PT154 S1 Q16 ExplanationThe prevailing view among historians

Answer choices, explained

1. A

   Too Weak20% picked this

   Among the written records produced by clergy in medieval Europe and currently available to historians are a number of documents detailing nonreligious, as

   This almost hints at an objection like, "Hey ... the clergy's records weren't biased -- look, they include nonreligious details as well." But that's not much of a counterpunch. Even though they would have details of nonreligious life, that doesn't really allay our concern that they would still exaggerate how devoted people were to religious life.

   20%
2. B

   Too Weak5% picked this

   Many members of the clergy in medieval Europe spent more time among peasants than among people of

   This helps us feel more like, "at least many clergy members were well acquainted with the peasants! So their records are informed by personal exposure?" But that doesn't allay the author's concern that the clergy would still present the records in a way that exaggerates the religious devotion of the peasants. This answer might make us feel more like the clergy knew the truth about the peasants, but doesn't do anything to counter the author's concern that the clergy might not report the truth about the peasants, in regards to religious fervor.

   5%
3. C

   Correct61% picked this

   Written records produced by clergy in medieval Europe very rarely portray merchants or nobles as

   Why this is right

   This provides some evidence of lack of bias. The clergy would presumably have been just as motivated to exaggerate the religious devotion of higher classes of citizenry as well. It wouldn't help the clergy maintain its power to only show that the lowest class was into religion. The clergy would want to make it seem like the whole society is into religion, thus cementing their central role in society. So the fact that clergy records very rarely say that the upper classes were devoted to religion gives them more credibility. If a Republican politician were praising Trump for action X and someone was like, "We shouldn't trust your praise. You're motivated to praise him because pleasing his base helps you stay in power", then it would be a powerful counterpunch to say, "Look, I vocally opposed Trump on actions W, Y, and Z." If the clergy were willing to tell the unpalatable (to them) truth that the upper classes weren't very religious, it gives them more credibility as a truthful record of events.

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

   61%
4. D

   No Impact4% picked this

   Historians cannot develop a reliable account of the religious attitudes held during any given historical period unless they have consulted all of the

   This is way too broad to have any impact on this specific conversation. If anything, it would just strengthen the author's view that we can't be sure that the clergy's account of religious devotion is a reliable account (we need to consult all surviving records and see if they agree).

   4%
5. E

   Unclear Impact10% picked this

   Documents produced by clergy in medieval Europe contain detailed descriptions of participation by peasants and

   This doesn't really answer the author's concern that the records, which portray the peasants as deeply religious, could be kind of a lie. The fact that there are detailed descriptions doesn't suggest that they are honest, accurate descriptions.

   10%