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11 Jul 2022, 08:00
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E
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
75%
(hard)
Question Stats:
60% (02:21) correct
40%
(02:25)
wrong
based on 1153
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
A recent study of the reading habits of grade school students found that the great majority of young readers prefer books with relatable characters, humor, and fantasy elements, and that these readers were significantly more likely to finish reading a book if it possessed one or more of these preferred characteristics. However, awards for children’s literature are typically given to serious, realistic narratives, often featuring important historical persons and events. Therefore, since adults give preference to award-winning titles when selecting books to provide to children, awards for children’s literature have the unintended consequence of discouraging reading among school-age children.
In assessing the conclusion above, it would be useful to determine which of the following?
(A) Whether children who finish reading a book about historical persons and events are likely to find the characters relatable
(B) Whether children who begin reading a book with relatable characters, humor, and fantasy elements usually finish reading that book
(C) Whether awards for children's literature are intended to encourage reading among school-age children
(D) Whether award-winning books are typically labeled as such on the cover
(E) Whether award-winning books are less likely to include one or more of children’s preferred characteristics than are books that did not win awards
In assessing the conclusion above, it would be useful to determine which of the following?
(A) Whether children who finish reading a book about historical persons and events are likely to find the characters relatable
(B) Whether children who begin reading a book with relatable characters, humor, and fantasy elements usually finish reading that book
(C) Whether awards for children's literature are intended to encourage reading among school-age children
(D) Whether award-winning books are typically labeled as such on the cover
(E) Whether award-winning books are less likely to include one or more of children’s preferred characteristics than are books that did not win awards
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12 Jul 2022, 02:00
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Bunuel
Manhattan Prep Official Explanation:
Step 1: Identify the Question
The words useful to determine in the question stem indicate that this is an Evaluate the Argument question.
Step 2: Deconstruct the Argument
The first two sentences are premises that seem to draw a contrast between the kinds of books that children are likely to finish reading and the kinds of books that are likely to receive awards. In the final sentence, the author provides one more premise—adults give preference to award-winning titles—before concluding that awards discourage children from reading.
Step 3: Pause and State the Goal
For an Evaluate question, the goal is to find the answer that addresses an assumption of the argument. The answer to the question or consideration in the correct answer should help to strengthen or weaken the argument, so it’s important to identify the assumptions of the argument. This argument relies on two key, unstated assumptions:
- 1) Award-winning books are less likely to have the elements of relatable characters, humor, and fantasy.
2) If children are provided with books that they’re less likely to finish, that discourages reading.
For the first of these assumptions, who says that serious, realistic books can’t also be funny or have relatable characters? The author just assumes that the award-winning books are more lacking in these traits than average.
As for the second assumption, the author is trying to build a case that these awards discourage reading because they entice adults to buy books that kids are apparently less likely to finish. However, even if a kid doesn’t finish a book, does that automatically mean they are discouraged from reading?
Step 4: Work From Wrong to Right
(A) This choice addresses only children who do actually finish a book. It doesn’t address whether children actually will finish books about historical characters. Also, this choice doesn’t indicate whether the books it mentions are award-winners.
(B) The argument already says that children are more likely to finish books with a preferred trait. Beyond that, it isn’t helpful to know anything about completion rates for books with all three traits, especially since there is no information given on how common such books are among regular and award-winning books.
(C) This is tempting because the conclusion states that the awards have an unintended consequence. The award doesn’t have to have the goal of encouraging reading in order for it to have the unintended consequence of discouraging reading. For example, the goal of the award could be to reward talented artists or to increase children’s awareness of historical events.
(D) The final premise establishes that adults are somehow able to give preference to these books, so it isn’t necessary to know that the award is indicated on the cover. As for kids, this might go either way. First, do they know that they are less likely to finish an award-winner? And if so, does this discourage them, or does it enable them to detect and avoid the books they don’t want to read? On its own, this choice does nothing to address the assumptions.
(E) CORRECT. This choice addresses the first assumption. It isn’t clear from the premises that award winners are more likely to lack the three preferred traits. There is also no information about how often non-award winners have these traits. If award-winning books are less likely to have the three preferred traits, then the author’s conclusion may be correct. If, on the other hand, award-winning books are just as likely as other books to have at least one trait from the list, then the author’s conclusion is less likely to be correct.
General Discussion
rxb266
Joined: 30 Nov 2018
Last visit: 27 Jun 2024
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Location: India
Concentration: Strategy, Marketing
Schools: HEC MiM '21 HEC Sept'22 Intake ISB '24 Rotman '24
GPA: 4
11 Jul 2022, 08:33
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Lets untangle the stimulus:
Premise 1: A recent study of the reading habits of grade school students found that the great majority of young readers prefer books with relatable characters, humor, and fantasy elements, and that these readers were significantly more likely to finish reading a book if it possessed one or more of these preferred characteristics.
Premise 2: However, awards for children’s literature are typically given to serious, realistic narratives, often featuring important historical persons and events.
Conclusion:Therefore, since adults give preference to award-winning titles when selecting books to provide to children, awards for children’s literature have the unintended consequence of discouraging reading among school-age children.
Clearly by stating the conclusion, the author of the argument thinks that books that won awards are less likely to include one or more of children’s preferred characteristics in comparison to those books that did not. In this case the conclusion becomes strong.
If the books that did not win awards are also less likely to include one or more of children’s preferred characteristics then our conclusion becomes weak.
Therefore Option E is the correct answer.
Premise 1: A recent study of the reading habits of grade school students found that the great majority of young readers prefer books with relatable characters, humor, and fantasy elements, and that these readers were significantly more likely to finish reading a book if it possessed one or more of these preferred characteristics.
Premise 2: However, awards for children’s literature are typically given to serious, realistic narratives, often featuring important historical persons and events.
Conclusion:Therefore, since adults give preference to award-winning titles when selecting books to provide to children, awards for children’s literature have the unintended consequence of discouraging reading among school-age children.
Clearly by stating the conclusion, the author of the argument thinks that books that won awards are less likely to include one or more of children’s preferred characteristics in comparison to those books that did not. In this case the conclusion becomes strong.
If the books that did not win awards are also less likely to include one or more of children’s preferred characteristics then our conclusion becomes weak.
Therefore Option E is the correct answer.
