Reading Comprehension

Question #5 (incorrect)

In the early twentieth century, scholarly opinion regarding the origins of the American Revolution shifted away from its previous focus on understanding the political ideology of the Revolutionary movement's leaders. Instead of solely consulting philosophies of government expressed in the writings of these early American luminaries, historians began to look beyond these texts and research the land holdings and commercial transaction records of Revolutionary leaders in order to shed new light on the economic motivations that instigated the American Revolution. Like the previous scholarly trend, this new movement limited its primary focus to leaders. By placing the revolutionary impetus squarely on the shoulders of the American founding fathers, this newer movement did not account for the conditions of colonial American life that informed the leaders' ultimate decision.

A new generation of historians has theorized that a more significant cause of the Revolution was the popular ideology of the American people at large during the years leading up to the conflict. This new wave of scholars has concluded that Revolutionary ideology was not developed by an intellectual elite and disseminated to the public but rather came into being organically within small communities of ordinary people. These historians based their thesis on detailed examinations of popular literature of the era, including newspaper articles, pamphlets, and letters between typical members of the populace. Such documents reveal that residents of all the colonies shared many sources of frustration ranging from judicial appointments to laws regarding inheritance. In addition to these common grievances that impacted colonial life, scholars also note that popular literature was passed from one town to the next, helping to shape consensus.


Which of the following may be inferred regarding the new generation of scholars' understanding of the ideology both of the American public and of leaders during the American Revolution?


(A) In order to win popular support, early American leaders adjusted their conservative ideology to match the Revolutionary political ethos of the public.

(B) Leaders of the Revolution were motivated primarily by economic ideology, while the Revolutionary public was more concerned with political ideology.

(C) The political ideology of Revolutionary leaders did not have a strong causative influence on the development of the public's political ideology.

(D) Leaders of the Revolution dispersed their ideals to the public primarily through popular literature.

(E) While the American public and its leaders held similar sets of political ideals, it was the ideology of the leaders that ultimately brought about the Revolution.

C should be correct. What is the OA?

The second paragraph clearly states that a more significant cause of the Revolution was the popular ideology of the American people at large during the years leading up to the conflict. This new wave of scholars has concluded that Revolutionary ideology was not developed by an intellectual elite and disseminated to the public but rather came into being organically within small communities of ordinary people

In other words, the political ideology of the public was not shaped by their leaders. This is same as saying The political ideology of Revolutionary leaders did not have a strong causative influence on the development of the public's political ideology. - Option C