Reading comp PrepTest 153 · Section 4 · Question 9

Incorrect. (Line 26; Paragraph 4) This is a tempting answer! After all, the passage notes that, to be effective, the programming shouldn't consist of lessons. However, in the fourth paragraph, none of the specific types of programming include discussion of the daily lives of listeners. The closest the passage comes to this is in line 26, but there it talks about important issues—which don't need to be about the daily lives of listeners. So this answer just misses the mark, especially since it doesn't address traditions at all.

Correct. Must Be True

Strategy Overview:
Head back to the section referencing these ideas and anticipate a specific answer

Answer Anticipation/Relevant Lines:
This question asks about a specific topic—the success of radio programming in preserving languages. Specifically, it asks about what makes the difference between a successful and unsuccessful radio program, as far as preserving these languages is concerned.

The passage talks about a problem with using radio programming to preserve languages in the third paragraph before expounding on it in the fourth, so we should check there. The overall statement of how radio programming can be effective starts in line 39—it "should resonate with the living oral traditions of indigenous communities." The final paragraph explains some ways that this can be done. As such, we should look for an answer that ties the programming into the traditions of the community.

Note that this question is framed as asking about what makes programming "less likely" to be successful, so we want an answer bringing up a lack of connection to tradition.

Answer Explanation:
(Lines 39-43) When discussing effective radio programming, the passage notes that it "should resonate with the living oral traditions of indigenous communities." That's another way of saying that the programming should connect with culture, as this answer states. It is therefore correct.

Key Takeaway:
When a Must Be True RC question gives you a specific topic, you should start by heading back to your notations to find where that topic shows up in the passage. If your notations are strong enough, you should be able to narrow it down!

Incorrect. (Paragraph 4) There's no discussion of the economic circumstances of the listeners in the key section of the passage.

Incorrect. (Lines 48-52) In the fourth paragraph, the passage notes that programming focused on lessons is often not effective at preserving language, whereas programming that includes speeches, songs, and games is. Both of these could be "designed to advocate" the use of traditional languages, so this answer doesn't reflect a distinction between the effective and non-effective programming.

Incorrect. (Lines 48-52) The last paragraph notes that the programming that is traditionally instructional can be "unengaging and distant," so if anything, the programming that uses these traditional academic methods is less effective, not the programming that fails to use it, as this answer states.