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Source: Revised GRE PDF 2nd Ed. Section 3; #23 (p. 60)

2

The passage suggests that an adherent to the

Among academics involved in the study of Northern Renaissance prints (reproducible graphic artworks), an orthodox position can be said to have emerged. This position regards Renaissance prints as passive representations of their time—documents that reliably record contemporary events, opinions, and beliefs—and therefore as an important means of accessing the popular contemporary consciousness. In contrast, pioneering studies such as those by Scribner and Moxey take a strikingly different approach, according to which Northern Renaissance prints were purposeful, active, and important shaping forces in the communities that produced them. Scribner, for example, contends that religious and political prints of the German Reformation (ca. 1517–1555) functioned as popular propaganda: tools in a vigorous campaign aimed at altering people’s behavior, attitudes, and beliefs. The passage suggests that an adherent to the “orthodox position” (line 3) would agree with which of the following statements? Northern Renaissance prints should be regarded as passive representations of their time., Northern Renaissance prints were part of a campaign aimed at altering contemporary thinking., Northern Renaissance prints provide reliable records of contemporary events, opinions, and beliefs.

1 Explanation

3

Chris Lele

Sep 21, 2012 • Comment

Chang Xu

Hi, i wanna ask why c is right here?

May 24, 2018 • Reply

Sam Kinsman

Hi Chang,

Happy to help! :)

The key lies in the second sentence in the passage:

"This position (the orthodox position) regards Renaissance prints as passive representations of their time—documents that reliably record contemporary events, opinions, and beliefs—and therefore as an important means of accessing the popular contemporary consciousness."

So therefore, we know that the orthodox position believes that "Northern Renaissance prints provide reliable records of contemporary events, opinions, and beliefs." So C is correct.

May 30, 2018 • Reply

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