Many Iranian Americans, whether they are immigrants or American-born,

Question

Many Iranian Americans, whether they are immigrants or American-born, identify themselves as being of Persian heritage. This descriptor is a frequent cause for confusion among non-Persians who know the country as Iran and understand Persia to be an antiquated name for the empire that encompassed part of Iran as well as parts of modern-day Pakistan and Afghanistan. Opponents of the term argue that because some Afghani and Pakistani groups refer to themselves as being of Persian heritage, the term loses meaning as a signifier of nationality. However, others argue that just as the English language recognizes Spain rather than España, English speakers should refer to the country as Persia, and not as Iran, which is the Persian translation of the country’s name.    1 
 1. The author is primarily concerned with

A. arguing that English usage of descriptors of nationality should reflect usage within the native languages of the countries in question.
B. clarifying how the fall of the Persian Empire has influenced the terminology that modern citizens of Iran use to define their nationality.
C. distinguishing among three groups that use the same term to describe their national identities.
D. explaining two opposing positions in an argument about the use of a descriptor of national identity.
E. persuading readers that in order for the term Persian to have a clear relationship to nationality, only Iranians, not Afghanis or Pakistanis, should use the term.

2 
 2. Which of the following individuals might describe themselves as Persian?

I. an Afghani-born woman who is a naturalized citizen of Iran
II. an American man born in the United States to Iranian immigrant parents
III. an American woman of English descent who has worked in Pakistan for 15 years

A. I Only
B. II Only
C. III Only
D. I and II Only
E. II and III Only

3 
 3. According to the passage, the ancient Persian Empire

A. covered parts of modern-day Pakistan and Iran and all of modern-day Afghanistan.
B. covered the entirety of the modern-day nations of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran.
C. covered parts of modern-day Afghanistan and Pakistan and all of modern-day Iran.
D. covered all of modern-day Iran and Afghanistan and parts of modern-day Pakistan.
E. covered parts of the modern-day nations of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran.

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Passage # 243 Date: 20 Jul-2023
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Carcass · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION QUESTION #1

This Global question asks you to sum up the passage’s purpose. The author’s tone is one of explanation rather than argument, so you can rule out (A) arguing that . . . and (E) persuading readers . . . right away. The passage explains how the terms Persian and Iranian intersect and provides two perspectives on why one term might be preferable to the other. That’s choice (D). The author does not mention the fall of the Persian Empire, so choice (B) is incorrect. Although three groups are mentioned, the author doesn’t focus on differentiating among them, so (C) isn’t the best summary of the passage, either.

Carcass · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION QUESTION #2

To select the correct choices, you must identify the groups to whom the term Persian applies according to the passage. Since both Iranian and Afghani people may use the descriptor, the woman in (A) could be described as Persian. The first sentence says that both Iranian immigrants and U.S.-born Iranian Americans identify as Persian, so the man in (B) also fits the criteria. However, it is clear that the term refers to heritage or citizenship or both, so it would not be accurate to describe someone of English descent who is an American citizen, choice (C), as Persian.

Carcass · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION QUESTION #3

The verb “cites” indicates that this is a Detail question, so look directly in the passage for the answer. The first two lines of the passage state that Iranian Americans call themselves Persian, and “this descriptor is a frequent cause of confusion among non-Persians.” Bingo. Choice (E) is a perfect match. Choice (A) is a misused detail. It’s a reason why some people oppose the use of the term Persian, not a reason why non-Persians are confused by the term. Similarly, choices (B), (C), and (D) all relate to arguments about whether the term Persian should be used; none of them have anything to do with the cause of some non-Persians’ confusion, which is what the question asks for.

Many Iranian Americans, whether they are immigrants or American-born,

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GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

Many Iranian Americans, whether they are immigrants or American-born,

Prep Toolkit

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

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My Rewards