GRE Reading Comprehension
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Historically, sociologists have presumed that people will attribute certain characteristics to a member of a particular group when it is generally believed that most members of that group possess the characteristics in question. For sociologists Hepburn and Locksley, such social stereotyping has led to the broader question of whether people are cognizant of their own stereotyping behavior. Seemingly, if one knows that one holds a stereotypical notion such as "all members of a certain ethnic group are natural musicians," then one might also be aware that the notion that "a particular musician of that ethnic group is a great musician" is a corollary of that stereotype. However, people are most aware of their stereotyping when they have no information. When given information that conforms to their beliefs and the individual case observed, people become less aware of their tendency to stereotype and therefore more likely to engage in stereotyping.
Question List: 1 2
Which of the following best describes the function of the first sentence?
- A To present a criticism of Hepburn and Locksley's conceptualization of why individuals stereotype
- B To provide evidence to support Hepburn and Locksley's claims about the problems inherent with stereotyping
- C To provide the backdrop for Hepburn and Locksley's study
- D To provide an overview of a social phenomenon and its contributions to Hepburn and Locksley's area of inquiry
- E To provide a history of social stereotyping alongside Hepburn and Locksley's reservations about the practice