Study the EST Reading June 2022 Guide | Passage 4 of 5
Introduction:
Welcome to our detailed exploration of the "EST Reading June 2022 Guide | Passage 4 of 5" from the Literacy II section, meticulously crafted by Mr. Osama A. Ibrahim. This blog delves into an in-depth explanation of the passage, which underscores the pivotal role of taxation in the sustenance and effectiveness of government operations, the settlement of national debts, and the support of the civil list. Through Mr. Ibrahim's expert analysis, we aim to elevate your comprehension and analytical prowess, setting you on a path to academic triumph.
In this thorough examination, we'll unravel the author's assertion that taxation stands as an indispensable component of any governmental constitution, referencing historical instances from the Ottoman Empire and America to spotlight the dire repercussions of insufficient taxation. Embark on this insightful journey with us, guided by Mr. Ibrahim's expertise, as we dissect the passage's core ideas and arguments, providing you with clarity and enhanced understanding to excel in your test preparations.
EST Reading |Passage 4 Explanation| June 2022 | Literacy II
Summary:
The main idea of this passage is that the federal government should have the power to tax in order to provide for the support of the national forces, pay off national debts, and support the national civil list. The author argues that taxation is an indispensable ingredient in every constitution and that without it, either the people must be subjected to plunder or the government must sink into a fatal atrophy. The author also discusses the consequences of not having a general power of taxation, using examples from the Ottoman Empire and America to illustrate his points.
EXPLANATION FOR QUESTIONS 33-42
33. To answer this question, we need to identify the main point that the author is trying to make throughout the passage. We can do this by looking at the introduction and the conclusion of the passage, as well as the topic sentences of each paragraph.
The introduction of the passage states that "there must be interwoven, in the frame of the government, a general power of taxation, in one shape or another" (lines 19-21). This suggests that the author is going to argue for the necessity of taxation in the U.S. government.
The conclusion of the passage states that "What remedy can there be for this situation, but a change of the system which has produced in it a change of the fallacious and delusive system of quotas and requisitions?" (lines 100-103). This implies that the author is going to propose a solution to the current problems of taxation in the U.S. government.
The topic sentences of each paragraph also support this main idea. For example, in paragraph 2, the author says "Money is, with propriety, considered as the vital principle of the body politic" (lines 24-25), which shows that he is going to explain why taxation is essential for the functioning of the government. In paragraph 3, he says "In America, from a similar cause, the government of the Union has gradually dwindled into a state of decay" (lines 51-53), which shows that he is going to illustrate the negative effects of insufficient taxation in the U.S. government.
Based on this analysis, we can conclude that the main idea of the passage is to **debate** (not just discuss) **the importance of taxation within the U.S. government**. Therefore, the correct answer is C.
We can also eliminate the other answer choices by showing how they are not supported by the passage.
A. The passage does not discuss the history of taxation, but rather focuses on the current situation and problems of taxation in the U.S. government.
B. The passage does not refute the necessity of taxation in all government systems, but rather argues for its necessity in the U.S. government.
D. The passage does not explain the drawbacks of taxation, but rather explains the drawbacks of inadequate or improper taxation in the U.S. government.
34. These are two questions that come together. The first one asks about the author's position on taxation, and the second one asks for evidence from the passage to support that position. To answer these questions, we need to look for clues in the passage that reveal the author's opinion and reasoning about taxation.
The correct answer for the first question is D. The author believes taxation is an integral part of the government. We can tell this from several statements in the passage, such as:
- Lines 19-22: "The conclusion is, that there must be interwoven, in the frame of the government, a general power of taxation, in one shape or another."
- Lines 24-28: "Money is, with propriety, considered as the vital principle of the body politic; as that which sustains its life and motion, and enables it to perform its most essential functions. A complete power, therefore, to procure a regular and adequate supply of it, as far as the resources of the community will permit, may be regarded as an indispensable ingredient in every constitution."
- Lines 103-105: "What substitute can there be imagined for this ignis fatuus in finance, but that of permitting the national government to raise its own revenues by the ordinary methods of taxation authorized in every well-ordered constitution of civil government?"
These statements show that the author views taxation as a necessary and beneficial function of the government, and that he advocates for a system that allows the national government to collect taxes directly from the people.
The other answer choices are incorrect because they do not reflect the author's position on taxation. The author does not argue against taxation for the people (A), demand lower taxation on the wealthy (B), or state that taxation is only a recent phenomenon (C).
35. The correct answer for the second question is C. Lines 19-22 (“The … another.”) best provide evidence for the answer to the previous question. These lines state the author's main conclusion that the government must have a general power of taxation, which supports his position on taxation as an integral part of the government.
The other answer choices are incorrect because they do not provide evidence for the author's position on taxation. Lines 1-4 (“It … forces;”) describe one of the objects to which the jurisdiction of the Union must extend, but do not mention taxation. Lines 9-12 (“But … extend.”) list some other objects that require revenue, but do not state the author's conclusion or opinion about taxation. Lines 32-34 (“From … ensue;”) present a dilemma that results from a deficiency in taxation, but do not explain why taxation is an indispensable ingredient in every constitution.
36.To answer this question, we need to look at the context of the word "sustains" in the passage. The author is comparing money to the vital principle of the body politic, which means the essential element or force that keeps a society alive and functioning. The author says that money sustains the life and motion of the body politic, and enables it to perform its most essential functions. This implies that money supports, preserves, or keeps up the existence and activity of the society. Therefore, the word that most nearly means the same thing as "sustains" in this context is "maintains". The correct answer is D.
The other choices do not fit well with the meaning of the sentence. To bear something means to carry or endure it, which is not what money does for the society. To comfort something means to soothe or console it, which is also not what money does for the society. To validate something means to confirm or prove its truth or value, which is also not what money does for the society. These choices are all incorrect and can be eliminated.
37. Alright, let's try to answer these questions together. First, we need to understand what the passage is about and what the author's main point is. The passage is an excerpt from The Federalist Papers, which were written by Alexander Hamilton and other founding fathers to persuade the states to ratify the U.S. Constitution. The author's main point in this passage is that the federal government needs to have a general power of taxation in order to provide for the national defense, civil service, and public debt, and that the current system of quotas and requisitions from the states is ineffective and harmful.
Now, let's look at question 37. Which of the following is true about taxation in the U.S.? We need to find the answer that is supported by the information in the passage. Let's go through each option and eliminate the ones that are clearly wrong.
A. The government has the right to pillage its people. This is wrong because pillage means to rob or plunder, and the author does not say that the government has this right. In fact, he uses the example of the Ottoman Empire to show how pillaging the people is a bad consequence of not having a proper system of taxation.
B. The government does not have the right to apply new taxes. This is also wrong because the author argues that the government must have a general power of taxation in one shape or another, and that it must be able to provide for the revenues that the public needs require. He does not say that the government is limited in applying new taxes.
C. The government has the right to rest a rate for taxation according to what they deem best suits the needs of the country. This is correct because it summarizes the author's main point that the government must have a complete power to procure a regular and adequate supply of money, as far as the resources of the community will permit. He also says that Congress is authorized to ascertain and call for any sums of money necessary, in their judgment, to the service of the United States.
D. The government deals with many consequences when taxing people wrongly. This is partially true because the author does mention some consequences of taxing people wrongly, such as plunder, atrophy, annihilation, and mortification. However, this is not the main point of the passage, and it does not answer the question about what is true about taxation in the U.S.
Therefore, the best answer for question 37 is C.
38. Now, let's look at question 38. Which choice best provides evidence for the answer to the previous question? We need to find the part of the passage that supports or explains why C is true. Let's go through each option and see which one matches C.
A. Lines 41-45 (“In … tax.”) This does not match C because it talks about how the Ottoman Empire does not have a right to impose a new tax, which is different from what C says about the U.S.
B. Lines 45-48 (“The … mercy;”) This also does not match C because it talks about how the Ottoman Empire permits its governors to pillage the people, which is again different from what C says about the U.S.
C. Lines 67-72 (“Congress … States;”) This matches C because it talks about how Congress has the authority to determine and call for any sums of money necessary for the service of
the United States, which is part of what C says about how the government can rest a rate for taxation according to what they deem best suits the needs of the country.
D. Lines 89-94 (“What … inquiries.”) This does not match C because it talks about how the current system of quotas and requisitions has reduced the U.S. to a situation of mortification and triumph for its enemies, which is not related to what C says about how the government can rest a rate for taxation according to what they deem best suits the needs of the country.
Therefore, the best answer for question 38 is C.
39. **** We differ in answers from the original answer key. We try our best to stick to the original answers given by the EST Board’ however, this is not the case for this question******
Alright, let's look at this question together. The question is asking us to identify something that the author never does in the passage. To answer this question, we need to scan the passage and look for evidence of the author doing or not doing each of the four options.
Let's start with option A: provide a definition. Does the author ever define a term or concept in the passage? Yes, he does. For example, in lines 20-21, he defines what he means by "a general power of taxation". In lines 24-25, he defines money as "the vital principle of the body politic". In lines 61-62, he defines the present Confederation as "feeble". So, option A is not correct, because the author does provide definitions in the passage.
What about option B: mention the limitations? Does the author ever mention any limitations or drawbacks of his argument or proposal? No, he doesn't. He is very confident and assertive in his claim that the federal government needs to have the power of taxation. He never acknowledges any potential problems or objections that might arise from his position. He only presents the benefits and advantages of his view. So, option B is correct, because the author never mentions any limitations in the passage.
We can also check the other two options to make sure they are not correct. Option C: give historical context. Does the author ever give any historical examples or references to support his argument? Yes, he does. For example, in lines 41-51, he gives the example of the Ottoman Empire and how its lack of taxation power leads to plunder and misery. In lines 52-56, he gives the example of America and how its dependence on quotas and requisitions leads to decay and annihilation. So, option C is not correct, because the author does give historical context in the passage.
Option D: mention another point of view. Does the author ever mention or acknowledge any opposing or alternative views to his own? No, he doesn't. He is very one-sided and biased in his presentation of his argument. He never considers or addresses any counterarguments or criticisms that might challenge his claim. He only asserts his own view as the best and only solution. So, option D is also correct, because the author never mentions another point of view in the passage.
Therefore, we have two correct answer choices: B and D. The author never takes the opportunity to mention the limitations or mention another point of view in the passage. This is a poor question by the EST board.
40. To answer this question, we need to look at the context in which the word "feeble" is used in the passage. We also need to use our knowledge of synonyms and word meanings to find the best match among the answer choices.
The word "feeble" is used in the following sentence: "The present Confederation, feeble as it is intended to repose in the United States, an unlimited power of providing for the pecuniary wants of the Union" (lines 60-62). Here, the author is contrasting the weakness of the current system of taxation with the unlimited power that it is supposed to grant to the U.S. government. He is implying that the current system is not able to fulfill its intended purpose of providing for the financial needs of the Union.
Based on this context, we can infer that "feeble" means something like "lacking strength, effectiveness, or ability". We can then look at the answer choices and see which one best matches this meaning.
A. Ineffective means "not producing any significant or desired effect". This is a good synonym for "feeble" in this context, as it captures the idea that the current system is not able to achieve its goal of providing for the pecuniary wants of the Union.
B. Cowardly means "showing a lack of courage or resolution". This is not a good synonym for "feeble" in this context, as it does not relate to the ability or effectiveness of the current system, but rather to its moral or emotional quality.
C. Decrepit means "worn out or ruined because of age or neglect". This is not a good synonym for "feeble" in this context, as it does not focus on the ability or effectiveness of the current system, but rather on its physical or material condition.
D. Dim means "not shining brightly or clearly". This is not a good synonym for "feeble" in this context, as it does not refer to the ability or effectiveness of the current system, but rather to its visual or perceptual quality.
Therefore, based on this analysis, we can conclude that the best answer is A. Ineffective.
41. This question asks about the reasoning that the author uses in regards to the presence of taxation. To answer this question, we need to look for clues in the passage that reveal the author's logic and arguments about taxation.
The correct answer is B. Taxation is a necessary component of keeping the government from collapsing entirely. We can tell this from several statements in the passage, such as:
- Lines 37-40: "or the government must sink into a fatal atrophy, and, in a short course of time, perish."
- Lines 50-52: "In America, from a similar cause, the government of the Union has gradually dwindled into a state of decay, nearly approaching annihilation."
- Lines 95-97: "It is this which has chiefly contributed to reducing us to a situation, which affords ample cause both of mortification to ourselves, and of triumph to our enemies."
These statements show that the author uses the reasoning that without taxation, the government will lose its power and stability, and eventually die. The author also compares the situation of America with that of the Ottoman Empire, where the sovereign has no right to impose new taxes, and the result is plunder and pillage by the governors of provinces (lines 43-49).
42. To answer this question, we need to understand the main idea and structure of the passage. The author's main argument is that the federal government needs to have a general power of taxation in order to provide for the public needs and avoid the problems that arise from relying on the states' quotas and requisitions. The author supports this argument by giving examples of the consequences of not having such a power, such as the plundering of the people by the Ottoman Empire and the decay of the American Confederation. The author also contrasts the current system of requisitions, which is ineffective and unconstitutional, with the proposed system of taxation, which is more regular and adequate.
The final paragraph summarizes and reinforces the author's argument by asking rhetorical questions that imply the answer. The author asks what remedy there can be for the situation, but what substitute there can be for the current system, and what methods of taxation can be authorized in a well-ordered constitution. These questions are meant to persuade the reader that there is no other option but to adopt the author's proposal. Therefore, the relationship between the final paragraph and the rest of the passage is that it touches on ideas built up in the rest of the passage through rhetorical questions. The correct answer is A.
The other choices do not accurately describe the relationship between the final paragraph and the rest of the passage. The final paragraph does not ask irrelevant questions, initiate a new point of view, or provide evidence. These choices are all incorrect and can be eliminated.
June 2022 Resources:
Writing, Literacy I:
Take the Full Mock Test for June 2022 + Report HERE
Passage 1 Explanation HERE
Passage 2 Explanation HERE
Passage 3 Explanation HERE
Passage 4 Explanation HERE
Reading, Literacy II:
Passage 1 Explanation HERE
Passage 2 Explanation HERE
Passage 3 Explanation HERE
Passage 4 Explanation HERE
Passage 5 Explanation HERE
More Resources to Boost your Skills:
Practice EST Vocabulary HERE
Practice EST Reading Skills HERE
Practice Real EST Reading Passages with Explanations HERE
Improve your EST Reading Skills with Passages from Level 1 HERE
