Reading Comprehension

In 1977 the prestigious Ewha Women's University in
Seoul, Korea, announced the opening of the first
women's studies program in Asia. Few academic
programs have ever received such public attention. In
(5) broadcast debates, critics dismissed the program as a
betrayal of national identity, an imitation of Western
ideas, and a distraction from the real task of national
unification and economic development. Even supporters
underestimated the program ; they thought it would be
(10) merely another of the many Western ideas that had
already proved useful in Asian culture, akin to airlines,
electricity, and the assembly line. The founders of the
program, however, realized that neither view was
correct. They had some reservations about the appli-
(15) cability of Western feminist theories to the role of
women in Asia and felt that such theories should be
closely examined. Their approach has thus far yielded
important critiques of Western theory, informed by the
special experience of Asian women.
(20) For instance, like the Western feminist critique of the
Freudian model of the human psyche, the Korean
critique finds Freudian theory culture-bound, but in
ways different from those cited by Western theorists.
The Korean theorists claim that Freudian theory
(25) assumes the universality of the Western nuclear, maleheaded
family and focuses on the personality formation
of the individual, independent of society, An analysis
based on such assumptions could be valid for a highly
competitive, individualistic society. In the Freudian
(30) family drama, family members are assumed to be
engaged in a Darwinian struggle against each other-
father against son and sibling against sibling. Such a
concept of projects the competitive model of Western
society onto human personalities. But in the Asian
(35) concept of personality there is no ideal attached to indi
vidualism or to the independent self. The Western model
of personality development does not explain major characteristics
of the Korean personality, which is social and
group-centered. The "self" is a social being defined by
(40) and acting in a group, and the well-being of both men
and women is determined by the equilibrium of the
group, not by individual self-assertion. The ideal is one
of interdependency.
In such a context, what is recognized as "depen-
(45) dency" in Western psychiatric terms is not, in Korean
terms, an admission of weakness or failure. All this bears
directly on the Asian perception of men's and women's
psychology because men are also " dependent", In
Korean culture, men cry and otherwise easily show their
(50) emotions, something that might be considered a betrayal
of masculinity in Western culture. In the kinship-based
society of Korea, four generations may live in the same
house, which means that people can be sons and daughters
all their lives, whereas in Western culture, the roles
of husband and son, wife and daughter, are often incompatible.
1. Which of the following best summarizes the content of
the passage?
(A) A critique of a particular women's studies program
(B) A report of work in social theory done by a
particular women's studies program
(C) An assessment of the strengths and weaknesses
of a particular women's studies program
(D) An analysis of the philosophy underlying
women's studies programs
(E) An abbreviated history of Korean women's
studies programs
2. It can be inferred from the passage that Korean
scholars in the field of women's studies undertook
an analysis of Freudian theory as a response to
which of the following?
(A) Attacks by critics of the Ewha women's studies
program
(B) The superficiality of earlier critiques of Freudian
theory
(C) The popularity of Freud in Korean psychiatric
circles
(D) Their desire to encourage Korean scholars to
adopt the Freudian model
(E) Their assessment of the relevance and limitations of
Western feminist theory with respect to Korean
culture
3. Which of the following conclusions about the
introduction of Western ideas to Korean society can be
supported by information contained in the passage?
(A) Except for technological innovations, few Western
ideas have been successfully transplanted into
Korean society.
(B) The introduction of Western ideas to Korean society
is viewed by some Koreans as a challenge to
Korean identity.
(C) The development of the Korean economy depends
heavily on the development of new academic
programs modeled after Western programs.
(D) The extent to which Western ideas must be adapted
for acceptance by Korean society is minimal.
(E) The introduction of Western ideas to Korean society
accelerated after 1977.
4. It can be inferred from the passage that the broadcast
media in Korea considered the establishment of the
Ewha women's studies program
(A) praiseworthy
(B) insignificant
(C) newsworthy
(D) imitative
(E) incomprehensible
5. It can be inferred from the passage that the position
taken by some of the supporters of the Ewha women's
studies program was problematic to the founders of the
program because those supporters
(A) assumed that the program would be based on the
uncritical adoption of Western theory
(B) failed to show concern for the issues of national
unification and economic development
(C) were unfamiliar with Western feminist theory
(D) were not themselves scholars in the field of
women's studies
(E) accepted the universality of Freudian theory
6. Which of the following statements is most consistent
with the view of personality development held by the
Ewha women's studies group?
(A) Personality development occurs in identifiable
stages, beginning with dependency in childhood
and ending with independence in adulthood.
(B) Any theory of personality development, in order
to be valid, must be universal.
(C) Personality development is influenced by the
characteristics of the society in which a person
lives.
(D) Personality development is hindered if a person
is not permitted to be independent.
(E) No theory of personality development can account
for the differences between Korean and Western
culture.
7. Which of the following statements about the Western
feminist critique of Freudian theory can be supported
by information contained in the passage?
(A) It recognizes the influence of Western culture on
Freudian theory.
(B) It was written after 1977.
(C) It acknowledges the universality of the nuclear,
male-headed family.
(D) It challenges Freud's analysis of the role of
daughters in Western society.
(E) It fails to address the issue of competitiveness in
Western society.
8. According to the passage, critics of the Ewha women's
studies program cited the program as a threat to which
of the following?
â… . National identity
â…¡. National unification
â…¢. Economic development
â…£.Family integrity
(A) â…  only
(B) â…  and â…¡ only
(C) â… ,â…¡,and â…¢ only
(D) â…¡, â…¢, and â…£ only
(E) â… ,â…¡,â…¢, and â…£



Can anybody please explain me 1, 6 & 7 questions...Thanks in advance..

IMO the answers are as follows:

1. D

It talks about the underlying philosophies for the Korean programs and compares them against Western programs

2. E
3. B
4. D
5. A
6. C

It describes the characteristics of society which shape dependency

7. A

It recognizes that Freudian analysis is culture-bound

Please post the OAs of all questions. It's a really interesting RC passage

My answers:
1) B
2) E
3) B
4) D
5) A
6) C
7) A
8) C

Explanations to 1,6 and 7 follow below. What are the OAs?

Question 1:
The structure of the passage is as follows:
1) Introduction of an event ---> 2) Survey of response for the event ---> 3) Reservations to response by event managers--->4) Details of a work done which lends support to those reservations.

Now, 1-3 is over by line 20. Lines 16-55, the bulk of the passage contains 4. Thus is can be said that the content of the passage is A report of work in social theory done by a particular women's studies program i.e. Option B. Note that content is the operative word here.

Other choices -
A - The author does not carry out a critique of the program himself/herself. He just states the Koreans response to the program, that too in the initial few lines - it can hardly be said to cover the entire content.

B - Correct.

C - No assessment of strengths and weaknesses of the program has been carried out by the author.

D - There is no analysis which shows the philosophy underlying the women's studies program. This is too broad in scope and cannot be inferred on the basis of just one example of how this program is not an imitation of western ideas but stands independently.

E - No history of Korean women's studies is provided.

Question 6:
Lines 24-29 The Korean theorists claim that Freudian theory assumes the universality of the Western nuclear, maleheaded family and focuses on the personality formation of the individual, independent of society, An analysis based on such assumptions could be valid for a highly competitive, individualistic society.

Lines 34-39 But in the Asian concept of personality there is no ideal attached to individualism or to the independent self. The Western model of personality development does not explain major characteristics of the Korean personality, which is social and group-centered.

From the above two lines it can be inferred that Ewha women's studies group view that Personality development is influenced by the characteristics of the society in which a person lives. i.e. Option C.

Other choices-
A - Out of scope. No such claim about personality is made or implied in the passage.

B - No such claim on universality of personality development theory is made.

C - Correct.

D - Quite the contrary. Lines - 44-48 In such a context, what is recognized as "dependency" in Western psychiatric terms is not, in Korean terms, an admission of weakness or failure. All this bears directly on the Asian perception of men's and women's psychology because men are also " dependent". Korean personality is based on dependency. The group does not, however, believe that it is hindered.

E - Again out of scope. No such claim is made.

Question 7:
Lines 20-23 For instance, like the Western feminist critique of the Freudian model of the human psyche, the Korean critique finds Freudian theory culture-bound.

Clearly, Western feminist critique considers Western culture to have played an important role in Freudian theory. This makes A the right option .

Other choices
B - In all likelihood, the western critique was written before 1977. The Ehwa group was established in 1977 after which it undertook its own critique of the Freudian theory.

C - The Freudian theory acknowledges the universality of the nuclear, male-headed family. Lines 24-28 The Korean theorists claim that Freudian theory assumes the universality of the Western nuclear, maleheaded family and focuses on the personality formation of the individual, independent of society. This does not mean that the Western feminist critique of Freudian theory does so.

D - Out of scope. No such claim is made by Western feminist critique of Freudian theory.

E - Out of scope. No such claim is made by Western feminist critique of Freudian theory.

My choices.

1) B
2) E
3) B
4) D
5) A
6) C
7) C
8) C

"A report of work in social theory done by a
particular women's studies program" is the answer for question 1??

where in the paragraph is it mentioned that the women's study program made a report on social theory??

cd86 wrote:"A report of work in social theory done by a
particular women's studies program" is the answer for question 1??

where in the paragraph is it mentioned that the women's study program made a report on social theory??

Hmm I agree with you. I think it should be AHowever the prompt is so bad it is difficult to comprehend it

nitya mithal wrote:In 1977 the prestigious Ewha Women's University in Seoul, Korea, announced the opening of the first women's studies program in Asia. Few academic programs have ever received such public attention. In broadcast debates, critics dismissed the program as a betrayal of national identity, an imitation of Western ideas, and a distraction from the real task of national unification and economic development. Even supporters underestimated the program; they thought it would be merely another of the many Western ideas that had already proved useful in Asian culture, akin to airlines, electricity, and the assembly line. The founders of the program, however, realized that neither view was correct. They had some reservations about the applicability of Western feminist theories to the role of women in Asia and felt that such theories should be closely examined. Their approach has thus far yielded important critiques of Western theory, informed by the special experience of Asian women.

For instance, like the Western feminist critique of the Freudian model of the human psyche, the Korean critique finds Freudian theory culture-bound, but in ways different from those cited by Western theorists. The Korean theorists claim that Freudian theory assumes the universality of the Western nuclear, male-headed family and focuses on the personality formation of the individual, independent of society. An analysis based on such assumptions could be valid for a highly competitive, individualistic society. In the Freudian family drama, family members are assumed to be engaged in a Darwinian struggle against each other-father against son and sibling against sibling. Such a concept projects the competitive model of Western society onto human personalities. But in the Asian concept of personality there is no ideal attached to individualism or to the independent self. The Western model of personality development does not explain major characteristics of the Korean personality, which is social and group-centered. The "self" is a social being defined by and acting in a group, and the well-being of both men and women is determined by the equilibrium of the group, not by individual self-assertion. The ideal is one of interdependency.

In such a context, what is recognized as "dependency" in Western psychiatric terms is not, in Korean terms, an admission of weakness or failure. All this bears directly on the Asian perception of men's and women's psychology because men are also "dependent." In Korean culture, men cry and otherwise easily show their emotions, something that might be considered a betrayal of masculinity in Western culture. In the kinship-based society of Korea, four generations may live in the same house, which means that people can be sons and daughters all their lives, whereas in Western culture, the roles of husband and son, wife and daughter, are often incompatible.

1. Which of the following best summarizes the content of the passage?
(A) A critique of a particular women's studies program
(B) A report of work in social theory done by a particular women's studies program
(C) An assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of a particular women's studies program
(D) An analysis of the philosophy underlying women's studies programs
(E) An abbreviated history of Korean women's studies programs

This is a main idea question. So it should encompass the whole passage. The main purpose of the passage is to talk about the feminist theories which are relevant to the Asian women. Paragraph 1 talks about the inception of the study program and the criticism faced by it. The text in paragraph 2 and 3 builds upon the relevance of the theories from a Korean (or Asian) perspective. Option B is the only option talking about the social theory and thus seems to be the correct choice. Although the word report is not mentioned we can consider it as a synonym to a Critique (a detailed study)
[spoiler]Answer : B[/spoiler]

2. It can be inferred from the passage that Korean scholars in the field of women's studies undertook an analysis of Freudian theory as a response to which of the following?
(A) Attacks by critics of the Ewha women's studies program
(B) The superficiality of earlier critiques of Freudian theory
(C) The popularity of Freud in Korean psychiatric circles
(D) Their desire to encourage Korean scholars to adopt the Freudian model
(E) Their assessment of the relevance and limitations of Western feminist theory with respect to Korean culture

Freudian theory is mentioned in the 2nd Paragraph. The opening statement presents a contrast between the Western and Korean version. Later on the lines "The Western model of personality development does not explain major characteristics of the Korean personality" presents a limitation of the Western theory. E is a close paraphrase of the text in paragraph 2.
[spoiler]Answer: E[/spoiler]

3. Which of the following conclusions about the introduction of Western ideas to Korean society can be supported by information contained in the passage?
(A) Except for technological innovations, few Western ideas have been successfully transplanted into Korean society.
(B) The introduction of Western ideas to Korean society is viewed by some Koreans as a challenge to Korean identity.
(C) The development of the Korean economy depends heavily on the development of new academic programs modeled after Western programs.
(D) The extent to which Western ideas must be adapted for acceptance by Korean society is minimal.
(E) The introduction of Western ideas to Korean society accelerated after 1977.

Korean Economy is mentioned in para 1 but its never mentioned that it depends on the development of new programs, so C is out of scope. D & E mention points which cannot be substantiated from the text presented in the passage. We are left with A and B. B is directly mentioned in the line "critics dismissed the program as a betrayal of national identity"
[spoiler]Answer: B[/spoiler]

4. It can be inferred from the passage that the broadcast media in Korea considered the establishment of the Ewha women's studies program
(A) praiseworthy
(B) insignificant
(C) newsworthy
(D) imitative
(E) incomprehensible

A vertical scan of the choices would help us to eliminate A, B & E. We are not mentioned the view point of the media directly, so this Inference requires a minor leap in thinking. The line "Few academic programs have ever received such public attention." could mean that all the other programs in the past were not good enough for the media. And the reason that there was a debate regarding the same helps us to infer that there might be something "newsworthy" about the program. Now D is the viewpoint of the critics and not the media. (Very tricky option)
[spoiler]Answer: C[/spoiler]

5. It can be inferred from the passage that the position taken by some of the supporters of the Ewha women's studies program was problematic to the founders of the program because those supporters
(A) assumed that the program would be based on the uncritical adoption of Western theory
(B) failed to show concern for the issues of national unification and economic development
(C) were unfamiliar with Western feminist theory
(D) were not themselves scholars in the field of women's studies
(E) accepted the universality of Freudian theory

Direct quote from the passage: "supporters underestimated the program; they thought it would be merely another of the many Western ideas"
[spoiler]Answer: A[/spoiler]

6. Which of the following statements is most consistent with the view of personality development held by the Ewha women's studies group?
(A) Personality development occurs in identifiable stages, beginning with dependency in childhood and ending with independence in adulthood.
(B) Any theory of personality development, in order to be valid, must be universal.
(C) Personality development is influenced by the characteristics of the society in which a person lives.
(D) Personality development is hindered if a person is not permitted to be independent.
(E) No theory of personality development can account for the differences between Korean and Western culture.

Personality development is mentioned in the 2nd para, 2nd last line. "The Western model of personality development does not explain major characteristics of the Korean personality, which is social and group-centered. ". The Korean personality is based on its society. Only C mentioned society.
Answer C

7. Which of the following statements about the Western feminist critique of Freudian theory can be supported by information contained in the passage?
(A) It recognizes the influence of Western culture on Freudian theory.
(B) It was written after 1977.
(C) It acknowledges the universality of the nuclear, male-headed family.
(D) It challenges Freud's analysis of the role of daughters in Western society.
(E) It fails to address the issue of competitiveness in Western society.

Freudian theory is mentioned in the second paragraph. Only A and C seem to be the probable choices after re-reading. C fails to mention the word "western" nuclear, male headed family, so we can choose A.
Answer A

8. According to the passage, critics of the Ewha women's studies program cited the program as a threat to which of the following?
I. National identity
II. National unification
III. Economic development
IV. Family integrity
(A) I only
(B) I and II only
(C) I, II, and III only
(D) II, III, and IV only
(E) I, II, III, and IV

I, II & III are directly mentioned in the first para as cited by the critics.
Answer C


Regards,
Vivek