Immigrants adoption of English as their primary language is one

Question

Immigrants’ adoption of English as their primary language is one measure of assimilation into the larger United States society. Generally languages define social groups and provide justification for social structures. Hence, a distinctive language sets a cultural group off from the dominant language group. Throughout United States history this pattern has resulted in one consistent, unhappy consequence, discrimination against members of the cultural minority. Language differences provide both a way to rationalize subordination and a ready means for achieving it.

Traditionally, English has replaced the native language of immigrant groups by the second or third generation. Some characteristics of today’s Spanish-speaking population, however, suggest the possibility of a departure from this historical pattern. Many families retain ties in Latin America and move back and forth between their present and former communities. This “revolving door” phenomenon, along with the high probability of additional immigrants from the south, means that large Spanish-speaking communities are likely to exist in the United States for the indefinite future.

This expectation underlies the call for national support for bilingual education in Spanish-speaking communities’ public schools. Bilingual education can serve different purposes, however. In the 1960s, such programs were established to facilitate the learning of English so as to avoid disadvantaging children in their other subjects because of their limited English. More recently, many advocates have viewed bilingual education as a means to maintain children’s native languages and cultures. The issue is important for people with  different political agendas , from absorption at one pole to separatism at the other.

To date, the evaluations of bilingual education’s impact on learning have been inconclusive. The issue of bilingual education has, nevertheless, served to unite the leadership of the nation’s Hispanic communities. Grounded in concerns about status that are directly traceable to the United States history of discrimination against Hispanics, the demand for maintenance of the Spanish language in the schools is an assertion of the worth of a people and their culture. If the United States is truly a multicultural nation—that is, if it is one culture reflecting the contributions of many—this demand should be seen as a demand not for separation but for inclusion.

More direct efforts to force inclusion can be misguided. For example, movements to declare English the official language do not truly advance the cohesion of a multicultural nation. They alienate the twenty million people who do not speak English as their mother tongue. They are unnecessary since the public’s business is already conducted largely in English. Further, given the present state of understanding about the effects of bilingual education on learning,  it would be unwise to require the universal use of English . Finally, it is for parents and local communities to choose the path they will follow, including how much of their culture they want to maintain for their children.   1 
 1. It can be inferred from the passage that one of the characteristics of immigrant groups to the United States has traditionally been that, after immigration, relatively few members of the group

(A) became politically active in their new communities
(B) moved back and forth repeatedly between the United States and their former communities
(C) used their native languages in their new communities
(D) suffered discrimination in their new communities at the hands of the cultural majority
(E) sought assimilation into the dominant culture of the new communities they were entering

2 
 2. The passage suggests that one of the effects of the debate over bilingual education is that it has

(A) given the Hispanic community a new-found pride in its culture
(B) hampered the education of Spanish-speaking students
(C) demonstrated the negative impact on imposing English as the official United States language
(D) provided a common banner under which the Spanish-speaking communities could rally
(E) polarized the opinions of local Spanish-speaking community leaders

3 
 3. In lines 38-39, the phrase “different political agendas” ( Highlighted ) refers specifically to conflicting opinions regarding the

(A) means of legislating the assimilation of minorities into United States society
(B) methods of inducing Hispanics to adopt English as their primary language
(C) means of achieving nondiscriminatory education for Hispanics
(D) official given responsibility for decisions regarding bilingual education
(E) extent to which Hispanics should blend into the larger United States society

4 
 4. In lines 64-65 the author says that “It would be unwise to require the universal use of English.” ( Highlighted ) One reason for this, according to the author, is that

(A) it is not clear yet whether requiring the universal use of English would promote or hinder the education of children whose English is limited
(B) the nation’s Hispanic leaders have shown that bilingual education is most effective when it includes the maintenance of the Spanish language in the schools
(C) requiring the universal use of English would reduce the cohesion of the nation’s Hispanic communities and leadership
(D) the question of language in the schools should be answered by those who evaluate bilingual education, not by people with specific political agendas
(E) it has been shown that bilingual education is necessary to avoid disadvantaging in their general learning children whose English is limited

5 
 5. In the last paragraph, the author of the passage is primarily concerned with discussing

(A) reasons against enacting a measure that would mandate the forced inclusion of immigrant groups within the dominant United culture
(B) the virtues and limitations of declaring English the official language of the United States
(C) the history of attitudes within the Hispanic community toward bilingual education in the United States
(D) the importance for immigrant groups of maintaining large segments of their culture to pass on to their children
(E) the difference in cultures between Hispanics and other immigrant groups in the United States

auradediligodo · Accepted Answer

Hi everyone,

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P1

In paragraph one we are given the main topic of the passage: Language as a means of assimilation into the culture of US. The author then proceeds by saying that language affects also social structures and that this led to episodes of discriminations.

Purpose:  The purpose of this paragraph is to highlight the role of language as a means of assimilation into a culture and claiming that in the US this phenomenon led to episodes of discrimination

P2

Here the author claims that usually after the second/third generation, immigrants replace the language of their ancestors with english as their primary language. Then we are given that this is not true for the Spanish communities in the US because the members of such communities go back and forth to their native lands and so they keep in touch with their traditions....

Purpose:  The purpose of this paragraph is to claim that unlike other immigrants, the spanish immigrants in the US are likely to keep their identities/language/traditions

P3

Here the author analyses the purposes of bilingual schools. We are given that in the past such schools served the purpose of helping children to succeed also in english subjects while in the present they serve the purpose of preserving the traditions of such children. The the author claims that bilingual schools have an important role also in the political sphere as they can help either to integrate or to do the opposite.

Purpose:  The purpose of this paragraph is to analyze the role of bilingual schools

P4

The author here claims that the studies above mentioned are inconclusive but that the considerations around bilingual schools served to unite spanish communities. As a matter of fact Spanish communities see bilingual schools as something that strengthens their culture and they feel valued by their presence. Lastly the author thinks that the latter view serves the purpose of uniting.

Purpose : The purpose here is to evaluate the impact of bilingual schools on the spanish communities

P5

In the last paragraph the author claims that forcing english as the official language in the US might be counterproductive a it would alienate those who do not speak it.

Purpose:  The purpose here is to claim that declaring english as the official language would alienate and not unite people

Main point

The main point of this passage is to evaluate the impact of English as the primary language in the US, using the Spanish communities/bilingual schools to make a few considerations.

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1. It can be inferred from the passage that one of the characteristics of immigrant groups to the United States has traditionally been that, after immigration, relatively few members of the group

Pre-thinking

Inference question

Let's keep in mind P2 because in this paragraph we'll find all the information required

(A) became politically active in their new communities
 Out of scope. Immigrants working in the political sphere are not even discussed throughout the passage

(B)   moved back and forth repeatedly between the United States and their former communities
 Yes. The reason why we can infer this is that the paragraph opens up with a claim:
  Traditionally, English has replaced the native language of immigrant groups by the second or third generation.   And then proceeds to explain the reasons why such statement does not apply to the Spanish communities. Such reason is that they went back and forth to their home countries.

So the author's logic is as follow:  The revolving phenomenon causes the retain of the Spanish language for Spanish immigrants.

We are asked to make an inference about the people who did not retain their language.

Hence we can infer that such  people did not go back and forth to their original country because if so the would retain their original language.

(C) used their native languages in their new communities
 This option seems to be tempting. The reason why this option is wrong is that the entity discussed in the question stem is the  immigrants in general  and not immigrants after 2/3 generations.

(D) suffered discrimination in their new communities at the hands of the cultural majority
 Cannot be inferred

(E) sought assimilation into the dominant culture of the new communities they were entering
 cannot be inferred

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

2. The passage suggests that one of the effects of the debate over bilingual education is that it has

Pre-thinking

Inference question

The effects of bilingual education are discussed in P3 and P4

(A) given the Hispanic community a new-found pride in its culture
 Inconsistent. The passage tells us that for the Spanish communities having their bilingual school was a way to feel valued but we cannot infer that it is a NEW feeling.

(B) hampered the education of Spanish-speaking students
 The results of the studies about bilingual schools are inconclusive. Hence cannot be inferred

(C) demonstrated the negative impact on imposing English as the official United States language
 Nothing is demonstrated per the passage

(D)   provided a common banner under which the Spanish-speaking communities could rally
 From P4: " The issue of bilingual education has, nevertheless, served to unite the leadership of the nation’s Hispanic communities. "

(E) polarized the opinions of local Spanish-speaking community leaders
 cannot be inferred

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

3. In lines 38-39, the phrase “different political agendas” refers specifically to conflicting opinions regarding the

Pre-thinking

Detail question

From P3:  "The issue is important for people with different political agendas, from absorption at one pole to separatism at the other."

(A)  means of legislating  the assimilation of minorities into United States society
 Means of legislating are not discussed

(B) methods of inducing Hispanics to adopt English as their primary language
 not in line with pre-thinking

(C) means of achieving nondiscriminatory education for Hispanics
 not in line with pre-thinking

(D) official given responsibility for decisions regarding bilingual education
 not in line with pre-thinking

(E)   2extent to which Hispanics should blend into the larger United States society
 in line with pre-thinking

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

4. In lines 64-65 the author says that “It would be unwise to require the universal use of English.” One reason for this, according to the author, is that

Pre-thinking

Detail question

From the last paragraph one of the reason is:  "given the present state of understanding about the effects of bilingual education on learning"

(A) it is not clear yet whether requiring the universal use of English would promote or hinder the education of children whose English is limited
 in line with pre-thinking

(B) the nation’s Hispanic leaders have shown that bilingual education is most effective when it includes the maintenance of the Spanish language in the schools
 Nothing of the sort has been showed

(C) requiring the universal use of English would reduce the cohesion of the nation’s Hispanic communities and leadership
 not the reason

(D) the question of language in the schools should be answered by those who evaluate bilingual education, not by people with specific political agendas
 out of scope

(E) it has been shown that bilingual education is necessary to avoid disadvantaging in their general learning children whose English is limited
 not mentioned

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

5. In the last paragraph, the author of the passage is primarily concerned with discussing

Pre-thinking

Function question

The author wants to highlight why the introduction of english as the official language would be counterproductive for cohesion purposes

(A)   reasons against enacting a measure that would mandate the forced inclusion of immigrant groups within the dominant United culture
 In line with pre-thinking

(B) the virtues and limitations of declaring English the official language of the United States
 The virtues are not discussed

(C) the history of attitudes within the Hispanic community toward bilingual education in the United States
 Out of scope

(D) the importance for immigrant groups of maintaining large segments of their culture to pass on to their children
 out of scope

(E) the difference in cultures between Hispanics and other immigrant groups in the United States
 out of scope

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

It is a good day to be alive!

etandon · Answer

The passage quotes:
"Many families retain ties in Latin America and move back and forth between their present and former communities. "

Hence the answer choice B for question 1 seems to be incorrect.

dabaobao · Answer

Immigrants’ adoption of English as their primary language is one measure of assimilation into the larger United States society. Generally languages define social groups and provide justification for social structures. Hence, a distinctive language sets a cultural group off from the dominant language group. Throughout United States history this pattern has resulted in one consistent, unhappy consequence, discrimination against members of the cultural minority. Language differences provide both a way to rationalize subordination and a ready means for achieving it.

Traditionally, English has replaced the native language of immigrant groups by the second or third generation. Some characteristics of today’s Spanish-speaking population, however, suggest the possibility of a departure from this historical pattern. Many families retain ties in Latin America and move back and forth between their present and former communities. This “revolving door” phenomenon, along with the high probability of additional immigrants from the south, means that large Spanish-speaking communities are likely to exist in the United States for the indefinite future.

This expectation underlies the call for national support for bilingual education in Spanish-speaking communities’ public schools. Bilingual education can serve different purposes, however. In the 1960s, such programs were established to facilitate the learning of English so as to avoid disadvantaging children in their other subjects because of their limited English. More recently, many advocates have viewed bilingual education as a means to maintain children’s native languages and cultures. The issue is important for people with different political agendas, from absorption at one pole to separatism at the other.

To date, the evaluations of bilingual education’s impact on learning have been inconclusive. The issue of bilingual education has, nevertheless, served to unite the leadership of the nation’s Hispanic communities. Grounded in concerns about status that are directly traceable to the United States history of discrimination against Hispanics, the demand for maintenance of the Spanish language in the schools is an assertion of the worth of a people and their culture. If the United States is truly a multicultural nation—that is, if it is one culture reflecting the contributions of many—this demand should be seen as a demand not for separation but for inclusion.

More direct efforts to force inclusion can be misguided. For example, movements to declare English the official language do not truly advance the cohesion of a multicultural nation. They alienate the twenty million people who do not speak English as their mother tongue. They are unnecessary since the public’s business is already conducted largely in English. Further, given the present state of understanding about the effects of bilingual education on learning, it would be unwise to require the universal use of English. Finally, it is for parents and local communities to choose the path they will follow, including how much of their culture they want to maintain for their children.

1. It can be inferred from the passage that one of the characteristics of immigrant groups to the United States has traditionally been that, after immigration, relatively few members of the group

(A) became politically active in their new communities
(B) moved back and forth repeatedly between the United States and their former communities

"Traditionally, English has replaced the native language of immigrant groups by the second or third generation. Some characteristics of today’s Spanish-speaking population, however, suggest the possibility of a departure from this historical pattern. Many families retain ties in Latin America and move back and forth between their present and former communities. "

(C) used their native languages in their new communities
(D) suffered discrimination in their new communities at the hands of the cultural majority
(E) sought assimilation into the dominant culture of the new communities they were entering

B

2. The passage suggests that one of the effects of the debate over bilingual education is that it has

(A) given the Hispanic community a new-found pride in its culture
(B) hampered the education of Spanish-speaking students
(C) demonstrated the negative impact on imposing English as the official United States language
(D) provided a common banner under which the Spanish-speaking communities could rally

"The issue of bilingual education has, nevertheless, served to unite the leadership of the nation’s Hispanic communities"

(E) polarized the opinions of local Spanish-speaking community leaders

D

3. In lines 38-39, the phrase “different political agendas” refers specifically to conflicting opinions regarding the

(A) means of legislating the assimilation of minorities into United States society
(B) methods of inducing Hispanics to adopt English as their primary language
(C) means of achieving nondiscriminatory education for Hispanics
(D) official given responsibility for decisions regarding bilingual education
(E) extent to which Hispanics should blend into the larger United States society

"The issue is important for people with different political agendas, from absorption at one pole to separatism at the other."

E

4. In lines 64-65 the author says that “It would be unwise to require the universal use of English.” One reason for this, according to the author, is that

(A) it is not clear yet whether requiring the universal use of English would promote or hinder the education of children whose English is limited

"To date, the evaluations of bilingual education’s impact on learning have been inconclusive." 
"Further, given the present state of understanding about the effects of bilingual education on learning, it would be unwise to require the universal use of English."

(B) the nation’s Hispanic leaders have shown that bilingual education is most effective when it includes the maintenance of the Spanish language in the schools
(C) requiring the universal use of English would reduce the cohesion of the nation’s Hispanic communities and leadership
(D) the question of language in the schools should be answered by those who evaluate bilingual education, not by people with specific political agendas
(E) it has been shown that bilingual education is necessary to avoid disadvantaging in their general learning children whose English is limited

A

5. In the last paragraph, the author of the passage is primarily concerned with discussing

(A) reasons against enacting a measure that would mandate the forced inclusion of immigrant groups within the dominant United culture

Whole of last Para is giving reasons: "More direct efforts to force inclusion can be misguided...They alienate the twenty million people who do not speak English as their mother tongue. They are unnecessary since the public’s business is already conducted largely in English. Further, given the present state of understanding about the effects of bilingual education on learning, it would be unwise to require the universal use of English. Finally, it is for parents and local communities to choose the path they will follow, including how much of their culture they want to maintain for their children."

(B) the virtues and limitations of declaring English the official language of the United States
(C) the history of attitudes within the Hispanic community toward bilingual education in the United States
(D) the importance for immigrant groups of maintaining large segments of their culture to pass on to their children
(E) the difference in cultures between Hispanics and other immigrant groups in the United States

A

DystopianAlfred · Answer

Even I had the same issue. The question talks about "Traditionally" what the immigrants did just after moving to the united states but the "correct" answer is the situation taking place in the current scenario. It clearly states in the passage that its a move away from historical patterns, the revolving phenomenon that is.

If somebody can elaborate. kindly...

GMATNinja   egmat

Fdambro294 · Answer

The way I understood the passage:

The author starts off by saying “traditionally”, the families would learn English by the 2nd or 3rd generation.

Then, in the very next sentence, we are given the context clue: “however”

The author basically says what is happening NOW, however, is a departure from the traditional pattern (I.e., immigrants’ families learning English by the 2nd or 3rd generation).

Then, immediately after, the author goes on to discuss the “revolving door” that is occurring now, seemingly leading to the change.

The inference is that with this revolving door and the immigrants’ retention of their culture and language, many will likely not learn English by the 2nd or 3rd generation.

Because of this reason, the author then goes on to discuss the need for bilingual education for these groups. There wouldn’t be a need for bilingual education for these groups if they were still learning English by the 2nd or 3rd generation.

So, if this new development of a “revolving door” is leading to the authors’ perceived need of bilingual education, it seems that today’s immigrants are not learning English as quickly as similar immigrants had in the past.

If this revolving door had also existed in the past, then the same issue would have existed (regarding the need for bilingual education) and the author wouldn’t be talking about changes and the need for this new measure.

Is answer B 100% airtight? No, but it is heavily supported by the context of the paragraph and passage.

Posted from my mobile device

DystopianAlfred · Answer

Hey, thanks for the prompt response.
I understand what you mean when you say the context of the passage supports the revolving door phenomenon. but..

"United States has traditionally been that,  after immigration , relatively few members of the group"

it seems, 2nd -3rd generation immigrants are not the subject of the question but the first generation which came much earlier when assimilation was the major task at hand. Revolving door phenomenon is for 2nd- 3rd gen immigrants, not for the first ones.
"after immigration" and "moving away from historical patterns" stress on the same.

GMATNinja   VeritasKarishma 
 If you can kindly assist in doubt clearance. I might be reading the question incorrectly

Thanks in advance

KarishmaB · Answer

1. It can be inferred from the passage that one of the characteristics of immigrant groups to the United States has traditionally been that, after immigration, relatively few members of the group

(A) became politically active in their new communities
(B) moved back and forth repeatedly between the United States and their former communities
(C) used their native languages in their new communities
(D) suffered discrimination in their new communities at the hands of the cultural majority
(E) sought assimilation into the dominant culture of the new communities they were entering

2. The passage suggests that one of the effects of the debate over bilingual education is that it has

(A) given the Hispanic community a new-found pride in its culture
(B) hampered the education of Spanish-speaking students
(C) demonstrated the negative impact on imposing English as the official United States language
(D) provided a common banner under which the Spanish-speaking communities could rally
(E) polarized the opinions of local Spanish-speaking community leaders

3. In lines 38-39, the phrase “different political agendas” (Highlighted) refers specifically to conflicting opinions regarding the

(A) means of legislating the assimilation of minorities into United States society
(B) methods of inducing Hispanics to adopt English as their primary language
(C) means of achieving nondiscriminatory education for Hispanics
(D) official given responsibility for decisions regarding bilingual education
(E) extent to which Hispanics should blend into the larger United States society

4. In lines 64-65 the author says that “It would be unwise to require the universal use of English.” (Highlighted) One reason for this, according to the author, is that

(A) it is not clear yet whether requiring the universal use of English would promote or hinder the education of children whose English is limited
(B) the nation’s Hispanic leaders have shown that bilingual education is most effective when it includes the maintenance of the Spanish language in the schools
(C) requiring the universal use of English would reduce the cohesion of the nation’s Hispanic communities and leadership
(D) the question of language in the schools should be answered by those who evaluate bilingual education, not by people with specific political agendas
(E) it has been shown that bilingual education is necessary to avoid disadvantaging in their general learning children whose English is limited

5. In the last paragraph, the author of the passage is primarily concerned with discussing

(A) reasons against enacting a measure that would mandate the forced inclusion of immigrant groups within the dominant United culture
(B) the virtues and limitations of declaring English the official language of the United States
(C) the history of attitudes within the Hispanic community toward bilingual education in the United States
(D) the importance for immigrant groups of maintaining large segments of their culture to pass on to their children
(E) the difference in cultures between Hispanics and other immigrant groups in the United States

jaynstein · Answer

In the third question , please give an explanation to eliminate all the other incorrect options .

DmitryFarberMPrep · Answer

A political agenda is what you want to see happen, not just how you want to achieve it. In this case, the argument describes those agendas as ranging from absorption (Spanish speakers must blend into the general population) to separatism (Spanish speakers should remain as a distinct and separate population). E correctly describes these attitudes: people are expressing opinions on how much blending should happen.

A-C are all about means/methods, so we can cut them all. The difference of opinion is not just about how to achieve something; it's about what we want to achieve. And D doesn't make sense--there's no evidence that people are disagreeing about a particular official (i.e. a politician or bureaucrat).

Since only E addresses the actual difference of opinion--should people blend or stay separate?--its the only choice that works.

VerbalBot · Answer

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Immigrants adoption of English as their primary language is one

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