Many people seem to think that science fiction is typified by the cove

Question

Many people seem to think that science fiction is typified by the covers of some of the old pulp magazines; the Bug-Eyed Monster, embodying every trait and feature that most people find repulsive, is about to grab, and presumably ravish, a sweet, blonde, curvaceous, scantily-clad Earth girl. This is unfortunate because it demeans and degrades a worthwhile and even important literary endeavor. In contrast to this unwarranted stereotype, science fiction rarely emphasizes sex, and when it does, it is more discreet than other contemporary fiction. Instead, the basic interest of science fiction lies in the relation between man and his technology and between man and the universe. Science fiction is a literature of change and a literature of the future, and while it would be foolish to claim that science fiction is a major literary genre at this time, the aspects of human life that it considers make it well worth reading and studying—for no other literary form does quite the same things.

What is science fiction? It is a literary subgenre which postulates a change (for human beings) from conditions as we know them and follows the implications of these changes to a conclusion. That science fiction is a literary subgenre is a point that is often overlooked. Specifically, science fiction is either a short story or a novel. There are only a few poems and plays which could be called science fiction, with Karel Capek’s RUR being the only play that is well known. To say that science fiction is a subgenre of prose fiction is to say that it has all the basic characteristics and serves the same basic functions in much the same way as prose fiction in general. Everything that can be said about prose fiction, in general, applies to science fiction. Every piece of science fiction, whether short story or novel, must have a narrator, a story, a plot, a setting, characters, language, and theme. And like any prose, the themes of science are concerned with interpreting man’s nature and experience in relation to the world around him. Themes in science fiction are constructed and presented in exactly the same ways that themes are dealt with in any other kind of fiction. They are the result of a particular combination of narrator, story, plot, character, setting, and language. In short, the reasons for reading and enjoying science fiction, and the ways of studying and analyzing it, are basically the same as they would be for any other story or novel.    1 
 1. Although few examples of science fiction written before 1900 exist, you can infer that it has been most popular in the twentieth century because

A. with the growth of literacy, the size of the reading public has increased.
B. competition from television and film has created a demand for more exciting fiction.
C. science fiction is easier to understand than other kinds of fiction.
D. the increased importance of technology in our lives has given science fiction an increased relevance.
E. other media have captured the large audience that read novels in the nineteenth century.

2 
 2. According to the definition in the passage, a fictional work that places human beings in a prehistoric world inhabited by dinosaurs

A. cannot properly be called science fiction because it does not deal with the future.
B. cannot properly be called science fiction because it does not deal with technology.
C. can properly be called science fiction because it is prose fiction.
D. can properly be called science fiction because it places people in an environment different from the one we know.
E. can properly be called science fiction because it deals with humans’ relation to the world around them.

3 
 3. Science fiction is called a literary subgenre because

A. it is not important enough to be a literary genre.
B. it cannot be made into dramatic presentation.
C. it has its limits. 
D. it shares characteristics with other types of prose fiction.
E. to call it a “genre” would subject it to literary jargon.

4 
 4. From the passage, you can infer that science fiction films based upon ideas that have originally appeared in other media are chiefly adaptations of

A. short stories.
B. plays.
C. novels.
D. poems.
E. folk tales.

5 
 5. The author believes that, when compared to other literary genres, science fiction is

A. deficient in its use of narrators.
B. unable to be adapted to drama.
C. a minor but worthwhile kind of fiction.
D. more concerned with plot than with theme.
E. in need of a unique literary approach if it is to be properly understood.

6 
 6. The emphasis on theme in the second paragraph of the passage suggests that the author regards which of the following as an especially important reason for reading science fiction?

A. the discovery of meaning
B. the display of character
C. the beauty of language
D. the psychological complexity
E. the interest of setting

7 
 7. One implication of the final sentence in the passage is that

A. the reader should turn next to commentaries on general fiction.
B. there is no reason for any reader not to like science fiction.
C. the reader should compare other novels and stories to science fiction.
D. there are reasons for enjoying science fiction.
E. those who can appreciate other prose fiction can appreciate science fiction.

8 
 8. An appropriate title for this passage would be

A. On the Inaccuracies of Pulp Magazines
B. Man and the Universe
C. Toward a Definition of Science Fiction
D. A Type of Prose Fiction
E. Beyond the Bug-Eyed Monster

RC Butler 2022  -  Practice Two RC Passages Everyday.   
Passage # 162 Date: 21-Apr-2022
 This question is a part of RC Butler 2022 .  Click here for Details

Source: Cliffs Test Prep.

ParvinGuliyev · Answer

Hello! Why in the 6th question the answer is "A"?

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

6. The emphasis on theme in the second paragraph of the passage suggests that the author regards which of the following as an especially important reason for reading science fiction?

Difficulty Level:   750

Explanation

A. The discovery of meaning  
This option is the best answer. The author emphasizes that science fiction is concerned with interpreting man's nature and experience in relation to the world around him. The themes in science fiction are constructed and presented in the same way as themes in any other kind of fiction, and they result from a particular combination of narrator, story, plot, character, setting, and language. The emphasis on theme suggests that the author regards the discovery of meaning as an especially important reason for reading science fiction.

B. The display of character 
The passage mentions that science fiction has characters, but it does not emphasize the display of character as a reason for reading it. Instead, it emphasizes the themes and the ways in which science fiction interprets man's nature and experience.

C. The beauty of language 
The passage mentions that science fiction has language, but it does not emphasize the beauty of language as a reason for reading it. Instead, it emphasizes the themes and the ways in which science fiction interprets man's nature and experience.

D. The psychological complexity 
The passage mentions that science fiction has characters and that themes are constructed from a combination of narrator, story, plot, character, setting, and language. Although psychological complexity may be a factor in the construction of characters and themes, the passage does not emphasize it as an especially important reason for reading science fiction.

E. The interest of setting 
The passage mentions that science fiction has a setting, but it does not emphasize the interest of setting as a reason for reading it. Instead, it emphasizes the themes and the ways in which science fiction interprets man's nature and experience.

Answer: A

ParvinGuliyev · Answer

Thank you for the answer!

cyrwr1 · Answer

Would you have the explanation for #2 and 8? Thank you.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

2. According to the definition in the passage, a fictional work that places human beings in a prehistoric world inhabited by dinosaurs

Difficulty Level:   700

Explanation

A.  This option is incorrect. While the passage mentions that science fiction is a literature of change and a literature of the future, it doesn't restrict science fiction exclusively to stories set in the future. It emphasizes that science fiction postulates a change from known conditions and follows the implications of these changes. Placing humans in a prehistoric world with dinosaurs would still involve a significant change from the known conditions, even if it's not set in the future.

B.  This option is incorrect. The passage does mention that one of the basic interests of science fiction lies in the relation between man and his technology and between man and the universe. However, this doesn't mean that every science fiction story must revolve around technology. Science fiction can explore a wide range of themes and scenarios, including those without advanced technology. The key is the postulation of a change from known conditions, not necessarily the focus on technology.

C.  This option is overly broad and incorrect. While the passage does mention that science fiction is a subgenre of prose fiction, this alone does not make a work science fiction. The passage also emphasizes that science fiction must postulate a change from known conditions and follow the implications of these changes. Simply being prose fiction does not automatically qualify a work as science fiction; it must meet the other criteria mentioned in the passage.

D.   This option is correct. According to the passage's definition of science fiction, it involves postulating a change for human beings from conditions as we know them. Placing people in a prehistoric world inhabited by dinosaurs would certainly qualify as a significant change from the familiar conditions, making it consistent with the definition.

E.  This option is overly broad and incorrect. While the passage does mention that themes in science fiction are concerned with interpreting man's nature and experience in relation to the world around him, this description applies to many forms of fiction, not just science fiction. The key distinguishing factor for science fiction, as per the passage, is the postulation of a change from known conditions and exploring the implications of those changes.

In summary,  option (D)  is correct because it aligns with the definition of science fiction as provided in the passage, which emphasizes the postulation of a change from known conditions.

Answer: D

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

8. An appropriate title for this passage would be

Difficulty Level:   650

Explanation

A.  This title does not accurately capture the main focus of the passage. While the passage does briefly mention the inaccuracy of the portrayal of science fiction on the covers of old pulp magazines, it is not the central theme. The passage primarily aims to define science fiction and discuss its characteristics.

B.  This title touches on a key aspect of the passage, which is the exploration of the relationship between humans and the universe in science fiction. However, it does not fully encapsulate the passage's broader goal of defining science fiction and addressing misconceptions about the genre.

C.  This is the most appropriate title for the passage. It accurately reflects the main purpose of the passage, which is to provide a definition of science fiction and clarify its characteristics. The passage discusses what science fiction is and what distinguishes it as a literary genre.

D.  While this title hints at the passage's discussion of science fiction as a type of prose fiction, it does not fully encompass the passage's broader exploration of the genre's definition and characteristics. The title is somewhat limiting in its scope.

E.  This title refers to a specific aspect mentioned in the passage (the inaccurate portrayal of science fiction on old pulp magazine covers), but it does not capture the primary focus of the passage, which is to define science fiction and discuss its characteristics. This title is too narrow in scope.

In summary,  option (C)  "Toward a Definition of Science Fiction" is the most appropriate title because it accurately represents the main theme and purpose of the passage, which is to define and clarify what science fiction is as a literary genre.

Answer: C

Many people seem to think that science fiction is typified by the cove

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Many people seem to think that science fiction is typified by the cove

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