The Economist Reading Challenge Week 3: Article 1

Question

https://gmatclub.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/economist-logo2.png Reading Challenge: Week 3 | Article 1 Full Collection of The Economist Reading Challenges STEP 1: Read The Economist Article Genetically, Basques aren't that different from other Spaniards With their unique language, unrelated to all other European tongues, the continent’s oldest cave paintings, and their seafaring, gastronomic and choral traditions, the Basques have long had a strong sense of identity. Nationalist propagandists have gone further, claiming that the Basques form an ancient and superior race, the first Europeans. In some versions they descend directly from the biblical Noah...... read the full article on Economist.com - registration is required for limited Free Access . You can also get Full Access to The Economist Magazine as a part of the The Economist GMAT Tutor Course Article Length: 378 words Total Time: 6 minutes STEP 2: Attempt the questions Attempt the questions and post your responses by Friday 8 am Pacific Time . We will be keeping this thread in competition mode so no one can see others users’ responses. Good Luck! 1 1. According to the passage author implies that Basques are similar to their neighbors in which way? A. Language B. Cave painting timing C. Choral traditions D. Biblical origin E. Their genetic origin 2 2. Which of the following reasons are best supported by the article as an explanation of the differences in genetic composition between Basques and Spaniards? A. Basques are a separate race that arrived in Europe during the Iron Age. B. Basques followed Romans into the Iberian peninsula. C. Ancient Iberians were the forefathers of the Spaniards. D. The Arab Berber invasions and Roman conquests did not reach the Basque country but did reach the rest of Spain. E. Linguistic dissimilarities and difficulty in creating land trade routes . Note: The above questions were created by GMAT Club STEP 3: Check Main Economist Reading Challenge Topic for weekly winners and to Find More Questions and Articles to Read Step 4: Ace the RC section on the GMAT!

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praveen27sinha · Answer

1. According to the passage author implies that Basques are similar to their neighbors in which way?

A. Language :- No, Language is different clearly mentioned in the passage 
B. Cave painting timing :-   first para states that Basques are different from neighbors  
C. Choral traditions :- Incorrect  
D. Biblical origin :- It was propaganda and not true  
E. Their genetic origin :-  Correct

2. Which of the following reasons are best supported by the article as an explanation of the differences in genetic composition between Basques and Spaniards?

A. Basques are a separate race that arrived in Europe during the Iron Age. :-  Incorrect 
B. Basques followed Romans into the Iberian peninsula. :- Incorrect, it is no where mentioned 
C. Ancient Iberians were the forefathers of the Spaniards. :-  incorrect 
D. The Arab Berber invasions and Roman conquests did not reach the Basque country but did reach the rest of Spain.  Correct, "Impenetrable mountains and an incomprehensible language discouraged genetic mingling"  
E. Linguistic dissimilarities and difficulty in creating land trade routes . Linguistic difficulties are mentioned but nothing is mentioned about land routes

Ranasaymon · Answer

1. According to the passage author implies that Basques are similar to their neighbors in which way?

->  'With their unique language, unrelated to all other European tongues, the continent’s oldest cave paintings, and their seafaring, gastronomic and choral traditions, the Basques have long had a strong sense of identity' 
-> Basques are different from neighbors: unique language, tongue, oldest cave paintings,& choral traditions.
Eliminate A,B, & C

->  In the first paragraph, NP claimed that the Basques descend from the biblical Noah. In the second paragraph, new evidence brings mixed for NP, and shows that the basques are genetically different from their neighbors. But the differences are recent. In the third paragraph, a finding shows that Basques and other Spaniards all descend from the same stone age migrants.

A. Language
-> Different. Mentioned in 1st paragraph.

B. Cave painting timing
-> Different. Mentioned in 1st paragraph.

C. Choral traditions
-> Different. Mentioned in 1st paragraph.

D. Biblical origin
-> Tempting. NP claimed that the Basques descend from the biblical Noah. Based on new evidence, we only know that the Basques and other Spaniards descend from the stone age ancestor. But nowhere in the article is mentioned about the similarity of Biblical origin of the Basques and their neighbors.
 
 E. Their genetic origin  
-> Yes. Basques and other Spaniards all descend from the same stone age migrants. Even if they are genetically different, their genetic origin is same because of their same ancestors.

2. Which of the following reasons are best supported by the article as an explanation of the differences in genetic composition between Basques and Spaniards?

->  Paraphrased Q: What is the explanation of the differences in genetic composition between Basques and Spaniards?

A. Basques are a separate race that arrived in Europe during the Iron Age.
-> No, Basques and other Spaniards all descend from the same stone age migrants.

B. Basques followed Romans into the Iberian peninsula.
-> No. Actually, Romans conquered the Basque country. Basques did not follow Roman.

C. Ancient Iberians were the forefathers of the Spaniards.
-> Tempting. 'The ancient Iberians, too, spoke a non-Indo-European language (like Basque, Finnish, and Hungarian)'
Check the keyword 'too'. The similarity bewteen the ancient Iberians and the Spaniards was non-Indo-European language.
-> the forefathers of the Spaniards were the stone age migrants.

D. The Arab Berber invasions and Roman conquests did not reach the Basque country but did reach the rest of Spain.
-> Check the last paragraph. 'Recent research has found evidence that, contrary to myth, the Romans did conquer the Basque country'. So, the Romans actually reached the Basque country

E. Linguistic dissimilarities and difficulty in creating land trade routes .  
-> 'And the Arab-Barber invaders who occupied much of Iberia for seven century scarcely got the there(the core of Basque speaking areas). Impenetrable mountains and an incomprehensible language discouraged genetic mingling, the researchers surmise'
We can infer that the influence of Arabs and Romans was on much of Iberia except on the core of Basque speaking areas. That's why, there are differences in genetic composition between Basques and Spaniards

lastgmat19 · Answer

1. According to the passage author implies that Basques are similar to their neighbors in which way?

A. Language ( first para first line- unique language)
B. Cave painting timing (same line as A)
C. Choral traditions (same line as A)
D. Biblical origin (last line of first para)
E. Their genetic origin Correct (Proof: All descendent from same stone age : Para 3 line 1)

Question 2

2. Which of the following reasons are best supported by the article as an explanation of the differences in genetic composition between Basques and Spaniards?

A. Basques are a separate race that arrived in Europe during the Iron Age. - Incorrect 
B. Basques followed Romans into the Iberian peninsula. -Not given in para 3
C. Ancient Iberians were the forefathers of the Spaniards. - doesn't seem an explanation for genetic-difference
D. The Arab Berber invasions and Roman conquests did not reach the Basque country but did reach the rest of Spain. Correct (para 3 roman conquer basque-contry but few settled in core area; Discouraged genetic-mingling)
E. Linguistic dissimilarities and difficulty in creating land trade routes . This is given but not an explanation of genetic-difference

BenjaminS · Answer

I choose E. This is an inference question that asked  Basques are similar to their neighbors in which way , so I will analyze each of the answer choices.

A. Language
 From paragraph 1,  "With  their unique language , unrelated to all other European tongues, the continent’s oldest cave paintings, and their seafaring, gastronomic and choral traditions, the Basques have long had a strong sense of identity. Nationalist propagandists have gone further, claiming that the Basques form an ancient and superior race, the first Europeans. In some versions they descend directly from the biblical Noah."   
Consequently, the author does not imply that Language of Basques is similar to their neighbors.   A is out.

B. Cave painting timing
 From the same paragraph in the answer choice A,  "With their unique language, unrelated to all other European tongues, the continent’s  oldest cave paintings , and their seafaring, gastronomic and choral traditions,  the Basques have long had a strong sense of identity.  Nationalist propagandists have gone further, claiming that the Basques form an ancient and superior race, the first Europeans. In some versions they descend directly from the biblical Noah."  
The author also does not imply that Cave painting timing is similar to their neighbors.   B is out.

C. Choral traditions
 From the same paragraph in the answer choice A,  "With their unique language, unrelated to all other European tongues, the continent’s oldest cave paintings, and their seafaring, gastronomic and  choral traditions ,  the Basques have long had a strong sense of identity.  Nationalist propagandists have gone further, claiming that the Basques form an ancient and superior race, the first Europeans. In some versions they descend directly from the biblical Noah."  
The author does not imply that Choral traditions are similar to their neighbors.   C is out.

D. Biblical origin
 In the last sentence of paragraph 1,  "In some versions they descend directly from the  biblical Noah.  " 
Even though the author talks about biblical Noah, it cannot imply that Biblical origin of Basques is similar to their neighbors.   D is out.

E. Their genetic origin
 From paragraph 2,  " A new study of the genes of Basques and their neighbours  brings mixed news for nationalists. The study, by a team at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona and published in Current Biology,  shows that Basques are indeed genetically different from their neighbours. But those differences seem to be relatively recent, dating from the end of the Iron Age (around 2,500 years ago). "  
The author implies that the genes of Basques and their neighbors were the same date from the end of the Iron Age. So there is the same genetic origin between Basques and their neighbors.   E is the answer.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
This is the detailed question, I choose E. My explanation is below:
A. Basques are a separate race that arrived in Europe during the Iron Age.
 From paragraph 3, there is no mention of a separate race that arrived in Europe during the Iron Age. 
 From paragraph 4, "  These findings should scotch the idea of a separate Basque race , as asserted by Sabino Arana, the founder of the Basque Nationalist Party (pnv). " 
So this answer choice is not supported by the passage.   A is out.

B. Basques followed Romans into the Iberian peninsula.
 From paragraph 3,  "A key finding is that Basques and other Spaniards all descend from the same Stone Age migrants from Europe’s eastern steppes. The ancient Iberians, too, spoke a non-Indo-European language (like Basque, Finnish and Hungarian).  The differences only began when the Romans turned up in Iberia. Recent research has found evidence that, contrary to myth, the Romans did conquer the Basque Country. But few seem to have settled in the core Basque-speaking areas. "  
The author does not talk about Basques followed Romans into the Iberian peninsula. So   B is out.

C. Ancient Iberians were the forefathers of the Spaniards.
 From paragraph 3,  "A key finding is that Basques and other Spaniards all descend from the same Stone Age migrants from Europe’s eastern steppes.  The ancient Iberians, too, spoke a non-Indo-European language (like Basque, Finnish and Hungarian).  The differences only began when the Romans turned up in Iberia. "  
The author says that the ancient Iberians spoke the same language (like Basque), so it cannot be the reason for the differences in genetic composition between Basques and Spaniards. So   C is out.

D. The Arab Berber invasions and Roman conquests did not reach the Basque country but did reach the rest of Spain.
 In paragraph 3,  "Recent research has found evidence that, contrary to myth,  the Romans did conquer the Basque Country.   But few seem to have settled in the core Basque-speaking areas. And the Arab-Berber invaders who occupied much of Iberia for seven centuries scarcely got there. " 
As a result of this, the passage does not talk about the Arab Berber invasions and Roman reach the rest of Spain, and this answer choice does not explain the differences in genetic composition between Basques and Spaniards.    D is Out.

E. Linguistic dissimilarities and difficulty in creating land trade routes.
 From the paragraph 3,  "A key finding is that Basques and other Spaniards all descend from the same Stone Age migrants from Europe’s eastern steppes. The ancient Iberians, too, spoke a non-Indo-European language (like Basque, Finnish and Hungarian). The differences only began when the Romans turned up in Iberia. Recent research has found evidence that, contrary to myth, the Romans did conquer the Basque Country. But few seem to have settled in the core Basque-speaking areas. And the Arab-Berber invaders who occupied much of Iberia for seven centuries scarcely got there.  Impenetrable mountains and an incomprehensible language discouraged genetic mingling, the researchers surmise. "   
This answer choice is matched with the last sentence of paragraph 3, showing that linguistic dissimilarities and difficulty in creating land trade routes are the reasons supported by the article. So   E is the answer.

Hope it helps.

mSKR · Answer

A, B , C and D talks about differences .  We need to find out similarities

WITH THEIR unique language( Option A) , unrelated to all other European tongues, the continent’s oldest cave paintings ( option B), and their seafaring, gastronomic and choral traditions ( option C), the Basques have long had a strong sense of identity 
 In some versions they descend directly from the biblical Noah. ( option D)

Why E ?--> 
The meaning seems tha t genetic origin is same but differentiated at iron age.  So we can infer answer E from the excert given:
 shows that Basques are indeed genetically different from their neighbours. But those differences seem to be relatively recent, dating from the end of the Iron Age

HENCE E

A. Basques are a separate race that arrived in Europe during the Iron Age. 
Wrong: as per information , Basques descend from stone age
 A key finding is that Basques and other Spaniards all descend from the same Stone Age migrants from Europe’s eastern steppes.

B. Basques followed Romans into the Iberian peninsula.

What differences --> when Romans turned up in Iberia. But Romans did conquer the Basque Country. Not basques followed the romans

Excerpts:
are indeed genetically different from their neighbours
those differences seem to be relatively recent, dating from the end of the Iron Age
The differences only began when the Romans turned up in Iberia

C. Ancient Iberians were the forefathers of the Spaniards. 
The ancient Iberians, too, spoke a non-Indo-European language (like Basque, Finnish and Hungarian)
No informatin can be extracted that Ancient Iberians were the forefathers of the Spaniards.

D. The Arab Berber invasions and Roman conquests did not reach the Basque country but did reach the rest of Spain .

1.) The statement seems extreme as per passage it is given that:
Romans and Arabs invaders did reach but did not mingle and discourage genetic mingling

Romans did conquer the Basque Country. But few seem to have settled in the core Basque-speaking areas. And the Arab-Berber invaders who occupied much of Iberia for seven centuries scarcely got there. Impenetrable mountains and an incomprehensible language discouraged genetic mingling, the researchers surmise.

2.) No information is given whether they reached to Spanairds .

E. Linguistic dissimilarities and difficulty in creating land trade routes . 
 Impenetrable mountains and an incomprehensible language discouraged genetic mingling, the researchers surmise. 
It matches exactly why they didn't have genetic mingling. Because of impenetrable mountains == land routes ; linguistic dissimilarities== incomprehensible language

HENCE E

FlavorTown · Answer

Please find below my answers for this week's Article 1:

1) E

2) E

ananya3 · Answer

1. According to the passage author implies that Basques are similar to their neighbors in which way? -   IMO E

A. Language -   Incorrect  
the first line mentions that the Basques have a unique language. 
B. Cave painting timing -   Incorrect  
the first line mentions that the Basques have the oldest cave paintings 
C. Choral traditions -   Incorrect  
Choral traditions for the neighbours are not mentioned in the passage, so we cannot be sure if they were similar to those of the neighbouring countries
D. Biblical origin -   Incorrect  
the first paragraph mentions that, according to some versions, Basques are descendants of biblical Noah, but the origin of the neighbours are not mentioned. Therefore, we cannot be sure if the two are similar in terms of their biblical origin
E. Their genetic origin -   Correct  
the second paragraph states that even though the Basques are genetically different from their neighbours, the differences seem to be relatively recent, dating from the end of the Iron Age. This implies that the Basques and their neighbours had a common ancestors around the iron age

2. Which of the following reasons are best supported by the article as an explanation of the differences in genetic composition between Basques and Spaniards? -   IMO E

A. Basques are a separate race that arrived in Europe during the Iron Age. -   Incorrect   
the second and third paragraph mention that Basques and other Spaniards all descend from the same Stone Age migrants from Europe's eastern steppers. This implies that they had arrived on the scene way before the start of the iron age
B. Basques followed Romans into the Iberian peninsula. -   Incorrect   
From the third paragraph we know that the Romans conquered Basque and turned up in Iberia, but it does not specify if Basques went to the Iberian peninsula
C. Ancient Iberians were the forefathers of the Spaniards.-   Incorrect   
the passage doe not mention anything regarding the link between Iberians and Spaniards
D. The Arab Berber invasions and Roman conquests did not reach the Basque country but did reach the rest of Spain. -   Incorrect   
research confirmed that the Romans conquered the Basque country
E. Linguistic dissimilarities and difficulty in creating land trade routes -   Correct  
in the last line of third paragraph the researchers conclude that impenetrable mountains, which made land trade routes difficult, and an incomprehensible language were the main reasons that discouraged mingling, resulting in the differences in the genetic composition of Basques and Spaniards

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Hi guys

Thank you for your participation! I have turned off the competition mode and the submissions are closed now. The winner will be announced on Monday at around 8am Pacific Time.

Good Luck

tjbath74 · Answer

Excellent work!

Many of you answered all questions correctly and found the specific quotes in the passage supporting each of the answer choices. Good practice, everyone.

The Economist Reading Challenge Week 3: Article 1

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The Economist Reading Challenge Week 3: Article 1

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

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From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

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