Multiple choice

Directions: The passage given below is followed by four alternative summaries. Choose the option that best captures the essence of the passage. Key in the number of the option you choose as your answer.

In a world where social place was still determined largely by birth, the idea that political leadership and social pre-eminence should derive from an individual’s talents and virtues was in many ways revolutionary. Nevertheless, demands to create a thoroughly egalitarian society or democratic government, perhaps by eliminating private property or selecting rulers by law, were few. Instead, eighteenth century debate about civil society, and political governance focussed principally on balancing the claims of rights and privileges of merit, and thus, the competing pulls of equality and difference. It was this debate that pushed questions concerning the nature of virtues and talents to centre stage.

  1. The revolutionary ideas of the eighteenth century could gather but little appeal in face of a clear bias for inherited privileges.

  2. The eighteenth century was a significant evolving phase that led to a total disconnect of merit with privileges of birth.

  3. An egalitarian society can be said to have been founded in the eighteenth century in the backdrop of debates about balancing claims of rights and privileges of merit.

  4. Eighteen century was no less revolutionary in encouraging shift of focus on merit.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
  1. Not correct. The revolutionary ideas had few takers, however, there was no bias for inherited privileges.
    1. Not correct. Nowhere has it been said that there was a total disconnect. There was a balance instead.
    2. Not correct. An egalitarian society was not formed in the eighteenth century. This century was more of an evolutionary phase or a run up to such society.
    3. Correct. Eighteenth century did shift focus on merit, and it was no less revolutionary having done that.

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