Hi!!

It took me around 7 mins to solve this passage (including 1.5 mins to read)

Summarizing the passage- The Author starts by putting light on the poverty experienced and then moves to the main point by presenting facts and adds his own point to it.

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

(A) propose and defend a theory about the consequences of a certain historical event---> The author is certainly not defending something--OUT
(B) present historical facts and offer a broader interpretation of those facts than has been offered in the past-->Uh..Huh! The Author does presents facts and adds his own interpretations to it---Hold
(C) describe the socioeconomic effects of a widely held attitude during a particular historical period-->Straight OUT
(D) demonstrate the superiority of using an economic approach to historical analysis---> No superiority of economic approach is discussed
(E) call attention to the influence of the textile industry on society during a particular historical period--->Influence of textile industry is certainly not the primary purpose.

IMO B

2. It can be inferred from the passage that the author views the system of paying all workers equally on time rates as

You can directly refer line which says, "women had been paid hardly more than children;". This basically implies payment system was not rational.

(A) unfair and not rational--Correct
(B) undesirable but unavoidable
(C) efficient and profitable
(D) advantageous to most women workers
(E) evidence of a trend toward a more modern wage system

IMO A

3. The passage implies which of the following about women spinners in medieval Europe?


(A) Most of them worked independently for wealthy sponsors.--> Most-extreme word and we cannot infer this from anywhere in the passage--OUT
(B) They were not typical of medieval women entrepreneurs.--> OUT
(C) Some of them were paid for their work after it was done, according to its value.--> Hold---> the author does discuss that, there was prohibition on lending and then the author says however, it was also almost certainly a response to a trend toward differential reward for women’s higher skill. So this is a possible answer choice, and a safe inference
(D) They would have been able to contribute substantial amounts to their families incomes were it not for the prohibition against advancing money to them.---> OUT
(E) They were inevitably disadvantaged in the marketplace because they were obliged to obtain money for their supplies from usurers.--> Not discussed-- OUT

IMO C

4. The passage implies that feelings of hopelessness among medieval workers
I am not very sure of the answer, however, I was confidently able to reject 4 option choice leaving me with one choice.

(A) resulted primarily from the lack of a rational system of differential rewards----> Primarily? There could be other factors not discussed in the passage---OUT
(B) disappeared completely once medieval textile workers were able to break the cycle of poverty---> Completely-?--> It might have disappeared to some extent but not completely--OUT
(C) were more prevalent among female workers than among male workers--> Not discussed--OUT
(D) came into being in part because of women’s limited earning capacity-->This is the only option choice left. And this is what the passage implies and the reason why the author discusses women's earning further---Correct
(E) were particularly common among textile workers in Italy and France--> Not discussed--OUT

IMO D

5. The author suggests that historians have done which of the following?

Historians have usually interpreted this prohibition simply as evidence of women’s economic subjection, since it obliged them to turn to usurers; however, it was also almost certainly a response to a trend toward differential reward for women’s higher skill.

However, here is a transitions word, which means that the author is certainly not satified by the explanation provided by the historians.

(A) Failed to give adequate consideration to the economic contribution of women during the medieval period.--> OUT
(B) Overestimated the degree of hopelessness experienced by medieval workers trapped in the poverty cycle.--> OUT
(C) Ignored the fact that by 1300 many women spinners were working independently rather than for merchant entrepreneurs.--> OUT
(D) Regard the economic status of women in Italy and France as representative of women’s status throughout medieval Europe.--> Italy and France were not the only focus--- OUT
(E) Overlooked part of the significance of a prohibition governing one aspect of yarn production in medieval Europe.--> Correct. The author does presents his view on the prohibition and the opportunities it had for women.

IMO E

Hope this helps!