Nhận biết (M1)

Several sociologists have observed that the word “culture,” though commonly used in academic literature, is an ultimately hazy concept --- for example, Renate Mayntz has noted that “there is (still) no agreement on the meaning of this core term of sociological analysis.” Does the idea of culture encompass art, or customs, or both these things and others? For casual usage, such haziness is permissible --- we know culture when we see it --- but for researchers, a standardization of the term is called for if sociology is to truly progress.

Which choice best states the main idea of the text?

• A.

  Nonspecialists and specialists have different ideas of what the word “culture” means.

• B.

  There is no widely agreed-upon definition of the word “culture,” though the field of sociology would benefit if there were.

• C.

  In her research, Mayntz presented reasons why sociologists disagree on how to analyze “culture.”

• D.

  Art and customs are key components of what nonspecialists refer to as “culture.”