Using art to condemn the moral shortcomings of society is nothing new.

Question

Using art to condemn the moral shortcomings of society is nothing new. English artist William Hogarth (1697 1764) was renowned for prints that revealed the moral lapses of eighteenth-century England. Despite the fact that Hogarth enjoyed the patronage of Englands wealthier citizens, he did not shrink away from producing scathing depictions of all levels of English society.

In the ten-print series Industry and Idleness, Hogarth presents two apprentices who begin working side by side only to arrive at vastly different ends. The first apprentice is portrayed as a morally incorruptible, diligent worker. He is promoted, marries his bosss daughter, and achieves great distinction and financial success. The other apprentice does little work and engages in many unsavory activities. He is fired from his apprenticeship and continues down a path of illicit behavior and corruption. The series comes to a climax when the two former coworkers are reunited with the industrious apprentice now elevated to alderman standing in judgment of the idle coworker brought before him for murder. The idle apprentice is sentenced to death and executed, whereas the industrious apprentice goes on to become Lord Mayor of London. Among Hogarths most popular series was The Rakes Progress, which tells the story of wealthy Tom Rakewell. In the first of eight prints, Tom inherits a large sum of money that he foolishly spends on enhancing his image and prestige in superficial ways. His prodigal ways lead to his rapid decline as he is arrested for debt and in return marries an old maid for her money. He begins gambling, is imprisoned, and eventually goes insane in Bedlam. Toms descent and desperate outcome, like many of Hogarths subjects, is tied directly to moral corruption and poor self- discipline. It is interesting that Hogarths prints were extremely popular in his day. Whatever the moral shortcomings of eighteenth-century England, its citizens welcomed Hogarths social critiques and harsh judgments.    1 
 1. According to the passage, Hogarths prints

A. portrayed many different kinds of moral corruption.
B. focused on the weak and disenfranchised.
C. were extremely controversial.
D. often offended his wealthy patrons.
E. are extremely valuable today.

2 
 2. The passage suggests that Hogarths work is important because

A. Hogarth developed the technique of story-telling through prints.
B. Hogarth defied authorities and convention by depicting the life of common criminals.
C. it reveals the hardships of life in eighteenth-century England.
D. it provides a critical view of the moral shortcomings of Hogarth’s society.
E. it demonstrates that art is an important medium for social change.

3 
 3. The description of Industry and Idleness suggests that

A. people in eighteenth-century England were too quick to judge each other.
B. the moral choices people make determine whether they will succeed or fail.
C. apprentices often engaged in immoral behavior in Hogarth’s time.
D. successful politicians are morally incorruptible.
E. the moral apprentice feels sorry for his former coworker.

4 
 4. Based on the passage, which of the following best expresses the main lesson of Hogarths work?

A. If you are diligent and industrious, you will achieve great distinction.
B. Wealth leads to moral corruption.
C. Do not judge others until you have walked in their shoes.
D. Some people are born immoral and cannot be changed.
E. Wise choices and self-discipline can keep us from moral lapses.

RC Butler 2022  -  Practice Two RC Passages Everyday.   
Passage # 102 Date: 10-Mar-2022
 This question is a part of RC Butler 2022 .  Click here for Details

Learning Express

Sajjad1994 · Accepted Answer

This is a very easy question.

(A) talks about the only one side of the coin. For example, the Lessons of Hogarth's work contains both good and bad people. But option  (A)  talks about only good people. On the other hand,  (E)  is structured and worded in such a way that it contains both sides.

Hence E is correct.

devil.rocx · Answer

In question 4 why E is better than A. ?

devil.rocx · Answer

It would have been very difficult to understand the subtle difference during the exam.

jain2001sneha · Answer

question 2nd option d its written hogarts society but in passage its talking about whole english society plz explain

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

2. The passage suggests that Hogarths work is important because

Difficulty Level:   500

Explanation

The second sentence provides the answer: Hogarth  "was renowned for prints that revealed the moral lapses of eighteenth-century England."  The passage does not indicate that Hogarth was the first to tell stories through prints (choice a) or that he defied authorities by portraying particular subjects in his prints (choice b). His prints may have often revealed the hardships of life in his time (choice c), but the example of The Rake's Progress also shows that he dealt with the life of the privileged who often did not have to experience those hardships. The passage says that Hogarth pointed out problems in his society, but nothing indicates that his work inspired change in his society (choice e).

Answer: D

Mincy · Answer

Can anyone explain the options of 3 rd question ..

Posted from my mobile device

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

3. The description of Industry and Idleness suggests that

Difficulty Level:   550

Explanation

The series describes the different outcomes of two men who start off in similar circumstances as apprentices but arrive at vastly different ends. The most logical conclusion to draw is that the choices the men make regarding their behavior determine the difference in their outcomes--one succeeds in business and politics, whereas the other lives a life of corruption and dies a criminal.

The passage does not mention that people were too quick to judge each other (choice a); the alderman's job was to judge his former apprentice who was guilty of murder, so the judgment does not appear to be hasty. Nothing suggests that the corrupt apprentice reflects that corruption was common among apprentices in Hogarth's day, so choice c is incorrect.

The morally incorruptible apprentice becomes a successful politician, but it is a leap of false logic to assume that all successful politicians are morally incorruptible, so choice d is incorrect. Finally, the passagedoes not provide any description of the alderman's emotions as he sentences his former coworker, so choice e is also incorrect.

Answer: B

VerbalBot · Answer

Automated notice from GMAT Club VerbalBot: 

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

 This post was generated automatically.

Using art to condemn the moral shortcomings of society is nothing new.

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

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

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

Using art to condemn the moral shortcomings of society is nothing new.

Prep Toolkit

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

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards