PrepTest 144, Section 3, Question 14
Sharon heard her favorite novelist speak out against(27 more words not shown)
The situation described above conforms(9 more words not shown)
- AArtists who speak(13 more words not shown)
- BA political statement(23 more words not shown)
- CArtists should limit(13 more words not shown)
- DSomeone who hears(23 more words not shown)
- EPeople are far(23 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
The novelist criticized Sharon's candidate. Sharon's opinion of the novelist took the hit. We might wonder whether she can separate enjoying the novels from agreeing with their author. What the passage actually tells us is narrower: her estimation of the novelist declined, while her estimation of the candidate stayed the same.
It would be tempting to say that politics matters more to Sharon than books. But that's already more than we know. We aren't told how she ranks those interests in general. We just know how she responded to this particular criticism of a candidate she has supported for years.
What we’re looking for
For the principle question, look for a general description that fits that response: hearing something against an established opinion can make a person doubt the speaker instead of changing the opinion. We aren't being asked whether Sharon responded fairly or what artists ought to say.
Working the answers
- A
Being Sharon's favorite novelist doesn't establish that Sharon is among the novelist's most dedicated fans. More importantly, this example doesn't establish where artists' political influence is limited across their audiences. It shows one person's reaction to one novelist, not a rule about which fans artists can influence.
- B
This recommends a standard for deciding whose political statements deserve consideration. We aren't told whether the novelist has a reputation for political knowledge or honesty, or whether Sharon should apply that standard. The passage describes her reaction without endorsing a rule for how she ought to react.
- C
We aren't told that artists should restrict their political comments to issues involving the arts. The novelist's comment displeased Sharon, but a negative audience reaction doesn't by itself establish what the novelist ought to discuss. This choice adds a recommendation the situation never makes.
- DCorrect
The testimony is the novelist's criticism, the longstanding opinion is Sharon's favorable view of the candidate, and the source of the testimony is the novelist. Sharon's view of that source declines while her view of the candidate remains unchanged. Those roles line up with doubting the source rather than revising the existing opinion.
- E
We know Sharon has supported the candidate for years. We don't know how long the novelist has been her favorite. She might have admired the novelist for even longer. Without knowing that one allegiance is new and the other old, we cannot explain this response through the comparison E describes.
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