Social Sciences Reading List 2024 | History, Culture, Literature

A collection of reading comprehension practice articles from the world of culture, history, and society. To master the social science passages on tests such as the GRE and GMAT, developing strong reading habits is essential.

A lot of test-takers consider the social sciences to be the more “abstract” topics. An exploration of renaissance paintings? A discussion of philosophical theories that compare one way of society with another? Not your everyday reading by any means! However, such reading comprehension passages are as likely to appear in the GMAT and the GRE, if not more, as any other passage on a more “interesting” scientific discovery or managerial practice.

This recommended reading list has curated articles that allow you to immerse yourself in diverse materials and offer organized insights that resemble the structure of exam passages. This expands your knowledge base while honing your reading comprehension skills. Moreover, the articles are followed by a representative RC practice question. These questions offer valuable practice and closely mirror the types you’ll encounter on the GRE and GMAT. Use the summary of the article that is provided in each post as a benchmark for understanding – compare your interpretation to see how well you’ve grasped the central themes.

Remember, this list evolves! Bookmark this blog and check back regularly for fresh content to boost your reading comprehension skills and ace your exams. You can also subscribe to our YouTube and Instagram to receive weekly updates on every #wizreadswednesdays.

From Xocolatl to Chocolate | March 20, 2024

We associate chocolates with the Swiss but the origins of the chocolate as a drink can be traced to the Mayan culture. Read this easy article to trace the history of chocolate across multiple continents and its evolution into how we know it today.

Read the Culture RC Article

Answer this Medium Difficulty Inference Question

Which of the following is true about the role of chocolate in Mayan and Aztec cultures?

1. In both cultures, every one of all classes enjoyed the frothy beverage.
2. Only the Mayans believed that the drink was a gift from the gods.
3. Both cultures valued the drink and consumed it during special celebrations.
4. Aztecs traded in both Cacao beans and in gold while Mayans predominantly traded in the beans.
5. Although a popular drink, it was considered severely dangerous to consume the drink in excess.

RC Question Answer & Explanation ▼

The article mentions that, although, in Mayan culture, chocolate was commonplace and in Aztec, consumed mainly by rich, both Mayan and Aztec history show chocolate being drunk during special occasions and ceremonies.

Correct Answer: Choice (3)

Categories: March 2024 Reading List | Easy

Black Women Writers | Feb 28, 2024

Scotland and the Tartan Connection | Feb 7, 2024

Read this article to better understand the historic association of the tartan or plaid fabric with Scotland’s relationship with England and its sense of independence and identity. But…. the tartan is more than about the scots. It is a global phenomenon.

Read the Moderate difficulty History article

Answer this Moderate difficulty Inference Question

Which of the following can be inferred about King George IV?

1. His attempts at demonstrating unity changed Scotland into a vacation destination.
2. He was not the only monarch to be accused of tartanry.
3. No one of Scot descent approved of his appearance in full highland dress.
4. He was the first English monarch to visit Scotland in peace.
5. He was the grandson of King George II, whose armies fought at Culloden

RC Inference Question Answer & Explanation ▼

From the first few sentences under the subheading “Tartan’s Brand Power” in the article, we can understand all of the following information about King George IV.

1. He was already king in 1822
2. He appeared in full Highland dress during the crown’s first visit since Culloden (not the first ever peaceful one)
3. He wanted to demonstrate unity (not necessarily to make Scotland a tourist spot)
4. His move did not go down well with critics, who dubbed it “tartanry”
5. He was blamed by at least one person for stifling Scottish culture (we do not know that everyone blamed him)
6. He was not the only one to err in tartanry – Queen Victoria did the same with the purchase of Balmoral Castle

Of these possible statements, only statement 6 can be found in the actual answer options given

Correct Answer: Option (2).

Categories: February 2024 Recommendations | Moderate