Reading Comprehension

During the nineteenth century, occupational
information about women that was provided by the
United States census-a population count conducted
Line each decade- became more detailed and precise in
(5) response to social changes. Through 1840, simple
enumeration by household mirrored a home-based
agricultural economy and hierarchical social order: the
head of the household (presumed male or absent) was
specified by name, whereas other household members
(10) were only indicated by the total number of persons
counted in various categories, including occupational
categories. Like farms, most enterprises were family-
run, so that the census measured economic activity as
an attribute of the entire household, rather than of
(15) individuals.
The 1850 census, partly responding to antislavery
and women's rights movements, initiated the collection
of specific information about each individual in a house-
hold. Not until 1870 was occupational information
(20) analyzed by gender: the census superintendent reported
1.8 million women employed outside the home in
"gainful and reputable occupations." In addition, he
arbitrarily attributed to each family one woman
"keeping house." Overlap between the two groups was
(25) not calculated until 1890, when the rapid entry of
women into the paid labor force and social issues
arising from industrialization were causing women's
advocates and women statisticians to press for more
thorough and accurate accounting of women's
occupations and wages.

It can be inferred from the passage that the 1840 United States census provided a count of which of the following?
(A) Women who worked exclusively in the home
(B) People engaged in nonfarming occupations
(C) People engaged in social movements
(D) Women engaged in family-run enterprises
(E) Men engaged in agriculture

Q/A-B why not E

Ankitaverma wrote:
Through 1840, simple
enumeration by household mirrored a home-based
agricultural economy and hierarchical social order: the
head of the household (presumed male or absent) was
specified by name, whereas other household members
(10) were only indicated by the total number of persons
counted in various categories, including occupational
categories.

Like farms, most enterprises were family-
run, so that the census measured economic activity as
an attribute of the entire household, rather than of
(15) individuals.

It can be inferred from the passage that the 1840 United States census provided a count of which of the following?

(A) Women who worked exclusively in the home

Nothing specific , check the underlined part above :
....the head of the household (presumed male or absent) was specified by name, whereas other household members were only indicated by the total number of persons....

(B) People engaged in non farming occupations

Check the flow of the sentences -

1. Through 1840, simple enumeration by household mirrored a home-based agricultural economy ..

2. The head of the household (presumed male or absent) was specified by name, whereas other household members were only indicated by the total number of persons counted in various categories...

3. Like farms, most enterprises were family-run, so that the census measured economic activity as an attribute of the entire household, rather than of individuals.


The flow of the passage clearly till 1840 census was simple enumeration basis , head of the family ( male generally and in their absence women) was counted and other were classified as other categories.


Now this other categories can mean non-productive as well. It is only when we look further that we find that there are other economic activities as well, which is claimed in the next sentence/b]

Most enterprises were family run ( Generally headed by males) alike agricultural farms and here the Census enumeration followed was simply counting the head of the family( male generally and in their absence females)

This statement clearly mentions possibility of other economic activities in the economy apart from Agriculture.

(C) People engaged in social movements

Not mentioned

(D) Women engaged in family-run enterprises

True and it is explicitly mentioned in the passage that women were involved in Farms as well as in most family run Business Enterprises. There is nothing to infer here , as it is explicitly stated in the passage about the involvement of Women.

(E) Men engaged in agriculture

Explicitly stated in the following sentence , nothing to infer -

Agricultural economy and hierarchical social order: the head of the household (presumed male or absent) was specified by name, whereas other household members ...