Historians who study European women of the Renaissance try

Question

This topic is locked.  
Active discussion of this passage is here:  https://gmatclub.com/forum/historians-who-study-european-women-of-the-renaissance-try-to-measure-268528.html

Historians who study European women of the Renaissance try to measure “independence,” “options,” and other indicators of the degree to which the expression of women’s individuality was either permitted or suppressed. Influenced by Western individualism, these historians define a peculiar form of personhood: an innately bounded unit, autonomous and standing apart from both nature and society. An anthropologist, however, would contend that a person can be conceived in ways other than as an “individual.” In many societies a person’s identity is not intrinsically unique and self-contained but instead is defined within a complex web of social relationships.

In her study of the fifteenth-century Florentine widow Alessandra Strozzi, a historian who specializes in European women of the Renaissance attributes individual intention and authorship of actions to her subject. This historian assumes that Alessandra had goals and interests different from those of her sons, yet much of the historian’s own research reveals that Alessandra acted primarily as a champion of her sons’ interests, taking their goals as her own. Thus Alessandra conforms more closely to the anthropologist’s notion that personal motivation is embedded in a social context. Indeed, one could argue that Alessandra did not distinguish her personhood from that of her sons. In Renaissance Europe the boundaries of the conceptual self were not always firm and closed and did not necessarily coincide with the boundaries of the bodily self.  Q35:The passage suggests that the historian mentioned in the second paragraph (lines 5-9) would be most likely to agree with which of the following assertions regarding Alessandra Strozzi?
A. Alessandra was able to act more independently than most women of her time because she was a widow.
B. Alessandra was aware that her personal motivation was embedded in a social context.
C. Alessandra had goals and interests similar to those of many other widows in her society.
D. Alessandra is an example of a Renaissance woman who expressed her individuality through independent action.
E. Alessandra was exceptional because she was able to effect changes in the social constraints placed upon women in her society.
 1 
 D

Q36:It can be inferred that the author of the passage believes which of the following about the study of Alessandra Strozzi done by the historian mentioned in the second paragraph (lines 5-9)?
A. Alessandra was atypical of her time and was therefore an inappropriate choice for the subject of the historian’s research.
B. In order to bolster her thesis, the historian adopted the anthropological perspective on personhood.
C. The historian argues that the boundaries of the conceptual self were not always firm and closed in Renaissance Europe.
D. In her study, the historian reverts to a traditional approach that is out of step with the work of other historians of Renaissance Europe.
E. The interpretation of Alessandra’s actions that the historian puts forward is not supported by much of the historian’s research.
 2 
 E

Q37:In the first paragraph, the author of the passage mentions a contention that would be made by an anthropologist most likely in order to
A. present a theory that will be undermined in the discussion of a historian’s study later in the passage
B. offer a perspective on the concept of personhood that can usefully be applied to the study of women in Renaissance Europe
C. undermine the view that the individuality of European women of the Renaissance was largely suppressed
D. argue that anthropologists have applied the Western concept of individualism in their research
E. lay the groundwork for the conclusion that Alessandra’s is a unique case among European women of the Renaissance whose lives have been studied by historians
 3 
 B

marcodonzelli · Answer

35、 D
36、 E
37、 B

Stiv · Answer

A little bit of a struggle. My answers: D B B

SOURH7WK · Answer

In 7:59 Mins. My Pick DEB. 
Third one is a guess. Don't know why B is correct in 3rd Qs.

nirakrish · Answer

BBB for me..
What are the OAs?

Carcass · Answer

B C B after OA we cn talk about answers

ranjeet75 · Answer

35 B 
36 C
37 B

Time Spent: 7.27 Min

Please post OAs

Dannie · Answer

BCA OA please. Why everybody is on B for the last one? Cheero :-D

Carcass · Answer

because in the first paragraph there is nothing related to a theory

Historians who study European
women of the Renaissance  try to mea-
sure  “independence,” “options,” and
other indicators of the degree to which
(5) the expression of women’s individuality
was either permitted or suppressed.
Influenced by Western individualism,
these  historians define  a peculiar form
of personhood: an innately bounded
(10) unit, autonomous and standing apart
from both nature and society. An
anthropologist, however,  would contend
that  a person can be conceived in ways
other than as an “individual.”

:D

akrish1982 · Answer

I dont think the original poster is going to post back the oa's i found this link with 2 answers to qns 2 and 3 above. they are B and E OA's 2) B 3) E any-explanation-rc-77608.html

Carcass · Answer

Please marcodonzelli provide OA and source of the passage

prashant617 · Answer

35 . D 
36 . E
37. B
 Do we have the OA answers

roopika2990 · Answer

Can anyone explain all the answers for this passage ... i got all f them wrong

Alpach · Answer

The passage is easy but the questions are very tough

. IMO 1D 2E 3B. Could anyone post the OAs ?

prasannajeet · Answer

My take is 
B
E
B
took 8 min..seeking the answer to make sure in question I got wrong......

JarvisR · Answer

Tricky !! 
Time taken 8mins.
1&3 correct.

Q35:The passage suggests that the historian mentioned in the second paragraph (lines 5-9) would be most likely to agree with which of the following assertions regarding Alessandra Strozzi?
A. Alessandra was able to act more independently than most women of her time because she was a widow.
B. Alessandra was aware that her personal motivation was embedded in a social context.
C. Alessandra had goals and interests similar to those of many other widows in her society.
 D. Alessandra is an example of a Renaissance woman who expressed her individuality through independent action.
>>In her study of the fifteenth-century Florentine widow Alessandra Strozzi, a historian who specializes in European women of the Renaissance attributes individual intention and authorship of actions to her subject. This historian assumes that Alessandra had goals and interests different from those of her sons 
E. Alessandra was exceptional because she was able to effect changes in the social constraints placed upon women in her society.

Q36:It can be inferred that the author of the passage believes which of the following about the study of Alessandra Strozzi done by the historian mentioned in the second paragraph (lines 5-9)?
A. Alessandra was atypical of her time and was therefore an inappropriate choice for the subject of the historian’s research.
B. In order to bolster her thesis, the historian adopted the anthropological perspective on personhood.
C. The historian argues that the boundaries of the conceptual self were not always firm and closed in Renaissance Europe.
D. In her study, the historian reverts to a traditional approach that is out of step with the work of other historians of Renaissance Europe.
 E. The interpretation of Alessandra’s actions that the historian puts forward is not supported by much of the historian’s research.
>> For me it was between D and E. But I agree that E is correct. E is more explicit from passage.
This historian assumes that Alessandra had goals and interests different from those of her sons, yet much of the historian’s own research reveals that Alessandra acted primarily as a champion of her sons’ interests, taking their goals as her own. Thus Alessandra conforms more closely to the anthropologist’s notion that personal motivation is embedded in a social context.

Q37:In the first paragraph, the author of the passage mentions a contention that would be made by an anthropologist most likely in order to
A. present a theory that will be undermined in the discussion of a historian’s study later in the passage
B. offer a perspective on the concept of personhood that can usefully be applied to the study of women in Renaissance Europe
 >>An anthropologist, however, would contend that a person can be conceived in ways other than as an “individual.” In many societies a person’s identity is not intrinsically unique and self-contained but instead is defined within a complex web of social relationships.
 C. undermine the view that the individuality of European women of the Renaissance was largely suppressed
D. argue that anthropologists have applied the Western concept of individualism in their research
E. lay the groundwork for the conclusion that Alessandra’s is a unique case among European women of the Renaissance whose lives have been studied by historians

logblogger89 · Answer

D B B. 
I think I understand why the answer to second question is E and not B. 
Its not the historian who adapts/reverts to the anthropological notion of individuality during Renaissance, rather the author interprets the historian's findings to be more in line with the anthropological perspective.

iamdp · Answer

Q35:The passage suggests that the historian mentioned in the second paragraph (lines 5-9) would be most likely to agree with which of the following assertions regarding Alessandra Strozzi?
A. Alessandra  was able to act  more independently  than most women  of her time because she was a widow. EXTREME
B. Alessandra  was aware  that her personal motivation was embedded in a social context. Nobody talked about what Alessandra thought
C. Alessandra had goals and interests  similar to those of many other widows  in her society.No comparison with other widows
  D. Alessandra is an example of a Renaissance woman who expressed her individuality through independent action.   Exactly 
E. Alessandra was  exceptional  because she was able to effect changes in the social constraints placed upon women in her society.EXTREME

Q36:It can be inferred that the author of the passage believes which of the following about the study of Alessandra Strozzi done by the historian mentioned in the second paragraph (lines 5-9)?
A. Alessandra was  atypical  of her time and was therefore  an inappropriate choice  for the subject of the historian’s research. 
B.  In order to  bolster her thesis, the historian adopted the anthropological perspective on personhood. Not in order to but his research proved what he assumed or contended 
 C. The historian argues that the boundaries of the conceptual self were not always firm and closed in Renaissance Europe.  > Always remember that Inference is not stated directly in the passage but is logical & this choice is directly stated.
D. In her study, the historian reverts to a traditional approach that is out of step  with the work of other historians  of Renaissance Europe. No comparision made with the work of other historians.
 E. The interpretation of Alessandra’s actions that the historian puts forward is not supported by much of the historian’s research.  Bingo..!! First paragraph starting lines oppose the historian perspective and the approach or view is different

Q37:In the first paragraph, the author of the passage mentions a contention that would be made by an anthropologist most likely in order to
A. present a theory that will be  undermined  in the discussion of a historian’s study later in the passage
 B. offer a perspective on the concept of personhood that can usefully be applied to the study of women in Renaissance Europe 
C.  undermine the view  that the individuality of European women of the Renaissance was largely suppressed
D.  argue  that anthropologists have applied the Western concept of individualism in their research
E. lay the groundwork for the conclusion that Alessandra’s is  a unique case  among European women of the Renaissance whose lives have been studied by historians

Look for all the red words. All of them are of the track. The viewpoint is stated and dr's no argument and nothing is undermined

rohan89 · Answer

i got D B E...and RC is useless if the original poster does not post the OA

alokspa · Answer

D C D 1/3

CAN SOMEPNE PLEASE EXPLAIN 2ND & 3RD

Historians who study European women of the Renaissance try

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