GRE Reading Comprehension

Home > GRE Test > GRE Reading Comprehension Questions

Next steps

Source: BOOST

Writing of the Iroquois nation, Smith has argued that through the chiefs council, tribal chiefs traditionally maintained complete control over the political affairs of both the Iroquois tribal league and the individual tribes belonging to the league, whereas the sole jurisdiction over religious affairs resided with the shamans. According to Smith, this division was maintained until the late nineteenth century, when the dissolution of the chiefs' council and the consequent diminishment of the chiefs' political power fostered their increasing involvement in religious affairs.

However, Smith fails to recognize that this division of power between .the tribal chiefs and shamans was not actually rooted iri Iroquois tradition; rather, it resulted from the Iroquois' resettlement on reservations early in the nineteenth century. Prior to resettlement, the chiefs' council controlled only the broad policy of the tribal league; individual tribes had institutions-most important, the longhouse-to govern their own affairs. In the longhouse, the tribe's chief influenced both political and religious affairs.

Question List: 1 2 3 4

Which of the following best expresses an opinion presented by the author of the passage?

  • A Smith has overstated the importance of the political- role played by iroquois tribal chiefs in the nineteenth century.
  • B Smith has overlooked the fact that the Iroquois rarely allowed their shamans to exercise political authority.
  • C Smith has failed to explain why the chiefs' council was dissolved late in the nineteenth century.
  • D Smith has failed to acknowledge the role prior to the nineteenth century of the Iroquois tribal chiefs in religious affairs.
  • E smith has failed to recognize that the very structure of Iroquois social institutions reflects religious beliefs.

Show Answer

Previous       Next