Multiple choice

Some sociologists believe that religious sects such as the California-based Waiters, who believe the end of the world is imminent and seek to purify their souls by, among other things, abstaining completely from sexual relations, are a product of growing disaffection with modern, industrialized and urbanized living. As evidence, they cite the fact that there are no other active organizations of the same type which are more than 50 or 60 years old. The evidence, however, fails to support the conclusion for __________.

Which of the following is the most critical completion of the passage?

  1. the restrictions on sexual relations are such that the only source of new members is outside recruitment, so such sects tend to die out after a generation or two

  2. it is simply not possible to gauge the intensity of religious fervor by the length of time the religious sect remains viable

  3. the Waiters group may actually survive beyond the second generation of its existence

  4. there are other religious sects that emphasize group sexual activity which currently have several hundred members

  5. the Waiters are a California-based organization and have no members in the Northeast, which is even more heavily urban and industrialized than California
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A Correct answer
Explanation

(1) The author places himself in opposition to the sociologists whom he cites. He claims an alternative interpretation of the evidence. In other words, the most logical continuation of the passage will be the one that explains why such sects are not a recent phenomenon even though there are no old ones around. (1) does this neatly. Since the members abstain from sexual relations, they will not reproduce members and the sect will tend to die out. This explains why there are none more than 50 or 60 years old.

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