Despite the strict social structure of medieval society, the medieval

Question

Despite the strict social structure of medieval society, the medieval pilgrimage, made famous by Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, provided an opportunity to lower the social bar. During the pilgrimage, all of the pilgrims were expected to remain together in the same inn during a break in the journey. All talked together, and all worshipped together. In Chaucer’s vision of the pilgrimage, each of the pilgrims is asked to tell four tales, with the winner decided by popular vote. Social standing was not a prerequisite for a good story, and each had equal right to the reward. Nevertheless, The Canterbury Tales also indicates that the social structure did not disappear entirely on the pilgrimage: each of the pilgrims is initially introduced by order of social position—from the knight to the parson—and the tales are told in the order of introduction. While Chaucer’s account is largely fictional, the historicity of his presentation remains unchallenged.

Which of the following best summarizes the main point of the passage above?

(A) Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales records the details of medieval pilgrimages authentically.

(B) The pilgrimage provided an opportunity for social barriers to vanish, however temporarily, during the Middle Ages.

(C) As indicated in The Canterbury Tales, storytelling was a traditional means of polite entertainment during the medieval pilgrimage.

(D) The medieval pilgrimage presented an opportunity for a relaxed social structure, but as The Canterbury Tales indicates, this social structure did not cease to function altogether.

(E) The medieval pilgrimage offered a chance for people from all walks of life to join together in a common activity, regardless of social position.

Bunuel · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Overview:

Question is another question that requires the student to select an answer choice best summarizing the main point. Again, the student must look for the answer choice that draws out the primary focuses of the paragraph and combines them into a single statement. In this question, the author of the passage notes several important facts: (1) the medieval pilgrimage was an “opportunity to lower the social bar” because the pilgrims all lived and journeyed together, (2) Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales is a story about the tales that pilgrims tell during the medieval pilgrimage, and (3) The Canterbury Tales suggests that social structure still remained in place even on the pilgrimage. The correct answer choice will incorporate all of these elements.

The Correct Answer:

D Considering the explanation in the Overview above, answer choice (D) best brings all three elements together in a summary statement of the passage. Answer choice (D) is correct.

The Incorrect Answers:

A, C While the author of the passage does mention Chaucer as describing the medieval pilgrimage, there is no mention of whether or not Chaucer’s account is authentic. As the author seems to rely on it for making the point about the retained social structure, it stands to reason that the story has some authenticity; but this is not a question about inferences but rather about the main point. Answer choice (A) cannot be said to summarize the main point, so it is incorrect. As for answer choice (C), the author of the passage does not discuss whether or not storytelling was a common means of entertainment on the medieval pilgrimage. Such an argument might be inferred from the passage, but it is not the main point. Answer choice (C) is also incorrect.

B, E The author does make a point similar to the one in answer choices (B) and (E), but neither is the main point; they are only a part of it. Therefore, answer choices (B) and (E) contain insufficient summaries and are incorrect.

unraveled · Answer

Despite the strict social structure of medieval society, the medieval pilgrimage, made famous by Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, provided an opportunity to lower the social bar. During the pilgrimage, all of the pilgrims were expected to remain together in the same inn during a break in the journey. All talked together, and all worshipped together. In Chaucer’s vision of the pilgrimage, each of the pilgrims is asked to tell four tales, with the winner decided by popular vote. Social standing was not a prerequisite for a good story, and each had equal right to the reward.  Nevertheless , The Canterbury Tales also indicates that the social structure did not disappear entirely on the pilgrimage: each of the pilgrims is initially introduced by order of social position—from the knight to the parson—and the tales are told in the order of introduction. While Chaucer’s account is largely fictional, the historicity of his presentation remains unchallenged.

Which of the following best summarizes the main point of the passage above?

The keyword to pay most attention to is 'nevertheless'. Before that passage tells us about the relaxed social norms during pilgrimage and after that it points out an important social feature that one may think was relaxed.

(A) Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales records the details of medieval pilgrimages  authentically .

(B) The pilgrimage provided an opportunity for social barriers to vanish, however temporarily,  during the Middle Ages .

(C) As indicated in The Canterbury Tales,  storytelling  was a traditional means of polite entertainment during the medieval pilgrimage.

(D) The medieval pilgrimage presented an opportunity for a relaxed social structure,  but  as The Canterbury Tales indicates, this social structure  did not cease  to function altogether.

(E) The medieval pilgrimage offered a chance for people from all walks of life to join together in a common activity,  regardless  of social position.

The wrong ones are eliminated for the highlighted red text. 
Only E stands some ground but losses out for contradicting the passage about social position. 
In D, 'but' does the work that 'nevertheless' did in the passage.

Answer D.

Despite the strict social structure of medieval society, the medieval

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Despite the strict social structure of medieval society, the medieval

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

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

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