Text 1: Sociologist Dr. Emily Green studies meritocracy beliefs. "People overestimate the role of effort in success," Green argues. "Structural factors—family wealth, educational access, discrimination—shape outcomes more than individual merit. Meritocracy ideology obscures these realities."
Text 2: Psychologist Dr. Robert Kim examines motivation. "Believing in personal agency correlates with persistence and achievement," Kim reports. "Even if structural factors matter, individual effort still influences outcomes within constraints. Complete structural determinism could undermine beneficial motivation."
What potential concern does Kim raise about Green's analysis?
That effort has no effect on outcomes whatsoever
That emphasizing structure might diminish beneficial beliefs about personal agency
That structural factors don't actually exist
That motivation research is impossible
Correct Answer: B
Choice B is the correct answer. Kim worries "complete structural determinism could undermine beneficial motivation." Green's emphasis on structure might discourage effort by suggesting individuals can't affect outcomes.
- Evidence: Kim: agency beliefs "correlate with persistence and achievement."
- Reasoning: Dismissing merit entirely could harm motivation.
- Conclusion: Green's structural focus might undermine productive beliefs.
Choice A is incorrect because Kim says effort "influences outcomes within constraints." Choice C is incorrect because Kim doesn't deny structures. Choice D is incorrect because Kim conducts motivation research.