Early Republics Defined Citizens as Only Male Property Owners and GMAT Reading Comprehension

Reading Passage Question
Early republics defined citizens as only male property owners and excluded all others. Landowning citizens possessed a stake in society; they were public spirited and had the desire and qualifications to participate in decision-making. No one held office for a long period of time, because when citizens rotate in and out of office they avoid corrupting influences. The great Renaissance theorist Niccolo Machiavelli argued in his Discourses on Livy that this public spiritedness promoted virtue the highest ideal a republican citizen could achieve. Rooted in the Latin res publica, the term republic literally means the “public thing.” In the eighteenth century, the American Constitution framers used the word republic, or res publica, to refer to the “common good,” the “public good,” or the “good of all.”

Solution and Explanation

1. The author incorporates the Latin phrase res publica to what likely purpose?

1. To show the depth of his knowledge and education.
2. To show how the founders of America were in thrall to Latin ideas.
3. To show how the concept of a republic is an ancient ideal.
4. To prove that America’s founders misunderstood the phrase.
5. To build a case for a return to the ideals of ancient Rome.

2. Which of the following statements most accurately captures the main point of the passage?

1. Machiavelli created the idea of a republic.
2. The word republic comes from the Latin term res publica.
3. America stole the idea of “a republic.”
4. The concept of a republic now used in America has been developed for thousands of years.
5. Many people do not understand the fundamentals of how government works in a republic.

3. According to the passage, why, in early republics, did no citizens hold office for short periods of time?

1. As landowners, they had other important matters to attend to.
2. Only male property owners could be citizens.
3. Shorter terms of office were more compatible with the agrarian lifestyle of the time.
4. It was difficult to convince people to hold office at all.
5. It was felt that short terms of office reduced the likelihood of corruption.

4. According to the theorist Niccolò Machiavelli, what was the highest idea a republican citizen could achieve?

1. Virtue
2. A republic
3. To be a landowner
4. The “good of all”
5. The “public thing”

5. Which of the following statements is one the author would most likely agree with?

1. Niccolò Machiavelli is greatly misunderstood today.
2. More people should learn to read Latin.
3. The American republic grew out of a number of historical precedents.
4. The American republic perfected prior ideas about governing.
5. It is wrong for only land-holding men to be allowed to vote.

“Early republics defined citizens as only male property owners and”- is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT reading comprehension.

This GMAT Reading Comprehension consists of 5 comprehension questions. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed for the purpose of testing candidates’ abilities in understanding, analyzing, and applying information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare with the help of GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.

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