#20 - Passage Organization Questions

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation

The correct answer choice is (A).

Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice.

Answer choice (B):

Answer choice (C):

Answer choice (D):

Answer choice (E):

This explanation is still in progress. Please post any questions below!

[Morgan2cats]

Hi PowerScore,

Could you please explain why A is correct? I initially chose B because I thought both options demonstrated a combination of cultures from different countries. Thanks!

[Luke Haqq]

Hi Morgan2cats!

I can see how there appears to be a combination of cultures in both of those paragraphs, but I don't see that leading to answer choice (B), which is about "cultural uniformity" being what national identity generally requires. That seems to be missing from the passage.

Regarding answer choice (A), it states that the examples in those two paragraphs reflect the generalization that "apparent traditions may be products of artifice." In the second paragraph, look to lines 32 to 39, and especially lines 35 to 39. That exemplifies something that is dressed up as a tradition and "age-old custom" but is really "a matter of recent edict." In the third paragraph, look at lines 40 to 45. The first two words of the third paragraph ("similar constructions") connect it back to the previous paragraph, indicating that it is providing additional examples on the same topic.