Economists have defined four stages societies pass through based on

Question

Economists have defined four stages societies pass through based on demographics, economics, agricultural productivity, and technological advancements. The first stage is a traditional society, characterized by low population density and low economic and population growth. In this society, which may be a country or a region, high birthrates match high death rates, while primitive technology contributes to low income and low living standards.

The second stage is a developing stage, occurring when a society' s technological advancements result in sustainable agricultural production and plant and animal domestication. The result is a more plentiful food supply, which helps increase population growth mainly by slowing death rates. When population and food production growth are combined with industrialization and urbanization at this stage, the result is environmental exploitation and degradation present in many developing societies.

Increases in agricultural productivity and production bring economic surpluses that allow growth in capital and per capita income and the third stage, the developed society, is born. Birthrates fall faster than death rates as the roles of women change and developments in birth-control methods allow adults to choose the number of children they desire.

Finally, stage four, the mature society, sees notable technological change evolve beyond agriculture (particularly in medicine and public health), making death rates decline further. While many technological breakthroughs in developing societies come from innovative laypersons, breakthroughs in developed societies tend to require scarce, highly trained, experienced, and costly technicians and scientists. By the time the mature society develops, the most readily accessible raw materials have been exploited. Obsolescence of current technology requires investment in maintenance rather than in new technologies. Increase in productivity of service activities, which grow in importance, becomes more difficult than increases in agricultural and manufacturing productivity. Some developed regions choose to sacrifice some economic growth for equity. Thus, while productivity and income continue to rise, the rate of these increases slows.

Rapid agricultural productivity gains continue in developed societies as investments in education and science made in the development stage produce long-term payoffs and as urbanization and industrialization lead to an exodus of agricultural labor. At the same time, slowing rates of income growth and population growth slow down the growth in demand for food. Food self-sufficiency increases in some countries after falling in the development stage. However, agricultural trade typically grows, as more affluent consumers demand a variety of foods from around the world.

Many developed countries have recently entered or will soon enter the fourth stage--the mature society--the future society of the world' s inhabitants. It is a long-held view that global population growth will more or less stabilize; recent evidence, however presents a strong case for negative global population growth as the seminal attribute of the mature society.    1 
 1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

(A) discuss a plan for investigation of a process
(B) summarize a theory and suggest a revision that overcomes a problem with the theory
(C) describe a course of development
(D) present a mechanism that causes change and development
(E) challenge the validity of a theory by exposing inconsistencies

2 
 2. It can be inferred from the passage that the birth rates in a third stage society is

(A) the same as that of a fourth stage society
(B) lower than that of a fourth stage society
(C) the same as that of a second stage society
(D) lower than that of a second stage society
(E) faster than that of second stage society

3 
 3. According to the passage, the categorization of societies into four stages outlined in the passage has been created by

(A) industrialists
(B) economists
(C) politicians
(D) the United Nations
(E) sociologists

4 
 4. According to recent evidence, negative global population growth is considered

(A) a superfluous attribute of a mature society
(B) a common aspiration of a mature society
(C) the most important determining attribute of the mature society
(D) the most important determining attribute of the developed society
(E) a common myth of a developing society

Source: Reading Comprehension Practice (Docs)

gloomybison · Answer

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to
 
(A) discuss a plan for investigation of a process
It is not discussing a plan anywhere.

(B) summarize a theory and suggest a revision that overcomes a problem with the theory
Passage doesn't suggest a revision at all.

(C) describe a course of development
 Correct

(D) present a mechanism that causes change and development
Though this option may be tempting, it is not really describing a mechanism, it just summarize what stages a society goes through as it matures

(E) challenge the validity of a theory by exposing inconsistencies
It doesn't challenge anything at all.

2. It can be inferred from the passage that the birth rates in a third stage society is

(A) the same as that of a fourth stage society
We don't have any data regarding the birth rates of fourth stage, only death rates

(B) lower than that of a fourth stage society
We don't have any data regarding the birth rates of fourth stage, only death rates

(C) the same as that of a second stage society
Wrong as explained in D

(D) lower than that of a second stage society
 Correct.  Because it says during second stage population growth is spurred by falling death rates "The result is a more plentiful food supply, which helps increase population growth mainly by slowing death rates." (no change in birth rates mentioned) ;however, at the third stages falling birth rates is what stabilizes the population-"Birthrates fall faster than death rates as the roles of women change and developments in birth-control methods allow adults to choose the number of children they desire."

(E) faster than that of second stage society
Wrong as explained in D

3. According to the passage, the categorization of societies into four stages outlined in the passage has been created by

(A) industrialists

(B) economists
 Correct 
Very first line of paragraph tells it us "Economists have defined four stages societies pass through based"

(C) politicians

(D) the United Nations

(E) sociologists

4. According to recent evidence, negative global population growth is considered

(A) a superfluous attribute of a mature society
superfluous means unnecessary or extra however passage says "negative global population growth as the seminal attribute of the mature society." seminal attribute means "strongly influencing later developments, pivotal or landmark"

(B) a common aspiration of a mature society
We don't know if its an aspiration or not

(C) the most important determining attribute of the mature society
 Correct

(D) the most important determining attribute of the developed society
It is an attribute of mature society not developed

(E) a common myth of a developing society
It is not a myth in contrary it is the pivotal attribute of mature society

ElninoEffect · Answer

This passage is like I am trying to explain AOE game. :lol: (for those who can understand the reference will agree with me) Dark Age : Low resources, less population, no technology, raids leads to more deaths. Feudal Age: Agriculture starts booming, technology starts developing slowly, more villagers + army count increases(population increases) + death count starts decreasing as now we can defend Castle Age: Technology is booming, we cannot produce more villagers(population increase decreases), less deaths. Imperial Age: We reached the pinnacle,basically age of technolgy and advancement + Upgrades are costly (specialized skills are required) No more development possible without affecting sustainability, death count sometimes increases (wars), there is a cap on the population limit.

Question1: The primary purpose of the passage is to (A) discuss a plan for investigation of a process We are not discussing any plan here. (B) summarize a theory and suggest a revision that overcomes a problem with the theory I could have taken the past part but the second part just doesn't fit. (C) describe a course of development Exactly, we are defining the course of development of the human population along with the characteristics of each stage. (D) present a mechanism that causes change and development It's only partially correct. (E) challenge the validity of a theory by exposing inconsistencies We are not challenging anything here. Question2: It can be inferred from the passage that the birth rates in a third stage society is (A) the same as that of a fourth stage society We cannot infer that. (B) lower than that of a fourth stage society We cannot infer that. (C) the same as that of a second stage society It's lower than the second stage. (D) lower than that of a second stage society As society enters the developed stage(third stage) people become selective about having children and also they plan on how many to have. (E) faster than that of second stage society We cannot infer that. Question3: According to the passage, the categorization of societies into four stages outlined in the passage has been created by (A) industrialists (B) economists Mentioned in the very beginning of the first paragraph. (C) politicians (D) the United Nations (E) sociologists Question4: According to recent evidence, negative global population growth is considered (A) a superfluous attribute of a mature society (B) a common aspiration of a mature society (C) the most important determining attribute of the mature society Last part of the last paragraph. (D) the most important determining attribute of the developed society (E) a common myth of a developing society

Nishuchoudhary12 · Answer

Can you explain the meaning of seminal here??? Q.no. 4

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ElninoEffect · Answer

Cambridge dictionary defines it as:- having a strong influence on. But the point is Gmat is not a test of vocabulary so it really doesn't matter if you know the meaning of the word or not until and unless you understand the meaning of the sentence. Now the confusing part lies between (A) a superfluous attribute of a mature society (B) a common aspiration of a mature society (C) the most important determining attribute of the mature society (D) the most important determining attribute of the developed society (E) a common myth of a developing society Options A, B and C are talking about the mature society, D about developed and E about developing. We can safely eliminate D and E here. Now the context from where this question is asked: It is a long-held view that global population growth will more or less stabilize; recent evidence , however presents a strong case for negative global population growth as the seminal attribute of the mature society. It cannot be a common aspiration as a Mature society is associated with high technological costs and population stabilization or death rate is minimal. So B is out. It cannot be attribute of a mature society as nowhere previously negative global population growth has been mentioned. So A is out. We are left with C. You realize we didn't use the meaning of any of the words. - superfluous attribute, aspiration, or seminal.

Don't get me wrong but having a command on the vocab will make life easier but still answer can be found out even if we don't know the exact meaning of the word.

100mitra · Answer

Paraphrasing:  
 Four stages of societies 
  Para 1:    Traditional society  – Low population density, low economic and population growth, low technology, low income and low living standards 
  Para 2:    Developing society  – increase in population growth, sustainable agriculture and animal domestication, initial stage of industrialization and urbanization result in environmental exploitation and degradation
  Para 3:    Developed society  – Agriculture and production growth in per capital, and controlled population
  Para 4:    Mature society  – Excellent medical and health, High skill manpower requirement, less raw material, more investment in new technologies, productivity and income continue to rise
  Para 5:   Although developed society have sustainable agriculture support, demand for labor in industrialization and urbanization pulls from agriculture, fails to meet food demand.
  Para 6:   Recent evidence presents a strong case for negative global population growth to mature society.

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to  
(A) discuss a plan for investigation of a process 
  Wrong:   Passage tone is explanatory, not to examine the facts or inquiry to discover and process
(B) summarize a theory and suggest a revision that overcomes a problem with the theory
  Wrong:   Out of scope, as no theory is introduced, no revision is highlighted, any problem mentioned related to any theory
  (C) describe a course of development 
Correct: passage describe about the way in which development progresses from traditional to mature societies   
(D) present a mechanism that causes change and development
  Wrong:  Passage describe about 4 different societies, not their causes of change and development through any mechanism 
(E) challenge the validity of a theory by exposing inconsistencies
  Wrong:   Irrelevant

2. It can be inferred from the passage that the birth rates in a third stage society is  
  Explanation:   as mentioned in the passage, para 3,third stage society compared with second stage society
“  Birth-rates fall faster than death rates   as the roles of women change and developments in birth-control methods 
allow adults to choose the number of children they desire”

(A) the same as that of a fourth stage society
  Wrong:   as mentioned in para 4, its death rate is reduced, not mention about birth rates, “Finally, stage four, the mature society, sees notable technological change evolve beyond agriculture (particularly in medicine and public health), making death rates decline further”
(B) lower than that of a fourth stage society
  Wrong:   as explained for option A, compared with fourth stage, death rate was declined, not the birth rate
(C) the same as that of a second stage society
  Wrong:   as mentioned above in explanation 
  (D) lower than that of a second stage society
Correct: as per mentioned in the passage, third stage – developed country were able to control the birth rate  
(E) faster than that of second stage society
  Wrong:   here faster word is a trap!, faster in what? lower the population or higher the population is the solution need to be found.

3. According to the passage, the categorization of societies into four stages outlined in the passage has been created by  
Explanation: as mentioned in passage, 
“Economists have defined four stages societies 
pass through based on demographics, economics, agricultural productivity, and technological advancements”

(A) industrialists   Wrong:  
  (B) economists - Correct  
(C) politicians   Wrong:  
(D) the United Nations   Wrong:   
(E) sociologists   Wrong:

4. According to recent evidence, negative global population growth is considered  
  Explanation:   as mentioned in the passage, 
“It is a long-held view that global population growth will more or less stabilize; 
recent evidence, however 
presents a strong case for negative global population growth as the seminal attribute of the mature society.”

Eliminate, D, and E   as they focus on  developed society , we need  mature society 
  Eliminate B  , because it focuses on  aspiration  of mature society, we need  attribute  of mature society 
 Seminal  meaning: strongly influencing, most important 
 Eliminate A,  because  superfluous  mean, un-needed, not required or excess, remaining

On D – Day, it would be tricky if one is not aware of meaning words like seminal,or any other, 
in such cases  refer previous sentence , which eventually either modify, explain or justify about it, sentence in GMAT passage are in chronological order, linked one to another by "key words" like however, in fact, despite, although, additionally etc 
Example such as here, 
“It is a long-held view that global population growth will more or less stabilize"
– Author describes about global population will be more or less stabilize, 
“ recent evidence ,  However, ” key words is used to introduce contrast statements that contrast, that has been earlier said, 
It means, now author will highlight something opposite to previous sentence, 
that would be something most important for negative growth population

(A) a  superfluous  attribute of a mature society   – Eliminate   
(B) a common  aspiration  of a mature society   – Eliminate  
  (C) the  most important  determining attribute of the mature society - Correct  
(D) the most important determining attribute of the  developed society    – Eliminate  
(E) a common myth of a  developing society    – Eliminate

Economists have defined four stages societies pass through based on

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Economists have defined four stages societies pass through based on

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