While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Political scientist Graham Allison is known for his Thucydides trap...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Political scientist Graham Allison is known for his Thucydides trap theory.
- Allison's theory states that whenever 'a rising power is threatening to displace a ruling power,' conflict is likely.
- The theory is based on Thucydides's explanation of the conflict between Athens and Sparta.
- Thucydides wrote that 'the rise of Athens and the fear this instilled in Sparta' made conflict 'inevitable.'
- History professor Edmund Stewart recently challenged the historical basis of the theory.
- Stewart claimed that Athens was not a rising power and that the rivals experienced a 'clash of cultures' instead.
The student wants to use a quotation to challenge Thucydides's explanation of the conflict between Athens and Sparta. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
According to Allison's Thucydides trap theory, whenever 'a rising power is threatening to displace a ruling power,' conflict is likely.
Thucydides wrote that conflict between the two powers was 'inevitable,' although Stewart later challenged the historical basis of this claim.
According to Stewart, a 'clash of cultures' between Athens and Sparta caused the conflict, not Athens's rise.
Thucydides explained that conflict was caused by 'the rise of Athens and the fear this instilled in Sparta,' but Allison disagreed, seeing the conflict as an example of the Thucydides trap.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Political scientist Graham Allison is known for his Thucydides trap theory." |
|
| "Allison's theory states that whenever 'a rising power is threatening to displace a ruling power,' conflict is likely." |
|
| "The theory is based on Thucydides's explanation of the conflict between Athens and Sparta." |
|
| "Thucydides wrote that 'the rise of Athens and the fear this instilled in Sparta' made conflict 'inevitable.'" |
|
| "History professor Edmund Stewart recently challenged the historical basis of the theory." |
|
| "Stewart claimed that Athens was not a rising power and that the rivals experienced a 'clash of cultures' instead." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map:
[ALLISON'S THEORY]
├── Theory: Rising power threatens ruling power → conflict
├── Based on Thucydides's historical explanation
│ └── Athens rising + Sparta's fear → inevitable conflict
└── CHALLENGED BY STEWART
└── Alternative: "clash of cultures" not rising power
Main Point: The passage presents Allison's Thucydides trap theory and Stewart's recent challenge to its historical foundation.
Argument Flow: We start with Allison's modern theory about rising vs ruling powers, learn it's based on Thucydides's ancient explanation of Athens-Sparta conflict, then encounter Stewart's challenge that offers "clash of cultures" as an alternative explanation to Thucydides's "rising power" narrative.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The student wants to use a quotation to challenge Thucydides's explanation of the Athens-Sparta conflict.
What type of answer do we need? A quotation that directly opposes or contradicts Thucydides's explanation of what caused the conflict.
Any limiting keywords? "Quotation" - we need actual quoted material, and "challenge" - it must oppose Thucydides's explanation, not support it.
- The key is that Thucydides explained the conflict as caused by "the rise of Athens and the fear this instilled in Sparta."
- To challenge this explanation, we need a quote that offers a different cause or contradicts this rising power narrative.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Let's first think about what the right answer should tell us:
- From our analysis, Thucydides explained the Athens-Sparta conflict as being caused by Athens's rise and Sparta's resulting fear.
- Stewart challenged this explanation by claiming Athens wasn't actually a rising power and that the conflict was instead a "clash of cultures."
- So the right answer should use Stewart's quoted words to directly contradict Thucydides's explanation by offering "clash of cultures" as an alternative cause for the conflict, rather than the "rising power" explanation that Thucydides gave.
According to Allison's Thucydides trap theory, whenever 'a rising power is threatening to displace a ruling power,' conflict is likely.
✗ Incorrect
- This quotes Allison's theory, not a challenge to Thucydides
- Allison actually supports Thucydides's explanation by basing his theory on it
- This doesn't challenge anything - it reinforces the rising power concept
Thucydides wrote that conflict between the two powers was 'inevitable,' although Stewart later challenged the historical basis of this claim.
✗ Incorrect
- While this mentions that Stewart challenged Thucydides's claim, it doesn't provide Stewart's actual quotation
- The question specifically asks for a quotation to challenge the explanation
- This acknowledges the challenge but doesn't give us Stewart's alternative explanation
According to Stewart, a 'clash of cultures' between Athens and Sparta caused the conflict, not Athens's rise.
✓ Correct
- Uses Stewart's direct quotation: "clash of cultures"
- This quote directly challenges Thucydides's explanation by offering a completely different cause
- Instead of "rising power" causing conflict, Stewart's quote suggests cultural differences were the real cause
Thucydides explained that conflict was caused by 'the rise of Athens and the fear this instilled in Sparta,' but Allison disagreed, seeing the conflict as an example of the Thucydides trap.
✗ Incorrect
- This misrepresents the relationship between Allison and Thucydides
- Allison didn't disagree with Thucydides - he built his theory ON Thucydides's explanation
- This reverses the actual scholarly relationship described in the passage