Reading comp PrepTest 129 · Section 4 · Question 1

Topic: Legal

Paragraph 1

• Paragraph note
  • The FCC's early policy (only serviced the broadcasting industry; citizens couldn't speak at hearings)
• Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
  • Cause-and-effect relationship, according to the author:
    • The fact that citizens couldn't speak at FCC hearings caused the FCC to seem like it only serviced the broadcasting industry (third and fourth sentences)
  • Author's attitude: "addressing only" (first sentence); "were not recognized" (second sentence); "did not have the standing" (third sentence); "exclusively" (last sentence)

Paragraph 2

• Paragraph note
  • Author on landmark court case (changed FCC policy) and background on the case (FCC renewed discriminatory broadcast channel's license over a church's petition)
• Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
  • Author's view:
    • A landmark case changed the FCC's early policy (first sentence)
    • The FCC probably denied the hearing to avoid setting a precedent that citizen groups could challenge government decisions (last sentence)
  • United Church of Christ's view:
    • A Jacksonville, MS television channel advocated racial segregation and excluded news and programs that supported integration (third and fourth sentences)
  • FCC's view:
    • The channel was discriminatory, but the church didn't have an economic interest in the channel, so the FCC couldn't hold a hearing and would be unnecessary anyway (fifth and sixth sentences)
  • Author's view: "real reason" (last sentence); "more likely" (last sentence)

Paragraph 3

• Paragraph note
  • The church's two appeals (the first unsuccessful; in the second, a judge revoked the station's license and gave the church a hearing)
• Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
  • Comparison, according to the author:
    • The first judge granted a full renewal to the station, while the second revoked the license and held that the church was performing a public service and had a right to a hearing (first through last sentences)
  • Author's attitude: "little avail" (second sentence); "unprecedented" (last sentence)

Paragraph 4

• Paragraph note
  • Author on case's precedent and the FCC's new approach (public can petition every three years, many issues discussed)
• Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
  • Author's view:
    • The case set a precedent that the public can question radio and television licenses every three years at the time of renewal, and the public has discussed many issues at these hearings (first through last sentences)
  • Example of issues discussed at public FCC hearings, according to the author:
    • Racial issues; quality of children's television; violence; opposing political views (last sentence)
  • Author's attitude: "established a formidable precedent" (first sentence); "range of other matters" (last sentence); "because of the church's intervention" (last sentence)

Main Point: A court case brought by a church changed the course of history by challenging the FCC's practice of only listening to broadcasting companies, opening the door for community challenges to license renewals based on community values.

Old Approach/New Approach: This passage best fits the Old Approach/New Approach Meta-Structure. In such a passage, the author describes an old way of doing something or thinking about something is described. The author then describes a new, alternative way of doing or thinking about that same thing. Usually, the author prefers the new approach. That fits this passage to a T, where the first paragraph explains the FCC's initial focus on economic/business interests and refusal to hold public hearings. The author then discusses a court case brought by a church that "changed the course of that history" (P2, S1). This case eventually ushered in the FCC's new approach, where it holds public hearings that listen to the community on various issues.

When an Old Approach/New Approach Meta-Structure defines a passage, the main point is usually the author's opinion on the new approach. The author speaks positively of the court case and its impact on the FCC's new approach, so we incorporated that into our anticipated main point.

The back-and-forth of the court case (FCC renewal → Appeal → Decision against church → Appeal → Decision against television channel → Precedent/future decisions) was a little complex, so we should be sure we understand and differentiate the different steps along the way.