Reading comp PrepTest 142 · Section 3 · Question 12

Correct. Question Type:
Argument Structure

Strategy Overview:
Reiterate the main point of the passage and the role of the paragraph in which the relevant phrase is included, then read it in context to define its specific role

Answer Anticipation/Relevant Lines:
Line 58 is in Paragraph 3 and, specifically, it's where the Author is presenting a limitation on stealing thunder's effectiveness. This is to back up the passage's main point that stealing thunder is effective, even if there are some limitations on it.

The phrase in question is included in a sentence that starts in Line 54, and it's a pivot statement ("But"), so we should check out the preceding sentence, as well. And that statement builds off of the previous statement ("therefore"), so we're heading back even further to get the full context!

With all that noted, we can see that the relevant context is that jurors want to "solidify their position" on the case—in other words, make up their minds about it. Early positive framing—stealing thunder and framing the damaging information in a positive light—can thus result in them framing all information positively. However, if the information is instead damaging or negative, it can create a negative "cognitive framework" that the jurors will filter information through. Such a schema would thus have them view all evidence negatively.

Since this is brought up in the context of showing a limitation on the effectiveness of stealing thunder, we can say that it's meant to show how information presented

Answer Explanation:
(Lines 52-54) The Author notes that the jurors, eager to make up their minds, might use "early positive framing" to guide their analysis of future information. But such a "cognitive framework" can also backfire, leading to an early negative impression leading to viewing later information negatively. This answer is therefore correct.

Key Takeaway:
Note that the relevant phrase was stated in a section discussing a limitation on a certain reason for stealing thunder's effectiveness. The correct answer was phrased in a neutral manner—in talking about "influence," it could be discussing a positive or negative influence. In that way, the correct answer captures the purpose of that section of the passage—to discuss how the same reasoning for stealing thunder could explain its effectiveness and a situation where it's not effective.

Incorrect. (Lines 50-51) In this section, the Author says that jurors often "initially have little information about the case," which is the closest that we get to this answer and runs against it. If anything, in stating that early information creates a cognitive framework, the Author argues that such cognitive biases are established during the trial.

Incorrect. (Lines 52-54) Such a tempting answer! The passage does note that jurors might use this early information to form a cognitive framework, and that can color the way they view the rest of the information. However, there's no indication that this will always be the case—after all, it doesn't tie the damaging evidence later in the trial to a stealing thunder situation. If the prosecution presents a video of the defendant committing the crime on the last day of the trial, that'd probably have a pretty great impact on the trial, no matter how positive the cognitive framework of the jurors is!

Incorrect. (Lines 54-56) The Author notes that stealing thunder early in a case can backfire, so she doesn't theorize that it's always best to do it early in a case.

Incorrect. (Lines 20-21; Liens 52-54) This answer tries to compare the value of the first reason for stealing thunder's success with its last, and such a comparison doesn't exist.