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Difficulty: MediumPrimary Purpose of the Whole Text

For decades, accounts of the Industrial Revolution in Europe focused almost exclusively on the supply side, highlighting technological breakthroughs in coal, steam, and textile manufacturing. However, economic historian Jan de Vries shifted this paradigm by introducing the concept of the 'industrious revolution.' De Vries argued that prior to the rise of factories, European households began dedicating more time to market-oriented labor in order to purchase newly available consumer goods like sugar, tea, and printed cottons. This shift in household behavior and consumer demand created the very markets that factory production would later exploit. By demonstrating that demand-led changes preceded supply-side mechanization, de Vries's work challenged the traditional view that technology alone was the prime mover of modern economic growth.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

  1. A
    To outline the complete history of household labor and consumer preferences in modern Europe.
  2. To present a historical argument that challenges a production-centric explanation of the Industrial Revolution.Answer
  3. C
    To describe the specific consumer goods, such as tea and sugar, that became popular in Europe before the rise of factories.
  4. D
    To criticize Jan de Vries for neglecting the role of technological breakthroughs in his analysis of European history.

Answer

The correct answer is the option that states the text's purpose is to present a historical argument that challenges a production-centric explanation of the Industrial Revolution.
The passage begins by establishing the traditional, production-centric focus of historical accounts of the Industrial Revolution. It then introduces Jan de Vries's alternative model, the 'industrious revolution,' which emphasizes changes in household labor and consumer demand. The passage concludes by noting that de Vries's work challenged the traditional emphasis on technology as the sole driver of economic growth. Thus, the primary purpose of the text as a whole is to present this challenging historical argument.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Read the entire passage to identify the central focus and main argument being presented.
The passage discusses the shift from a traditional supply-side focus on technology to Jan de Vries's theory about demand-led household behavior preceding the Industrial Revolution.
Understanding the main argument helps distinguish the primary purpose from minor details or opposite claims.
2
Analyze how the author structures the information to support this focus.
The author presents the traditional view of supply-side mechanization, introduces de Vries's counter-perspective of the 'industrious revolution,' and shows how this new model challenges the old assumptions.
This structure shows that the overall purpose is to present this new perspective and explain how it reframes our understanding of the Industrial Revolution.
3
Evaluate the answer choices to find the one that summarizes this whole shift rather than focusing on specific details or misrepresenting the tone.
The option highlighting a historical argument that challenges a production-centric explanation correctly encompasses the entire text's discussion.
Selecting this option aligns with the overall purpose while rejecting distractors that focus only on details or mischaracterize the tone.

Key Concept

Primary Purpose of the Whole Text
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Primary Purpose of the Whole Text

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