question on PSAT

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"

[Anglika]

1: The Church is controlling the dissemination of knowledge; it may have been sensitive to learning, but it is primarily exercising absolute control of thought.

2: a Church that claimed the surrender of the reason : This is saying that a Church expected all its members to toe the line and follow its instructions and tenets without question. There is an error of syntax - it should read "a Church that claimed the surrender of reason"

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

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"

It is a terrible paragraph. It does not read as something written by a scholar.

That said, B is the only possible answer.

[myc]

why is it a horrible paragraph?