PT114.S3.P3.Q17

PrepTest 114 - Section 3 - Passage 3 - Question 17

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P1

In explaining the foundations of the discipline known as historical sociology—the examination of history using the methods of sociology—historical sociologist Philip Abrams argues that, while people are made by society as much as society is made by people, sociologists' approach to the subject is usually to focus on only one of these forms of influence to the exclusion of the other. ██████ ███████ ██ ███ █████████ ███ ████████████ ██ ████ ██████ █████ █████████ ██████████ ██ ██████████ ███████ ██ ██ ██████ ███████████ ██ ███████████ ███ ███ ██ ███ ████ ████ ███████████ ██ █████ ████████ ██████ ██████ ██ ████ ██████████ ███████ ██ ██████████████

Abrams' perspective · Structuring
Sociologists should view society as made by individuals who are also made by society -- this process is called structuring. Typically sociologists take a one-sided approach -- they focus exclusively on either the individuals' impact on society, or on society's impact on individuals.
P2

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Expansion of structuring · There's also historical structuring
People make history, but this making is informed by historical conditions from the past, and by our own identities and abilities. These conditions, identities, and abilities are called "contingencies."
P3

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Abrams' view of proper historical sociology · Must analyze and interpret important events in history
During these events, individuals take actions but also show us how social conditions allowed their actions to come about.
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Elaborating on Abrams' view · Four-part structure of historical sociology
First, describe event. Second, discuss social context. Third, summarize life of individual agents in event. Fourth, analyze consequences on history and on the individuals.
Passage Style
Single position
Show answer
17.

The passage states that a ███████████ █████ ██ ████ ██ ███ █████████ ███████

a

a social phenomenon

Stated.

3%
b

a form of ██████████ ███████████

This is never stated as an example of a contingency.

64%
c

an accidental circumstance

Stated.

10%
d

a condition controllable ██ ████ ██████ ██ ██ ██████████

Stated.

16%
e

a partial determinant ██ ██ ████████████ ███████

Stated.

6%

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