Huey Long was a traveling salesman, a lawyer, and a world-class demago

Question

Huey Long was a traveling salesman, a lawyer, and a world-class demagogue. He was elected governor of Louisiana in 1928 on a populist platform,  and he actually did some good things for the state,  such as making school text-books free and improving roads and highways. But he also ran a corrupt administration that was not above roughing up, blackmailing, or slandering those who opposed him. By 1930, the “Kingfish” was as close to an absolute dictator as there was in the country. He controlled the legislature and, after winning a U.S. Senate seat, refused to promptly vacate the governor’s office, thus holding both jobs for a while.

Originally an FDR supporter, Long broke with the White House mostly for egotistical reasons. He proposed a “Share Our Wealth” program that called for confiscating family fortunes of more than $5 million and annual incomes over $1 million and guaranteeing every family $2,500 a year, a homestead, and a car. Long had a national following and announced he would run against FDR at the head of a third party in 1936. Private polls showed he might garner 4 million votes, enough to tip the election to the Republicans. But he never got the chance. In September 1935, Long was shot to death on the steps of the Louisiana capitol by a man whose family he had ruined.    1 
 1. The passage can best be described as which of the following?

(A) An overview of the danger of demagogues in American politics.
(B) A look at a distinctive regional political story in America.
(C) A brief biography of a memorable American.
(D) A cautionary tale about the dangers of democracy.
(E) A polemic against radicalism.

2 
 2. According to the passage, why might the Democratic party have been worried about Long’s possible run for the White House in 1936?

(A) He might have run as a Republican.
(B) He refused to give FDR his formal endorsement.
(C) His death made him ineligible to run.
(D) Polls showed he would secure enough of the Democratic vote to swing the election to the Republican party.
(E) He was a demagogue.

3 
 3. The last sentence of the passage most likely points to which of the following?

(A) Long’s policies hurt some of the people who he was supposed to represent as an elected official.
(B) Long did not know how to defend himself in an attack.
(C) Private security forces were not as common in the 1930s as they are now.
(D) The man who shot Long was probably ruined by the Great Depression.
(E) People always get what’s coming to them.

4 
 4. According to the passage, what was a popular nickname for Huey Long?

(A) “Huey”
(B) “FDR”
(C) “Demagogue”
(D) “Share Our Wealth”
(E) “Kingfish”

5 
 5. The  Highlighted ] section in the passage plays what role in the first paragraph?

(A) Reveals the author’s shock that Long did worthwhile things.
(B) Pivots to the type of activities Long usually engaged in.
(C) Reminds or informs readers that Long did some good things on the way to his eventual demagoguery.
(D) Reveals that Long was really a good person underneath his bluster.
(E) Hints as to why some people may have been slow to recognize Long’s true nature.

6 
 6. Based on the passage, which of the following groups of people could reasonably be assumed to be most against Huey Long’s presidential run?

(A) The Republican Party
(B) The people of Louisiana
(C) Economically disadvantaged people
(D) Wealthy people with annual incomes of over $1,000,000
(E) Women

RC Butler 2022  -  Practice Two RC Passages Everyday.   
Passage # 214 Date: 27-May-2022
 This question is a part of RC Butler 2022 .  Click here for Details

U.S. History For Dummies , 3rd Edition, by Steve Wiegand

ap2201 · Answer

Hi,

Could anyone pls clarify Q.1: The passage can best be described as which of the following?

I incorrectly chose B against C, which in hindsight does seem a better option. 
I still am not sure what makes C better tough. Is it because of the word "regional" or "story" was a deal breaker?

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

1. The passage can best be described as which of the following?

Difficulty Level:   650-700

Explanation

(B)  is limited in scope.  "distinctive regional political story"  make it limited.  Choice (C)  is the best answer. The passage gives a very brief biography of Huey Long.

Answer: C

juri01m · Answer

Hi  Sajjad1994 , could you please clarify the reasoning behind the eliminatination of Option A in Q5?

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

5. The   section in the passage plays what role in the first paragraph?

Difficulty Level:   600

Explanation

Choice (A)  is extreme and irrelevant, it shows something by exaggerating it too much. The author is not shocked at all.

Choice (B)  is too general and straight opposite to  choice (A) , It shows the scenario too much normal while it is not that much. It is another side of the extreme.

In  choice (C)  the use of the word  “actually”  is key here. It has a tone of revelation, teaching readers that Long did good things as well as bad.  Choice (C)  is thus the correct answer.

Choices (D)  and  (E)  are out of scope.

Answer: C

naveenpatil1121 · Answer

Hi, What phrase from the passage gives away that the Kingfish was "memorable" as in question 1 option C?

naveenpatil1121 · Answer

3. The last sentence of the passage most likely points to which of the following?

(A) Long’s policies hurt some of the people who he was supposed to represent as an elected official.

How do we know that due to Huey's policies, he was shot at? could be personal rivalry. Additionally how do we know the killer was someone Huey was supposed to represent? Can you please point out the phrasing from the passage that makes these two points clear?

Sajjad1994 · Answer

The passage provides a concise account of Huey Long's life and political career, covering his background, his rise to power, and his political actions and stances. It outlines key events and characteristics of his life, including his tenure as the governor of Louisiana, his populist platform, his  "Share Our Wealth"  program, and his conflict with FDR. While it does touch on some aspects of American politics and regional politics (options A and B), it primarily focuses on presenting a brief biography of Huey Long, discussing his achievements, controversies, and ultimate fate. The passage is not primarily a cautionary tale about the dangers of democracy (option D) or a polemic against radicalism (option E), as its main focus is on providing information about Huey Long's life and political career.

Answer: C

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

3. The last sentence of the passage most likely points to which of the following?

Difficulty Level:   550

Explanation

The safest inference is to take the words of the last sentence — that Long had  “ruined”  the family of the man who shot him — and draw a conclusion that he had hurt people whom he was supposed to help.  Choice (A)  is best.

Answer: A

naveenpatil1121 · Answer

Thats a stretch to assume that. Just because someone "ruined" a person doesn't mean he was supposed to "represent" him. At best the option is half-right. Plus, to assume his policies had a hand in it, is speculation

Huey Long was a traveling salesman, a lawyer, and a world-class demago

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Huey Long was a traveling salesman, a lawyer, and a world-class demago

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