The Bell Curve by Richard J. Herrnstein and Charles Murray generated an enormous amount of controversy because it suggested that racial differences in IQ scores were due to genetically driven differences in intelligence. It argued that "both genes and the environment have something to do with racial differences." For those who disagreed, this seemed like a familiar argument because
A) racism usually is reducible to a group's cultural characteristics.
B) this is the same argument that was made by the founding fathers to justify the treatment of Native Americans and Africans.
C) it leaves education policy at the center of a racial controversy.
D) racist beliefs are often rooted in the assumption that differences between groups are genetic.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The suggestion of genetically driven differences in intelligence relating to race has been used to justify racist beliefs in the past, and therefore, the argument presented in The Bell Curve generated controversy and opposition from those who saw it as perpetuating these beliefs.