RC: Some historians contend that conditions in the United S

[nitestr]

Some historians contend that conditions in the United States during the Second World War gave rise to a Line dynamic wartime alliance between trade unions and the African American community, an alliance that advanced the cause of civil rights. They conclude that the postwar demise of this vital alliance constituted a lost opportunity for the civil rights movement that followed the war. Other scholars, however, have portrayed organized labor as defending all along the relatively privileged position of White workers relative to African American workers. Clearly, these two perspectives are not easily reconcilable, but the historical reality is not reducible to one or the other.

Unions faced a choice between either maintaining the prewar status quo or promoting a more inclusive approach that sought for all members the right to participate in the internal affairs of unions, access to skilled and high-paying positions within the occupational hierarchy, and protection against management's arbitrary authority in the workplace. While
union representatives often voiced this inclusive ideal, in practice unions far more often favored entrenched interests. The accelerating development of the civil rights movement
following the Second World War exacerbated the union's dilemma, forcing trade unionists to confront contradictions in their own practices.

1. Which of the following best summarizes a point of view attributed to the historians mentioned in the highlighted text? ('Some historians, line 1')

(A)Trade unions were weakened during the Second World War by their failure to establish a productive relationship with the African American community.

(B)Trade unions and the African American community forged a lasting relationship after the Second World War based on their wartime alliance.

(C) The cause of civil rights was not significantly affected by the wartime alliance between trade unions and the African American community.

(D) The civil rights movement that followed the Second World War forced trade unions to confront contradictions in their practices.

(E) The civil rights movement would have benefited from a postwar continuation of the wartime alliance between trade unions and the African American community.


OA:E
I picked the wrong (B) because none of them looked good to me. Pl help explain how E is correct. Thanks a lot !

[nitestr]

I think i got it. I missed this part "They conclude that the postwar demise of this vital alliance constituted a lost opportunity for the civil rights movement that followed the war"

[RonPurewal]

so we're all good here, then?

[reotokate]

Hi,


1. Which of the following best summarizes a point of view attributed to the historians mentioned in the highlighted text? ('Some historians, line 1')

(A)Trade unions were weakened during the Second World War by their failure to establish a productive relationship with the African American community.

(B)Trade unions and the African American community forged a lasting relationship after the Second World War based on their wartime alliance.

(C) The cause of civil rights was not significantly affected by the wartime alliance between trade unions and the African American community.

(D) The civil rights movement that followed the Second World War forced trade unions to confront contradictions in their practices.

(E) The civil rights movement would have benefited from a postwar continuation of the wartime alliance between trade unions and the African American community.

What's wrong with Choice C?

This group of historians assume the Trade Union's alliance with the African American group caused the civil right movement; however, the alliance didn't continue after WWII, therefore the movement was not caused by the alliance.

Thank you!

[reotokate]

Hi,

The passage is primarily concerned with

A providing a context within which to evaluate opposing viewpoints about a historical phenomenon (Correct Answer)

B identifying a flawed assumption underlying one interpretation of a historical phenomenon

C assessing the merits and weaknesses of a controversial theory about a historical phenomenon

D discussing the historical importance of the development of a wartime alliance

E evaluating evidence used to support a particular interpretation of a historical phenomenon

What does it mean by "providing a context"?

Thank you!

[RonPurewal]

What's wrong with Choice C?

Directly after mentioning that alliance, the passage says that the alliance "advanced the cause of civil rights". So choice (C) is false.

In fact, if you were given a choice stating the exact opposite of what's in choice (C), that choice would be correct.

This group of historians assume the Trade Union's alliance with the African American group caused the civil right movement; however, the alliance didn't continue after WWII,

OK, so the alliance eventually fell apart. But, during the war, it "advanced the cause of civil rights". That statement doesn't suddenly become false.

Analogy: What you're saying here is similar to "The Soviet government in Russia fell apart in the late 1980's. Therefore, the Soviet government never held any power in Russia in the first place."
What about all that time before it fell apart?

[RonPurewal]

What does it mean by "providing a context"?

What's your understanding of these words?

I'm not trying to be an obstructionist here -- I just want to see how you're coming at this. "Providing a context" means, well, providing a context -- there's nothing tricky** here -- so, really, this just boils down to whether you know what a "context" is.
What's your understanding of what a "context" is?

--

**There are a handful of phrases whose interpretation is not immediately obvious and must be memorized (even by native speakers of English). For instance, to call X into question means "to present counterevidence against X", a meaning that's not obvious from just looking at the words.

On the other hand, here you're asking about something that means exactly what the words say, so I'm interested in your sense of what the words say.

[reotokate]

What's wrong with Choice C?

Directly after mentioning that alliance, the passage says that the alliance "advanced the cause of civil rights". So choice (C) is false.

In fact, if you were given a choice stating the exact opposite of what's in choice (C), that choice would be correct.

This group of historians assume the Trade Union's alliance with the African American group caused the civil right movement; however, the alliance didn't continue after WWII,

OK, so the alliance eventually fell apart. But, during the war, it "advanced the cause of civil rights". That statement doesn't suddenly become false.

Analogy: What you're saying here is similar to "The Soviet government in Russia fell apart in the late 1980's. Therefore, the Soviet government never held any power in Russia in the first place."
What about all that time before it fell apart?

Fantastic!! Thank you!

[reotokate]

What does it mean by "providing a context"?

What's your understanding of these words?

I'm not trying to be an obstructionist here -- I just want to see how you're coming at this. "Providing a context" means, well, providing a context -- there's nothing tricky** here -- so, really, this just boils down to whether you know what a "context" is.
What's your understanding of what a "context" is?

--

**There are a handful of phrases whose interpretation is not immediately obvious and must be memorized (even by native speakers of English). For instance, to call X into question means "to present counterevidence against X", a meaning that's not obvious from just looking at the words.

On the other hand, here you're asking about something that means exactly what the words say, so I'm interested in your sense of what the words say.

This is a great way to enhance my understanding! Thanks for asking.

My understanding of "context" is that it's a "venue" or this passage simply provides a painting plate for those two opponents to paint their arguments and let the audience compare which is better. But this answer seems too universal to me since every article is a venue for arguments/conclusions etc.,?

[RonPurewal]

My understanding of "context" is that it's a "venue" or this passage simply provides a painting plate for those two opponents to paint their arguments and let the audience compare which is better.

Exactly what it means.

But this answer seems too universal to me since every article is a venue for arguments/conclusions etc.,?

You're right, in the sense that most articles contain some sort of context.
But remember the task in the problem at hand!
The problem doesn't say "Which of these things happens in the passage?" Instead, it says "With which of these things is the passage primarily concerned?"

Think about what those words mean for a second.
If a passage is PRIMARILY concerned with "providing a context", then the author won't favor one side of the argument over another. In fact, you wrote this yourself, above ("let the audience make the decision").

If the author favors one argument over another -- or, really, passes judgment of any kind whatsoever on the argument(s) presented -- then "providing a context" is no longer the PRIMARY concern of the passage.
In that case, the primary concern would be to favor one argument over another, or to pass judgment.

[RonPurewal]

By the way, one more thing about the problem that you quoted:

Hi,

The passage is primarily concerned with

A providing a context within which to evaluate opposing viewpoints about a historical phenomenon (Correct Answer)

B identifying a flawed assumption underlying one interpretation of a historical phenomenon

C assessing the merits and weaknesses of a controversial theory about a historical phenomenon

D discussing the historical importance of the development of a wartime alliance

E evaluating evidence used to support a particular interpretation of a historical phenomenon

What does it mean by "providing a context"?

Thank you!

Because of the way the wrong answers are written here, you actually don't need to realize anything beyond this:
The passage gives equal treatment to two opposing arguments.

Check out the end of the first paragraph again. The author is saying, basically, "These 2 arguments disagree, but we can't really pick one over the other."

Wham!

Even if a flood comes along and washes away the second paragraph, you've got enough to solve the entire problem.
A/ Two opposing arguments. Keep it.
B/ One interpretation. Eliminate.
C/ A controversial theory (not two). Eliminate.
D/ This choice ignores the second theory, which posits that the wartime alliance didn't exist. Eliminate.
E/ A particular interpretation (not two). Eliminate.

Done.

[reotokate]

My understanding of "context" is that it's a "venue" or this passage simply provides a painting plate for those two opponents to paint their arguments and let the audience compare which is better.

Exactly what it means.

But this answer seems too universal to me since every article is a venue for arguments/conclusions etc.,?

You're right, in the sense that most articles contain some sort of context.
But remember the task in the problem at hand!
The problem doesn't say "Which of these things happens in the passage?" Instead, it says "With which of these things is the passage primarily concerned?"

Think about what those words mean for a second.
If a passage is PRIMARILY concerned with "providing a context", then the author won't favor one side of the argument over another. In fact, you wrote this yourself, above ("let the audience make the decision").

If the author favors one argument over another -- or, really, passes judgment of any kind whatsoever on the argument(s) presented -- then "providing a context" is no longer the PRIMARY concern of the passage.
In that case, the primary concern would be to favor one argument over another, or to pass judgment.

Great Explanation! I salute ya!~~ : )

Have a great day,

[jlucero]

Glad we helped out.

[EricaM909]

Some historians contend that conditions in the United States during the Second World War gave rise to a Line dynamic wartime alliance between trade unions and the African American community, an alliance that advanced the cause of civil rights. They conclude that the postwar demise of this vital alliance constituted a lost opportunity for the civil rights movement that followed the war. Other scholars, however, have portrayed organized labor as defending all along the relatively privileged position of White workers relative to African American workers. Clearly, these two perspectives are not easily reconcilable, but the historical reality is not reducible to one or the other.

Unions faced a choice between either maintaining the prewar status quo or promoting a more inclusive approach that sought for all members the right to participate in the internal affairs of unions, access to skilled and high-paying positions within the occupational hierarchy, and protection against management's arbitrary authority in the workplace. While
union representatives often voiced this inclusive ideal, in practice unions far more often favored entrenched interests. The accelerating development of the civil rights movement
following the Second World War exacerbated the union's dilemma, forcing trade unionists to confront contradictions in their own practices.

1. Which of the following best summarizes a point of view attributed to the historians mentioned in the highlighted text? ('Some historians, line 1')

(A)Trade unions were weakened during the Second World War by their failure to establish a productive relationship with the African American community.

(B)Trade unions and the African American community forged a lasting relationship after the Second World War based on their wartime alliance.

(C) The cause of civil rights was not significantly affected by the wartime alliance between trade unions and the African American community.

(D) The civil rights movement that followed the Second World War forced trade unions to confront contradictions in their practices.

(E) The civil rights movement would have benefited from a postwar continuation of the wartime alliance between trade unions and the African American community.


OA:E
I picked the wrong (B) because none of them looked good to me. Pl help explain how E is correct. Thanks a lot !

Can someone please explain why D is wrong?
The following part of the passage made me think D was correct: "The accelerating development of the civil rights movement following the Second World War exacerbated the union's dilemma, forcing trade unionists to confront contradictions in their own practices."

[RonPurewal]

the question is not just 'What's in the passage?'.
rather, the question is 'What did the first group of historians say/write/think?'

as soon as you see the words Other scholars you should STOP reading, since nothing from that point onward will have any relevance to this question.