Reading passage question
For over 300 years, one of the most enduring beliefs among historians of England has been that the character of English society has been shaped by the unique openness of its ruling elite to entry by self-made entrepreneurs (especially newly wealthy merchants) able to buy their way into the ranks of elite society. This upward mobility, historians have argued, allowed England to escape the clash between those with social/political power and those with economic power, a conflict that beset the rest of Europe during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Upward mobility was also used to explain England’s exceptional stability since the late seventeenth century (no revolutions, for example), as well as such major events as the development of the most efficient agricultural system in Europe, the making of the first industrial revolution, and the onset of severe economic decline.
But is the thesis true? Recent work on the supposed consequences of an open elite has already produced some doubts. Little credence, for example, is now accorded the idea that England’s late nineteenth-century economic decline resulted from absentee business owners too distracted by the demands of elite life to manage their firms properly. But, although the importance of an open elite to other major events has been severely questioned, it is only with a new work by Lawrence and Jeanne Stone that the openness itself has been confronted. Eschewing the tack of tracing the careers of successful entrepreneurs to gauge the openness of the elite, the Stones chose the alternative approach of analyzing the elite itself, and proceeded via the ingenious route of investigating country-house ownership.
Arguing that ownership of a country house was seen as essential for membership in the ruling elite, the Stones analyze the nature of country-house ownership in three counties for the period 1540-1880. Their critical findings are provocative: there was strikingly little change in the ownership of such houses throughout the period. Instead, even in the face of a demographic crisis (fewer marriages, declining fertility, rising infant mortality), the old elite was able to maintain itself, and its estates, intact for centuries through recourse to various marriage and inheritance strategies. The popular picture of venerable elite families overcome by debt and selling out to merchants is simply not borne out by the Stones’ findings. Rather, the opportunities for entrepreneurs to buy their way into the elite, the Stones show, were extremely limited. If further studies of country-house ownership attest to the representativeness and accuracy of their data, then the Stones’ conclusion that the open elite thesis cannot be maintained may, indeed, prove true.
“For over 300 years, One Of the Most Enduring Beliefs Among Historians”- is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates must have a solid grip in English GMAT reading comprehension.
There are 9 comprehension questions in the above GMAT Reading Comprehension passages. GMAT Reading Comprehension Questions are delineated to evaluate candidates’ abilities to analyze and be conceptual for the answers. Candidates can brace up and take preparation by answering GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.
Solution and Explanation
- According to the passage, one of the traditional explanations of England’s late nineteenth-century economic decline has been that it resulted from the
(A) tendency of the ruling elite to pursue conservative rather than innovative economic policies
(B) failure of business entrepreneurs to reduce the power of the ruling elite in English society
(C) investment of large amounts of capital in the purchase and maintenance of country houses
(D) tendency of business owners to attempt to retain control of their firms within their families
(E) failure of leading business entrepreneurs to pay close attention to their firms
Answer: E
Explanation: It is mentioned in the second paragraph that based on the recent work on the presumed effect of an elite has already produced some doubts. With small acceptance, for example, is now approved the idea that England’s late nineteenth century’s economic decline resulted from absentee business owners. This is diverted by the demands of elite life to manage their firms in a proper way. Therefore, option (E) will be best suitable for the above passage.
- The author suggests that which of the following was true of most European elites during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries?
(A) The ranks of these elites were generally closed to most business entrepreneurs.
(B) The elites generally dominated industrial development.
(C) Status within these elites was generally determined by the amount of land owned.
(D) These elites generally were able to maintain their power unchallenged.
(E) The power of these elites generally forestalled the development of a large class of self-made entrepreneurs.
Answer: D
Explanation: Option (D) is suited for the above passage because it is clearly written in paragraph. For more than 300 years, the most enduring beliefs among historians of England was that the character of English society, patterned by the unique acceptance. Ruling elite to entry by self-made executives, basically newly wealthy merchants, are able to buy their way into the ranks of elite society. This advancement, which historians have argued, allowed England to break out from the clash between those with social/political power. Those with economic power, a clash that opposed the rest of Europe during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
- Traditional historians of England, as they are described in the passage, would be most likely to agree with which of the following statements regarding open elites?
(A) They develop more easily in agricultural rather than industrial societies.
(B) They develop in response to particular sets of economic conditions.
(C) They tend to unite some of the powerful groups in a society.
(D) They tend to reduce class distinctions based on income in a society.
(E) They tend to insure adequate distribution of material goods in a society.
Answer: B
Explanation: Option(B) is correct because in the second paragraph it is clearly written that based on the recent work on the supposed outcomes. This outcome’s open elite has already created some doubts. For little assurance is now approved the idea that England’s late nineteenth century’s economic decline appeared from absentee business owners. It is also diverted by the demands of elite life to manage their firms in a proper manner.
- The tone of the passage suggests that the author regards the Stones’ methodological approach as
(A) problematic
(B) difficult
(C) controversi
(D) rigorous
(E) clever
Answer: E
Explanation: Here option(E) is correct, as mentioned in the last paragraph that the opportunities for the administrators to buy their way into elite. The Stones show was extremely limited and it also states that further studies of country-house ownership indicates representativeness. Also efficiency of their data, then the Stone’s outcome that the open elite thesis cannot be maintained may, absolutely proves correct.
- Which of the following best states the main idea of the passage?
(A) Assumptions about the nature of England’s ruling elite can no longer be used with certitude to explain many major economic developments.
(B) The concept of the open elite is of paramount importance in explaining major English political, social, and economic events.
(C) The long-standing belief that England possessed a remarkably open ruling elite has recently been subjected to important and potentially lethal criticism.
(D) Although many possibilities are available, the most reliable means of testing the truth of the ‘open elite’ hypothesis is to analyze changes in the composition of the elite.
(E) An analysis of English country-house ownership in England indicates that there were few opportunities for merchants to buy the estates of old members of the landed elite.
Answer: A
Explanation: Option(A) will be perfect, because it is clearly mentioned in the 2nd paragraph’s first line. It states that the latter work on the supposed reactions of an elite has created some dilemmas, which is the reason, it is mentioned that “But is the thesis true?”. Also in the last lines of paragraph number 3, it is mentioned that the freedom for the administrators to buy their way into the elite. The Stones show, were much narrowed and further studies of country-house ownership accurate to the ownership attest to the representativeness. Also attest the efficiency of their data proving Stones’ conclusion about the proof of the open elite thesis, which cannot be retained.
- Which of the following can be inferred from the Stones’ findings about English country-house ownership in the three counties during the period 1540-1880?
(A) Little change in the number or size of English country houses occurred during this period.
(B) Wealthy business owners constituted a growing percentage of English country-house owners during this period.
(C) Most of the families that owned country houses at the beginning of this period continued to own them at the end.
(D) The most significant changes in English country-house ownership occurred during the second half of this period.
(E) Self-made entrepreneurs were able to enter the ranks of the English country-house owners during this period only through marriage.
Answer: C
Explanation: In the beginning of paragraph number 3, about the disagreement that ownership of a country house was seen as vital for membership for the ruling elite. Stones consider the nature of a country-house ownership in three countries during the time span from the year 1540 to 1880. Their analytical findings are annoying as there was strikingly little change in the ownership of such houses all over that period of time. Thus, option (C) will be appropriate for the above question.
- The primary purpose of the passage is to
(A) resolve a debate between two schools of thought.
(B) Present research that questions an established view.
(C) Describe and criticize a new approach.
(D) Defend a traditional interpretation against recent criticisms.
(E) Analyze possible approaches to resolving a long-standing controversy.
Answer: B
Explanation: Option (B) is applicable here because the first line of the 2nd paragraph states that recent work on the supposed consequences. Open elite has already produced some confusion, that’s why it is mentioned that “But is the thesis true?”. Then in the last two lines of 3rd paragraph, it is stated that the opportunities for the administrators to buy their way into the elite. The Stones show was extremely narrow. If further studies of country-house ownership authenticate to the ownership attest to the representativeness and efficiency of their data. Therefore the Stones’ conclusion that the open elite thesis cannot be preserved, surely proves to be correct.
- The Stones suggest that major problems facing the English elite during the period 1540-1880 included which of the following?
- A reduction in the number of their offspring
- An increase in the amount of their indebtedness
- A decline in their political and social power
(A) I only
(B) III only
(C) I and II only
(D) II and III only
(E) I, II, and III
Answer: A
Explanation: The option(A) is the correct answer apart from the other options, because we can see in the 3rd paragraph that during the time span from 1540-1880. Instead, even in the face of an analytical crisis( lesser marriages, declining fertility, growing infant mortality), the old elite was able to sustain itself. It estates, intact for centuries through recourse to various marriage and endowment strategies. The very prominent picture of unsafe elite families overcome by debt and selling out to the merchants is basically not produced out of the Stone’s findings.
- The author suggests that the Stones’ conclusions about the openness of the English elite would be strengthened by future studies that
(A) pay more attention to other recent historical works
(B) include more data on factors other than country-house ownership
(C) concentrate more on the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries
(D) expand the area of research to include more counties
(E) focus more on successful business entrepreneurs
Answer: D
Explanation: The option(D) highlights the keys of the above questions, as it is given in the last line of the 3rd paragraph. It states that the popular picture of susceptible elite families overcome by liability and selling out to the merchants. This is not endured by the Stone’s findings. Although, if further studies of country-house ownership attest to the representativeness. Also accuracy of their data, then the Stone’s outcome about the open-elite thesis cannot be continued.This may certainly be authorized to be true.
Suggested GMAT Reading Comprehension Samples:
- Jacob Burckhardt’s View that Renaissance European Women Stood on GMAT Reading Comprehension
- J. G. A. Pocock’s Numerous Investigations have all Revolved Around GMAT Reading Comprehension
- I Want To Criticize The Social System, And To Show It At Work GMAT Reading Comprehension
- In 1905, The Supreme Court Of The United States Decided On The Case GMAT Reading Comprehension
- The Dynamic Growth Of The People’s Republic Of China In Recent Years GMAT Reading Comprehension
- To Understand John Rawls's Theory Of Justice, One First Needs To Grasp GMAT Reading Comprehension
- Environmental Concern and Development are Inextricably Linked GMAT Reading Comprehension
- In the Pantheon of Great Thinkers, Karl Marx Certainly Ranks as one of the Most Influential GMAT Reading Comprehension
- The Classical Realist Theory of International Relations has long Dominated GMAT Reading Comprehension
- The Relevance of Formal Economic Models to Real-World Policy GMAT Reading Comprehension
- In General, the Impossible must be Justified by Reference to Artistic GMAT Reading Comprehension
- "Popular Art" has a Number of Meanings, Impossible to Define GMAT Reading Comprehension
- Freud is Considered an Early Expert on the Subject of Grief GMAT Reading Comprehension
- In a recent telephone survey of over 6,000 Americans GMAT Reading Comprehension
- From the time they were first proposed, the 1962 GMAT Reading Comprehension
- The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution GMAT Reading Comprehension
- M. Norton Wise's examination of the calorimeter, a machine invented GMAT Reading Comprehension
- From Inquiry into Religious Matters and Inquiry into the Phenomena of Nature GMAT Reading Comprehension
- In an Unfinished But Highly Suggestive Series of Essays, the Late Sarah Eisenstein GMAT Reading Comprehension
- Prior To The Fall Of The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) GMAT Reading Comprehension
Comments