I think the main conclusion is the argument is this:
Which of the following best completes the passage below?
the most serious flaw in television’s coverage of election campaigns is its tendency to focus on the horse-race side of politics—that is,
to concentrate on the question “Who’s winning?” at the expense of substantive coverage of the issues and the candidates’ positions on them. The endless interviews with campaign managers, discussions of campaign strategies, and, especially, the obsession with opinion polls have surrounded elections with the atmosphere of a football game or a prizefight. To reform this situation, a first step might well be______
Notice the bold part where I highlighted.
(D) the publication and distribution of voter-education literature to inform the public about each candidate’s position on the major issues- directly attacks the statement, and that's why that's the best way to reform the situation.
I believe the opinion polls only address one aspect of the problem (only part of the conclusion) while informing the public of the candidate's position does a better job in addressing the ENTIRE problem: "lack of coverage on issues and candidate's position".
ritula wrote:
Though D looks tempting but the question begins with "the most serious flaw....." which says that televisons are concentrating more on opinion polls. We are concerned with how to reform this situation. lets suppose we publish and distribute voter-education literature. But will that improve the flaw in television's coverage? no.....But if we reduce the television coverage of opinion polls the flaw will be removed. Hence I go with C
Nihit wrote:
Which of the following best completes the passage below?
the most serious flaw in television’s coverage of election campaigns is its tendency to focus on the horse-race side of politics—that is, to concentrate on the question “Who’s winning?” at the expense of substantive coverage of the issues and the candidates’ positions on them. The endless interviews with campaign managers, discussions of campaign strategies, and, especially, the obsession with opinion polls have surrounded elections with the atmosphere of a football game or a prizefight. To reform this situation, a first step might well be______
(A) a shortening of the length of election campaigns to a period of six weeks
(B) a stringent limit on campaign spending
(C) a reduction in the television coverage of opinion polls during election campaigns
(D) the publication and distribution of voter-education literature to inform the public about each candidate’s position on the major issues
(E) a limit on the length and number of political advertisements broadcast on television