PrepTest 116, Section 4, Question 13
Many educators in Canada and the United States(454 more words not shown)
Which one of the following,(20 more words not shown)
- AIt is impossible(17 more words not shown)
- BMany non-Western societies(10 more words not shown)
- CSome non-Western societies(12 more words not shown)
- DStudents in Western(18 more words not shown)
- EGenuine understanding of(9 more words not shown)
Reading the passage
The second proposal's critics say that scientific methods carry Western values, making the approach not essentially different from the first. My initial thought is to look for something showing a meaningful difference between the two approaches.
What we’re looking for
Let's also keep track of what the critics demand instead. Their objection ends by insisting that genuine understanding requires adopting the studied culture's perspectives and methods.
Working the answers
- ACorrect
What if outsiders cannot adopt those perspectives and methods? The critics would be demanding something unavailable to the people trying to learn about another culture. That gives us a strong objection to their proposed alternative.
This isn't exactly the difference between the two proposals I initially expected. Nor does it prove the second approach is neutral or successful. It challenges the criticism by showing that its prescribed route to understanding cannot be followed by outsiders.
- B
Similarities among non-Western societies don't show that Western scientific methods can study them without the alleged distortion.
- C
Other societies might impose their own values, too. That doesn't show the practice is neutral or answer the objection to it.
- D
This is about Western students understanding their own culture's achievements. It doesn't establish that Western scientific methods are appropriate for understanding cultures with different outlooks.
- E
Needing understanding before appreciation is compatible with the critics' position. It gives us no reason to reject their objection to the methods.
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