CSS 2013 Solved Precis

• Ideological (adjective): Based on or relating to a system of ideas and ideals
  • Contextual Explanation: The inner aspect of culture is described as ideological, meaning it is based on a system of beliefs.
• Feudal (adjective): Relating to the medieval feudal system
  • Contextual Explanation: The passage mentions fairly developed feudal societies in Asia, Africa, or Latin America, referring to a social structure based on land ownership.
• Tribalism (noun): The state or fact of being organized in a tribe or tribes
  • Contextual Explanation: Other societies had yet to progress beyond primitive pastoral tribalism, referring to a social organization based on tribes.
• Subjugation (noun): The action of bringing someone or something under domination or control
  • Contextual Explanation: The social and cultural development of these countries was frozen at the point of their political subjugation, meaning when they were brought under control.
• Unsophisticated (adjective): Not complex or convoluted; simple or basic
  • Contextual Explanation: The culture of feudal societies rarely intermingled with the parallel unsophisticated folk culture of the general masses, describing the simple culture of the common people.
• Contagiously (adverb): In a way that spreads from one person or place to another
  • Contextual Explanation: The passage states that both feudal and tribal societies were living contagiously in the same homelands, referring to their proximity.
• Feuds (noun): A prolonged and bitter quarrel or dispute
  • Contextual Explanation: These societies were constantly engaged in tribal, racial, and religious or other feuds, indicating bitter quarrels.
• Accentuated (verb): To make more noticeable or prominent
  • Contextual Explanation: Colonialist-imperialist domination accentuated this dual fragmentation, meaning it made the existing divisions more pronounced.
• Bequeathed (verb): To pass on or leave something to someone else
  • Contextual Explanation: This is the basic ground structure bequeathed to the newly liberated countries, implying it was left to them by their former rulers.

The passage explains the nature of culture as both external and ideological, its organic connection to social structures, and how colonialism froze the cultural and social development of many underdeveloped nations, leaving behind deep divisions and arrested growth. Moreover, the purpose of the passage is to show that cultural problems in underdeveloped countries cannot be studied in isolation but must be understood as rooted in broader political and economic structures, shaped mainly by colonialism and feudal or tribal legacies.

Main Idea of the Passage

• Cultural problems in underdeveloped nations stem from their social structures and colonial past and can only be solved by addressing their underlying political and economic issues.

Supporting Ideas Helping the Main Idea

• Culture has two aspects: external - formal, social, artistic - and internal, ideological, both tied to social structures.
• Cultural change is organically linked to changes in political and economic structures.
• Cultural problems in underdeveloped nations must be analyzed in light of social problems.
• These problems mainly arise from arrested growth caused by centuries of imperialist domination.
• Colonialism froze the development of feudal and tribal societies until independence.
• Feudal culture was elitist and disconnected from the masses while tribal culture was primitive and limited.
• Colonialism deepened class, tribal, racial, and religious divisions, leaving fragmented societies.

Confused About Main and Supporting Ideas?

Kindly make sure to revise all five lectures on Precis Writing that I have already delivered. In these sessions, we discussed in detail:

• What a precis is and its purpose.
• What the main idea means and how to extract it effectively.
• What supporting ideas are and how to identify them.
• How to coordinate the main and supporting ideas while writing a concise, coherent precis.

Additionally, go through the 20 examples I shared in the WhatsApp groups. These examples highlight the Dos and Don’ts of Precis Writing, and revising them will help you avoid common mistakes and refine your technique.

Precis 1

Culture consists of external and internal aspects, both rooted in social structures, and it changes only when these structures change. Hence, cultural problems cannot be addressed separately from political and economic issues. In fact, in underdeveloped countries, cultural problems primarily arise from long colonial domination and the persistence of backward social structures. During colonial times, colonial powers froze the development of societies ranging from advanced feudal to primitive tribal systems until independence. Moreover, feudal culture, though refined, was limited to elites while tribal culture remained primitive. Furthermore, colonialism further intensified social and cultural fragmentation, producing class, tribal, racial, and religious divisions. Therefore, today's cultural problems in these countries are the inherited outcome of their distorted social and colonial past.

• Original Words in the Passage: 357
• Precis Word Count: 119
• Title: Colonial Legacy and Cultural Problems of Underdeveloped Nations

Precis 2

Culture, comprising both external expressions and underlying ideologies, is naturally connected to human societies’ social structures. As these structures change, culture inevitably transforms as well. Therefore, cultural issues must be viewed within the context of larger political and economic challenges. In underdeveloped nations, such problems arise from stagnation caused by centuries of imperialist dominance and antiquated social systems. Undoubtedly, colonialism suppressed their societal progress, whether in advanced feudal societies or primitive tribes, leaving them immobilized until independence. While feudal culture was exclusive to elites, tribal traditions often lacked intellectual richness. Thus, contemporary cultural challenges in these nations are rooted in their colonial past and fragmented social fabric.

• Original Words in the Passage: 357
• Precis Word Count: 107
• Title: Imperial Domination and Cultural Stagnation in Underdeveloped Nations

Precis 3

Culture in human societies comprises external and ideological aspects, the former expressed through social and artistic forms that organize inner ideas. Both aspects are integral to a society’s structure and change with it; because of this organic bond, culture also influences structural change. Hence, cultural problems cannot be separated from political and economic issues. In underdeveloped countries, they reflect arrested growth caused by prolonged imperialist domination and remnants of outdated social systems. Consequently, colonial rule froze cultural and social development. Furthermore, feudal systems confined culture to elites while tribal cultures lacked intellectual depth, thus intensifying multilayered social divisions and leaving liberated nations with fragmented foundations.

• Original Words in the Passage: 357
• Precis Word Count: 103
• Title: Culture and Social Structure

Precis 4

Culture in human societies embraces external and ideological aspects expressed through art and social forms reflecting their inner ideas. Both belong to a society's structure and change with it while culture also influences structural shifts. Therefore, cultural problems are inseparable from political and economic ones. In underdeveloped states, such issues arise from long imperialist domination and obsolete social institutions. As a result, colonial rule restricted development. Moreover, feudal culture stayed with elites; tribal life lacked intellect and intensified class and group divisions, hence leaving newly freed nations socially and culturally divided.

• Original Words in the Passage: 357
• Precis Word Count: 91
• Title: Cultural Stagnation in Postcolonial Societies

Precis 5

Human societies' culture has external and ideological aspects expressed through social and artistic forms. Both are part of a society's structure and change with it; moreover, culture also influences structural transformation. Hence, cultural crises cannot be detached from economic and political ones. In the case of underdeveloped countries, such issues arose from long imperial rule and backward social institutions. As a consequence, colonialism arrested progress, confined feudal culture to elites, weakened tribal intellect, and deepened social divisions, thus leaving independent nations socially and culturally disunited.

• Original Words in the Passage: 357
• Precis Word Count: 85
• Title: Colonial Impact on the Cultural Evolution of Nations

Precis 6

Culture's external and ideological aspects evolve with human societies' structure and also shape their change. Therefore, cultural issues are inseparable from political and economic ones. Specifically, in underdeveloped nations, long imperial rule and old social institutions caused stagnation. Hence, colonialism restricted cultural growth to elites, suppressed tribal intellect, and produced socio-cultural disunity in newly independent societies.

• Original Words in the Passage: 357
• Precis Word Count: 56
• Title: Culture and Underdevelopment: A Colonial Aftermath