In a recent survey, Garber and Holtz concluded that the average half-h

5. The author would most likely agree with which of the following statements?

(A) The question of how television affects children cannot be answered by defining or redefining the term "violent" but only by assessing the effect of programming on behavior.
(B) The lack of direct causal evidence of any long-lasting effect of television viewing on the behavior of children proves that children's programs do not contain violence.
(C) The number of violent acts in a television program provides an indication of the cumulative energizing effect that viewing the program is likely to have on behavior.
(D) Adult action programming which features actors engaged in violent behavior is likely to have the same behavioral effects as a cartoon showing similar behavior.
(E) The disagreement between the television industry and its critics over the content of programming for children could be resolved by finding an appropriate definition of "violent."

Para 3 first sentence- There is no evidence of direct imitation of television violence by children, though there is evidence that fantasy violence can energize previously learned aggressive responses such as a physical attack on another child during play. Based on this I chose A

(A) The question of how television affects children cannot be answered by defining or redefining the term "violent" but only by assessing the effect of programming on behavior.
(B) The lack of direct causal evidence of any long-lasting effect of television viewing on the behavior of children proves that children's programs do not contain violence.
(C) The number of violent acts in a television program provides an indication of the cumulative energizing effect that viewing the program is likely to have on behavior.
(D) Adult action programming which features actors engaged in violent behavior is likely to have the same behavioral effects as a cartoon showing similar behavior.
(E) The disagreement between the television industry and its critics over the content of programming for children could be resolved by finding an appropriate definition of "violent."

6. Which of the following best describes the author's attitude about critics who say that television is an important cause of violent behavior in children?

(A) qualified endorsement
(B) contemptuous dismissal
(C) enthusiastic acceptance
(D) moderate skepticism
(E) cautious criticism

Last sentence of the paragraph mentions critics use violence as a scapegoat to draw public attention. This suggests contemptuous dismissal.

(A) qualified endorsement
(B) contemptuous dismissal
(C) enthusiastic acceptance
(D) moderate skepticism
(E) cautious criticism

RC#11 Long passage {18 mins - 5/6 correct}
Paraphrasing:
Para 1: Children TV Show, real issue is whether children view such acts as violence
Para 2: Cartoon violence (fantasy) vs make-believe violence (realistic),
depends entirely on the viewer's knowledge that the portrayal is fictional,
young children, can differentiate types of violence on a cognitive or rational basis
Para 3:
Exciting material = aggressive behavior = portrayal of violence = Energize violent behavior
Energizing Effect: Rare, occasionally direct, relate to TV violence, behaviour novel, and already established pattern of deviant behavior.
Instigational effect: short term, but dangerous, interpersonal aggression, non-violent TV content or exciting source
Para 4:Instigational effects = No evidence / strong conclusions = the real causes of violence, culture that celebrates violence generally.

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to
Explanation:
Last line of para 1 in the passage “The real issue is whether children view such acts as violence.”
Last line para 4 in the passage, “The evidence does not warrant the strong conclusions advanced by many critics who tend to use television violence as a scapegoat to draw public attention away from the real causes of violence--causes like abusive spouses and parents and a culture that celebrates violence generally”
Based on the above 2 sentences, we can conclude, Option A is correct, we can eliminate all other option as they are not mentioned in the passage
(A) correct a popular misconception - Correct
(B) outline the history of a theory - Wrong
(C) propose a solution to a social problem - Wrong
(D) criticize the work of earlier researchers - Wrong
(E) offer a theory of criminal behavior - Wrong

2. According to the passage, all of the following would deter a child from regarding an incident of television violence as real EXCEPT
Explanation: as mentioned in para 3, last line “This same instigational effect, however, could be produced by other exciting but nonviolent television content or by any other excitational source, including, ironically, a parent's turning off the set.”
(A) including easily recognized cartoon characters - Self interpretation by children while watching TV
(B) explaining that characters mean to do no harm – Explained by 3rd person to children, no interpretation by TV
(C) having characters laugh at their misfortunes - Self interpretation by children while watching TV
(D) using a futuristic setting with spaceships and robots - Self interpretation by children while watching TV
(E) setting the action in prehistoric times - Self interpretation by children while watching TV

3. The author implies that a child who has an argument with a sibling two to three hours after watching fantasy violence on television would
Explanation:
as mentioned in the para 3 about, “The instigational effect means, in the short-term, that exposure to violent portrayals could be dangerous if shortly after the exposure (within 15 to 20 minutes), the child happens to be in a situation that calls for interpersonal aggression as an appropriate response, e.g., an argument between siblings or among peers”.
Meaning: time frame is between 15-20 mins, post which situation would be under control and act of violence could be low, as intensity of debate among them would have lost ground.
Eliminate A, B, D, and E as these events could be possible just within the 15-20 mins of short term after watching the fantasy violence

(A) almost surely be more aggressive than usual – Wrong, not after 15-20 mins, short term
(B) tend to act out the fantasy violence on the sibling – Wrong, not after 15-20 mins, short term
(C) probably not be unusually violent or aggressive – Correct, as mentioned above
(D) likely lapse into a state of passivity – Tricky, but we need between violent & non-violent
(E) generally, but not always, be more violent – Wrong, degree of violent is not mention in passage

4. The author mentions the possible effect of a parent's turning off a television (Highlighted) in order to
Explanation: as mentioned in para 3, Last line “This same instigational effect, however, could be produced by other exciting but nonviolent television content or by any other excitational source, including, ironically, a parent's turning off the set.”
Highlights of Para 3
Violence initiator: exciting material = aggressive behavior = portrayal of violence = Energize violent behavior
Energizing Effect: Rare, occasionally direct, relate to TV violence, behaviour novel, and already established pattern of deviant behavior.
The instigational effect: short term, but dangerous, interpersonal aggression, non-violent TV content or exciting source

(A) demonstrate that children are able to distinguish fantasy violence from real violence
– Energizing Effect
(B) highlight the fact that it is not violence but energy level that stimulates behavior
– Correct: Instigational Effect
(C) refute the suggestion that children are able to understand the motive for a violent action
- Wrong, not related to question stem
(D) question the evidence for the proposition that television violence causes violent behavior
- Wrong, not related to question stem
(E) show that reducing the number of hours a child watches television effectively eliminates passivity
– Wrong, Irrelevant

5. The author would most likely agree with which of the following statements?
(A) The question of how television affects children cannot be answered by defining or redefining the term "violent" but only by assessing the effect of programming on behavior.
Correct: as mentioned in the 4th para, “So there is no convincing causal evidence of any cumulative instigational effects such as more aggressive or violent dispositions in children. In fact, passivity is more likely a long-term result of heavy viewing of television violence”

(B) The lack of direct causal evidence of any long-lasting effect of television viewing on the behavior of children proves that children's programs do not contain violence.
Wrong: It’s the opposite, as mentioned in para 3,” There is no evidence of direct imitation of television violence by children, though there is evidence that fantasy violence can energize previously learned aggressive responses such as a physical attack on another child during play”

(C) The number of violent acts in a television program provides an indication of the cumulative energizing effect that viewing the program is likely to have on behavior.
Wrong: as per information mentioned in para 3, “Rather, the evidence suggests that any exciting material can trigger subsequent aggressive behavior and that it is the excitation rather than the portrayal of violence that instigates or energizes any subsequent violent behavior” it’s not energizing effect but excitation material.

(D) Adult action programming which features actors engaged in violent behavior is likely to have the same behavioral effects as a cartoon showing similar behavior.
Wrong: Out of scope, not mentioned in passage about comparison between adult action program vs Cartoon program.

(E) The disagreement between the television industry and its critics over the content of programming for children could be resolved by finding an appropriate definition of "violent."
Wrong: Out of scope


6. Which of the following best describes the author's attitude about critics who say that television is an important cause of violent behavior in children?
Explanation: as mentioned in the passage, last 2 lines, “The evidence does not warrant the strong conclusions advanced by many critics who tend to use television violence as a scapegoat to draw public attention away from the real causes of violence--causes like abusive spouses and parents and a culture that celebrates violence generally”
(A) qualified endorsement - Wrong
(B) contemptuous dismissal –- Correct (beneath consideration)
(C) enthusiastic acceptance – Wrong (person assent to the reality of situation)
(D) moderate skepticism – Wrong (having little knowledge about something)
(E) cautious criticism – Wrong – (Diplomatic Criticism)

sajjad sir, question no. 3 explanation

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