MCAT Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills Question 57: Answer and Explanation

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Question: 57

5. In the context of the passage, "incrementalism" (paragraph 5) most likely refers to a policy that:

  • A. causes fundamental societal change.
  • B. considers problems on a case-by-case basis.
  • C. is concerned with achieving a color-blind society.
  • D. takes a step by step approach to reaching agreement on basic theoretical principles.

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

B This is an Inference question.

A: No. This is the opposite of what the term expresses in the context of the centrist view. The centrists, who advocate the incrementalist view, believe that application of the act on a case by case basis entails simply correcting mistakes on a relatively small scale.

B: Yes. "Incrementalism" is essentially defined in the previous paragraph: "The incrementalist, case-by-case nature of voting-rights policy means that remedial measures can be crafted without raising larger issues of democratic theory."

C: No. This describes what the centrists believe to be true of most people (paragraph 3), but does not define incrementalism itself.

D: No. This choice is half-right but half-wrong. Yes, it is a step-by-step approach, but not to reaching agreement on theoretical principles. The centrists (who are identified with incrementalism in the passage) believe that this agreement has already been reached (see paragraph 3).

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