Set 1: Inferences (Intermediate)
Explanation
PASSAGE
Anthropologists studying gift-giving across cultures have found that in many societies, giving creates social obligations that the recipient must eventually repay. Unlike market transactions, which are immediate and finite, gift economies establish ongoing relationships of mutual indebtedness.
Based on the passage, what distinguishes gift economies from market economies?
Detailed Explanation
This question asks you to draw a logical conclusion from the text. Market = 'immediate and finite'; gifts = 'ongoing relationships of mutual indebtedness'—different temporal structures. 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:
• "immediate and finite"
• "ongoing relationships of mutual indebtedness"
Why others are wrong: A (Complexity isn't compared.), B (Market transactions are 'immediate,' not debt-based.), D (Gifts are tangible or intangible; not specified.).