Reading Passage Question
Writing of the Iroquois nation, Smith has argued that through the chiefs’ council, tribal chiefs traditionally maintained complete control over the political affairs of both the Iroquois tribal league and the individual tribes belonging to the league, whereas the sole jurisdiction over religious affairs resided with the shamans. According to Smith, this division was maintained until the late nineteenth century, when the dissolution of the chiefs’ council and the consequent diminishment of the chiefs’ political power fostered their increasing involvement in religious affairs.
However, Smith fails to recognize that this division of power between the tribal chiefs and shamans was not actually rooted in Iroquois tradition; rather, it resulted from the Iroquois’ resettlement on reservations early in the nineteenth century. Prior to resettlement, the chiefs’ council controlled only the broad policy of the tribal league; individual tribes had institutions—most important, the longhouse—to govern their own affairs. In the longhouse, the tribe’s chief influenced both political and religious affairs.
“Writing of the Iroquois nation, Smith has argued that through the”- is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates must have a solid grasp on English GMAT reading comprehension. There are four comprehension questions in this GMAT Reading Comprehension section. GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed to evaluate candidates' abilities to comprehend, analyze, and apply information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare by answering GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.
Solutions and Explanation
- The primary purpose of the passage is to
(A) question the published conclusions of a scholar concerning the history of the Iroquois nation
(B) establish the relationship between an earlier scholar’s work and new anthropological research
(C) summarize scholarly controversy concerning an incident from Iroquois history
(D) trace two generations of scholarly opinion concerning Iroquois social institutions
(E) differentiate between Iroquois political practices and Iroquois religious practices
Answer: (A)
Explanation: The first option is the correct answer, while the remaining options are all incorrect answers. The second option contains information that was not discussed, so it is out of scope. The same holds true for the third and fourth options. The final option is also invalid because, while the statement may be considered, it is not accurate. Finally, the first option is the correct answer.
- It can be inferred that the author of the passage regards Smith’s argument as
(A) provocative and potentially useful, but flawed by poor organization
(B) eloquently presented, but needlessly inflammatory
(C) accurate in some of its particulars, but inaccurate with regard to an important point
(D) historically sound, but overly detailed and redundant
(E) persuasive in its time, but now largely outdated
Answer: (C)
Explanation: The first option is incorrect because the author does not imply that it is provocative, nor does he identify a reason for his flaws. The second option should be eliminated for the same reason as the first. The fourth option is also incorrect because no mention of details or redundancy is made. The final option is also invalid because it is too far-fetched. As a result, the third option is the most appropriate response.
- The author of the passage implies that which of the following occurred after the Iroquois were resettled on reservations early in the nineteenth century?
(A) Chiefs became more involved in their tribe’s religious affairs.
(B) The authority of the chief’s council over the affairs of individual tribes increased.
(C) The political influence of the Iroquois shamans was diminished.
(D) Individual tribes coalesced into the Iroquois tribal league.
(E) The longhouse because a political rather than a religious institution.
Answer: (A)
Explanation: The first option is the most appropriate answer, while the others are all incorrect. The second option is inconsistent. The statement in the third option contains distorted information. The fourth option includes a statement that contains information that was not previously discussed. The final option is an odd choice because it appears to be grammatically incorrect.
- Which of the following best expresses an opinion presented by the author of the passage?
(A) Smith has overstated the importance of the political role played by Iroquois tribal chiefs in the nineteenth century.
(B) Smith has overlooked the fact that the Iroquois rarely allowed their shamans to exercise political authority.
(C) Smith has failed to explain why the chief’s council was dissolved late in the nineteenth century.
(D) Smith has failed to acknowledge the role prior to the nineteenth century of the Iroquois tribal chiefs in religious affairs.
(E) Smith has failed to recognize that the very structure of Iroquois social institutions reflects religious beliefs.
Answer: (D)
Explanation: The first option is incorrect because the line "chief's council controlled only" refers to the time before the resettlement, that is before the 19th century. The second option is incorrect because the primary focus is not on the shamans. The third option is also not the main focus, so it is incorrect. The final option can be eliminated because it is not a suitable response. Finally, the fourth option is the correct answer.
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