Reading comp PrepTest 153 · Section 1 · Question 1

Incorrect. (Lines 37-38) The last paragraph notes that most film critics ""rarely speak"" about this problem, so the passage doesn't present evidence against a claim that critics often make. It criticizes a practice that critics rarely acknowledge.

Incorrect. The passage doesn't discuss the ""materials"" used in film—it discusses the methods used to edit/translate/display the films after their creation is complete. This answer would be correct in a passage about cameras and film stock, not the movies themselves.

Incorrect. (Lines 6-9) The passage is about how factors such as edits, dubs, and subtitles get in the way of the filmmaker's intent—and criticism isn't listed as one of those factors. Rather, the criticism based on these alterations might not be fair.

Correct. Question Type:
Main Point/Methods of Reasoning

Strategy Overview:
Define the Main Point through the lens of what the Author intended to do, not what she intended to say

Answer Anticipation/Relevant Lines:
These questions split the difference between Main Point and Methods of Reasoning questions. It's asking about the primary goal of the Author, which is to prove the main point of the argument. And so we should expect the answer to align with a general version of the main point coupled with some statements about how the Author argues.

So what is her main point? She starts by introducing a problem—movies are altered after creation—before going into the factors that lead to that problem. Then, she talks about the implications of that problem. So her main point is that films are ""mutilated/deform[ed]"" after creation, which can lead to unfair criticism and misplaced expectations. She does this by presenting the problem, factors leading into it, and the implications of it.

Let's find an answer in that general world!

Answer Explanation:
(Lines 6-9; Lines 36-38) The passage starts by introducing a problem before describing the factors leading to it, justifying that part of this answer. And after going through the factors, the Author notes that audiences and most critics ""rarely speak about"" the problem, justifying the ""generally overlooked"" portion of this answer. It therefore reflects the entirety of the passage correctly, so it's the right answer.

Key Takeaway:
When you come across this type of question, base your anticipation in the main point, and then create a more general version of it. Then, throw in a bit of the argument's structure, and focus on the first words of the answer—the verb needs to line up with what the Author did. Here, the Author argued that something was a problem, and so we needed an answer whose primary verb reflected that.

Incorrect. (Lines 50-59) The passage doesn't state that criticism of films is generally negative—it just brings up factors that can affect the criticism or how it's perceived. In fact, the last point would apply to good criticism as well as bad criticism.