Studies have shown that children who watch a lot of television do not

Conclusion: In order to read as well as children in other western countries, American children will have to reduce the amount of time they spend watching television

Falsification Statement: American children will not have to reduce the amount of time they spend watching television to read as well as children in other western countries given that :
[*]In the United States, more than three out of ten children watch television at least 35 hours per week.
[*] In other western countries, less than one child out of ten watches that much television. In contrast, these other children perform much better than American children on reading tests and more often read above grade level.
[*] A majority of these non American children read above their school grade level; a smaller percentage of American children read above grade level.

Pre-thinking Assumption based on falsification statement:

[*]There is a difference in teaching capabilities of American and other countries' teachers.
[*] Correlation is not causation. Good reading habits or interest in other countries leads to watching less TV.

E matches with our first pre-thinking point (opposite of it). D is very close to our second pre-thinking point but it says that the reading level increases. Here the comparison is between American and other countries' students

Is my thinking correct?

Studies have shown that children who watch a lot of television do not typically read above grade level. In the United States, more than three out of ten children watch television at least 35 hours per week. In other western countries, less than one child out of ten watches that much television. In contrast, these other children perform much better than American children on reading tests and more often read above grade level. A majority of these non American children read above their school grade level; a smaller percentage of American children read above grade level. In order to read as well as children in other western countries, American children will have to reduce the amount of time they spend watching television.

The passage depends upon which one of the following assumptions?
The passage simply cites a fact and states that this fact is responsible for a situation. It never considers that there could be other reasons!

(A) American children are not as interested in reading well as children in other western countries.
- There is no indication in the passage that the children in America are not interested in reading well. INCORRECT.

(B) Other children are more structured in their studies than children in the United States.
- What "Other" children? The argument is concerned with American and Western children. "Other" might imply children other than American, and this will be INCORRECT.

(C) If a child wants to become a better reader, he or she will not watch as much television.
- This is a vague choice. how much is "as much"? 35 hours? 10 hours? 5 minutes? Also, going by the passage, it is very much possible that a child wants to be a better reader AND wants to enjoy television. INCORRECT.

(D) If a child watches less television, his or her reading level will increase.
- This option might sound tempting, but is like option C... VAGUE! "Less" television than what? INCORRECT

(E) The methods American teachers and parents use to teach reading are not significantly worse than the methods used by teachers and parents in other western countries.
- BANG ON! This tells us that another fact is not responsible for the poor reading skills of American Children. CORRECT.

ANSWER: E

the passage means that watching less TV is the necessary condition to read well - 'have to watch less television'. However, D means that 'watching less television' is the sufficient condition - 'if ... watch less tv...'. Hence, D is not correct

D to me is vague. Less television = better reading is not something said in the passage, that's something you assumed yourself. Alright so let's consider that these Non-American kids watch 34 hours of television, that's less than 35. But who's to say 33 is even better than 34 is? Does that mean if American kids watch 33 hours, a higher proportion would be better readers than even the Non-American kids who watch 34 hours? That could or could not be true, we can't know for sure. Who's to say 34 hours that Non-American kids watch is not the optimum number of hours of TV to watch to be the best reader you can be? So it's not a necessary assumption.

However in E, the kids are not being taught to the same standard can definitely ruin the argument. We have to assume that they are being educated to a similar level, well if they aren't, the reading and tv connection is not the only thing at play.

if option D is not true, it basically means watching less TV won't increase reading level, and the whole argument would collapse.
Why is option D wrong ?

See D as follows:
If a child watches less television, his or her reading level will increase.

Given in the passage is that watching more TV leads to decreased level of reading. But the others side could be that if someone does the opposite i.e. watch less then reading level would increase. This is not necessarily true since watching less TV needs other parameters to remain same as earlier. The reading level may remain at same level or possibly decrease. The other parameters we don't know about can't be assumed so. And if assume so that choice which needs an assumption for it to be right then that choice can't be right.

­Studies have shown that children who watch a lot of television do not typically read above grade level. In the United States, more than three out of ten children watch television at least 35 hours per week. In other western countries, less than one child out of ten watches that much television. In contrast, these other children perform much better than American children on reading tests and more often read above grade level. A majority of these non American children read above their school grade level; a smaller percentage of American children read above grade level. In order to read as well as children in other western countries, American children will have to reduce the amount of time they spend watching television.

The passage depends upon which one of the following assumptions?

(A) American children are not as interested in reading well as children in other western countries. - WRONG. Interest is beyond scope. Irrelevant.

(B) Other children are more structured in their studies than children in the United States. - WRONG. Plain wrong. Irrelevant like A.

(C) If a child wants to become a better reader, he or she will not watch as much television. - WRONG. What is given in the passage this just molds it in a conditional statement.

(D) If a child watches less television, his or her reading level will increase. - WRONG. Causality reversal case. A ----> B does not mean nB ----> nA.

(E) The methods American teachers and parents use to teach reading are not significantly worse than the methods used by teachers and parents in other western countries. - CORRECT. So, other parameter/s that may have affected such a situation are also same. If not so the case then the watching television and reading relation is impacted.

Answer D.

HTHs.