Puerto Ricans

[kaulnikhil]

Discussion of the assimilation of Puerto Ricans in the United States has focused on two factors: social standing and the loss of national culture. In general, excessive stress is placed on one factor or the other, depending on whether the commentator is North American or Puerto Rican. Many North American social scientists, such as Oscar Handlin, Joseph Fitz- patrick, and Oscar Lewis, consider Puerto Ricans as the most recent in a long line of ethnic entrants to occupy the lowest rung on the social ladder. Such a "sociodemographic" approach tends to regard assimi- lation as a benign process, taking for granted increased economic advantage and inevitable cultural integration, in a supposedly egalitarian context. However, this approach fails to take into account the colonial nature of the Puerto Rican case, with this group, unlike their European predecessors, coming from a nation politically subordinated to the United States. Even the "radical" critiques of this mainstream research model, such as the critique developed in Divided Society, attach the issue of ethnic assimilation too mechanically to factors of economic and social mobility and are thus unable to illuminate the cultural subordination of Puerto Ricans as a colonial minority.
In contrast, the "colonialist" approach of island- based writers such as Eduardo Seda-Bonilla, Manuel Maldonado-Denis, and Luis Nieves-Falcon tends to view assimilation as the forced loss of national culture in an unequal contest with imposed foreign values. There is, of course, a strong tradition of cultural accom- modation among other Puerto Rican thinkers. The writings of Eugenio Fernandez Mendez clearly exemplify this tradition, and many supporters of Puerto Rico's commonwealth status share the same universalizing orientation. But the Puerto Rican intellectuals who have written most about the assimilation process in the United States all advance cultural nationalist views, advocating the preservation of minority cultural distinctions and rejecting what they see as the subjugation of colonial nationalities.
This cultural and political emphasis is appropriate, but the colonialist thinkers misdirect it, overlooking the class relations at work in both Puerto Rican and North American history. They pose the clash of national cultures as an absolute polarity, with each culture understood as static and undifferentiated. Yet both the Puerto Rican and North American traditions have been subject to constant challenge from cultural forces within their own societies, forces that may move toward each other in ways that cannot be written off as mere "assimilation."
51. Consider, for example, the indigenous and Afro Caribbean traditions in Puerto Rican culture and how they influence and are influenced by other Caribbean cultures and Black cultures in the United States. The elements of coercion and inequality, so central to cultural contact according to the colonialist framework, play no role in this kind of convergence of racially and ethnically different elements of the same social class.



1.The author's main purpose is to
A. criticize the emphasis on social standing in discussions of the
assimilation of Puerto Ricans in the United States
B. support the thesis that assimilation has not been a benign
process for Puerto Ricans
C. defend a view of the assimilation of Puerto Rican that
emphasizes the preservation of national culture
D. indicate deficiencies in two schools of thought on the
assimilation of Puerto Ricans in the United States
E. reject the attempt to formulate a general framework for
discussion of the assimilation of Puerto Ricans in the United
States

2.According to the passage, cultural accommodation is promoted by
A. Eduardo Seda-Bonilla
B. Manuel Maldonado-Denis
C. the author of Divided Society
D. the majority of social scientists writing on immigration
E. many supporters of Puerto Rico's commonwealth status

3.It can be inferred from the passage that a writer such as Eugenio Fernandez Mendez would most likely agree with which of the following statements concerning members of minority ethnic groups?
A. It is necessary for the members of such groups to adapt to the
culture of the majority.
B. The members of such groups generally encounter a culture that
is static and undifferentiated.
C. Social mobility is the most important feature of the experience of
members of such groups.
D. Social scientists should emphasize the cultural and political
aspects of the experience of members of such groups.
E. The assimilation of members of such groups requires the force
abandonment of their authentic national roots


4.The author implies that the Puerto Rican writers who have written most about assimilation do NOT do which of the following?
A. Regard assimilation as benign.
B. Resist cultural integration.
C. Describe in detail the process of assimilation.
D. Take into account the colonial nature of the Puerto Rican case.
E. Criticize supporters of Puerto Rico's commonwealth status.


5.In can be inferred from the passage that the "colonialist" approach is so called because its practitioners
A. support Puerto Rico's commonwealth status
B. have a strong tradition of cultural accommodation
C. emphasize the class relations at work in both Puerto Rican and
North American history
D. pose the clash of national cultures as an absolute polarity in
which each culture is understood as static and undifferentiated
E. regard the political relation of Puerto Rico to the United States
as a significant factor in the experience of Puerto Ricans

6.The author regards the emphasis by island-based writers on the cultural and political dimensions of assimilation as
A. ironic
B. dangerous
C. fitting but misdirected
D. illuminating but easily misunderstood
E. peculiar but benign

7.The example discussed in lines 51 - 54 intended by the author to illustrate a
A. strength of the sociodemographic approach
B. strength of the "colonialist" approach
C. weakness of the sociodemographic approach
D. weakness of the "colonialist" approach
E. weakness of the cultural-accommodationist approach

[harsh.champ]

Discussion of the assimilation of Puerto Ricans in the United States has focused on two factors: social standing and the loss of national culture. In general, excessive stress is placed on one factor or the other, depending on whether the commentator is North American or Puerto Rican. Many North American social scientists, such as Oscar Handlin, Joseph Fitz- patrick, and Oscar Lewis, consider Puerto Ricans as the most recent in a long line of ethnic entrants to occupy the lowest rung on the social ladder. Such a "sociodemographic" approach tends to regard assimi- lation as a benign process, taking for granted increased economic advantage and inevitable cultural integration, in a supposedly egalitarian context. However, this approach fails to take into account the colonial nature of the Puerto Rican case, with this group, unlike their European predecessors, coming from a nation politically subordinated to the United States. Even the "radical" critiques of this mainstream research model, such as the critique developed in Divided Society, attach the issue of ethnic assimilation too mechanically to factors of economic and social mobility and are thus unable to illuminate the cultural subordination of Puerto Ricans as a colonial minority.
In contrast, the "colonialist" approach of island- based writers such as Eduardo Seda-Bonilla, Manuel Maldonado-Denis, and Luis Nieves-Falcon tends to view assimilation as the forced loss of national culture in an unequal contest with imposed foreign values. There is, of course, a strong tradition of cultural accom- modation among other Puerto Rican thinkers. The writings of Eugenio Fernandez Mendez clearly exemplify this tradition, and many supporters of Puerto Rico's commonwealth status share the same universalizing orientation. But the Puerto Rican intellectuals who have written most about the assimilation process in the United States all advance cultural nationalist views, advocating the preservation of minority cultural distinctions and rejecting what they see as the subjugation of colonial nationalities.
This cultural and political emphasis is appropriate, but the colonialist thinkers misdirect it, overlooking the class relations at work in both Puerto Rican and North American history. They pose the clash of national cultures as an absolute polarity, with each culture understood as static and undifferentiated. Yet both the Puerto Rican and North American traditions have been subject to constant challenge from cultural forces within their own societies, forces that may move toward each other in ways that cannot be written off as mere "assimilation."
51. Consider, for example, the indigenous and Afro Caribbean traditions in Puerto Rican culture and how they influence and are influenced by other Caribbean cultures and Black cultures in the United States. The elements of coercion and inequality, so central to cultural contact according to the colonialist framework, play no role in this kind of convergence of racially and ethnically different elements of the same social class.

__________________________________________________________________________________

1.The author's main purpose is to
A. criticize the emphasis on social standing in discussions of the
assimilation of Puerto Ricans in the United States
B. support the thesis that assimilation has not been a benign
process for Puerto Ricans
C. defend a view of the assimilation of Puerto Rican that
emphasizes the preservation of national culture
D. indicate deficiencies in two schools of thought on the
assimilation of Puerto Ricans in the United States
E. reject the attempt to formulate a general framework for
discussion of the assimilation of Puerto Ricans in the United
States
_________________________________________________________________________________
2.According to the passage, cultural accommodation is promoted by
A. Eduardo Seda-Bonilla
B. Manuel Maldonado-Denis
C. the author of Divided Society
D. the majority of social scientists writing on immigration
E. many supporters of Puerto Rico's commonwealth status

_________________________________________________________________________________

3.It can be inferred from the passage that a writer such as Eugenio Fernandez Mendez would most likely agree with which of the following statements concerning members of minority ethnic groups?
A. It is necessary for the members of such groups to adapt to the
culture of the majority.
B. The members of such groups generally encounter a culture that
is static and undifferentiated.
C. Social mobility is the most important feature of the experience of
members of such groups.
D. Social scientists should emphasize the cultural and political
aspects of the experience of members of such groups.
E. The assimilation of members of such groups requires the force
abandonment of their authentic national roots

_________________________________________________________________________________

4.The author implies that the Puerto Rican writers who have written most about assimilation do NOT do which of the following?
A. Regard assimilation as benign.
B. Resist cultural integration.
C. Describe in detail the process of assimilation.
D. Take into account the colonial nature of the Puerto Rican case.
E. Criticize supporters of Puerto Rico's commonwealth status.

_________________________________________________________________________________
5.In can be inferred from the passage that the "colonialist" approach is so called because its practitioners
A. support Puerto Rico's commonwealth status
B. have a strong tradition of cultural accommodation
C. emphasize the class relations at work in both Puerto Rican and
North American history
D. pose the clash of national cultures as an absolute polarity in
which each culture is understood as static and undifferentiated
E. regard the political relation of Puerto Rico to the United States
as a significant factor in the experience of Puerto Ricans
_________________________________________________________________________________
6.The author regards the emphasis by island-based writers on the cultural and political dimensions of assimilation as
A. ironic
B. dangerous
C. fitting but misdirected
D. illuminating but easily misunderstood
E. peculiar but benign
_________________________________________________________________________________
7.The example discussed in lines 51 - 54 intended by the author to illustrate a
A. strength of the sociodemographic approach
B. strength of the "colonialist" approach
C. weakness of the sociodemographic approach
D. weakness of the "colonialist" approach
E. weakness of the cultural-accommodationist approach

Hey kaulnikhil,
It looks very cluttered when you post the passage and all the 7 questions in one single post.It's a request to submit the passage in the 1st post and in the subsequent posts submit the various questions-one question per post.
This way people can discuss any separate question without bothering with the other 6.
Please take note of the above.
Thanks!

[harsh.champ]

A1.The author's main purpose is to
A. criticize the emphasis on social standing in discussions of the
assimilation of Puerto Ricans in the United States
B. support the thesis that assimilation has not been a benign
process for Puerto Ricans
C. defend a view of the assimilation of Puerto Rican that
emphasizes the preservation of national culture
D. indicate deficiencies in two schools of thought on the
assimilation of Puerto Ricans in the United States
E. reject the attempt to formulate a general framework for
discussion of the assimilation of Puerto Ricans in the United
States

IMO the answer can be D since mainly in the passage the author is highlighting the deficiency or the shortcomings in two schools of thought.

[harsh.champ]

2.According to the passage, cultural accommodation is promoted by
A. Eduardo Seda-Bonilla
B. Manuel Maldonado-Denis
C. the author of Divided Society
D. the majority of social scientists writing on immigration
E. many supporters of Puerto Rico's commonwealth status

IMO E is the answer.

It can be seen from this excerpt:-

In contrast, the "colonialist" approach of island- based writers such as Eduardo Seda-Bonilla, Manuel Maldonado-Denis, and Luis Nieves-Falcon tends to view assimilation as the forced loss of national culture in an unequal contest with imposed foreign values. There is, of course, a strong tradition of cultural accom- modation among other Puerto Rican thinkers.

[harsh.champ]

3.It can be inferred from the passage that a writer such as Eugenio Fernandez Mendez would most likely agree with which of the following statements concerning members of minority ethnic groups?
A. It is necessary for the members of such groups to adapt to the
culture of the majority.
B. The members of such groups generally encounter a culture that
is static and undifferentiated.
C. Social mobility is the most important feature of the experience of
members of such groups.
D. Social scientists should emphasize the cultural and political
aspects of the experience of members of such groups.
E. The assimilation of members of such groups requires the force
abandonment of their authentic national roots

IMO A is the answer.

It can be seen over here:-

There is, of course, a strong tradition of cultural accom- modation among other Puerto Rican thinkers. The writings of Eugenio Fernandez Mendez clearly exemplify this tradition

[harsh.champ]

4.The author implies that the Puerto Rican writers who have written most about assimilation do NOT do which of the following?
A. Regard assimilation as benign.
B. Resist cultural integration.
C. Describe in detail the process of assimilation.
D. Take into account the colonial nature of the Puerto Rican case.
E. Criticize supporters of Puerto Rico's commonwealth status.

IMO A is the answer.

It can be seen from:-

Such a "sociodemographic" approach tends to regard assimi- lation as a benign process, taking for granted increased economic advantage and inevitable cultural integration, in a supposedly egalitarian context

AND from the following excerpt:-

In contrast, the "colonialist" approach of island- based writers such as Eduardo Seda-Bonilla, Manuel Maldonado-Denis, and Luis Nieves-Falcon tends to view assimilation as the forced loss of national culture in an unequal contest with imposed foreign values.

[harsh.champ]

5.In can be inferred from the passage that the "colonialist" approach is so called because its practitioners
A. support Puerto Rico's commonwealth status
B. have a strong tradition of cultural accommodation
C. emphasize the class relations at work in both Puerto Rican and
North American history
D. pose the clash of national cultures as an absolute polarity in
which each culture is understood as static and undifferentiated
E. regard the political relation of Puerto Rico to the United States
as a significant factor in the experience of Puerto Ricans

IMO E is the answer.

This can be seen from:-

This cultural and political emphasis is appropriate, but the colonialist thinkers misdirect it, overlooking the class relations at work in both Puerto Rican and North American history. They pose the clash of national cultures as an absolute polarity, with each culture understood as static and undifferentiated. Yet both the Puerto Rican and North American traditions have been subject to constant challenge from cultural forces within their own societies, forces that may move toward each other in ways that cannot be written off as mere "assimilation."

[harsh.champ]

6.The author regards the emphasis by island-based writers on the cultural and political dimensions of assimilation as
A. ironic
B. dangerous
C. fitting but misdirected
D. illuminating but easily misunderstood
E. peculiar but benign

IMO C should be the answer .

It can be seen from:-

In contrast, the "colonialist" approach of island- based writers such as Eduardo Seda-Bonilla, Manuel Maldonado-Denis, and Luis Nieves-Falcon tends to view assimilation as the forced loss of national culture in an unequal contest with imposed foreign values. There is, of course, a strong tradition of cultural accom- modation among other Puerto Rican thinkers. The writings of Eugenio Fernandez Mendez clearly exemplify this tradition, and many supporters of Puerto Rico's commonwealth status share the same universalizing orientation. But the Puerto Rican intellectuals who have written most about the assimilation process in the United States all advance cultural nationalist views, advocating the preservation of minority cultural distinctions and rejecting what they see as the subjugation of colonial nationalities.

AND

This cultural and political emphasis is appropriate, but the colonialist thinkers misdirect it, overlooking the class relations at work in both Puerto Rican and North American history.

[harsh.champ]

7.The example discussed in lines 51 - 54 intended by the author to illustrate a
A. strength of the sociodemographic approach
B. strength of the "colonialist" approach
C. weakness of the sociodemographic approach
D. weakness of the "colonialist" approach
E. weakness of the cultural-accommodationist approach

IMO D is the answer.

This can be seen from:-

Consider, for example, the indigenous and Afro Caribbean traditions in Puerto Rican culture and how they influence and are influenced by other Caribbean cultures and Black cultures in the United States. The elements of coercion and inequality, so central to cultural contact according to the colonialist framework, play no role in this kind of convergence of racially and ethnically different elements of the same social class.

[gmatmachoman]

IMO

1.D
2.A



3.E
4.A
5.D
6.C
7.D

[harsh.champ]

IMO

1.D
2.A



3.E
4.A
5.D
6.C
7.D

Hey gmatmachoman,
As per you said here is what I found:-
1.D-Correct.
2.A-Incorrect.



3.E-Incorrect.
4.A-Correct.
5.D-Incorrect.
6.C-Correct.
7.D-Correct.

I will explain the reasoning (according to me) for each answer one by one.

[harsh.champ]

IMO

1.D
2.A



3.E
4.A
5.D
6.C
7.D

A2)2.According to the passage, cultural accommodation is promoted by
A. Eduardo Seda-Bonilla
B. Manuel Maldonado-Denis
C. the author of Divided Society
D. the majority of social scientists writing on immigration
E. many supporters of Puerto Rico's commonwealth status

Now in the passage it is given that :-
In contrast, the "colonialist" approach of island- based writers such as Eduardo Seda-Bonilla, Manuel Maldonado-Denis, and Luis Nieves-Falcon tends to view assimilation as the forced loss of national culture in an unequal contest with imposed foreign values. There is, of course, a strong tradition of cultural accom- modation among other Puerto Rican thinkers.
Both Eduardo Seda-Bonilla and Manuel Maldonado-Denis supported the thought.
Also look carefully at the last line:-There is, of course, a strong tradition of cultural accom- modation among other Puerto Rican thinkers.

So,we find that many supporters were promoting it ,not just Eduardo Seda-Bonilla.

[ajmurphy]

IMO. Any thoughts on the correct answers?
[spoiler]
1d.
2e.
3a.
4e.
5a
6c
7e[/spoiler]

[harsh.champ]

IMO

1.D
2.A



3.E
4.A
5.D
6.C
7.D

3.It can be inferred from the passage that a writer such as Eugenio Fernandez Mendez would most likely agree with which of the following statements concerning members of minority ethnic groups?
A. It is necessary for the members of such groups to adapt to the
culture of the majority.
B. The members of such groups generally encounter a culture that
is static and undifferentiated.
C. Social mobility is the most important feature of the experience of
members of such groups.
D. Social scientists should emphasize the cultural and political
aspects of the experience of members of such groups.
E. The assimilation of members of such groups requires the force
abandonment of their authentic national roots

You have given the answer as E-The assimilation of members of such groups requires the force
abandonment of their authentic national roots

NOw, there is no such explicit mention in the passage suggesting the "abandonment of the national roots."

There is, of course, a strong tradition of cultural accom- modation among other Puerto Rican thinkers. The writings of Eugenio Fernandez Mendez clearly exemplify this tradition, and many supporters of Puerto Rico's commonwealth status share the same universalizing orientation. But the Puerto Rican intellectuals who have written most about the assimilation process in the United States all advance cultural nationalist views, advocating the preservation of minority cultural distinctions and rejecting what they see as the subjugation of colonial nationalities.

In the above context,A holds.

[harsh.champ]

IMO

1.D
2.A



3.E
4.A
5.D
6.C
7.D

5.In can be inferred from the passage that the "colonialist" approach is so called because its practitioners
A. support Puerto Rico's commonwealth status
B. have a strong tradition of cultural accommodation
C. emphasize the class relations at work in both Puerto Rican and
North American history
D. pose the clash of national cultures as an absolute polarity in
which each culture is understood as static and undifferentiated
E. regard the political relation of Puerto Rico to the United States
as a significant factor in the experience of Puerto Ricans

You have ticked D-(option choice in italics).
Now,for the origin of colonialist approach ,there is no such specific mention that the practitioners pose the clash as an absolute polarity.
Moreover it is written that the cause of the clash was misdirection not due tothe fact that it its origin was such.

In contrast, the "colonialist" approach of island- based writers such as Eduardo Seda-Bonilla, Manuel Maldonado-Denis, and Luis Nieves-Falcon tends to view assimilation as the forced loss of national culture in an unequal contest with imposed foreign values. There is, of course, a strong tradition of cultural accom- modation among other Puerto Rican thinkers. The writings of Eugenio Fernandez Mendez clearly exemplify this tradition, and many supporters of Puerto Rico's commonwealth status share the same universalizing orientation. But the Puerto Rican intellectuals who have written most about the assimilation process in the United States all advance cultural nationalist views, advocating the preservation of minority cultural distinctions and rejecting what they see as the subjugation of colonial nationalities.
This cultural and political emphasis is appropriate, but the colonialist thinkers misdirect it, overlooking the class relations at work in both Puerto Rican and North American history.They pose the clash of national cultures as an absolute polarity, with each culture understood as static and undifferentiated