PrepTest 107, Section 4, Question 4
Political opinion and analysis outside the mainstream rarely(92 more words not shown)
An assumption made in the(10 more words not shown)
- Amost television viewers(14 more words not shown)
- Bthere are television(17 more words not shown)
- Ceach television viewer(18 more words not shown)
- Dthere are television(17 more words not shown)
- Ethe television talk(10 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
A station's political choices don't have to reflect its executives' private views. Maybe the people running it have strong opinions but avoid airing them because they don't want to lose viewers.
That's the alternative the author offers. Stations need large audiences, so they choose shows with broad appeal. The resulting political discussion is usually bland and unlikely to offend anyone. I can see the commercial reasoning: don't drive away potential customers.
But couldn't a controversial show attract a large audience? Plenty of viewers might share its views, and some might enjoy a vigorous argument. The author needs a connection between avoiding controversy and keeping the audience as large as possible. Otherwise, the pressure to attract viewers doesn't explain the blandness.
What we’re looking for
For the assumption question, I'd look for something linking the political content to who will watch. My initial thought is that broad appeal requires avoiding controversial positions. We should still read the choices carefully: a necessary assumption may give us only part of that connection, rather than such a sweeping rule.
Working the answers
- A
Viewers might disagree about which part of an opinion is most disturbing, or they might agree. Either situation could coexist with some viewers avoiding the show. The explanation doesn't depend on a disagreement over exactly what is offensive; it depends on controversial content having a cost in potential viewers.
- BCorrect
Some viewers might refuse to watch a talk show they knew would be controversial and disturbing. That's narrower than saying controversial shows can never be popular, but it gives the author the connection needed here: controversy can turn away potential audience members.
If controversy couldn't make any viewer refuse to watch, avoiding it would not serve the stated purpose in the way the author suggests. B doesn't prove that every bland show succeeds. It identifies the audience reaction on which this explanation relies.
- C
Every viewer needn't hold an opinion outside the mainstream. There might be viewers whose opinions are entirely mainstream. The author can explain the station's choices through concern about losing viewers without making this universal claim about each person's beliefs.
- D
Economic forces might affect dramas, sports, or other programming more than talk shows, less than talk shows, or equally. We aren't comparing genres. The explanation needs economic pressure to influence talk shows; it doesn't need some other kind of show to face an even greater influence.
- E
Similar political blandness is one feature, not similarity in most respects. Talk shows could differ in hosts, clothing, format, and tone while still avoiding controversial politics for the same economic reason. The author doesn't need those other features to match.
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