- Fri Jan 21, 2011 12:00 am
#24419
Complete Question Explanation
Main Point. The correct answer choice is (B)
To complete this argument, you need to prephrase a conclusion that not only follows logically from the facts presented in the stimulus, but that also matches the overall structure of the argument.
The author differentiates preagricultural societies from modern ones by examining the variety and complexity of social roles required by each. Her subsidiary conclusion (“accordingly…”) focuses on the effect of limited social roles on the type of interpersonal relations found in preagricultural societies. Since the second part of the argument attempts to differentiate modern societies from earlier ones (“on the other hand”), you should expect that her main conclusion will discuss the effect of multiple social roles on interpersonal relations found in modern societies. Since preagricultural societies had interpersonal relations that were stable and predictable, we can expect that the relations in modern societies will be the exact opposite, i.e. less stable and less predictable. Answer choice (B) is therefore correct.
Answer choice (A): There is no reason to suspect that the complexity and multiplicity of social roles today has led to greater injustice and unpleasantness. Such a conclusion would fall outside the scope of this argument.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. See discussion above.
Answer choice (C): We have no reason to suspect that the variety of social roles is the most important difference between modern and preagricultural societies. Even if it were, this answer choice fails to address the effect of these social roles on interpersonal relationships, which is the main point of the argument.
Answer choice (D): You were hopefully able to eliminate this answer choice pretty quickly, as it has no support in the stimulus and is completely outside the scope of the argument.
Answer choice (E): This answer choice is the exact opposite of what the stimulus suggests: preagricultural societies did have stable interpersonal relations due to the predictable nature of their social roles.
Main Point. The correct answer choice is (B)
To complete this argument, you need to prephrase a conclusion that not only follows logically from the facts presented in the stimulus, but that also matches the overall structure of the argument.
The author differentiates preagricultural societies from modern ones by examining the variety and complexity of social roles required by each. Her subsidiary conclusion (“accordingly…”) focuses on the effect of limited social roles on the type of interpersonal relations found in preagricultural societies. Since the second part of the argument attempts to differentiate modern societies from earlier ones (“on the other hand”), you should expect that her main conclusion will discuss the effect of multiple social roles on interpersonal relations found in modern societies. Since preagricultural societies had interpersonal relations that were stable and predictable, we can expect that the relations in modern societies will be the exact opposite, i.e. less stable and less predictable. Answer choice (B) is therefore correct.
Answer choice (A): There is no reason to suspect that the complexity and multiplicity of social roles today has led to greater injustice and unpleasantness. Such a conclusion would fall outside the scope of this argument.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. See discussion above.
Answer choice (C): We have no reason to suspect that the variety of social roles is the most important difference between modern and preagricultural societies. Even if it were, this answer choice fails to address the effect of these social roles on interpersonal relationships, which is the main point of the argument.
Answer choice (D): You were hopefully able to eliminate this answer choice pretty quickly, as it has no support in the stimulus and is completely outside the scope of the argument.
Answer choice (E): This answer choice is the exact opposite of what the stimulus suggests: preagricultural societies did have stable interpersonal relations due to the predictable nature of their social roles.