A theorist has defined modernization in underdeveloped countries as passing from "traditional authority," derived from long-standing custom and the authority of kinship leaders, to "legal-rational authority," based on procedures specifically established for particular goals. No doubt this scheme works well enough in categorizing some societies, but how is one to classify the Ibo society of southeastern Nigeria? In precolonial Ibo society, village decisions were reached in general meetings, and formalized by striking the ground with.an ofo, which is a staff possessed by the head of a kinship group. This might seem to fit the theorist's model, but the Ibo altered this procedure whenever appropriate-for instance, if the senior kinship head forgot his ofo, any other ofo could be used. The Ibo, too, freely revised any customary procedures in order to pursue trade-a flexibility that served them well in the new capitalist economy introduced by colonialism. If this theorist is to be consistent, he must concede that the lbo were "modern" before the first colonist stepped ashore.

The author's primary concern in this passage is to

(A) describe a Nigerian society.
(B) reveal a shortcoming in a theory.
(C) show how one form of authority gives way to another.
(D) explain the interplay of colonialism and capitalism.
(E) prove that Ibo society is modern.



Consider each of the three choices separately and select all that apply.

Which of the following is consistent with the conception of "legal-rational authority," as defined in this passage?

(A) A procedure is acceptable if it is not forbidden by law and is suited to a specified purpose.
(B) A leader has unlimited authority within an area determined by custom.
(C) A practice is correct if is one that has always been used in the past.



The author would agree that the categorization used by the theorist of modernization is

(A) applicable in some cases.
(B) totally without merit.
(C) universally valid.
(D) incapable of being empirically tested.
(E) relevant only to societies that were never colonized.