Need help on PSAT question

[myc]

This is from REA(research and education association) PSAT and NMSQT 2006 volume. pg.21.

The Italian cultivation of classical literature had attained its highest point, and was already verging toward decline. More than a century had passed since Petrarch had kindled the first enthusiasm. It requires some effort of the imaginantion for us to realise what that movement meant. The men of the fourteenth century lived under a Church that claimed the surrender of the reason, not only in matters of faith, but in all knowledge: philosophy and science could speak only by doctors whom she sanctioned.

In the sentence "philosophy and science could speak...sanctioned"(lines 10-12), the author stresses the Church's
a.) commitment to education
b.) absolute control of thought
c.) growing sensitivity to new ideas

Why can't the answer be c.)? Isn't the church sensitive to ideas that don't adhere to its own beliefs.
do you need "to be" between "calimed" and "the"?
"under a Church that "to be" claimed the surrender of the reason"

Thank you!

[Lucien_Librarian]

Hi myc

The text states quite clearly that the (Christian) Church at that time tried to control everything, any theory of science and so forth. So the answer has to be b.)

"To claim" in this context means to occupy or grab something, make it one's own. The "to be" you mentioned would slightly change the meaning of the phrase. Also in my humble opinion the "the" in front of reason is redundant and philosophy and science spoke "through" sanctioned doctors not "by" them.

Cheers
L.L.

[myc]

Why would the church be the surrender of reason? Doesn't that mean that the church gave into reason, so the church now is reasonable?

Thanks so much!

[Lucien_Librarian]

No. To surrender means "to give up" in this context. Surrender as a verb, not as a noun.
And "claim" rather in the sense of "demand". Because that's what the text is really saying: The Church demanded to surrender reason in order to control people's perception of the world.