Reading Comprehension

Source: Veritas Prep

The civil service system that existed in early twentieth century Great Britain was based on a rigid class system. It is assumed that its efficiency derived from separation into upper and lower divisions based on educational background and that democracy therefore was less important to the functioning of a civil service system than was class differentiation. Some scholars, by contrast, have argued that the class system was instead concerned with preserving class specific economic differences and that democracy was inimical to this particular goal. Historian Robert A. Caro, for example, has argued that in early twentieth century Great Britain, the carefully placed hurdles discouraging movement from the lower to the upper division existed primarily to maintain the economic disparity between members of the two divisions: the lower division was much larger than the upper division, its members were paid substantially lower wages and were generally only of high school education. On the other hand, others more intimately involved in civil service systems have cast doubt upon these arguments, examining ways in which democracy inhibits the functioning of a civil service system, particularly its efficiency. Robert Moses notes, for example, that a civil service with no class distinction tends to be one of mediocrity: such democracy is false democracy.

The passage suggests which of the following about Robert Moses?

A: He held anti-democratic political opinions.
B: He came from an upper-class background and held a university degree.
C: His views regarding civil service systems stemmed from personal experience.
D: His writings on the subject of the civil service system were in response to those of Caro.
E: His career mainly focused on increasing the efficiency of civil service systems.

OA: C

Please explain. I think answer lies on last few sentences.

A not correct
B.no
C.can be
D.no mentioned nowhere
E.the theme of passage is not like that

pradeepkaushal9518 wrote:A not correct
B.no
C.can be
D.no mentioned nowhere
E.the theme of passage is not like that

Explanation

akhp77 wrote:

pradeepkaushal9518 wrote:A not correct
B.no
C.can be
D.no mentioned nowhere
E.the theme of passage is not like that

Explanation

The answer lies in the last bust one sentence -
"On the other hand, others more intimately involved in civil service systems have cast doubt upon these arguments, examining ways in which democracy inhibits the functioning of a civil service system, particularly its efficiency."

This serves as an indication that Robert Moses could probably be part of that civil system , involved in day to day life..

Though I should say, I at first , did not notice the nuance in that sentence....and went for B because none of the options were suggestive.. But on closer realisation , I realised that C can probably be the right one

I am still in doubt.

Dear akhpad,

What answer you chose? A,B & D can be easily ruled out. None of these can be inferred from the passage. Now we could have confusion between C & E.

Regarding 'E', we cannot definitely say that his career was focussed mainly on increasing the efficiency of civil service systems. Also, the passage talks about the way in democracy inhibits the functioning of a civil system.

On the other hand, others more intimately involved in civil service systems have cast doubt upon these arguments, examining ways in which democracy inhibits the functioning of a civil service system, particularly its efficiency.

So, Robert Moses could well be studying about the ways in which democracy inhibits efficiency rather than focussing on how civil services efficiency could be improved.

So, by POE we are left with 'C', which is strengthened further by 'On the other hand, others more intimately involved in civil service systems have cast doubt upon these arguments'

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