Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions as follows:
Passage
Among the men and women prominent in the public life of America, there are but few whose names are mentioned as often as that of Emma Goldman. Yet, the real Emma Goldman is almost quite unknown. The sensational press has surrounded her name with so much misrepresentation and slander, it would seem almost a miracle that, in spite of this web of calumny, the truth breaks through and a better appreciation of this much maligned idealist begins to manifest itself. There is but little consolation in the fact that almost every representative of a new idea has had to struggle and suffer under similar difficulties. Is it of any avail that a former president of a republic pays homage at Osawatomie to the memory of John Brown? Or that the president of another republic participates in the unveiling of a statue in honour of Pierre Proudhon, and holds up his life to the French nation as a model worthy of enthusiastic emulation? Of what avail is all this when, at the same time, the LIVING John Browns and Proudhons are being crucified? The honour and glory of a Mary Wollstonecraft or of a Louise Michel are not enhanced by the City Fathers of London or Paris naming a street after them-the living generation should be concerned with doing justice to the LIVING Mary Wollstonecrafts and Louise Michels. Posterity assigns to men like Wendel Phillips and Lloyd Garrison the proper niche of honour in the temple of human emancipation; but it is the duty of their contemporaries to bring them due recognition and appreciation while they live.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
Try yourself: With which of the following statements would the author most likely agree?
A
The press is primarily responsible for the negative reception that new ideas are greeted with.
B
There is a street in America named after Emma Goldman.
C
Emma Goldman’s contemporaries are partly to be blamed for the way she was treated when she was alive.
D
Presidents don’t usually unveil statues of people.
E
Nobody knows the real Emma Goldman.
Correct Answer: C
(C) clearly follows as the correct answer from the last line of the passage. (A) The press is definitely responsible but there is nothing in the passage to suggest that the press is ‘primarily’ responsible. (B) The author never says that all of these personalities have a street named after them, just that some of them do so Emma Goldman may or may not have a street named after her. (D) Not supported by the information in the passage. (E) Extreme. The first part of the passage clearly states that people do have an understanding of the real Emma Goldman despite all that was written about her in the media.
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MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
Try yourself: What is the main purpose of the author in writing the passage?
A
To criticize the press for slandering Emma Goldman’s name
B
To argue that people should be given credit for their achievements when they are alive and not posthumously
C
To question the intent of those who unveil statues of eminent people after their death but belittle them when they are alive
D
To state that several eminent personalities such as Emma Goldman and John Brown have been unfairly treated in the past
E
To explain that every proponent of a new idea has always had to struggle and face difficulties in putting his or her views across.
Correct Answer: B
The author is primarily stating that people should be given credit for their achievements when they are alive. Thus, (B) is the correct answer. (A), (C), and (D) are too specific; the author has a broader agenda. The use of ‘every’ in (E) makes this option extreme. Also, the author has a slightly different agenda than just merely stating this fact; the author is actually arguing against this fact.
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MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION
Try yourself: Why does the author mention ‘the President of another republic’ in the passage?
A
To assert that every proponent of a new idea has had to face difficulties in the past
B
To state that Pierre Proudhon had been unfairly treated by his contemporaries when he was alive
C
To demonstrate that a situation discussed earlier in the passage is prevalent in every country of the world
D
To provide the example of an incident in which the good work of a person was appreciated only after his death
E
To demand that Pierre Proudhon be given some compensation for the unjust treatment meted out to him when he was alive
Correct Answer: D
The author mentions the President of another country to give an example of a situation in which the work of a person was appreciated after his death. Hence, (D) is the correct answer. (A) The use of ‘every’ makes this extreme. (B) and (E) The author is not specifically concerned with the case of Pierre Proudhon. He is stating a more general observation. (C) The passage makes no claim about ‘all’ countries.
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The document Practice Test: Reading Comprehension - 36 is a part of the GMAT Course 100 RCs for GMAT.
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