The debate over the British Museum’s Parthenon sculptures, also called the Elgin Marbles, has run for nearly two centuries. Marble statues were removed – with official permission – from the ruins of the Parthenon in 1801 by Lord Elgin, the British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. He sold these ancient Greek treasures to the British Museum in 1816, where they have been housed ever since. Today, five million visitors from around the world visit the sculptures, free of charge, at the British Museum. Since gaining independence in 1830, however, the Greek government has argued for their return to Athens. Historically, the Hellenic position centred on ownership, claiming that Lord Elgin bribed authorities to acquire the marbles illegally. The counterargument is that Lord Elgin saved these classical treasures from neglect. Greece no longer disputes the British Museum’s ownership, but states that the sculptures should be loaned to the New Acropolis Museum in Athens, where they would be reunited with other surviving sculptures and displayed in their proper geographic and cultural context. Despite public sympathy for the return of the Elgin marbles, the British Museum believes that the Parthenon marbles are part of shared world heritage and thus should be widely accessible. Furthermore, returning the Parthenon statues would set a precedent for returning other artefacts to their land of origin.
Which two of these statements must be true?
The British Museum believes that the Parthenon sculptures transcend national boundaries.
Prior to 1830, Greece was part of the Ottoman Empire.
There is public sympathy for the return of the Elgin marbles.
Lord Elgin did not sell the sculptures but saved it by donation to British museum
(True) The British Museum believes that the Parthenon sculptures transcend national boundaries. Yes, they believe that the marbles are “part of shared world heritage” meaning that individual nations should not claim more of an ownership over other nations
(Cannot say) Prior to 1830, Greece was part of the Ottoman Empire. The statement above was never stated out rightly in the passage, so we cannot assume it is true
(True) There is public sympathy for the return of the Elgin marbles. Very true – as seen in the passage
(False) Lord Elgin did not sell the sculptures but saved it by donation to British museum The passage confirm that he actually sold it
The democratic peace theory holds that liberal democracies never, or rarely, go to war against each other. The first to espouse this idea was the German philosopher Immanuel Kant, who posited that constitutional republics engender peace, because the majority of people will not vote to go to war unless in self-defence. More recently, the democratic peace theory was put forth in 1964 by Dean Babst. Babst carried out the first statistical research to scientifically prove that democracies never or rarely fight each other. Despite an undeniable statistical correlation between democracy and peace, the democratic peace theory is highly debated amongst political scientists. The definitions of “democracy” and “war” are one contentious issue. Some opponents of the democratic peace theory point to exceptions, such as the Spanish-American War. However, the main criticism of the theory is that it is based on flawed logic – that peace between democracies is not caused by the democratic nature of those states. Furthermore, opponents argue that democracies frequently attack non-democracies, dispelling the notion that democracies are inherently pacifistic. There are several derivatives of the democratic peace theory, including the economic peace theory, which states that increased economic exchange between states helps to avoid conflict.
Dean Babst found statistical evidence showing democracies do not fight in wars
The main derivatives of the democratic peace theory is the economic peace theory
No consensus was arrived at to determine the best position
Liberal democracies never, or rarely, go to war against each other
(Cannot say) Dean Babst found statistical evidence showing democracies do not fight in wars The passage says nothing of any evidence proving or disproving that democracies get involved in any war, for example against non democracies
(Cannot say) The main derivatives of the democratic peace theory is the economic peace theory The passage mentioned economic peace theory as a derivative of democratic peace theory but it never mentioned if it is the main derivative
(True) No consensus was arrived at to determine the best position Proper analysis of the passage, shows this as true
(True) Liberal democracies never, or rarely, go to war against each other Very true – as seen in line 1 of the passage
The first to espouse the idea of democratic peace was a French philosopher, Kant
According to Kant majority will vote to go to war unless in self defence
The Spanish American war was cited to down play the effectiveness of democratic peace theory
Opponents argue on the frequent attacks on non-democracies by democracies
(False)The first to espouse the idea of democratic peace was a French philosopher, Kant Immanuel Kant is a German philosopher and not a French philosopher
(False) According to Kant majority will vote to go to war unless in self defence The passage in line 3 and 4 states otherwise
(True) The Spanish American war was cited to down play the effectiveness of democratic peace theory Very true – as seen in line 12 of the passage
(True) Opponents argue on the frequent attacks on non-democracies by democracies Very true – as seen in the last 5 lines of the passage
The definition of peace is divisive amongst political scientists.
In 1964, Babst carried out the first research to prove democratic peace theory
The main criticism on the theory is its flawed logic
Economic Peace Theory states that increased economic exchange help avoid conflict
(Cannot say) The passage does not say anything on the definition of peace being divisive
(Cannot say) In 1964, Babst carried out the first research to prove democratic peace theory Despite an undeniable statistical correlation between an undeniable statistical correlation between democracy
(True) The main criticism on the theory is its flawed logic Very true – as seen in line 13 of the passage
(True) Economic Peace Theory states that increased economic exchange help avoid conflict Very true – as seen in the last line of the passage
Kant’s theory about democratic peace was based on his scientific research
Democratic peace theory is based on democracy
Several derivatives of the democratic peace theory exist
The correlation of democracy and peace help reduce debate amongst scientist
(False) Kant’s theory about democratic peace was based on his scientific research The third sentence states that the first statistical research into the theory was not carried out until Babst’s work in the 1960s
(True) Democratic peace theory is based on democracy The second sentence explains that the majority of people will not vote to go to war, and as a result the country will not go to war.
(True) Several derivatives of the democratic peace theory exist Very true – as seen in the last 2 lines of the passage
(False) The correlation of democracy and peace help reduce debate amongst scientist Despite this correlation, the democratic peace theory is still highly debated