GRE General TestVerbal ReasoningMedium
A recent anthropological theory posits that early human societies, far from being purely hierarchical, often displayed a remarkable degree of ______; decisions were frequently made through communal deliberation rather than by a single authority figure.
- Aegalitarianism
- Bhegemony
- Cautocracy
- Dstratification
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. egalitarianism
The sentence states that early human societies were 'far from being purely hierarchical' and that decisions were made through 'communal deliberation rather than by a single authority figure.' This describes a system of equality and shared power, which aligns with 'egalitarianism.'
Why the other options are wrong
- B. 'Hegemony' refers to leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others, which implies a hierarchical structure, contradicting the sentence.
- C. 'Autocracy' is a system of government by one person with absolute power, directly contradicting 'communal deliberation'.
- D. 'Stratification' refers to the arrangement or classification of something into different groups, typically implying a hierarchy, which contradicts the sentence.
Direct Contrast with Evidence
A type of text completion where a blank is filled by a word that is the direct opposite of a stated idea, with supporting evidence for this opposition.
- Look for phrases like 'far from being,' 'contrary to,' 'not,' or 'instead of.'
- The evidence provided explicitly supports the contrasting idea.
- The correct answer will be an antonym or a concept diametrically opposed to the initial idea.
Memory trick: Opposite views with proof in tow, guide the right word's logical flow.