For over 300 years, one of the most enduring beliefs among historians

Question

For over 300 years, one of the most enduring beliefs among historians of England has been that the character of English society has been shaped by the unique openness of its ruling elite to entry by self-made entrepreneurs (especially newly wealthy merchants) able to buy their way into the ranks of elite society. This upward mobility, historians have argued, allowed England to escape the clash between those with social/political power and those with economic power, a conflict that beset the rest of Europe during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Upward mobility was also used to explain England’s exceptional stability since the late seventeenth century (no revolutions, for example), as well as such major events as the development of the most efficient agricultural system in Europe, the making of the first industrial revolution, and the onset of severe economic decline.

But is the thesis true? Recent work on the supposed consequences of an open elite has already produced some doubts. Little credence, for example, is now accorded the idea that England’s late nineteenth-century economic decline resulted from absentee business owners too distracted by the demands of elite life to manage their firms properly. But, although the importance of an open elite to other major events has been severely questioned, it is only with a new work by Lawrence and Jeanne Stone that the openness itself has been confronted. Eschewing the tack of tracing the careers of successful entrepreneurs to gauge the openness of the elite, the Stones chose the alternative approach of analyzing the elite itself, and proceeded via the ingenious route of investigating country-house ownership.

Arguing that ownership of a country house was seen as essential for membership in the ruling elite, the Stones analyze the nature of country-house ownership in three counties for the period 1540-1880. Their critical findings are provocative: there was strikingly little change in the ownership of such houses throughout the period. Instead, even in the face of a demographic crisis (fewer marriages, declining fertility, rising infant mortality), the old elite was able to maintain itself, and its estates, intact for centuries through recourse to various marriage and inheritance strategies. The popular picture of venerable elite families overcome by debt and selling out to merchants is simply not borne out by the Stones’ findings. Rather, the opportunities for entrepreneurs to buy their way into the elite, the Stones show, were extremely limited. If further studies of country-house ownership attest to the representativeness and accuracy of their data, then the Stones’ conclusion that the open elite thesis cannot be maintained may, indeed, prove true.   1 
 1. According to the passage, one of the traditional explanations of England’s late nineteenth-century economic decline has been that it resulted from the

(A) tendency of the ruling elite to pursue conservative rather than innovative economic policies
(B) failure of business entrepreneurs to reduce the power of the ruling elite in English society
(C) investment of large amounts of capital in the purchase and maintenance of country houses
(D) tendency of business owners to attempt to retain control of their firms within their families
(E) failure of leading business entrepreneurs to pay close attention to their firms

2 
 2. The author suggests that which of the following was true of most European elites during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries?

(A) The ranks of these elites were generally closed to most business entrepreneurs.
(B) The elites generally dominated industrial development.
(C) Status within these elites was generally determined by the amount of land owned.
(D) These elites generally were able to maintain their power unchallenged.
(E) The power of these elites generally forestalled the development of a large class of self-made entrepreneurs.

3 
 3. Traditional historians of England, as they are described in the passage, would be most likely to agree with which of the following statements regarding open elites?

(A) They develop more easily in agricultural rather than industrial societies.
(B) They develop in response to particular sets of economic conditions.
(C) They tend to unite some of the powerful groups in a society.
(D) They tend to reduce class distinctions based on income in a society.
(E) They tend to insure adequate distribution of material goods in a society.

4 
 4. The tone of the passage suggests that the author regards the Stones’ methodological approach as

(A) problematic
(B) difficult
(C) controversial
(D) rigorous
(E) clever

5 
 5. Which of the following best states the main idea of the passage?

(A) Assumptions about the nature of England’s ruling elite can no longer be used with certitude to explain many major economic developments.
(B) The concept of the open elite is of paramount importance in explaining major English political, social, and economic events.
(C) The long-standing belief that England possessed a remarkably open ruling elite has recently been subjected to important and potentially lethal criticism.
(D) Although many possibilities are available, the most reliable means of testing the truth of the ‘open elite’ hypothesis is to analyze changes in the composition of the elite.
(E) An analysis of English country-house ownership in England indicates that there were few opportunities for merchants to buy the estates of old members of the landed elite.

6 
 6. Which of the following can be inferred from the Stones’ findings about English country-house ownership in the three counties during the period 1540-1880?

(A) Little change in the number or size of English country houses occurred during this period.
(B) Wealthy business owners constituted a growing percentage of English country-house owners during this period.
(C) Most of the families that owned country houses at the beginning of this period continued to own them at the end.
(D) The most significant changes in English country-house ownership occurred during the second half of this period.
(E) Self-made entrepreneurs were able to enter the ranks of the English country-house owners during this period only through marriage.

7 
 7. The primary purpose of the passage is to

(A) resolve a debate between two schools of thought.
(B) Present research that questions an established view.
(C) Describe and criticize a new approach.
(D) Defend a traditional interpretation against recent criticisms.
(E) Analyze possible approaches to resolving a long-standing controversy.

8 
 8. The Stones suggest that major problems facing the English elite during the period 1540-1880 included which of the following?

I. A reduction in the number of their offspring
II. An increase in the amount of their indebtedness
III. A decline in their political and social power

(A) I only
(B) III only
(C) I and II only
(D) II and III only
(E) I, II, and III

9 
 9. The author suggests that the Stones’ conclusions about the openness of the English elite would be strengthened by future studies that

(A) pay more attention to other recent historical works
(B) include more data on factors other than country-house ownership
(C) concentrate more on the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries
(D) expand the area of research to include more counties
(E) focus more on successful business entrepreneurs

atomy · Accepted Answer

this is a nice passage, it took me 20 mins to finally answer this passage , answers are: 1. According to the passage, one of the traditional explanations of England’s late nineteenth-century economic decline has been that it resulted from the (A) tendency of the ruling elite to pursue conservative rather than innovative economic policies (B) failure of business entrepreneurs to reduce the power of the ruling elite in English society (C) investment of large amounts of capital in the purchase and maintenance of country houses (D) tendency of business owners to attempt to retain control of their firms within their families (E) failure of leading business entrepreneurs to pay close attention to their firms E. refer second para "England’s late nineteenth-century economic decline resulted from absentee business owners too distracted by the demands of elite life to manage their firms properly. " 2. The author suggests that which of the following was true of most European elites during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries? (A) The ranks of these elites were generally closed to most business entrepreneurs. (B) The elites generally dominated industrial development. (C) Status within these elites was generally determined by the amount of land owned. (D) These elites generally were able to maintain their power unchallenged. (E) The power of these elites generally forestalled the development of a large class of self-made entrepreneurs. D can be inferred from para 1 "allowed England to escape the clash between those with social/political power and those with economic power, a conflict that beset the rest of Europe during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries" this was a tricky question.. it took me 3 mins to go for D. I selected E first but that is never mentioned in or inferred from the passage. 3. Traditional historians of England, as they are described in the passage, would be most likely to agree with which of the following statements regarding open elites? (A) They develop more easily in agricultural rather than industrial societies. (B) They develop in response to particular sets of economic conditions. (C) They tend to unite some of the powerful groups in a society. (D) They tend to reduce class distinctions based on income in a society. (E) They tend to insure adequate distribution of material goods in a society. B.Here i was confused initially between B and C, but when i checked more than twice, then i observed "powerful groups" in C and that is not true, there is only one ruling elite group so i discarded this one.. hence selected B. if someone has other explanation for this one or feels that i am missing something please lemme know.. 4. The tone of the passage suggests that the author regards the Stones’ methodological approach as (A) problematic (B) difficult (C) controversial (D) rigorous (E) clever E.Now in this case, i feel that choices are not pretty close and i found it less cumbersome to select the answer but these are the questions where i need explanations too..

here IMO, refer to this statement "If further studies of country-house ownership attest to the representativeness and accuracy of their data, then the Stones’ conclusion that the open elite thesis cannot be maintained may, indeed, prove true." and it gives an idea that stone's findings might be useful and thus clever.First, i selected A as the answer but then when i read carefully, i selected E coz i thought that i am assuming things that are not mentioned in the passage. 5. Which of the following best states the main idea of the passage? (A) Assumptions about the nature of England’s ruling elite can no longer be used with certitude to explain many major economic developments. (B) The concept of the open elite is of paramount importance in explaining major English political, social, and economic events. (C) The long-standing belief that England possessed a remarkably open ruling elite has recently been subjected to important and potentially lethal criticism. (D) Although many possibilities are available, the most reliable means of testing the truth of the ‘open elite’ hypothesis is to analyze changes in the composition of the elite. (E) An analysis of English country-house ownership in England indicates that there were few opportunities for merchants to buy the estates of old members of the landed elite. check question 7 for explanation.. actually it is not the same but here it is asking you about the topic and scope and that is clearly stated in B.. 6. Which of the following can be inferred from the Stones’ findings about English country-house ownership in the three counties during the period 1540-1880? (A) Little change in the number or size of English country houses occurred during this period. (B) Wealthy business owners constituted a growing percentage of English country-house owners during this period. (C) Most of the families that owned country houses at the beginning of this period continued to own them at the end. (D) The most significant changes in English country-house ownership occurred during the second half of this period. (E) Self-made entrepreneurs were able to enter the ranks of the English country-house owners during this period only through marriage. "there was strikingly little change in the ownership of such houses throughout the period. Instead, even in the face of a demographic crisis (fewer marriages, declining fertility, rising infant mortality), the old elite was able to maintain itself, and its estates, intact for centuries through recourse to various marriage and inheritance strategies" this statement indicates that c is the right choice.. 7. The primary purpose of the passage is to (A) resolve a debate between two schools of thought. (B) Present research that questions an established view. (C) Describe and criticize a new approach. (D) Defend a traditional interpretation against recent criticisms. (E) Analyze possible approaches to resolving a long-standing controversy. B. i think it is pretty straight forward.. author presented a established view or a belief by historians(as indicated by "But is the thesis true?" at the beginning of para 2) and then presented a research in para 3. 8. The Stones suggest that major problems facing the English elite during the period 1540-1880 included which of the following? I. A reduction in the number of their offspring II. An increase in the amount of their indebtedness III. A decline in their political and social power (A) I only (B) III only (C) I and II only (D) II and III only (E) I, II, and III Here u can refer to para 3. "demographic crisis (fewer marriages, declining fertility, rising infant mortality)" and read it carefully.. only option 1 is correct but not 2 and 3. 9. The author suggests that the Stones’ conclusions about the openness of the English elite would be strengthened by future studies that (A) pay more attention to other recent historical works (B) include more data on factors other than country-house ownership (C) concentrate more on the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries (D) expand the area of research to include more counties (E) focus more on successful business entrepreneurs In the passage it has been mentioned that ". If further studies of country-house ownership attest to the representativeness and accuracy of their data" so that states that area of research needs to be expanded. Actually, when i first saw this ques. i selected B as the answer but then i realized that D is more specific to what is asked and B is never mentioned in the passage.

KarishmaB · Answer

Note the question carefully. "The author suggests ... " What you need to find is the author's opinion, not someone else's opinion.

2. The author suggests that which of the following was true of most European elites during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries?

(A) The ranks of these elites were generally closed to most business entrepreneurs.

This is what the Stones concluded. We don't know whether the author thinks that this is true. He ends with "If further studies .. attest ... accuracy of their data, then the Stones’ conclusion may, indeed, prove true."
So as of now he is not suggesting that Stone's conclusion is true.

(D) These elites generally were able to maintain their power unchallenged.

The passage tells us:
"Instead, even in the face of a demographic crisis (fewer marriages, declining fertility, rising infant mortality), the old elite was able to maintain itself, and its estates, intact for centuries"
This is the study's findings which the author gives as a fact. So he does suggest that the elites were able to maintain their power.

Answer (D)

narmadadhruv · Answer

Hi Expert,

Request your help specifically for question 2; 3 & 4.

-> how to approach these kind of questions - i generally look for occurrences of either the idea OR the keyword mentioned in the question to pin down where to look for the answers. In some of these questions this approach does not help and I am forced to look for references of say 18th and 19th centuries in multiple paras. This easts up a lot of time.

-> I am not convinced with the answers of these questions; my answer to 2/3/4 was A/C/C. I would appreciate you help in clarifying the answers as well as towards helping me understand the trap I have fallen into.

Cheers,
Dhruva

sayantanc2k · Answer

Q.2 The passage states, "....the unique openness of its ruling elite to entry by self-made entrepreneurs (especially newly wealthy merchants) able to buy their way into the ranks of elite society... ". This part implies that SOME of the elite posts were allocated to business enterpreneurs, but option A wrongly indicates that ALL of the posts were allocated ("..were generally  closed  to most business entrepreneurs.."). Hence option A is wrong.

The part "..to explain England’s exceptional stability since the late seventeenth century ( no revolutions , for example),.." indicates that the elite were able to maitain their power unchallenged. Hence D is correct.

Q.3 I do not agree with OA. It is not mentioned in the passage how the open elite was  developed . The passage only indicates the results of the same.

Q.4 The part "...and proceeded via the  ingenious  route of .." indicates that the author considers Stone's approach ingenious, which means "characterized by cleverness or originality". Hence Option E is correct.

Vj117 · Answer

2. The author suggests that which of the following was true of most  European elites  during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries?
(A) The ranks of these elites were generally closed to most business entrepreneurs.
(B) The elites generally dominated industrial development.
(C) Status within these elites was generally determined by the amount of land owned.
(D) These elites generally were able to maintain their power unchallenged.
(E) The power of these elites generally forestalled the development of a large class of self-made entrepreneurs.
D can be inferred from para 1 "allowed England to escape the clash between those with social/political power and those with economic power, a conflict that beset the rest of Europe during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries" this was a tricky question.. it took me 3 mins to go for D. I selected E first but that is never mentioned in or inferred from the passage.

This question is asking about most of the European elites and not just about the elites from England.Hence in para1 line 9 to 11  "a conflict that beset the rest of Europe during eighteenth and nineteenth century"  -- Hence the correct answer should be option E

sayan640 · Answer

VeritasKarishma   GMATNinja   GMATGuruNY  
Can you please explain why option D is correct and why option A is not correct for question number 2 ?

sayan640 · Answer

VeritasKarishma   GMATNinja   GMATGuruNY   egmat 
Can you please explain for Question Number 5 why the option C is correct and why option A is incorrect ?

KarishmaB · Answer

In question number 5, option (A) is correct.

Para 1  talks about how historians have banked on openness of elite and upward mobility to explain many events and developments - the open elite thesis.

Para 2  talks about how this thesis has been questioned - that it seems the openness of elite did not result in these events. Para 2 ends with how now even openness of elite is being questioned.

Para 3  talks about the study that is questioning the openness and how if it proves to be true, the open elite thesis cannot be maintained.

So overall the passage questions the validity of open elite thesis (the thesis being that open elite were responsible for some major events and developments)

5. Which of the following best states the main idea of the passage?

(A) Assumptions about the nature of England’s ruling elite can no longer be used with certitude to explain many major economic developments.

Correct. The author does focus on how we may not be able to use assumption about elite to explain major developments.

(C) The long-standing belief that England possessed a remarkably open ruling elite has recently been subjected to important and potentially lethal criticism.

This is not the main idea of the passage. It is one of the ideas presented to present the main idea which is that open elite thesis may not be valid.

KarishmaB · Answer

3. Traditional historians of England, as they are described in the passage, would be most likely to agree with which of the following statements regarding open elites?
(A) They develop more easily in agricultural rather than industrial societies.
(B) They develop in response to particular sets of economic conditions.
(C) They tend to unite some of the powerful groups in a society.
(D) They tend to reduce class distinctions based on income in a society.
(E) They tend to insure adequate distribution of material goods in a society.

What the author says is "expected but Lawrence and Jeanne work questions" would be the opinion of the traditional historians.

"The popular picture of venerable elite families overcome by debt and selling out to merchants is simply not borne out by the Stones’ findings."

(B) They develop in response to particular sets of economic conditions.

"Popular" picture implies this is what is believed- that venerable elite were overcome by debt and sold out to merchants (and hence merchants became elite). This gives some credibility to option (B). Option (B) mentions that certain economic conditions (elite overcome by debt) led to development of open elite.

(C) They tend to unite some of the powerful groups in a society.

This upward mobility, historians have argued, allowed England to escape the clash between those with social/political power and those with economic power,

The open elite are believed to have avoided clash between the powerful groups but can we say it "united" them? I would not be so sure. So (B) does seem better.

Mansiar · Answer

VeritasKarishma

2. The author suggests that which of the following was true of  most European elites  during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries?

How do we know that "most European elites" discussed in the question refer to English ruling elites?

There is no mention that English open elites dominated the European elites group in numbers. So why are we looking at the English elites to answer this question rather than the rest of the elites in Europe?

KarishmaB · Answer

I agree. Most European elites may refer to "non- English Europeans" but I wouldn't expect it to refer to only English. 
Hence, I would possibly mark (A) here and move on.
Not sure what the actual source of the question is.

... the character of English society has been shaped by the  unique  openness of its ruling elite to entry by self-made entrepreneurs (especially newly wealthy merchants) able to buy their way into the ranks of elite society...

This would tell me that most other European elite were not open to entry by self-made entrepreneurs. Hence (A) is the only one that would make some sense.

reviewtattantat · Answer

1. According to the passage, one of the traditional explanations of England’s late nineteenth-century economic decline has been that it resulted from the
Scope:  “Little credence, for example, is now accorded the idea that England’s late nineteenth-century economic  decline resulted from  absentee business owners  too distracted  by the demands of elite life to manage their firms properly.” 
(A) tendency of the ruling elite to pursue conservative rather than  innovative economic policies 
(B) failure of business entrepreneurs to  reduce the power  of the ruling elite in English society
(C) investment of large amounts of  capital in the purchase and maintenance of country houses
 (D) tendency of business owners to attempt to  retain control of their firms  within their  families 
(E)  failure  of leading business entrepreneurs to  pay close attention  to their firms

2. The author suggests that which of the following was true of most European elites during the  eighteenth and nineteenth centuries? 
Scope:  This  upward mobility , historians have argued,  allowed  England to escape the clash between those with social/political power and those with economic power, a conflict that beset the rest of Europe during the  eighteenth and nineteenth centuries .  
(A) The ranks of these elites were generally closed to  most business entrepreneurs. 
(B) The elites generally dominated  industrial development .
(C) Status within these elites was generally determined by the  amount of land owned.
 (D) These elites generally were able to  maintain their power unchallenged . 
(E) The power of these elites generally forestalled the development of  a large class of self-made entrepreneurs.

3. Traditional  historians of England , as they are described in the passage, would be most likely to agree with which of the following statements regarding open elites?
 For over 300 years, one of the most enduring beliefs among  historians of England  has been that the character of English society has been  shaped by the unique openness of its ruling elite  to entry by  self-made entrepreneurs  (especially newly wealthy merchants)  able to buy their way into the ranks  of elite society.

(A) They develop more easily in  agricultural  rather than  industrial  societies.
(B) They develop in response to particular sets of economic conditions.
(C) They tend to  unite some of the powerful groups  in a society.
(D) They tend to  reduce class distinctions  based on income in a society.
(E) They tend to ensure  adequate distribution of material goods  in a society.

4. The tone of the passage suggests that the author regards the Stones’ methodological approach as
 Eschewing the tack of tracing the careers of successful entrepreneurs to gauge the openness of the elite, the Stones chose the  alternative  approach of analyzing the elite itself, and proceeded via the ingenious route of investigating country-house ownership.
If further studies of country-house ownership attest to the representativeness and accuracy of their data, then the  Stones’ conclusion  that the open elite thesis cannot be maintained may, indeed,  prove true .
 → No negative words

(A)  problematic 
(B)  difficult 
(C)  controversial 
(D)  rigorous 
(E) clever

5. Which of the following best states the main idea of the passage?
(A)  Assumptions  about the nature of England’s ruling elite can no longer be used with certitude to explain many major economic developments.
(B) The concept of the open elite is of  paramount importance  in explaining major English political, social, and economic events.
(C) The  long-standing belief  that England possessed a remarkably open ruling elite has recently been subjected to important and potentially  lethal criticism. 
(D) Although many possibilities are available, the  most reliable  means of testing the truth of the ‘open elite’ hypothesis is to analyze changes in the composition of the elite.
(E) An analysis of English country-house ownership in England indicates that there were  few opportunities for merchants  to buy the estates of old members of the landed elite.

6. Which of the following can be inferred from the  Stones’ findings about English country-house ownership  in the three counties during the period  1540-1880 ?
Scope:  “Arguing that ownership of a country house was seen as essential for membership in the ruling elite, the Stones analyze the nature of  country-house ownership  in three counties for the period  1540-1880 . Their critical findings are provocative: there was strikingly  little change  in the  ownership  of such houses throughout the period. Instead, even in the  face of a demographic crisis  (fewer marriages, declining fertility, rising infant mortality), the  old elite was able to maintain  itself, and its estates, intact for centuries through recourse to various marriage and inheritance strategies.” 
(A) Little change in the  number or size  of English country houses occurred during this period.
(B) Wealthy business owners constituted a  growing percentage  of English country-house owners during this period.
(C) Most of the families that owned country houses at the  beginning of this period continued to own them at the end .  = maintain  
(D) The most significant changes in English country-house ownership occurred during the  second half of this period.
 
(E) Self-made entrepreneurs were able to enter the ranks of the English country-house owners during this period only through  marriage .

7. The primary purpose of the passage is to
(A) resolve a  debate  between two schools of thought.
(B) Present research that questions an established view.
(C) Describe and  criticize  a new approach.
(D) Defend a traditional interpretation  against recent criticisms. 
(E) Analyze possible approaches to resolving a long-standing  controversy .

8. The Stones suggest that major problems facing the English elite during the period 1540-1880 included which of the following?
Scope:  Instead, even in the face of a demographic crisis (fewer marriages, declining fertility, rising infant mortality), the old elite was able to maintain itself, and its estates, intact for centuries through recourse to various marriage and inheritance strategies. 
I. A reduction in the number of their  offspring 
II. An increase in the amount of their  indebtedness 
III. A decline in their  political and social power
 
(A) I only
(B) III only
(C) I and II only
(D) II and III only
(E) I, II, and III

9. The author suggests that the Stones’ conclusions about the openness of the English elite would be strengthened by future studies that
Scope:  “ If further  studies of country-house ownership  attest to the representativeness and accuracy of their data, then the Stones’ conclusion that the open elite thesis cannot be maintained may, indeed, prove true.”
 
(A) pay more attention to  other recent historical works
 
(B) include more data on factors  other than country-house ownership
 (C) concentrate  more on the eighteenth and nineteenth  centuries
(D) expand the area of research to include  more counties 
Based on: “Arguing that ownership of a country house was seen as essential for membership in the ruling elite, the Stones analyze the nature of country-house ownership in  three  counties for the period 1540-1880.” 
(E) focus more on  successful business entrepreneurs

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For over 300 years, one of the most enduring beliefs among historians

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