<p>Hi, I need help on answering this CR passage. This is from Barron.</p>
<p>People with a culture of poverty produce very little wealth and receive very little in return. They have a low level of literacy and education, usually do not belong to labor unions, are not members of political parties, generally do not participate in the national welfare agencies, and make very little use of banks, hospitals, department store, museums, or art galleries. They have a critical attitude toward some of the basic institutions of the dominant classes, hatred of the police, mistrust of government and those in high position, and a cynicism which extends even to the church. This gives the culture of poverty a high potential for protest and for being used in political movements aimed against the existing social order. </p>
<p>Question:
By asserting that the culture of poverty can be used by political movements (last sentence), the author is
A. citing a reason for eliminating poverty
B. criticizing the motives of politicians</p>
<p>What do you guys think is the correct answer and why? I couldn’t get the answer as given in the book. Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>I choose A because… I don’t know how to explain. B is too specific, and the tone of the paragraph is not totall critical</p>
<p>Yes you’re right. That’s what the Barron’s book said. But, it seems like there is no direct support in the passage for this answer. Im still confused. Do you have any other explanations? Thank you.</p>
<p>Short passages have only 2-3 questions and most of questions have the anserwers relating to the Topic or author’s attitude. The main topic of the short passage is about the culture of poverty. The author’s attitude is not expressed clearly because the passage is merely narrated about incidents in history.
Go first with answer B. I will find the detailt that is not correct in this answer to get rid of it.
By asserting that the culture of poverty can be used by political movements , the author is
B. criticizing…the motives…of politicians</p>
<p>He does mention about Political. But he doesn’t mention any " motives" of politicans " They have a low level of literacy and education, usually do not belong to labor unions, are not members of political parties " or " They have a critical attitude toward some of the basic institutions of the dominant classes, hatred of the police, mistrust of government and those in high position ". I can’t find any information about it</p>
<p>IMO Barron’s is the prime example of SAT critics call “culture bias”. Either answer could be supported by the details of the passage because both answers require a larger context than the passage supplies. If the passage you supplied is part of a larger passage, then you would have to find your answer there. Also, while Barron’s can supply material for CR practice in the sense than ANY reading practice will help CR in general, don’t expect to see this sort of passage in a real SAT. The passage is, as I said, heavily biased. Such sweeping generalizations about the characteristics of an entire class of people, which includes such a diverse range of individuals, is called ‘stereotyping’, and is specifically avoided by the test writers. A paragraph like the one you provide would bring down the wrath of a wide range of organizations upon the College Board and ETS. They get enough criticism as it is, and they aren’t looking for more.</p>
<p>Like Wood said, the CB tries not to take sides / ask / write about specific religion / population, you most likely wouldn’t see such thing in a real test.
Moreover, the Barron’s questions aren’t made by the test makers, I don’t remember encountering questions so vague in the OG.
And as for the question, he does mention politics but doesn’t mention any politician therefore he couldn’t criticize their motives, he just says negative things about poor populations.</p>