Reading Passage Question
In February 1819, the territory of Missouri petitioned Congress to be admitted as a state. At the time, America consisted of 11 slave and 11 free states, so the question was whether Missouri, with 10,000 slaves, should be admitted as a slave state or be forced to free its slaves before it was allowed into the fold. Debate on the issue raged across the country. Finally, Henry Clay crafted a compromise in March 1820. Under the aptly named Missouri Compromise, Missouri was admitted as a slave state, and the territory of Maine came in as a free state, keeping a balance of 12 slave and 12 free. Congress also deemed that slavery would be excluded from any new states or territories above latitude 36 degrees, 30 minutes.
Solutions and Explanation
- Which of the following would be the best title for the passage above?
(A) Who Was Henry Clay?
(B) 11 Became 12
(C) Maine’s Entry into the U.S.
(D) What Was the Missouri Compromise?
(E) A Major Event Before the Civil War
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: It has been analyzed from the passage that in March 1820. Henry Clay introduced a compromise named Missouri Compromise. The passage overall states the condition of the Missouri Compromise. As per the compromise, Missouri was announced as a slave state while the territory of Maine was declared a free state. Thus maintaining a balance of 12 slaves and 12 free states. There were a lot of uproars when this decision was taken as nobody was ready to agree to what was happening. Moreover, the passage states that Congress considered that slavery needs to be excluded from any territories or states beyond latitude 36 degrees, 30 minutes. The decision taken by Congress impacted many people as they were kept as bonded laborers and could not break free from the shackles of slavery. Hence D is the correct answer as it suits the content of the passage.
- According to the passage, how did the Missouri Compromise affect the entry of new states or territories into the United States?
(A) New states located above a certain latitude could not practice slavery.
(B) New states below a certain latitude could not practice slavery.
(C) Slavery was banned in all new entering states.
(D) The Missouri Compromise outlawed slavery in the United States.
(E) Every new state was allowed to follow the practice of slavery, or its stance against slavery, from before it joined the country.
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: The Missouri Compromise had a negative impact on the states and territories which were intending to enter the United States. This is because any new state which crossed a certain latitude could not become a slave state and was automatically known as a free state. The passage depicts Congress considering that slavery needs to be excluded from any territories or states beyond latitude 36 degrees, 30 minutes. Some people accepted this decision while it was rejected by some people. This is because they used to practice slavery and leaving that lifestyle behind and evolving into a free state was something that they could not accept. Therefore, A is the correct answer since it satisfies the content of the passage.
- The author’s tone towards Missouri’s practice of slavery could best be described as which of the following?
(A) Sneering condemnation
(B) Skeptical acceptance
(C) Repenting admittance
(D) Calm statement of fact
(E) Breezy confidence
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: The author while expressing Missouri Compromise does not take any sides. He just states the fact and lets the audience decide what is right and what is wrong. He does not say that slavery in one state and freedom in another state were highly unfair. He maintains a neutral tone towards the events happening. Some readers might feel him cool and calm while others might consider him to be unaffected by the events which are happening around him. Therefore, D is the correct answer as it supports the argument described in the passage.
“In February 1819, the territory of Missouri petitioned Congress to be” - asks the candidate to select the correct answer by analyzing the passage properly. It is a GMAT reading comprehension passage. The candidates must possess adequate knowledge of the English language to comprehend the English GMAT reading comprehension. The GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions help the students to boost their skills of reading.
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