PrepTest 157, Section 2, Question 22
Because of the ubiquity of television in modern(30 more words not shown)
The conclusion drawn above follows(9 more words not shown)
- ANo children who(14 more words not shown)
- BOnly those people(15 more words not shown)
- CNo children who(17 more words not shown)
- DFew people who(12 more words not shown)
- EFew children who(8 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
Could a child become interested in literature later?
The passage explains why few children currently read stories in their free time: television is widely available and visually appealing. “Ubiquity” means being found almost everywhere. We can accept the account of what children do now and still question the prediction about a lifelong interest. Perhaps someone who spends little time reading as a child discovers books later. The argument hasn't ruled that out.
What we’re looking for
To make the conclusion follow, we need present reading to be a requirement for developing that interest. Then the small group of children reading now would be the only group that could develop it. Saying reading is one good way to develop an interest wouldn't be enough; other routes could leave the conclusion false.
Working the answers
- A
This says children who read stories will develop the interest. That gives us a guarantee for readers, but it leaves nonreaders free to develop the interest too. If both groups could develop it, the fact that few currently read wouldn't establish that few will become interested. We need to exclude the other route, not merely confirm this one.
- BCorrect
Only people who currently spend free time reading stories will develop a lifelong interest in literature. So current reading is required. Since few children meet that requirement, the future interest can develop only within that small group. B connects the present reading pattern to the conclusion about the future.
- C
This describes children in homes without a television and says they read stories. But it doesn't tell us who will develop a lifelong interest in literature. It also doesn't establish how many children live in those homes. Even if the rule is true, the main connection from current activity to future interest remains missing.
- D
We aren't told that most children watch a great deal of television. Having television widely available and spending little free time reading don't establish that particular viewing level. So a claim about heavy viewers doesn't settle the future interests of children generally. We still lack the rule connecting the stated reading pattern to the predicted interest.
- E
This tells us about television viewing among the children who read. It says nothing about developing a lifelong interest in literature. Those who don't currently read might still develop one later, which is the possibility our argument needs to exclude.
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