From inquiry into religious matters and inquiry into the phenomena of

Question

From inquiry into religious matters and inquiry into the phenomena of nature, it was but a short and a natural step to inquiry into the nature and functions of government. This led to a critical questioning of the old established order, the rise of new types of intellectual inquiry, the growth of a consciousness of national problems, and the bringing to the front of questions of political interest to a degree unknown since the days of ancient Rome.

The eighteenth century marks, in these directions, a sharp turning-point in human thinking, and the end of medievalism and the ushering in of modern forms of intellectual liberty. The eighteenth century, too, witnessed a culmination of a long series of progressive changes which had been underway for centuries, and the flood time of a slowly but steadily rising tide of protest against the enslavement of the intellect and the limitation of natural human liberties by either Church or State. The §ood of individualism which characterized the second half of the eighteenth century demanded outlet, and, denied, it rose and swept away ancient privileges, abuses, and barriers--religious, intellectual, social, and political--and opened the way for the marked progress in all lines which characterized the nineteenth century.

Out of this new spirit was to come the American and the French Revolutions, the establishment of constitutional liberty and religious freedom, the beginnings of the abolition of privilege, the rise of democracy, a great extension of educational advantages, and the transfer of the control of the school from the Church to the State that the national welfare might be better promoted thereby.

Now arose the modern conception of the school as the great constructive instrument of the State, and a new individual and national theory as to both the nature and the purpose of education was advanced. Schools were declared to be essentially civil affairs; their purpose was asserted to be to promote the common welfare and advance the interests of the political State.    1 
 1. According to the passage, the eighteenth century contributed to which of the following?

A. the dismissal of restrictive religious practices
B. the formation of several modern democratic ideals
C. a new model of economic distribution
D. a widely accepted belief in the scientific process
E. a national welfare system

2 
 2. The author would most likely disagree with which of the following statements:

A. schools were largely controlled by the church prior to the eighteenth century
B. public inquiry contributed to events of the eighteenth century
C. prior to the eighteenth century, schools were not necessarily viewed as instruments of the State 
D. the State readily embraced individualism in the latter part of the eighteenth century
E. the eighteenth century played a key role in the establishment of modern liberties

3 
 3. The main concern of the passage is to

A. advocate particular strategies for future efforts to improve state-run schooling 
B. explain differences in the function of government in a post-medievalism era
C. evaluate the effectiveness of certain kinds of intellectual ideals
D. analyze and explain a political phenomenon
E. describe the key distinguishing characteristics of a period of civilization

4 
 4. According to the author, what circumstances led to the progressive achievements of the eighteenth century?

A. massive flooding and its effects on the abundance of raw materials
B. the abolition of privilege and establishment of constitutional liberties
C. public awareness and inquiry into government activities and responsibilities 
D. the demise of the Church in political affairs
E. a new emphasis on public education

Source: CAT Prep GMAT/Manhattan Review

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

3. The main concern of the passage is to

Difficulty Level:   700

Explanation

The author is not evaluating, analyzing, or advocating. Thus you can eliminate  choices A, C, and D. Choice E  is the best choice between B & E. The passage is not focused on the role of government but instead describes various characteristics of the 18th century.

Answer: E

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

1. According to the passage, the eighteenth century contributed to which of the following?

Difficulty Level:   700

Explanation

The first sentence of the third paragraph claims the establishment of constitutional liberty and religious freedom as contributions of the eighteenth century. Choice  B  is the best choice.

Answer: B

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

4. According to the author, what circumstances led to the progressive achievements of the eighteenth century?

Difficulty Level:   600

Explanation

The  First paragraph  describes how inquiries of various natures led to the achievements described in the passage.  Choice C  is correct.

Answer: C

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

2. The author would most likely disagree with which of the following statements:

Difficulty Level:   650-700

Explanation

The last sentence of the second paragraph  states that individualism was repressed and that this repression led to various upheavals in the established order. Thus, according to the passage,  choice D  is clearly untrue. Individualism was not readily embraced by the State.

Answer: D

Taulark1 · Answer

can anyone say why option A is wrong in Question 1 ?

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Option (A)  is incorrect because the passage does not directly mention the dismissal of restrictive religious practices as a result of the developments in the eighteenth century. While the passage does discuss the questioning of the old established order, the growth of consciousness of national problems, and the rise of new types of intellectual inquiry, it does not explicitly focus on the dismissal of religious practices.

Prob2303 · Answer

Hi Sajjad,

Can I get a brief summary of the passage?

Sajjad1994 · Answer

The passage discusses the  shift from religious and natural inquiries  to questioning the nature of government in the 18th century. This led to a rejection of medievalism, fostering intellectual liberty and triggering revolutions. The rise of individualism in the 18th century dismantled old structures, paving the way for constitutional liberty, religious freedom, and democratic ideals. The modern concept of schools as instruments of the state emerged, with the purpose of promoting the common welfare and serving the political state's interests.

From inquiry into religious matters and inquiry into the phenomena of

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From inquiry into religious matters and inquiry into the phenomena of

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