Reading comp PrepTest 121 · Section 2 · Question 4

Topic: Social Science

Paragraph 1

• Paragraph note
  • Theory that multipolar systems lead to stability and one example thereof
• Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
  • Definition
    • Multipolar international systems: three or more nations of roughly equal military and economic strength, which, in theory, create shifting temporary alliances (sentences one and two) and such counterbalancing usually leads to stability (sentence five)
  • Causality
    • Threats from larger, more aggressive members seeking hegemony can result in less powerful members banding together to counter threats and leads to small confrontations; such counterbalancing usually leads to stability (sentences four and five)
  • Example
    • Concert of Europe – the best-known multipolar system which coincided with general peace from 1815-1915 in Europe (sentence six)
  • Author attitude: “constant and inevitable” (sentence four); “best-known” (sentence six)

Paragraph 2

• Paragraph note
  • Theory that bipolar systems lead to war and two examples thereof
• Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
  • Definition
    • Bipolar system: two countries of relatively equal military and economic strength (sentence one)
    • Zero–sum: a situation in which a gain for one side results in an equivalent loss for the other (sentence four)
  • Causality
    • In part because there is only one axis of power, these systems are more rigid and fixed (sentence three)
      • (also a Comparison to the flexible and fluid multipolar system)
    • The quest for overall superiority in this system leads to frequent confrontations, debilitating armed conflict, and the capitulation of one or the other side (sentence five) (also a List)
  • Example
    • Athens and Sparta of Ancient Greece (sentence six)
    • the US and USSR during the Cold War (sentence six)
  • Author attitude: “tend to be” (sentence three)

Paragraph 3

• Paragraph note
  • Author opinion: we need to reassess the assumptions of bipolar and multipolar systems in this new political landscape
• Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
  • Causality
    • The shift in the geopolitical landscape post-Cold War calls for a reassessment of these theories (sentence one)
    • Smaller countries in Europe in 1914 brought larger countries into a war, which led to the conditions for WWII (a crippled system with members being punished, dismantled, or withdrawing) (sentence five and six) (also a Comparison and List)
  • Comparison (also Causality)
    • Modern confrontations in multipolar Europe, unlike those in the time of the Concert of Europe that brought stability, could destroy the whole system (sentences two and three) (also an Example)
    • The bipolar Cold War may have created the necessary parameters for general peace in the 20th century (sentence seven)
  • Author attitude: “however,” “calls for a reassessment” (sentence one); “emerging but still vague,” “unsettling” (sentence two); “may also lead” (sentence four);

Main Point:

P1, S5 - Multipolar leads to stability

P2, S4 - Bipolar leads to war

P3, S1 - Theory needs to be reassessed

This passage follows the Criticizing a Viewpoint Meta-Structure. The author describes a view held by another person or group, in this case the social scientists’ assumptions about bipolar and multipolar international systems, and then criticizes their view. In this case, the criticism is that in the post-Cold War political landscape, it seems like bipolar systems can lead to peace while multipolar systems can lead to war.

Some test-takers may read this as a Correcting the Record passage, but that is more appropriate for when there has been a misconception or oversight. In this case, we see it more as a Criticizing the Viewpoint passage. Either way, the student should come to the same conclusion on the main point: that of the author’s opinion about the Viewpoint or Record.

Main point: Here, the author’s central criticism is that the Cold War has challenged the fundamental assumptions that multipolar and bipolar systems lead to stability and instability, respectively.

Key Minor Meta-Structures

Comparison/Causality

This passage makes extensive use of the Comparison and Causality Minor Meta-Structures as it examines the differences (and causes of these differences) multipolar and bipolar international systems and their characteristics. Making a note of these Comparisons, whether mentally or physically highlighting them or noting it on them on note paper, will help us understand and recall key features of these Comparisons and be ready for the questions,

Last Thoughts?

When looking for the author’s attitude in reading comprehension passages, note that the author does not always have a very strong opinion either way. In this case, the author’s criticism of the viewpoint is that it merely needs to be reassessed, not totally thrown away.