#15 - Main Point

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation

The correct answer choice is (D).

Answer choice (A):

Answer choice (B):

Answer choice (C):

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

Answer choice (E):

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

[LaurenMerm]

I picked D, but wanted to verify why C is incorrect. I was turned away because of the part that says "despite the views of sociologists to the contrary."

The first paragraph mentions that the traditional approach of sociologists is lacking because it focuses on only one direction of the relationship between people and society. It's not that the sociologists disagree with the approach taken by Abrams (that both directions of the relationship between people and society is important), but that they overlook the possibility that both directions of the relationship are important.

[Jeff Wren]

Hi Lauren,

I think there are a few problems with Answer C.

First, while Abrams does disagree with sociologists who "usually" (line 6) focus on only side of the issue rather than both sides, this paragraph is just introducing the idea underlying Abrams's approach to historical sociology, but the main idea of the passage (and what's discussed in the rest of the passage) is how Abrams applies that idea specifically to the practice/study of historical sociology. (As you correctly noted, this is better captured in Answer D.)

Second, the terms used in Answer C, "social structures" and "events of history" don't really match up with what Abrams and the sociologists are discussing in paragraph one. The two terms that both "influence" and "are influenced by" are "individuals" and "society." Abrams argues "that people are made by society as much as society is made by people" (lines 4-5). In other words, society influences individuals and individuals influence society.

Like many wrong answers, Answer C mixes the wrong terms from the passage.