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[1] Well-formed national societies are not composed of millions of individuals but are constituted as communities of communities2. These societies provide a framework within which diverse social groups as well as various subcultures find shared bonds and values3. When this framework falls apart, we find communities at each other’s throats or even in vicious civil war, as we sadly see in many parts of the world4. (Arthur Schlesinger Jr. provides an alarming picture of such a future for our society in his book, The Disuniting of America.)

[2] Our community of communities is particularly threatened in two ways that ought to command more of our attention in the next years1. First, our society has been growing more diverse by leaps and bounds over recent decades, as immigration has increased and Americans have become more aware of their social and cultural differences2. Many on the left celebrate diversity because they see it as ending white European hegemony in our society3. Many on the right call for “bleaching out” ethnic differences to ensure a united, homogenous America. 4

[3] A second challenge to the community of communities emanates from the fact that economic and social inequality has long been rising1. Some see a whole new divide caused by the new digital technologies, although others believe that the Internet will bridge these differences2. It is time to ask how much inequality the community of communities can tolerate while still flourishing3. If we are exceeding these limits, what centrist corrections are available to us? 4

[from Community Building: Steps Toward a Good Society, Amitai Etzioni, Current, January 200]

1

Societies that work don’t need subcultures.
A)True
B)False
2

According to the author, the increasing diversity of United States society presents a potential threat to our unity.
A)True
B)False
3

Economic and social inequality cannot be tolerated in a healthy society.
A)True
B)False
4

Some see the Internet as another threat to our society.
A)True
B)False
5

The phrase “constituted as” in paragraph 1, sentence 1, means
A)determined by the Constitution
B)made up of
C)considered
D)constructed as
6

Which sentence best expresses the main idea of paragraph 1?
A)1
B)2
C)3
D)4
7

    Our society has been growing more diverse by leaps and bounds.
    Reflecting an incredibly diverse city, the borough of Queens in New York City is home to people from more than 50 different countries.

In these sentences, “diverse” means
A)crowded
B)complicated
C)heterogenous
D)divided
8

The main idea of the entire passage is best expressed by which of the following?
A)American society is going to undergo a civil war.
B)American society is too diverse.
C)American society faces challenges from diversity and inequality.
D)American society is too complex for its own good.





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