An effort should be made to dispel the misunderstandings that still prevent the much-needed synthesis and mutual supplementation of science and the humanities. ███
Problem ·Misunderstandings prevent the synthesis of science and the humanities
The misunderstanding should be dispelled. Science and the humanities should be synthesized.
Author sees this as a "caricature" of science. Author implies that science does not ignore or explain away the most essential human values. That science can have something to say about morality, religion, and the arts.
Scientists (mistakenly) view humanities as only interested in emotion and sentiment. That humanities are useless because it serves no pragmatic purpose (contra science and technology). That morality, religion, and the arts are of secondary importance.
Possible and even probably if focus is on common objectives (understanding people and the world).
Passage Style
Critique or debate
Problem-analysis
12.
In using the phrase " ███████ ███████ ██ ██ █████████████ █████ ██████ ████████ ██ ███ █████ ███████████ ███ ██████ ████████ ████ █████████ ███ █████████ ██████████ ██ ██
Question Type
Meaning in context (of word, phrase, or idea)
Structure
To understand the meaning of this phrase, consider the point of the paragraph in which it sits. The author describes scientists’ view of humanists. Scientists think humanists are interested in things that are useless and serve no function for the practical survival of human society. In saying that scientists believe humanists demonstrate the “vagrant fancies of an undisciplined mind,” the author means that scientists think humanists are focused on random, unserious, useless things.
a
wildly emotional
Although the scientists think humanists are “interested” in emotion, there’s a difference between being interested in emotion and being “wildly emotional.” Being “interested” in emotion refers to what one is interested in studying. But it’s not a comment on one’s emotional state (i.e. sad, happy, hysterical, etc.). This is why (A) doesn’t fit the meaning of the highlighted phrase. The scientists never comment on the humanists’ emotional state.
b
excessively impractical
This best captures the meaning of the highlighted line, because it’s in keeping with the point of the surrounding lines. The scientists think humanists are focused on things that are useless and serve no function for the practical survival of human society.
c
unnecessarily intransigent
“Intransigent” means unwilling to change one’s views. This doesn’t make sense as the meaning of the highlighted phrase, because nothing in P3 suggests the scientists believe humanists are stubborn or won’t change their minds.
d
justifiably optimistic
This doesn’t make sense as the meaning of the highlighted phrase, because nothing in P3 suggests the scientists think humanists are optimistic. We don’t get any sense that scientists think humanists believe the future will be good.
e
logically inconsistent
“Logically inconsistent” means contradictory. This doesn’t make sense as the meaning of the highlighted phrase, because P3 doesn’t suggest scientists think humanists are contradicting themselves. We’re never told scientists think humanists hold two beliefs that can’t both be true at the same time.
Difficulty
48% of people who answer get this correct
This is a very difficult question.
It is significantly harder than the average question in this passage.
CURVE
Score of students with a 50% chance of getting this right
25%144
166
75%180
Analysis
Meaning in context (of word, phrase, or idea)
Structure
Critique or debate
Humanities
Problem-analysis
Answer Popularity
PopularityAvg. score
a
42%
163
b
48%
166
c
4%
161
d
0%
151
e
5%
160
Question history
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