Bunuel
The tiny country of Minlandia does not produce its own television programming. Instead, the citizens of Minlandia, who generally are fluent not only in their native Minlandian, but also in Boltese, watch Boltese-language television programs from neighboring Bolta. Surveys show that the Minlandians spend on average more hours per week reading for pleasure and fewer hours per week watching television than people anywhere else in the world. A prominent psychologist accounts for the survey results by explaining that people generally prefer to be entertained in their native language even if they are perfectly fluent in other languages.
The explanation offered by the psychologist accounts for the Minlandian’s behavior only if which one of the following is assumed?
(A) Some Minlandians derive no pleasure from watching television in a language other than their native Minlandian.
(B) The study of Boltese is required of Minlandian children as part of their schooling.
(C) The proportion of bilingual residents to total population is greater in Minlandia than anywhere else in the world.
(D) At least some of what the Minlandians read for pleasure is in the Minlandian language.
(E) When Minlandians watch Boltese television programs, they tend to ignore the fact that they are hearing a foreign language spoken.
Correct answer: D
(A): Incorrect. The psychologist's conclusion concerns a general propensity; what some Minlandians prefer is irrelevant.
(B): Incorrect. Out of scope; how the Minlandians learn the language is not important, just that Boltese is not their native language.
(C): Incorrect. The psychologist's conclusion only points to a trend that could be supported by other factors. Even if Minlandians are not the most bilingual, that they read more could still be indicative of a preference to consume content in their native language.
(D): Correct. The psychologist's conclusion relies on the assumption that Minlandians turn to reading because the content of their reading is in Minlandian rather than Boltese.
(E): Incorrect. (E) opposes the psychologist's conclusion, suggesting that Minlandians tend to be indifferent between consuming media (at least television) in their native language as opposed to another.