Reading Comprehension

PT12 · S3 · P2 · Q11 Chinese and Japanese Immigrants

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In order to explain the socioeconomic achievement, in the face of disadvantages due to racial discrimination, of Chinese and Japanese immigrants to the United States and their descendants, sociologists have typically applied either culturally based or structurally based theories—but never both together.

Topic

Socioeconomic achievement of Chinese and Japanese immigrants and their descendants in the US—explained by combining both cultural (supply-side) and structural (demand-side) perspectives.

Framework

Answer / Explain

Main Point

To truly understand the socioeconomic mobility of Chinese and Japanese immigrants and their descendants, we need to consider both the cultural qualities they brought with them (supply side) and the structural forces/opportunities they faced in the US (demand side), especially considering historical context. The "Most Valuable Sentence" is at the start of Paragraph 2:

P1: Two Types of Explanations Introduced

Sociologists have usually explained the economic progress of Chinese and Japanese immigrants by pointing to either their culture and group qualities (supply side) or the opportunities and discrimination in US society (demand side), but never both together.

P2: Why Both Sides Matter—Cultural/Supply-Side Details

The author argues we need both perspectives for a full explanation. This paragraph gives examples of the "supply side": Japanese immigrants formed stable families and moved into business ownership, which helped them succeed; Chinese immigrants, being mostly unattached sojourners facing ethnic conflict, struggled more until they started establishing families—at which point their achievements matched those of Japanese immigrants.

P3: Why Both Sides Matter—Structural/Demand-Side Details

Here the author highlights the "demand side": the US economy's need for different kinds of labor changed over time, shaping both groups' opportunities. Early on, immigrants filled a need for cheap labor; later, higher education and demographic concentration helped their descendants rise into better jobs, especially when the economy advanced after WWII.

11.

It can be inferred that the author’s analysis of the socioeconomic achievement of Chinese and Japanese immigrants and their descendants differs from that of most sociologists primarily in that most sociologists

  1. address the effects of the

    Opposite, if anything

    This answer is saying that the author does not address the effects of the interaction of causal factors. That seems like an opposite.. The author is the one combining supply-side and demand-side factors, so she seems to be talking about the interaction of causal factors.

    7% picked this

  2. exclude the factor of a

    Unrelated to Goal

    We never heard that most sociologists exclude the factor of a developing capitalist economy. We only heard that most sociologists do cultural or structural analysis, but never both together.

    3% picked this

  3. do not apply an economic

    Unrelated to Goal

    We never heard that most sociologists avoid applying an economic metaphor. We only heard that most sociologists do cultural or structural analysis, but never both together.

    3% picked this

  4. emphasize the disadvantageous effects of

    Unrelated to Goal

    We never heard that most sociologists emphasize the ills of racial discrimination. We only heard that most sociologists do cultural or structural analysis, but never both together.

    4% picked this

  5. Correct

    focus on a single type

    Why this is right

    This is what we predicted: most sociologists apply cultural theories or structural theories, but never both together. They focus on a single type of theoretical explanation. Meanwhile, the author thinks that only an analysis that appreciates cultural and structural factors will suffice.

    Skill tested: Inference · how this choice captures the passage's function is the move to repeat next time.

    83% picked this

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