PrepTest 150, Section 3, Question 14
Most popular historical films are not documentaries; they(36 more words not shown)
Which one of the following(12 more words not shown)
- AWriters of historical(19 more words not shown)
- BHistorical documentaries should(16 more words not shown)
- CDramatic presentations of(19 more words not shown)
- DDramatic presentations of(14 more words not shown)
- EOne should never(18 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
A film could portray events accurately without showing us the evidence behind its portrayal.
My first reaction is to ask what 'accurate' means here. A historical drama might capture the important events while inventing some dialogue. An actor obviously isn't the historical person, but that alone doesn't make the depiction misleading. So we shouldn't slide from 'the film doesn't present its evidence' to 'the film must be false.'
The actual conclusion is about what an uninformed viewer should regard as accurate. That's a different question. A viewer who sees only the drama may have no basis for deciding which details are well-supported and which were invented, even if some or all of the portrayal happens to be accurate.
What we’re looking for
To justify the recommendation, I'd look for a rule requiring evidence before treating a historical account as accurate. We need to connect the viewer's lack of evidence with the judgment the viewer should withhold.
Working the answers
- A
This tells writers to offer distinctive insights. It doesn't tell uninformed viewers when to trust a portrayal's historical accuracy. A writer could offer an interesting interpretation whether or not viewers have considered the supporting evidence.
- B
This concerns how documentaries should present evidence. The argument concerns how uninformed viewers should evaluate dramatic historical films, which we're told cannot present that evidence. A rule for making a different kind of film doesn't supply the missing rule for the viewer's judgment.
- C
Evidence might improve a film's educational value without being a requirement for regarding the film as accurate. 'Better suited for educational purposes' is a comparison, not the restriction on accepting historical accuracy that the argument needs. C doesn't establish that viewers should withhold that judgment when evidence isn't presented.
- D
This sets a standard for filmmakers: don't trade accuracy for entertainment. It doesn't establish whether a particular filmmaker followed that standard or what an uninformed viewer should believe. A rule about making the film is different from a rule about judging it.
- ECorrect
This makes considering the underlying evidence a requirement for regarding an account as accurate. The uninformed viewers haven't obtained that basis from a dramatic presentation that cannot show the evidence. E therefore supports withholding the judgment of accuracy. It doesn't prove that the film is inaccurate; it explains why these viewers aren't yet justified in treating it as accurate.
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