Unlike the United States with its generalissimo politicians - Washington, Jackson, Grant, and Eisenhower- the ‘martial arts’ have been conspicuously absent from Canadian politics.  The exception to the rule is former Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau, who became the first Canadian leader to bring a gunslinger ethos to Canadian politics. Trudeau introduced Canada to the refined art of single combat; it was the politics of “doing it my way”.   Single-combat confrontation implied much more than the renegade in power did, and far less than the tricks of William Lyon Mackenzie King, prime minister intermittently between 1921 and 1948.  

Trudeau’s unique background prepared him for the role of authoritarian leader he would assume later in life.  Born on October 18, 1919, Trudeau lived in French-speaking Montreal, but heard English at home from his mother, making it easy for the young politician to appeal to all sectors of Canada, a bilingual country. As a young man, he walked and cycled through Europe, finding himself on occasion on the wrong side of the bars in foreign jails.  By 1940, Trudeau entered the law faculty at the University of Montreal.  As a student he enlisted in the Canadian Officers Training Corps, where he was given a commission as a lieutenant, a rank he held until his retirement in 1947.  Trudeau, a renowned sportsman, held a brown belt in karate, knew how to skin dive and could descend 150 feet off a cliff with ease.  He continued performing flamboyant physical feats even in later life as Canada’s fifteenth prime minister, astounding Canadians with his prowess.  The public’s adoration made it possible for him to practice his personal brand of ‘do it my way’ politics, initiating profound and long-lasting changes to his country.

Other leaders would never have undertaken to deal with such taboo issues as divorce, abortion and homosexuality– matters likely to infuriate conservative Canada from coast to coast.  Even the powerful Mackenzie King dared not touch any of the three, though Trudeau tackled them together in an omnibus bill as Minister of Justice under Lester B. Pearson.  His reason for loosening legislation on these issues was, as he put poetically put it, "The state has no business in the bedrooms of the nation."  The myths-makers have it that this was Trudeau's first deliberate ‘gun slinging’ move, performed with the ultimate goal of attaining national leadership. Contrary to popular belief, Trudeau had no leadership aspirations at the time; all he had was a passion for combat that eclipsed other religious considerations.  Trudeau instigated far-reaching changes in legislation governing divorce, abortion and homosexuality that have had a major impact on Canada, shaping the country into what it is today.  

1.  The primary focus of the passage is on which of the following?
(A) Comparing two Canadian prime ministers and contrasting their personal style of leadership
(B) Describing the leadership style of one of Canada’s prime ministers
(C) Evaluating the success of the leadership style of one of Canada’s prime ministers
(D) Summarizing the contribution of one of Canada’s prime ministers
(E) Tracing the long-term impact of legislation put forward by one of Canada’s prime ministers

The best answer is B.  The passage describes the ‘doing it my way’ type leadership style of former Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau.
 
2. It can be inferred from the passage that former Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King
(A) was opposed to abortion and put forward legislation making it illegal
(B) was opposed to abortion but did not put forward legislation making it illegal  
(C) was in favor of abortion and put forward legislation making it legal
(D) was in favor of abortion but did not put forward legislation making it legal
(E) did not put forward legislation making abortion legal

The best answer is E.  The passage states that Mackenzie King dared not touch the issue of abortion, so it can be inferred from the passage that he did not put forward any abortion legislation.  The passage provides no information on what Mackenzie King’s opinions were on the subject.

3.  The author of the passage mentions Trudeau’s accomplishments in sports primarily in order to

(A) Explain the source of Trudeau’s physical stamina
(B) Illustrate that he had earned the adoration of the Canadian public  
(C) Contrast it to his personal brand of ‘do it my way’ politics
(D) Provide one reason why he was able to single-handedly push through legislation that should normally have shocked conservative Canada
(E) Provide one reason why he was able to single-handedly thwart legislation that should normally have shocked conservative Canada

The best answer is D.  One of the ways Trudeau won the hearts and minds of the Canadian public was by astounding them with his physical prowess.  Because the public was so awed by Trudeau as an individual, he was able to pass legislation considered progressive.

4. The quotation "The state has no business in the bedrooms of the nation," is most probably used to
(A) present the opinion that the state should have less of a say in issues that are essentially not public matters
(B) present the opinion that the state should have less of a say in issues that are essentially public matters
(C) present the opinion that the state should have more of a say in issues that are essentially not personal matters
(D) provide an example of Pierre Elliot Trudeau’s flamboyant style that he used to captivate the Canadian public
(E) contrast Pierre Elliot Trudeau’s flamboyant style with that of Lester B. Pearson

The best answer is A.  Matters that concern “the bedrooms of the nation” are private matters.  Trudeau sought to reduce government control in such matters.  Answers (B) and (C) say the opposite, namely that government control in public matters