Q9

[yeun2]

I feel like E isn't an accurate answer although all the others are wrong as well. I can see that paragrah 3 shows a criticism against the theory of polyarchy but it's not exactly directed at Dahl's defense of it. Could somone please help me out? Thanks!

[ohthatpatrick]

Question Type:
Purpose of Information

Answer expected in lines/paragraph:
There's a major formula for "serves to / in order to / primarily to" question stems. Most of the time, the correct answer reinforces a bigger, broader claim that comes right before the mentioned detail. Here, the entire third paragraph seems to center around this criticism, so we might be better served thinking about how this paragraph connects to the previous/following paragraphs.

Any prephrase?
There seems to be a stronger connection to the last paragraph. It looks like the author brings up this criticism in order to inform line 47-49. Dahl actually supports some of the criticism.

Correct answer:
E

Answer choice analysis:

A) "refute" is too strong to even read past that first word.

B) the author never suggests rethinking democracy

C) the author never suggests changing the structure of government

D) Dahl accepts that political equality can't be fully realized, and this 3rd paragraph criticism agrees with him.

E) It IS an objection to polyarchy. Since this is the only true answer so far, we'll have to pick it. Dahl is presented in the 1st paragraph as an apologist for polyarchy. People are mad at how far polyarchies are from having complete equality among voters, but Dahl is saying, "Look, this is as good as we're gonna get, and it's pretty good! We have centrifugal diffusion of power, so that competing interests are actually well represented!" The 3rd paragraph essentially says, "in the 60s and 70s, people weren't buying that. They were mad at the inequality of power and influence."

Takeaway/Pattern: This was a tougher than average one to prephrase. The function of this paragraph is to present a point of view that is critical of pluralist democracy. Why does the author present that view? Because Dahl, while somewhat agreeing with the sentiment, is basically known for saying, "It's not perfect, but it's probably the best we're gonna do."

#officialexplanation

[MarkR495]

Question Type:
Purpose of Information

Answer expected in lines/paragraph:
There's a major formula for "serves to / in order to / primarily to" question stems. Most of the time, the correct answer reinforces a bigger, broader claim that comes right before the mentioned detail. Here, the entire third paragraph seems to center around this criticism, so we might be better served thinking about how this paragraph connects to the previous/following paragraphs.

Any prephrase?
There seems to be a stronger connection to the last paragraph. It looks like the author brings up this criticism in order to inform line 47-49. Dahl actually supports some of the criticism.

Correct answer:
E

Answer choice analysis:

A) "refute" is too strong to even read past that first word.

B) the author never suggests rethinking democracy

C) the author never suggests changing the structure of government

D) Dahl accepts that political equality can't be fully realized, and this 3rd paragraph criticism agrees with him.

E) It IS an objection to polyarchy. Since this is the only true answer so far, we'll have to pick it. Dahl is presented in the 1st paragraph as an apologist for polyarchy. People are mad at how far polyarchies are from having complete equality among voters, but Dahl is saying, "Look, this is as good as we're gonna get, and it's pretty good! We have centrifugal diffusion of power, so that competing interests are actually well represented!" The 3rd paragraph essentially says, "in the 60s and 70s, people weren't buying that. They were mad at the inequality of power and influence."

Takeaway/Pattern: This was a tougher than average one to prephrase. The function of this paragraph is to present a point of view that is critical of pluralist democracy. Why does the author present that view? Because Dahl, while somewhat agreeing with the sentiment, is basically known for saying, "It's not perfect, but it's probably the best we're gonna do."

#officialexplanation

I incorrectly chose (C) on this question, mainly because of how the information in the third paragraph was presented, and referenced later in the passage. It is introduced right before the author introduces the idea that Dahl might actually agree to some extent with the critics of pluralist democracy. The last paragraph references one of Dahl's books "where he asks what changes in structures and consciousness might make political life more democratic in present polyarchies." (Line 53-55) Is (C) incorrect because the author doesn't actually suggest that the structure of government should be changed in pluralist democracies? The passage is about Dahl and his views on pluralist democracy, and how to advance his theories on pluralist democracy (the last paragraph). The author doesn't offer up any of his own personal dialogue, only a narration of Dahl's beliefs. Does that reasoning make sense?

If this isn't why (C) is wrong, can anyone provide further insight? I get why (E) is correct, because it is literally what the third paragraph is used for. Nothing more, nothing less.

Thanks' in advance for the help!