From time to time, the press indulges in outbursts of indignation over

Hello, everyone. I am writing in response to a request from Emeraldle, but I see a question above from another member as well, so I thought I would take the time to share my thoughts, in hopes of benefiting the community. Keep in mind, we are dealing with an EXCEPT question, so we are looking for an out-and-out wrong answer. This question also adopts an assumption framework, so we need to find an answer choice that would not have to be assumed by the author of the passage. I typically break down a passage line by line, but I think I will incorporate more of the passage in my analyses below to disprove or disqualify four of the five answer choices. How about we start from the top?

Analysis: Keep in mind, we are looking for an exception among reasonable assumptions. Does the author assume that the government deceives the press on purpose but does so for a worthy cause? The first two lines and the analogy that follows support this notion. Line 1 tells us that, straightened out, the U.S. government [uses] false or misleading information in support of its policies and programs. We understand, however, that such action is not needless deception (line 2), since the analogy reveals that Christopher Columbus deceived his skeptical crew and averted a potential mutiny, thereby allowing the mission to succeed, even if the discovery of the New World, rather than India, was happenstance. If the author has asked us to consider this historical analogy, then the why behind the analogy supports making the assumption in this answer choice. Presumably, the government, like Columbus before, has worthy objectives. This is NOT what we are after. Red light.


Analysis: We have to read into the analogy a bit more here, but latching onto the keywords without and might well helps us get to the bottom of the matter. The passage explicitly states in the final line that without this deception, Columbus's sailors might well have mutinied. Of course, a mutiny would indicate a lack of popular support, and again, if we are to ask ourselves why the author of the passage turns to this analogy to illustrate a point, then we can only conclude that this answer choice is a valid assumption. Keep looking. Red light.


Analysis: Line 1 of the passage indicates that the press indulges in outbursts of indignation over the use of false or misleading information by the U.S. government. There is no political motivation to be gleaned on behalf of the press. To my eye, the press is angry that the government has misled its own citizens, nothing more. Thus, we do NOT have to assume that the author of the passage above assumes this answer choice, and that fits an EXCEPT condition. Make sure you read the question stem carefully. Green light.


Analysis: Yes, the passage states in line 2 that no one endorses needless deception, but if anything, the similarity between that statement and this answer choice underscores the notion that, once again, the author of the passage above assumes that deception for its own sake is condemnable or should not be condoned or endorsed. Others might disagree, but not the author of the passage. This is an assumption the author makes about the action of deception, and that is not what we are after. Red light.


Analysis: This is a nice summary of the analogy. Columbus deceived his crew, but it was so that they might remain obedient to his command, and the result was the discovery of the New World. Likewise, the U.S. government might deliberately deceive its citizens, but, to lift some of the language of an earlier answer choice, it is for a worthy end. If the author of the passage did not make this assumption, then there would be no point to the analogy. Thus, this answer choice does not meet the EXCEPT condition. Red light.

I think that sometimes people approach these questions too quickly, without considering what, exactly, the question is asking. There is simply no justification in the passage to support (C), and that is what we have been tasked to find. Of course, if anyone feels differently, please share your thoughts in an effort to help the community (i.e. serve the greater good).

Thank you, and good luck with your studies.

- Andrew