Pierre Bourdieu's concept of 'cultural capital' refers to non-economic resources—education, taste, cultural knowledge—that provide advantages in social life. Upper-class families transmit cultural capital through exposure to museums, classical music, and 'proper' speaking styles. Schools reward these cultural competencies while presenting them as neutral standards, thereby reproducing class advantages under the guise of meritocracy.
The passage suggests that
systems presenting themselves as neutral may operate in ways that favor certain groups
cultural capital is distributed equally across all social classes
schools do not evaluate any cultural competencies
economic resources are the only form of advantage
Correct Answer: A
Choice A is the best answer. Schools present upper-class culture as neutral standards.
- Context clues: Schools reward cultural competencies "while presenting them as neutral standards."
- Meaning: Apparent neutrality masks class advantage reproduction.
- Verify: "Guise of meritocracy" shows the neutral appearance hides class effects.
💡 Strategy: When a 'neutral' system consistently advantages certain groups, infer that neutrality masks bias.
Choice B is incorrect because upper-class families transmit more cultural capital. Choice C is incorrect because schools "reward these cultural competencies." Choice D is incorrect because the whole concept of cultural capital identifies non-economic resources.