V01-20

Official Solution:


A major film studio announced the release date of a movie based on a novel that, though it was a bestseller when first published, has been out of print for nearly fifteen years. Hoping to capitalize on the anticipated success of the film, the publisher who owns the copyright on the novel plans to print a new edition to be made available the same week the film premieres.

EACH of the following, if true, supports the soundness of the publisher’s plan to capitalize on the success of the film EXCEPT


A. The publisher has received permission from the film studio to stamp the words “Now a major motion picture” on the cover of each book.
B. Last year a new edition of a novel that had been out of print hit the bestseller lists two weeks after a movie biography of its author was released.
C. The publisher received two hundred thousand dollars after selling the production rights to the film studio.
D. The actress playing the lead in the film has discussed her love for the novel in nationally televised interviews.
E. Last year a new edition of an unpopular novel was adapted into a top-grossing film, and sales of the book spiked.


Situation: A publisher hopes a film based on an out-of-print novel will prompt sales of a new edition of that novel.

Reasoning: The argument claims that success of the film would boost the sale of book (Capitalization on success of the film means that the success of the movie would boost the sale of the book). Hence we need to find out the option that does NOT relate the success of film to success of the book (This is an EXCEPT question).

A. Printing “now a major motion picture” helps support the sale of the book. Therefore the release of the film (and its subsequent success) is related to the sale of the book…..eliminate.

B. Release of the biography of an author favored sale of his books. If release of biography boosts sales, then the story itself would probably boost sales more because the story itself is more related to the book than the biography is. Hence this statement also supports a relation between the release of the movie and the sale of the book…. eliminate.

C. CORRECT. It does not matter whether the publisher received money or not. Even if the publisher did not receive money, the book could still be a hit because of the movie. This option does not relate the “success” of the movie with the sale of the book. The author already capitalized on the sale of production right. This has nothing to do with whether the book would be successful because of success of the movie.

D. The actress of the movie gives positive feedback. Positive feedback favours the sale of book. Thus the movie release is linked to the success of the book…eliminate.

E. Similar incident occurred last year, hence supports the argument. If a boost in sales happened for an unpopular book, it is more probable that a popular book would be successful. Thus this statement too links the release of the movie to sale of the book... eliminate.


Answer: C