Set 4: Inferences (Advanced)
Explanation
PASSAGE
The Great Man theory of history—that exceptional individuals drive major changes—has been challenged by social historians emphasizing structural forces and collective movements. Neither approach fully explains events: individuals matter, but only within contexts that enable or constrain their actions. Current scholarship increasingly seeks synthesis.
What intellectual development does the passage describe?
Detailed Explanation
This question asks you to draw a logical conclusion from the text. 'Individuals matter, but only within contexts'; 'seeks synthesis' = integrating agency and structure. A valid inference must be supported by evidence in the passage, even if not stated directly. Look for clues in the text that strongly suggest the answer. Avoid conclusions that require assumptions beyond what's written. Valid inferences are strongly supported by multiple pieces of evidence in the text. Be cautious of choices that go too far beyond what the passage actually states. The best inference is the one most directly supported by textual evidence.
Key Evidence:
• "Neither approach fully explains events"
• "Current scholarship increasingly seeks synthesis"
Why others are wrong: A (It 'has been challenged.'), B ('Individuals matter.'), D ('Structural forces' are emphasized.).