a minority of intellectuals
(E) an attitude toward the railroad that was disseminated by works of popular culture after 1880

3 
 3. According to the author, the attitude toward the railroad that was reflected in writings of Henry James, Sinclair Lewis, and F. Scott Fitzgerald was

(A) influenced by the writings of Frank Norris, Eugene O’Neill, and Henry Adams
(B) similar to that of the minority of writers who had expressed ambivalence toward the railroad prior to the 1880s
(C) consistent with the public attitudes toward the railroad that were reflected in works of popular culture after the 1880s
(D) largely a reaction to the works of writers who had been severely critical of the railroad in the 1830s
(E) consistent with the prevailing attitude toward the railroad during the 1830s

4 
 4. It can be inferred from the passage that the author uses the phrase “works of popular culture” (line 41) primarily to refer to the

(A) work of a large group of writers that was published between 1880 and 1930 and that in Stilgoe’s view was highly critical of the railroad
(B) work of writers who were heavily influenced by Hawthorne and Thoreau
(C) large volume of writing produced by Henry Adams, Sinclair Lewis, and Eugene O’Neill
(D) work of journalists, novelists, and illustrators who were responsible for creating enthusiasm for the railroad during the 1830s
(E) work of journalists, novelists, and illustrators that was published after 1880 and that has received little attention from scholars other than Stilgoe

5 
 5. Which one of the following can be inferred from the passage regarding the work of Frank Norris, Eugene O’Neill, and Henry Adams?

(A) Their work never achieved broad popular appeal.
(B) Their ideas were disseminated to a large audience by the popular culture of the early 1800s.
(C) Their work expressed a more positive attitude toward the railroad than did that of Henry James, Sinclair Lewis, and F. Scott Fitzgerald.
(D) Although they were primarily novelists, some of their work could be classified as journalism.
(E) Although they were influenced by Thoreau, their attitude toward the railroad was significantly different from his.

6 
 6. It can be inferred from the passage that Stilgoe would be most likely to agree with which one of the following statements regarding the study of cultural history?

(A) It is impossible to know exactly what period historians are referring to when they use the term “romantic era.”
(B) The writing of intellectuals often anticipates ideas and movements that are later embraced by popular culture.
(C) Writers who were not popular in their own time tell us little about the age in which they lived.
(D) The works of popular culture can serve as a reliable indicator of public attitudes toward modern innovations like the railroad.
(E) The best source of information concerning the impact of an event as large as the Industrial Revolution is the private letters and journals of individuals

7 
 7. The primary purpose of the passage is to

(A) evaluate one scholar’s view of public attitudes toward the railroad in the United States from the early nineteenth to the early twentieth century
(B) review the treatment of the railroad in American literature of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries
(C) survey the views of cultural historians regarding the railroad’s impact on major events in United States history
(D) explore the origins of the public support for the railroad that existed after the completion of a national rail system in the United States
(E) define what historians mean when they refer to the “romantic-era distrust” of the railroad

Gladiator59 · Accepted Answer

6 mins 24 secs... and all correct.

Pretty good passage with straightforward questions. I will pen down my thoughts about the questions in a later edit to this post. Edit1: Adding answer explanations & summary. Summary: Author has a negative tone towards Stilgoe's book and arguments. The railroad has been the most impactful on major events in the USA during 18th and 19th century. Disagreements exist between cultural historians about public attitudes towards the railroad both during the inception and the half century that followed after it's major completion and when it reached its zenith of popularity. A recent book by John Stilgoe about this topic is discussed in the passage about how the argument presented therein regarding the romantic era mistrust towards the railroad is unfounded. The author goes on explaining that even the positive reaction of later authors in 1880 is also misleading. The author finally concludes saying reality is - "The point is that the sharp contrast between the enthusiastic supporters of the railroad in the 1830s and the minority of intellectual dissenters during that period extended into the 1880s and beyond." Detail question and pretty straightforward with a few tricks. Essential to spot that it is an EXCEPT question! Q1). The passage provides information to answer all of the following questions EXCEPT: (A) During what period did the railroad reach the zenith of its popularity in the United States? Nah. Mentioned in the first para by the author (B) How extensive was the impact of the railroad on the Industrial Revolution in the United States, relative to that of other modern innovations? Nah - easy discard. The first line of the passage. (C) Who are some of the writers of the 1830s who expressed ambivalence toward the railroad? Also mentioned - Stilgoe didn't think so but the author mentions it. (D) In what way could Stilgoe have strengthened his argument regarding intellectuals’ attitudes toward the railroad in the years after the 1880s? Discard. Mentioned in brackets in the last paragraph (E) What arguments did the writers after the 1880s, as cited by Stilgoe, offer to justify their support for the railroad? CORRECT - no arguments of the authors are presented just their views ( as per the author and Stilgoe) are described Detail question explained where romantic era distrust is explained as being wrongly interpreted by him by the author in the first lines of the second para Q2). According to the author of the passage, Stilgoe uses the phrase “romantic-era distrust” (line 13) to imply that the view he is referring to was (A) the attitude of a minority of intellectuals toward technological innovation that began after 1830 Opposite - this is the truth but this is not what Stilgoe was referring to! (B) a commonly held attitude toward the railroad during the 1830s BINGO - this is exactly what the author says is incorrect and hence Stilgoe was referring to this. (C) an ambivalent view of the railroad expressed by many poets and novelists between 1880 and 1930 Opposite and unrelated about the time when this view was held. Discard (D) a critique of social and economic developments during the 1830s by a minority of intellectuals Opposite. What social and economic critique - discard. Stilgoe never thought the authors were thinking of anything other than the railroad itself. (E) an attitude toward the railroad that was disseminated by works of popular culture after 1880 BS Option. Discard Detail question - can be found in the third paragraph - the author thinks their writing was similar to previous authors mentioned in the second para Q3). According to the author, the attitude toward the railroad that was reflected in writings of Henry James, Sinclair Lewis, and F. Scott Fitzgerald was (A) influenced by the writings of Frank Norris, Eugene O’Neill, and Henry Adams BS option. Opposite. Discard (B) similar to that of the minority of writers who had expressed ambivalence toward the railroad prior to the 1880s BINGO - this is exactly what we are looking for (C) consistent with the public attitudes toward the railroad that were reflected in works of popular culture after the 1880s Discard. This is opposite to what the Stilgoe thought and irrelevant to the author's thinking as the author never agrees to the "romantic-era distrust" theory of Stilgoe (D) largely a reaction to the works of writers who had been severely critical of the railroad in the 1830s Discard - no one was "severely" critical of the railroads (E) consistent with the prevailing attitude toward the railroad during the 1830s TRAP - a prevailing attitude by who? It refers to the general public and this is wrong for the same reason as (C) above. Another detail question which can be found in the author's explanation of Stilgoes second argument. In the third paragraph Q4). It can be inferred from the passage that the author uses the phrase “works of popular culture” (line 41) primarily to refer to the (A) work of a large group of writers that was published between 1880 and 1930 and that in Stilgoe’s view was highly critical of the railroad Opposite. Stilgoe refers to poplar culture for an entirely opposite reason. Discard (B) work of writers who were heavily influenced by Hawthorne and Thoreau BS Option. Noone can be said to be heavily influenced by those two. Discard (C) large volume of writing produced by Henry Adams, Sinclair Lewis, and Eugene O’Neill BS Option. Discard. (D) work of journalists, novelists, and illustrators who were responsible for creating enthusiasm for the railroad during the 1830s TRAP - we are looking for the first few words but the last words are irrelevant and meaningless. Hence discard (E) work of journalists, novelists, and illustrators that was published after 1880 and that has received little attention from scholars other than Stilgoe BINGO - exactly what we are looking for- author mentions the popular art as being fringe and no one other than Stilgoe refers to it. Detail question. Second time the brackets portion in the passage is being referred to. Pretty easy to spot... NOTE: INference type so we need 100% support for the same from the passage either direct or implied Q5). Which one of the following can be inferred from the passage regarding the work of Frank Norris, Eugene O’Neill, and Henry Adams? (A) Their work never achieved broad popular appeal. Nah. Cannot infer this from the passage (B) Their ideas were disseminated to a large audience by the popular culture of the early 1800s. Nah. Cannot infer. Almost a BS Option. (C) Their work expressed a more positive attitude toward the railroad than did that of Henry James, Sinclair Lewis, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Bingo The author implies exactly this is true when giving the example in the bracket as a way Stilgoe could have given a stronger argument. (D) Although they were primarily novelists, some of their work could be classified as journalism. BS option. completely irrelevant to the discussion. Discard (E) Although they were influenced by Thoreau, their attitude toward the railroad was significantly different from his. Discard. Noone can be said to have influenced anyone else. The second time this wrong option appears in the questions. Detail question and one needs to understand the central theme to be able to answer this. Whatever author is saying Stilgoe is opposite to that. Q6). It can be inferred from the passage that Stilgoe would be most likely to agree with which one of the following statements regarding the study of cultural history? (A) It is impossible to know exactly what period historians are referring to when they use the term “romantic era.” WRONG- Stilgoe refers himself. (B) The writing of intellectuals often anticipates ideas and movements that are later embraced by popular culture. The writing does not anticipate but rather reflect according to Stilgoe (C) Writers who were not popular in their own time tell us little about the age in which they lived. Opposite is true as believed by Stilgoe (D) The works of popular culture can serve as a reliable indicator of public attitudes toward modern innovations like the railroad. BINGO - this is exactly the case at hand regarding the "romantic-era distrust" part as expressed by Stilgoe (E) The best source of information concerning the impact of an event as large as the Industrial Revolution is the private letters and journals of individuals. BS option- discard Finally main point question. Q7). The primary purpose of the passage is to (A) evaluate one scholar’s view of public attitudes toward the railroad in the United States from the early nineteenth to the early twentieth century BINGO - as highlighted by me, the evaluation of Stilgoes work is the main idea (B) review the treatment of the railroad in American literature of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries Too broad to be the main point also out of scope as we are only looking at one book (C) survey the views of cultural historians regarding the railroad’s impact on major events in United States history Survey word is used. Discard. The author does not survey anything (D) explore the origins of the public support for the railroad that existed after the completion of a national rail system in the United States Nah. "origins of public transport" too wild.. we are only talking about railroads. (E) define what historians mean when they refer to the “romantic-era distrust” of the railroad Too detailed to be the main point. Discard. Phew. Took me over 30 mins to write the explanations down . It is one of those passages that is difficult to explain due to a lot of implicit references and two different point of views ( Stilgoe & that of the author) throughout.

Gladiator59 · Answer

I'll be honest with you. There is no secret trick to improve speed on the RC. It takes a lot of practice to improve speed while maintaining comprehension accuracy. Why? Reading speed is a natural skill - somewhat like typing speed. Some people type really fast while others take their time - when you force yourself to type faster than your natural speed you end up making more mistakes ( this is also the case with reading! ) and hence you need to improve by practice. There are different types of readers - oral, auditory, visual - with varying style & hence speeds of reading. You can check your reading speed here .

So as long as you are within the 2mins / question red-flag limit, you are doing good. Any improvement beyond that will only come from a sustained practice of reading tough literature ( ex. business articles, non-fiction books on science etc.) Hope this helps. Feel free to tag back or drop a PM.

tarunanandani · Answer

Gladiator59 , I too was able to get all the answers correct but it took me around 15 mins (including reading time) to do so.
Can you suggest some ways to improve speed in solving RCs?

Thanks in advance!

prototypevenom · Answer

Gladiator59

Can you make a video doing the passage, like verbally, It would be really helpful to know how you are comprehending and taking notes in a real question taking mindset, would help the slow reader or the guys struggling with acuracy or both

Also Q5

Q5). Which one of the following can be inferred from the passage regarding the work of Frank Norris, Eugene O’Neill, and Henry Adams?

(A) Their work never achieved broad popular appeal. Nah. Cannot infer this from the passage
(B) Their ideas were disseminated to a large audience by the popular culture of the early 1800s. Nah. Cannot infer. Almost a BS Option.
(C) Their work expressed a more positive attitude toward the railroad than did that of Henry James, Sinclair Lewis, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Opposite. The author implies exactly opposite of this is true. Discard.
(D) Although they were primarily novelists, some of their work could be classified as journalism. BS option. completely irrelevant to the discussion. Discard
(E) Although they were influenced by Thoreau, their attitude toward the railroad was significantly different from his. Discard. Noone can be said to have influenced anyone else. The second time this wrong option appears in the questions.

you eliminated all of the choices?

Gladiator59 · Answer

prototypevenom , Thanks for pointing out! Glad someone is reading the TLDR posts

Looks like I got carried away in the long post and hence ended up discarding everything. What happens when you write such a long post is sometimes you mix things up and often you cannot proof-read what you write ( due to it being TLDR

) About your suggestion regarding making videos - I think it makes more sense to write thoughts down than making visual cues. The first skill to solve RCs is a knack to read without getting fatigued. The fact that you are reading my posts is propelling you closer to that goal.

On a serious note - it is a good suggestion but I do not see myself making video solutions anytime soon mainly due to time constraints.

prototypevenom · Answer

Haha I am always reading the answers even if I got the questions right, might learn a thing or two.

I agree to that, but since I have been using a technique earlier which got my accuracy low, thinking Rc's isn't for me to 60-70% accuracy (in practise not in mocks though) which was based on my earlier tutor I believe I still can improve by learning what I am doing wrong when I see someone doing something, instead of being taught, being good observer. I'll pm you

auradediligodo · Answer

Hi everyone,
Got 5/7 correct here.

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P1

Here the author wants to analyze the impact of the railroad system in a given period of time and the attitudes of historians to such phenomenon. The author then proceeds by presenting Stilgoe as an example of scholar who thought that some attitudes typical of 1830 disappeared after 1880. Lastly the author discards this view by saying that it is unconvincing.

Purpose:  The purpose of this paragraph is to introduce the main topic, that is the different attitudes toward the railroad system between 1830 and 1930, presenting Stilgoe's view and rejecting it

P2

In paragraph 2 we are given Stilgoe's view and that view is linked with a couple of scholars who appreciated the improvements related to the railroads but did not like the consequences on the social and economical side. Lastly the author disregards the view according to which this view represented the view of the majority of people.

Purpose:  The purpose of this paragraph is to detail Stilgoe's view and to reject another of his beliefs

P3

In this paragraph the author undermines another of Stilgoe's beliefs: that the ambivalence towards railroads ended in the 1880s. The author then proceeds to weakening the evidence used by Stilgoe to make his point. Lastly the author claims that the ambivalence continued even after the 1880s.

Purpose:  The purpose of this paragraph is to undermine Stilgoe's belief according to which ambivalence towards railroads stopped in the 1880s

Main point

The main point of this passage is to evaluate the public attitudes toward the railroad system between 1830 and 1930, undermining the point of view of a scholar.

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Q1). The passage provides information to answer all of the following questions EXCEPT:

Pre-thinking

Detail question

We need to evaluate the single choices

(A) During what period did the railroad reach the zenith of its popularity in the United States?
 Mentioned in P1

(B) How extensive was the impact of the railroad on the Industrial Revolution in the United States, relative to that of other modern innovations?
   Historians generally agree that, of the great modern innovations, the railroad had the most far-reaching impact on major events in the United States in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, particularly on the Industrial Revolution.

(C) Who are some of the writers of the 1830s who expressed ambivalence toward the railroad?
 Mentioned in P2

(D) In what way could Stilgoe have strengthened his argument regarding intellectuals’ attitudes toward the railroad in the years after the 1880s?
 Mentioned in the last paragraph

(E)   What arguments did the writers after the 1880s, as cited by Stilgoe, offer to justify their support for the railroad?
 Not mentioned

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Q2). According to the author of the passage, Stilgoe uses the phrase “romantic-era distrust” (line 13) to imply that the view he is referring to was

Pre-thinking

Detail question

From P2:   In addition, Stilgoe is wrong to imply that the critical attitude of these writers was typical of the period:

(A) the attitude of a minority of intellectuals toward technological innovation that began after 1830
 Not mentioned

(B)   a commonly held attitude toward the railroad during the 1830s
 In line with pre-thinking

(C) an ambivalent view of the railroad expressed by many poets and novelists between 1880 and 1930
 Not mentioned

(D) a critique of social and economic developments during the 1830s by a minority of intellectuals
 Not mentioned

(E) an attitude toward the railroad that was disseminated by works of popular culture after 1880
 Not mentioned

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Q3). According to the author, the attitude toward the railroad that was reflected in writings of Henry James, Sinclair Lewis, and F. Scott Fitzgerald was

Pre-thinking

Detail question

From the last paragraph:   and, oddly, much of Stilgoe’s other evidence indicates that it did. When he glances at the treatment of railroads by writers like Henry James, Sinclair Lewis, or F. Scott Fitzgerald, what comes through in spite of Stilgoe’s analysis is remarkably like Thoreau’s feeling of contrariety and ambivalence.

Clearly the author thinks that such usage is counterproductive when Stilgoe is trying to make his/her point

(A) influenced by the writings of Frank Norris, Eugene O’Neill, and Henry Adams
 out of scope

(B)   similar to that of the minority of writers who had expressed ambivalence toward the railroad prior to the 1880s
 In line with pre-thinking

(C) consistent with the public attitudes toward the railroad that were reflected in works of popular culture after the 1880s
 out of scope

(D) largely a reaction to the works of writers who had been severely critical of the railroad in the 1830s
 out of scope

(E) consistent with the prevailing attitude toward the railroad during the 1830s
 out of scope

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Q4). It can be inferred from the passage that the author uses the phrase “works of popular culture” (line 41) primarily to refer to the

Pre-thinking

Inference question

Here is the interested portion of P3:   Stilgoe has unearthed an impressive volume of material, the work of hitherto unknown  illustrators, journalists, and novelists, all devotees of the railroad ; but it is not clear what this new material proves except perhaps that the works of popular culture greatly expanded at the time.

(A) work of a large group of writers that was published between 1880 and 1930 and that in Stilgoe’s view was highly critical of the railroad
 Incorrect

(B) work of writers who were heavily influenced by Hawthorne and Thoreau
 Incorrect

(C) large volume of writing produced by Henry Adams, Sinclair Lewis, and Eugene O’Neill
 Incorrect

(D)   work of journalists, novelists, and illustrators who were responsible for creating enthusiasm for the railroad during the 1830s
 In line with pre-thinking

(E) work of journalists, novelists, and illustrators that was published after 1880 and that has received little attention from scholars other than Stilgoe
 not the purpose

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Q5). Which one of the following can be inferred from the passage regarding the work of Frank Norris, Eugene O’Neill, and Henry Adams?

Pre-thinking

Inference question

From last P:   Had he looked at the work of Frank Norris, Eugene O’Neill, or Henry Adams, Stilgoe’s case would have been much stronger.)

Clearly the author thinks that such authors were more in line than others with Stilgoe's point of view

(A) Their work never achieved broad popular appeal.
 Irrelevant

(B) Their ideas were disseminated to a large audience by the popular culture of the early 1800s.
 Irrelevant

(C)   Their work expressed a more positive attitude toward the railroad than did that of Henry James, Sinclair Lewis, and F. Scott Fitzgerald.
 Yes, the author uses these authors in opposition to the authors previously mentioned

(D) Although they were primarily novelists, some of their work could be classified as journalism.
 Irrelevant

(E) Although they were influenced by Thoreau, their attitude toward the railroad was significantly different from his.
 Irrelevant

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Q6). It can be inferred from the passage that Stilgoe would be most likely to agree with which one of the following statements regarding the study of cultural history?

Pre-thinking

Inference question

Let's evaluate the options

(A) It is  impossible  to know exactly what period historians are referring to when they use the term “romantic era.”
 Too extreme

(B) The writing of intellectuals often anticipates ideas and movements that are later embraced by popular culture.
 Cannot be inferred

(C) Writers who were not popular in their own time tell us little about the age in which they lived.
 Cannot be inferred

(D)   The works of popular culture can serve as a reliable indicator of public attitudes toward modern innovations like the railroad.
 Since Stilgoe thinks that his belief was embraced by the majority of people it makes sense to infer this statement

(E) The  best  source of information concerning the impact of an event as large as the Industrial Revolution is the private letters and journals of individuals.
 too extreme

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Q7). The primary purpose of the passage is to

Pre-thinking

Main point question

The main point of this passage is to evaluate the public attitudes toward the railroad system between 1830 and 1930, undermining the point of view of a scholar.

(A)   evaluate one scholar’s view of public attitudes toward the railroad in the United States from the early nineteenth to the early twentieth century
 In line with pre-thinking

(B) review the treatment of the railroad in American literature of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries
 Incorrect

(C) survey the views of cultural historians regarding the railroad’s impact on major events in United States history
 Incorrect

(D) explore the origins of the public support for the railroad that existed after the completion of a national rail system in the United States
 Incorrect

(E) define what historians mean when they refer to the “romantic-era distrust” of the railroad
 Incorrect

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It is a great day to be alive!

TheAdmissionHub · Answer

Passage Analysis
Paragraph 1 – What the author does:

The author introduces the historical importance of the railroad and explains that historians disagree about how Americans viewed this innovation. He presents John Stilgoe’s argument that people’s distrust of railroads disappeared after the 1880s, but he states that this argument is not convincing.

Short summary:
The railroad had a major impact on American history, but historians disagree about whether public distrust of it disappeared over time.

Paragraph 2 – What the author does:

The author challenges Stilgoe’s interpretation of nineteenth-century attitudes toward railroads. He explains that writers such as Thoreau and Hawthorne did not reject the railroad itself but were concerned about the economic and social changes it represented. He also argues that these critics were a minority, not representative of the general public.

Short summary:
Some intellectuals criticized the social changes caused by railroads, but most Americans viewed railroads positively.

Paragraph 3 – What the author does:

The author criticizes Stilgoe’s claim that distrust of railroads disappeared after the 1880s. He argues that Stilgoe’s evidence only shows that railroad-related popular culture increased, not that criticism vanished. He points out that writers such as Henry James, Sinclair Lewis, and F. Scott Fitzgerald continued to express mixed feelings about railroads.

Short summary:
Negative or ambivalent attitudes toward railroads continued among some intellectuals even after the 1880s.

1. The passage provides information to answer all of the following questions EXCEPT: 
 (A)  During what period did the railroad reach the zenith of its popularity in the United States?
 WRONG:  The passage directly states that the railroad reached the zenith of its popularity during the half century between 1880 and 1930, so this information can be answered.
 (B)  How extensive was the impact of the railroad on the Industrial Revolution in the United States, relative to that of other modern innovations?
 WRONG:  The passage explains that the railroad had “the most far-reaching impact” of the great modern innovations, so this information is provided.
 (C)  Who are some of the writers of the 1830s who expressed ambivalence toward the railroad?
 WRONG:  The author specifically mentions Thoreau and Hawthorne as writers who had mixed feelings about the railroad and its broader social consequences.
 (D ) In what way could Stilgoe have strengthened his argument regarding intellectuals’ attitudes toward the railroad in the years after the 1880s?
 WRONG:  The passage suggests that Stilgoe’s argument would have been stronger if he had examined writers such as Frank Norris, Eugene O’Neill, or Henry Adams.
 (E)  What arguments did the writers after the 1880s, as cited by Stilgoe, offer to justify their support for the railroad?
 CORRECT:  The passage states that Stilgoe found many works by supporters of the railroad, but it does not explain the reasons or arguments these writers used to justify their support. Therefore, this information cannot be answered.

2. According to the author of the passage, Stilgoe uses the phrase “romantic-era distrust” (line 13) to imply that the view he is referring to was

(A)  the attitude of a minority of intellectuals toward technological innovation that began after 1830
 Wrong : focus is on railroads
 (B)  a commonly held attitude toward the railroad during the 1830s
 Correct: The author’s point is that Stilgoe treats this distrust as if it represented a general attitude of the era, when it was actually limited to a small group.
 (C)  an ambivalent view of the railroad expressed by many poets and novelists between 1880 and 1930 
 Wrong:  no those times, wrong dates
 (D)  a critique of social and economic developments during the 1830s by a minority of intellectuals
 Wrong:  no about this topic, but railroads
 (E ) an attitude toward the railroad that was disseminated by works of popular culture after 1880
 Wrong:  it belongs to a minority of scholars, its was not disseminates by popular culture

3. According to the author, the attitude toward the railroad that was reflected in writings of Henry James, Sinclair Lewis, and F. Scott Fitzgerald was 
 (A)  influenced by the writings of Frank Norris, Eugene O’Neill, and Henry Adams
 WRONG:  The author mentions these writers only as examples of authors Stilgoe could have studied to strengthen his argument; there is no evidence that they influenced Henry James, Sinclair Lewis, or F. Scott Fitzgerald.
 (B)  similar to that of the minority of writers who had expressed ambivalence toward the railroad prior to the 1880s
 CORRECT:  The author states that the views of Henry James, Sinclair Lewis, and F. Scott Fitzgerald were “remarkably like Thoreau’s feeling of contrariety and ambivalence,” showing that their attitudes resembled the earlier intellectual criticism of the railroad.
 (C)  consistent with the public attitudes toward the railroad that were reflected in works of popular culture after the 1880s
 WRONG:  The passage contrasts the enthusiasm of popular culture after the 1880s with the continuing ambivalence of intellectual writers, so their attitudes were not necessarily consistent.
 (D)  largely a reaction to the works of writers who had been severely critical of the railroad in the 1830s
 WRONG:  The passage does not suggest that later writers were responding to earlier critics; it only compares their attitudes toward the railroad.
 (E)  consistent with the prevailing attitude toward the railroad during the 1830s
 WRONG:  The prevailing attitude in the 1830s was enthusiastic support for the railroad, while these later writers showed doubt and ambivalence similar to earlier critics.

4. It can be inferred from the passage that the author uses the phrase “works of popular culture” (line 41) primarily to refer to the 
 (A)  work of a large group of writers that was published between 1880 and 1930 and that in Stilgoe’s view was highly critical of the railroad
 WRONG:  The passage says that Stilgoe found many works by writers who were devotees of the railroad, not critics of it.
 (B)  work of writers who were heavily influenced by Hawthorne and Thoreau
 WRONG:  The passage does not suggest that later popular writers were influenced by Hawthorne or Thoreau.
 (C)  large volume of writing produced by Henry Adams, Sinclair Lewis, and Eugene O’Neill
 WRONG:  These writers are mentioned as examples of authors who could have strengthened Stilgoe’s argument, not as representatives of popular culture.
( D)  work of journalists, novelists, and illustrators who were responsible for creating enthusiasm for the railroad during the 1830s
 WRONG:  The passage refers to journalists, novelists, and ill ustrators after the 1880s, not during the 1830s.  BE CAREFUL about DATES
(E) work of journalists, novelists, and illustrators that was published after 1880 and that has received little attention from scholars other than Stilgoe
 CORRECT:  The author explains that Stilgoe “unearthed” a large amount of material by previously unknown illustrators, journalists, and novelists who supported the railroad. These works expanded popular culture after 1880 and had received little scholarly attention before Stilgoe’s study.

5. Which one of the following can be inferred from the passage regarding the work of Frank Norris, Eugene O’Neill, and Henry Adams? 
 (A)  Their work never achieved broad popular appeal.
 WRONG:  The passage does not discuss the popularity or audience of Frank Norris, Eugene O’Neill, or Henry Adams’ works.
( B)  Their ideas were disseminated to a large audience by the popular culture of the early 1800s.
 WRONG:  The passage does not mention these writers influencing popular culture, and it refers to the period after the 1880s, not the early 1800s.
 (C)  Their work expressed a more positive attitude toward the railroad than did that of Henry James, Sinclair Lewis, and F. Scott Fitzgerald.
 WRONG:  The author only suggests that examining their work would have strengthened Stilgoe’s argument, but does not state that their views were more positive.
 (D)  Although they were primarily novelists, some of their work could be classified as journalism.
 WRONG:  The passage does not describe their professions in this way. It only lists them as writers whose works Stilgoe could have examined.
 (E)  Although they were influenced by Thoreau, their attitude toward the railroad was significantly different from his.
 CORRECT:  The author mentions that examining the work of Frank Norris, Eugene O’Neill, and Henry Adams would have made Stilgoe’s argument stronger, implying that their writings also reflected criticism or ambivalence toward the railroad, similar to Thoreau’s attitude. However, unlike the other writers discussed, the passage suggests they could have provided stronger evidence for Stilgoe’s claim about continued intellectual criticism after the 1880s.

(A)  It is impossible to know exactly what period historians are referring to when they use the term “romantic era.”
 WRONG:  The passage does not suggest that Stilgoe is concerned with defining the exact limits of the Romantic era.
 (B)  The writing of intellectuals often anticipates ideas and movements that are later embraced by popular culture.
 WRONG:  The passage does not indicate that Stilgoe believes intellectuals predict later popular trends. His argument focuses on changing attitudes toward the railroad.
 (C)  Writers who were not popular in their own time tell us little about the age in which they lived.
 WRONG:  Stilgoe actually relies on previously unknown writers and illustrators, suggesting that less famous writers can still provide valuable historical evidence.
 (D)  The works of popular culture  can serve  as a reliable indicator of public attitudes toward modern innovations like the railroad. HERE IT’S NOT EXTREME, IT’S NOT SAYING THIS I THE ONLY O THE BEST WAY. POSSIAMO SCEGLIERE QUESTE RISPOSTE ESTREME SE L’AUTORE LO DICE CHE è THE ONLY O THE BEST 
 CORRECT:  Stilgoe uses a large amount of popular cultural material from after 1880 to argue that public attitudes toward the railroad became more positive. This implies that he considers popular culture a useful source for understanding public attitudes.
 (E)   The best source  of information concerning the impact of an event as large as the Industrial Revolution is the private letters and journals of individuals.
 WRONG:  The passage does not mention private letters or journals, and Stilgoe’s research focuses on published cultural works instead. And it doesn’t mention the best methods

(A)  evaluate one scholar’s view of public attitudes toward the railroad in the United States from the early nineteenth to the early twentieth century
 CORRECT:  The passage mainly examines John Stilgoe’s argument about changing attitudes toward the railroad and criticizes his claim that intellectual distrust disappeared after the 1880s.
 (B)  review the treatment of the railroad in American literature of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries
 WRONG:  The passage mentions several writers, but it does not aim to provide a general review of railroad themes in American literature.
 (C)  survey the views of cultural historians regarding the railroad’s impact on major events in United States history
 WRONG:  The passage briefly mentions disagreement among cultural historians but focuses mainly on one historian, Stilgoe, rather than surveying multiple views. NO SURVEY
 (D)  explore the origins of the public support for the railroad that existed after the completion of a national rail system in the United States
 WRONG:  The passage does not investigate the origins of public support; it discusses whether support and distrust coexisted among different groups.
 (E)  define what historians mean when they refer to the “romantic-era distrust” of the railroad
 WRONG:  Although the passage explains the phrase, its main purpose is not simply to define it but to challenge Stilgoe’s interpretation of it. TOO BROAD

sarkarsarbani · Answer

bb   KarishmaB   Bunuel   kevincan  
To improve accuracy in RCs, do we need to note down our thoughts abt the Rcs,is this necessary? Can you suggest how we can do this within time constraint and stress environment?
Currently my accuracy is at 50% in RCs.

KarishmaB · Answer

It depends on how you feel most comfortable. If you are able to remember what each paragraph talked about, great. No need to write anything. But if you forget the key points of the previous paragraph while reading the next one, you may want to write down 2-3 key words related to each para. Once you are done with reading, you will have a structural map of the passage in front of you in that case.

Historians generally agree that, of the great modern innovations, the

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