Hello, everyone. In an effort to assist the community, I will provide a full analysis of the question. Remember, whenever a question refers to an
argument, it is necessary to understand exactly what that argument says in order to accurately evaluate the answer choices. Here, we need to pay particular attention to Jane.
Quote:
Jane: Television programs and movies that depict violence among teenagers are extremely popular. Given how influential these media are, we have good reason to believe that these depictions cause young people to engage in violent behavior. Hence, depictions of violence among teenagers should be prohibited from movies and television programs, if only in those programs and movies promoted to young audiences.
Maurice: But you are recommending nothing short of censorship! Besides which, your claim that television and movie depictions of violence cause violence is mistaken: violence among young people predates movies and television by centuries.
- The first line of her dialogue provides a claim. We cannot verify whether TV shows and movies that depict violence among teenagers are extremely popular, but it is clear that Jane at least believes so.
- The second sentence is framed in a less judgmental way than we would see in a typical argument: we have reason to believe is not the same as asserting that these depictions cause young people to engage in violent behavior. But the cause-and-effect relationship has been established: depictions of violence among teenagers in TV and film → young people engaging in violent behavior.
- The third sentence is the argument, and even prefaces that argument with hence, a conclusion marker. Jane calls for the prohibition of the scenes depicting teen violence, at least from those programs and movies promoted to young audiences.
We have to keep an eye on the passage so that we are not sidetracked below.
Quote:
(A) The most violent characters depicted in movies and on television programs are adult characters who are portrayed by adult actors.
First off, Jane is not concerned with ranking violent acts, so
most violent is a departure from her argument, in which violence is simply violence. Second, and more notably,
adult characters are not the basis for her argument, which is instead centered on
teenagers. This should be an easy elimination.
Quote:
(B) The movies that have been shown to have the most influence on young people's behavior are those that are promoted to young audiences.
Granted,
television programs are left out here, but the path of causation fits just what Jane argues:
media, to use another word from the passage,
promoted to young audiences →
[strong] influence on young people's behavior. Perhaps the call for censorship is warranted.
Quote:
(C) The people who make the most profits in the movie and television industry are those who can successfully promote their work to both young and old audiences.
Profits have nothing to do with the content of the TV shows and films, and such a consideration has nothing to do with the argument in question.
Quote:
(D) Many adolescents who engage in violent behavior had already displayed such behavior before they were exposed to violence in movies.
Yes, but do the films still induce teens to engage in further acts of violence? If so, the argument Jane puts forth would be just as valid. Regardless, this answer choice is not what we want in a strengthener. It seems more along the lines of a defense against the argument.
Quote:
(E) Among the producers who make both movies and television programs, many voluntarily restrict the subject matter of films directed toward young audiences.
Okay, but Jane is arguing against acts of violence that are left in these films, so whether
producers... voluntarily restrict the subject matter has little effect on that argument. Jane is calling for further restrictions, plain and simple.
As much as possible, you want to maintain your level of engagement with the passage throughout the process of assessing the answer choices, and look for any easy targets to pick off. This answer set does not present any legitimate contender besides the correct answer, but the focus on fundamentals, regardless of question difficulty, remains the same.
Good luck with your studies.
- Andrew