PrepTest 151, Section 4, Question 8
A good movie reviewer should be able to(65 more words not shown)
Which one of the following(10 more words not shown)
- AMovie reviewers' tastes(15 more words not shown)
- BIf a movie(23 more words not shown)
- CThe function of(11 more words not shown)
- DMovie reviewers see(7 more words not shown)
- EThe role of(20 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
You can dislike a movie and still recognize who would enjoy it.
Imagine a reviewer who is tired of action-movie sequels. The next sequel may offer exactly what its audience wants, even if the reviewer would rather watch something else. A useful review could explain that appeal instead of treating the reviewer's own taste as everyone's taste.
But is that really the reviewer's job? Perhaps the job is to evaluate the movie's artistic merits. The last sentence answers that concern by distinguishing reviewers from film critics: reviewers help people choose movies they might enjoy. Given that role, the argument makes sense. Different, well-informed tastes shouldn't prevent a reviewer from helping an audience with different preferences.
What we’re looking for
We're asked for the overall conclusion. The first sentence is what the other claims support: a good reviewer should be able to give a favorable review to a movie that isn't to the reviewer's taste.
Working the answers
- A
This helps explain why a reviewer's own taste may not match the audience's. It supports the claim about what a good reviewer should be able to do. The argument doesn't stop at describing the difference in taste; it uses that difference, together with the reviewer's role, to support the first sentence.
- BCorrect
The word 'if' may make this look different from the opening sentence, but read the whole claim. Saying 'a good reviewer should be able to do this' is the same as saying 'if a reviewer is good, that reviewer should be able to do this.' Both describe an ability expected of good reviewers.
B doesn't say every movie is good, or that a reviewer must give every disliked movie a positive review. It says the reviewer should be able to give favorable reviews despite a difference in taste. The conditional wording hasn't changed that meaning. Don't reject a faithful paraphrase merely because it uses a different sentence structure.
- C
The difference between reviewers and critics helps explain why personal artistic preferences aren't the reviewer's only guide. That distinction supplies support for the conclusion about favorable reviews. It isn't the final claim the author is trying to establish.
- D
The reviewers' extensive viewing experience explains their different, better-informed tastes. That is part of the support leading toward the conclusion. The author's ultimate point is what reviewers should be able to do despite that difference in taste, not simply how many movies they see.
- E
This states the job description that answers the concern raised while reading. Because reviewers help audiences decide what they will enjoy, they should be able to look beyond their own taste. E is a reason for the first sentence, rather than the conclusion that reason supports.
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