The government shutdown is the work of the so-called kamikaze caucus

Question

The government shutdown is the work of the so-called kamikaze caucus of about 40 Tea Party Republicans in the House of Representatives. But why is the body of the Republican Party in thrall to its erratic right foot? Maybe the real blame should go to the far more numerous non-Tea Party Republicans (moderate), who have been unable or unwilling to restrain the radicals. Behind this question lies another. Why are Republicans unwittingly repeating the errors of a previous generation of moderate Republicans who elevated Newt Gingrich to party leadership? It was Gingrich who pioneered the political dysfunction the USA still lives with. His actions - particularly his move to shut down the government in 1995 and 1996 - undermined popular trust and ushered in the present political era of confrontation and obstruction.

But here’s the catch: Gingrich, of Georgia, rose to party leadership because he was the preferred candidate of the moderates themselves. They even sided with him against Robert H. Michel of Illinois, the House minority leader from 1981 until 1995, who, in his civility and willingness to cooperate with Democrats, embodied the moderate’s political sensibility and asked his fellow House Republicans to be “responsible participants in the process.” The problem for Republicans was that playing a “responsible” role appeared to consign them to permanent minority status. As moderates came to believe that nothing was to be gained from cooperating with Democrats, they became more receptive to Gingrich’s argument that the way to dislodge the entrenched majority was to polarize the electorate while attacking Congress as an irredeemable and illegitimate institution.

Moderate Republican voters, governors, and financial backers will be horrified if the present confrontation leads to a constitutional crisis or global economic meltdown, but they have scant influence over the radicals in the Tea Party caucus. And many of them fear that launching a direct challenge to the radicals would send the party back 40 years in the political wilderness, particularly as the party’s demographic base continues to shrink. The Republican Party won’t change course until the Gingrich strategy for winning House elections stops working.   1 
 A.In mid 1990s, cooperating with the Democrats would push the Republicans to permanent minority.
INCONSISTENT: This is not what the author believes in. 
B.The ongoing political crisis will make the moderates realize they are overpowered by Republicans.
OUT OF SCOPE: This cannot be inferred at all from the passage. 
C.The Republican Party is highly reluctant in bringing about any changes in its present way of functioning in the government. 
CORRECT: The last sentence of the passage substantiates this point.
D.In last 40 years, Democrats have not been so erratic to push the country to the brim of an economic meltdown.
OUT OF SCOPE: There is no mention of Democrats taking any decision. 
E.A strong political stand by moderates can bring the current political crisis of the country to a conducive end.
OUT OF SCOPE: The moderates have no influence on the Tea-Party Republicans, let alone any strong political stand. 
 1. The passage suggests that the author of the passage believes which of the following?

A. In mid 1990s, cooperating with the Democrats would push the Republicans to permanent minority.
B.The ongoing political crisis will make the moderates realize they are overpowered by Republicans.
C.The Republican Party is highly reluctant in bringing about any changes in its present way of functioning in the government. 
D.In last 40 years, Democrats have not been so erratic to push the country to the brim of economic meltdown.
E. A strong political stand by moderates can bring the current political crisis of the country to a conducive end.

2 
 Para 1 - concern over current political crisis in the US questions ;the role of moderate republicans in this
shutdown ; moderates repeating the error started by Gingrich
Para 2 - Presents past event to illustrate how Gingrich came to leadership and what was his policy
Para 3- Moderates have no influence on Republicans who continues to follow Gingrich

Para 1 - concern over current political crisis in the US questions ;the role of moderate republicans in this
shutdown ; moderates repeating the error started by Gingrich
Para 2 - Presents past event to illustrate how Gingrich came to leadership and what was his policy
Para 3- Moderates have no influence on Republicans who continues to follow Gingrich
A. CORRECT
B. PARTIAL SCOPE: Author highlights current political fiasco but does not talk about historical events to show that the fiasco started in the past. 
C. PARTIAL SCOPE: Passage presents mistake they did in the past but does not say if they are reaping any results in the present. 
D. OUT OF SCOPE: This is certainly not the purpose of the author. 
E. OUT OF SCOPE: This is certainly not the purpose of the author. 
 2. The primary purpose of the passage is to

A. The passage enumerates the reason for the current political turmoil and alludes to the possible outcome of this crisis.
B. The passage highlights the current political fiasco and delves into the historical events to establish its beginning.
C. The passage brings forth the mistakes the moderates Representative did in the past and are reaping results in the present.
D. The passage reveals though historic examples that political blunders have long-lasting effects on the economy.
E. The passage talks about how a dominant political party can thwart even the noble moves of the governing party.

3 
 3. According to the passage, what can be understood of “the body of the Republican Party”?

A. The phrase refers to the moderate Republicans who do not enjoy the same political standing they used to some six decades ago.
B. The phrase refers to the group of Republicans that includes the moderates as well as the radicals.
C. The phrase points to the supporters of Newt Gingrich, who supported him against Robert H. Michel.
D. This body is independent of any political group in its ideology and support to the governing party.
E. The group consists of important political and }nancial dignitaries who have considerable influence on the Republicans.

GittinGud · Answer

Can someone please post solutions to both the questions? I marked the wrong answer to both the questions.

arvind910619 · Answer

Hi I got question 2 wrong.
I am confused between A and B.
Can any one explain why answer is A for question 2.

warrior1991 · Answer

arvind910619

I will try to explain question no 2.

B. The passage highlights the current political fiasco and delves into the historical events to establish its beginning.  
 Option B is not correct because it misses out the information mentioned in paragraph 3 . Para 3 says that if the republican party do not adopt Gingrich strategy ,it would send the party back 40 years in the political wilderness, particularly as the party’s demographic base continues to shrink.

A. The passage enumerates the reason for the current political turmoil and alludes to the possible outcome of this crisis.  
 The key information mentioned in the Paragraph 3 is mentioned in this option.

Clearly A is preferable over B because option B doesn't comprehends the information of Para 3.

The main point of the passage always encompasses every information from all the paragraphs.

warrior1991 · Answer

GittinGud

1. The passage suggests that the author of the passage believes which of the following?

A. In mid 1990s, cooperating with the Democrats would push the Republicans to permanent minority.
 Cannot infer.The problem for Republicans was that playing a “responsible” role appeared to consign them to permanent minority status.It was not because of cooperating with the Democrats.

B.The ongoing political crisis will make the moderates realize they are overpowered by Republicans.
  Out of Scope.

C.The Republican Party is highly reluctant in bringing about any changes in its present way of functioning in the government. 
 Correct. Clearly mentioned in last few lines of the last paragraph.

D.In last 40 years, Democrats have not been so erratic to push the country to the brim of economic meltdown.
 Nowhere mentioned in the argument.

E. A strong political stand by moderates can bring the current political crisis of the country to a conducive end.
 Irrelevant to the context of the argument.

anish777 · Answer

Hello experts,

I do not understand the reason as why option A is the right answer choice for #2.
In the entire passage, where does the author hints or indirectly points to a possible outcome of the present political crisis ? I understand that the author enumerates the reason for the crisis. But I could not find where exactly he was indirectly hinting the possible outcome ?
Having said that, none of the answers actually captures the true essence of the passage. To me, it appears all the options as partially or completely wrong.
Can you please help me where exactly I am missing the point ?

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

2. The primary purpose of the passage is to

Difficulty Level:   700

Explanation

Para 1  - concern over current political crisis in the US questions ;the role of moderate republicans in this shutdown ; moderates repeating the error started by Gingrich

Para 2  - Presents past event to illustrate how Gingrich came to leadership and what was his policy

Para 3 - Moderates have no influence on Republicans who continues to follow Gingrich

A. CORRECT

B. PARTIAL SCOPE:  Author highlights current political fiasco but does not talk about historical events to show that the fiasco started in the past.

C. PARTIAL SCOPE:  Passage presents mistake they did in the past but does not say if they are reaping any results in the present.

D. OUT OF SCOPE:  This is certainly not the purpose of the author.

E. OUT OF SCOPE:  This is certainly not the purpose of the author.

Answer: B

Feb2024 · Answer

Hello Experts!
 unraveled   Bunuel   KarishmaB   MartyMurray   GMATNinja   Sajjad1994   Skywalker18

Can someone please briefly explain what the first paragraph is trying to say? I have attempted many RCs but still I am not make to make sense of this piece.

Thanks in advance!

The government shutdown is the work of the so-called kamikaze caucus

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GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

The government shutdown is the work of the so-called kamikaze caucus

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