Question

Sociologist: Some people argue that capital punishment for theft was an essential part of the labor discipline of British capitalism. Critics of such a view argue that more people were executed for theft in preindustrial England than were executed in England after industrialization. But such a criticism overlooks the fact that industrialization and capitalism are two very different social phenomena, and that the latter predated the former by several centuries.
Which one of the following most accurately describes the role played in the passage by the point that capitalism and industrialization are distinct?
(A) It is cited as some evidence against the claim that capital punishment for theft was an essential part of the labor discipline of British capitalism.
(B) It is cited as a direct contradiction of the claim that capital punishment for theft was an essential part of the labor discipline of British capitalism.
(C) It is an attempt to conclusively prove the claim that capital punishment for theft was an essential part of the labor discipline of British capitalism.
(D) It is cited as a fact supporting the critics of the view that capital punishment for theft was an essential part of the labor discipline of British capitalism.
(E) It is an attempt to undermine the criticism cited against the claim that capital punishment for theft was an essential part of the labor discipline of British capitalism.

Answer 1

Answer: (E) It is an attempt to undermine the criticism cited against the claim that capital punishment for theft was an essential part of the labor discipline of British capitalism.

Explanation:

The point that there is a difference between capitalism and industrialization was made to counter the criticism of capital punishment being an essential part of British capitalism and this is shown when the text reads "... such a criticism overlooks..." which means that the point was made in direct opposition to the criticism.

The author here therefore supports the argument that capital punishment for theft was in fact essential in instilling labor discipline.