Critical Analysis & Reasoning Skills Practice Questions: 1 | Critical Analysis & Reasoning Skills for MCAT PDF Download

Hope and fear are two crucial emotions in politics, as they both revolve around an uncertain future with possibilities for cultural growth or social decay. They are inseparable, as we fear unrealized aspirations and hope that our anxieties prove unwarranted. While one emotion may dominate an era, the other can only be temporarily suppressed, as seen in the rise of hope in US politics after the fear-based "War on Terror" campaign.

Considering the significance of hope and fear in politics, it is undeniable that the most politically relevant works of fiction are utopian and dystopian novels. The term "utopia," coined by Sir Thomas More, combines the ideas of a "good place" (eutopos) and a "no place" (outopos). More's 1516 book Utopia is considered the foundational text for both genres, although the literary construction of ideal societies can be traced back to Plato's Republic almost two millennia earlier. Utopian fiction celebrates human potential, especially the power of reason, which is believed to be capable of creating a more perfect world than what arbitrary forces of nature and tradition have produced.

The first significant dystopian novel, Yevgeny Zamyatin's We, was not published until 1921, more than four centuries after More's Utopia. We depicts the dark side of human reason, known as "instrumental rationality," a robotic logic that values efficiency for its own sake and treats citizens as mere means to advance political ends that are left unquestioned. Zamyatin's characters in the novel are assigned numbers instead of names and treated accordingly. Instrumental rationality is evident in other iconic dystopias, such as Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four, Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, and Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games. While each novel presents a unique vision of a dire future, they all portray humans as mere components in a dysfunctional social machine, whose underlying illogical nature contradicts the seemingly orderly operations of daily life.

Similar to their emotional counterparts, utopia and dystopia share deep structural similarities. Each emphasizes the fate of the transgressor, an individual who prioritizes personal desires over the rigid imperatives of the state. Such individuals, akin to cancerous cells within a physical body, cannot be tolerated within the body politic. However, the analogy is imperfect, as a tumor does not possess emotions. From the perspective of the transgressor, more commonly explored in dystopian novels, the well-functioning social machine becomes a torture apparatus. Maintaining a system that runs contrary to nature requires a tremendous amount of toil and violence; blood, sweat, and tears become the most effective lubricants of social order.

Ironically, utopias and dystopias are designed to be unchanging and self-perpetuating, which eliminates the possibility of true politics. A certain future in these genres leads to either despair or confidence, but not the restless blend of hope and fear that accompanies uncertainty. In other words, both genres present human coexistence as a problem and view the state as its solution. Utopian novels seek to answer the political question, while dystopian works challenge the emerging answer. The most profound speculative political fiction rejects this dynamic entirely, suggesting that the true problem lies in perceiving human life as a problem to be solved.

Q.1. According to the passage, which of the following accurately describes the relationship between hope and fear in politics?
(a) Hope and fear are mutually exclusive emotions.
(b) Fear is the dominant emotion, while hope is suppressed in political settings.
(c) Hope and fear are inseparable, always accompanying each other.
(d) Fear is more prevalent in utopian novels, while hope is emphasized in dystopian novels.

Correct Answer is Option (c)
The passage states that hope and fear are the quintessential political emotions and that they always accompany each other. It mentions that we inevitably dread unrealized aspirations (fear) and yearn for anxieties to prove unwarranted (hope). Therefore, the correct answer is C.

Q.2. Which of the following statements, if true, would most support the argument that utopia and dystopia are deeply interconnected?
(a) Utopian novels often depict the consequences of societal transgressions.
(b) Dystopian novels prioritize the exploration of human potential and reason.
(c) Both utopian and dystopian novels highlight the fate of individuals who challenge the state's imperatives.
(d) Utopian societies are characterized by a lack of violence and conflict.

Correct Answer is Option (c)
The passage states that utopia and dystopia share deep structural commonalities and both emphasize the fate of the transgressor, an individual who prioritizes personal desires over the state's imperatives. Option C aligns with this information, highlighting the interconnectedness of the two genres.

Q.3. What is the author's primary purpose in mentioning the analogy between a cancerous cell and the fate of a transgressor in a dystopian society?
(a) To emphasize the necessity of eliminating transgressors from society.
(b) To highlight the emotional turmoil experienced by transgressors in a dystopian society.
(c) To acknowledge the imperfections of the analogy.
(d) To criticize the use of violence in maintaining social order.

Correct Answer is Option (c)
The passage introduces the analogy between a cancerous cell and the fate of a transgressor in a dystopian society, but states that the analogy is imperfect because a tumor does not feel. This suggests that the author is acknowledging the limitations of the analogy rather than making a specific argument or emphasizing a particular point.

Q.4. In mentioning The Handmaid's Tale in the passage, the author intends to:
(a) argue for the representation of women in speculative fiction.
(b) challenge the concept of organizing society rationally.
(c) provide an example of utopian literature that explores instrumental rationality.
(d) illustrate a novel in which humans are treated as means rather than ends.

Correct Answer is Option (d)
The passage mentions The Handmaid's Tale as one of the iconic dystopian novels that portray humans as cogs in a social contraption, where they are treated as means for political ends. This aligns with option D, illustrating a novel in which humans are treated as means rather than ends.

Q.5. Based on the discussion in the passage, which scenario is LEAST likely to be considered a "transgressor"?
(a) A citizen of a dystopia who attempts to lead a rebellion against the ruling powers.
(b) A citizen of a utopia who neglects political responsibilities to spend time with loved ones.
(c) An official in a dystopian society who uses torture to reprogram disobedient citizens.
(d) A criminal in a utopian society who is punished for questioning the legitimacy of the state.

Correct Answer is Option (b)
The passage mentions that both utopia and dystopia emphasize the fate of the transgressor, an individual who prioritizes personal desires over the imperatives of the state. While options A, C, and D align with this idea, option B presents a scenario where a citizen of a utopia neglects political responsibilities. Neglecting political duties would not necessarily be perceived as a transgressive act in a utopian society, as utopias typically prioritize harmony and collective well-being. Therefore, option B is the least likely to be considered a "transgressor" based on the discussion in the passage.

Q.6. The primary concern of the author in this passage is to:
(a) advocate for the superiority of dystopian over utopian fiction.
(b) analyze the characteristics of utopian and dystopian literature.
(c) challenge the notion that human life is a problem to be solved.
(d) argue that hope and fear are the most politically relevant emotions.

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Throughout the passage, the author discusses the centrality of hope and fear in politics and highlights the similarities and differences between utopian and dystopian literature. The author explores the origins, themes, and implications of both genres, suggesting that they are authentically political works of fiction. Therefore, the primary concern of the author is to analyze the characteristics of utopian and dystopian literature.