The most serious flaw in television’s coverage of election campaigns

Question

Which of the following best completes the passage below?

The most serious flaw in television’s coverage of election campaigns is its tendency to focus on the horse-race side of politics—that is, to concentrate on the question “Who’s winning?” at the expense of substantive coverage of the issues and the candidates’ positions on them. The endless interviews with campaign managers, discussions of campaign strategies, and, especially, the obsession with opinion polls have surrounded elections with the atmosphere of a football game or a prizefight. To reform this situation, a first step might well be______ .

(A) a shortening of the length of election campaigns to a period of six weeks

(B) a stringent limit on campaign spending

(C) a reduction in the television coverage of opinion polls during election campaigns

(D) the publication and distribution of voter-education literature to inform the public about each candidate’s position on the major issues

(E) a limit on the length and number of political advertisements broadcast on television

ritula · Accepted Answer

Though D looks tempting but the question begins with "the most serious flaw....." which says that televisons are concentrating more on opinion polls. We are concerned with how to reform this situation. lets suppose we publish and distribute voter-education literature. But will that improve the flaw in television's coverage? no.....But if we reduce the television coverage of opinion polls the flaw will be removed. Hence I go with C

zonk · Answer

C

A: shortening may help, but there is still a 6 week period where TV can discuss who's winning
B: The problem with tv coverage is unrelated to how much the campaign is spending
C: Passage indicates one of the problems is an obsession with opinion polls, so reducing coverage of opinion polls will help solve the problem
D: Could help but not supported by the passage
E: Advertisements do not directly affect television coverage

nishchals · Answer

Its not correct to say D is not supported by passage.  "at the expense of substantive coverage of the issues and the candidates’ positions on them"

Still, C looks better just because strong tone of passage towards opinion poll..

icandy · Answer

The problem is TV coverage is concentrating on who is winning. How do they do it? by opinion polls.

What would be a good first measure? Limit the number of opinion polls

C is my pick

bigfernhead · Answer

I still think that D is a good answer here. Any takers?

vladmoney · Answer

Fact of the matter is, there may be a lot of literature out there already, but who is to say anyone is reading it or that it changes their mentality. Plus this is television coverage, not library coverage. Thats my reasoning for picking C.

bigfernhead · Answer

I think the main conclusion is the argument is this:

Which of the following best completes the passage below?
the most serious flaw in television’s coverage of election campaigns is its tendency to focus on the horse-race side of politics—that is,  to concentrate on the question “Who’s winning?” at  the expense of substantive coverage of the issues and the candidates’ positions on them .  The endless interviews with campaign managers, discussions of campaign strategies, and, especially, the obsession with opinion polls have surrounded elections with the atmosphere of a football game or a prizefight. To reform this situation, a first step might well be______

Notice the bold part where I highlighted.

(D) the publication and distribution of voter-education literature to inform the public about each candidate’s position on the major issues

- directly attacks the statement, and that's why that's the best way to reform the situation.

I believe the opinion polls only address one aspect of the problem (only part of the conclusion) while informing the public of the candidate's position does a better job in addressing the ENTIRE problem: "lack of coverage on issues and candidate's position".

divineacclivity · Answer

Experts, could you please comment on why C & why not D here.

C. a reduction in the television coverage of opinion polls during election campaigns
D. the publication and distribution of voter-education literature to inform the public about each candidate's position on the major issues

My logic:
Reducing media coverage of "who wins" or increasing coverage of "candidates' position on various/major issues" - could both work as an answer to the question.

Since, the argument talks about the  media  coverage whereas option D isn't about media coverage. So, option C makes more sense.

PiyushK · Answer

My 2 cents.

Focus of the argument is not at what we can do to inform the public about each candidate’s position on the major issues ? Overall argument is criticizing behavior of television broadcasters, and author wants to see some change in their behavior. Further author says that endless interviews with campaign managers, discussions of campaign strategies, and, especially, the obsession with opinion polls have surrounded elections with the atmosphere of a football game or a prizefight. If I ask you to take first step to screw television broadcasters so they change their behavior then what you will suggest ? Personally I feel we should prohibit campaign manager from giving bytes, or we should restrict opinion polls or any such thing which author mentioned in his/her complaint. I hope you got the point.

bb61 · Answer

To reform this situation, a first step might well be______
(A) a shortening of the length of election campaigns to a period of six weeks
(B) a stringent limit on campaign spending
(C) a reduction in the television coverage of opinion polls during election campaigns
(D) the publication and distribution of voter-education literature to inform the public about each candidate’s position on the major issues
(E) a limit on the length and number of political advertisements broadcast on television

according to the argument  the most serious flaw  in television’s coverage of election campaigns is  its tendency to focus on the question “Who’s winning?”  by:
-endless interviews with campaign managers, 
-discussions of campaign strategies, 
-and, especially, the obsession with opinion polls 
they do this  at the expense of substantive coverage of the issues and the candidates’ positions on them .

so to reform this situation, the first step might well be eliminating these opinion polls and instead of these opinion polls coverage, in second step should be covering the issues and the candidates’ positions on them

if producers do not eliminate the coverage of opinion polls they won't have enough space to cover the issues and the candidates’ positions on them; so, C should be the answer

amoljain · Answer

Hello Expert

For the stated question stem, a lot of discussions has been done on the thread. Hence, I will not ask for an explanation to the answer. However, I still am not convinced as to why C is a better option.

Diving a little deep, looking at the stats of answers given by test takers, C:D is 55:38%, which is just about the probability of choosing anyone right. Looks like everyone is confused between the two options and it's just a chance that someone is selecting one and not the other.

If you can help put up a proper explanation explaining the 2 options, it would be helpful to all the students preparing.

Thanks.

MBAB123 · Answer

Hey amoljain , I'm no expert but see if this helps you.

Notice how the argument talks about the flaw of television coverage. Option D talks about publishing and distributing literature (perhaps books?) on issues and all the good stuff that we want. But does that really start to fix the flaw in the "television coverage"? Overall, yes it'd make the elections better, I am with you on that one. But you need to focus more on improving the elections coverage and choice C directly addresses this issue.

Also, the difficult verbal questions would generally have 2 close choices (which would also be evidenced by the timer stats).

mSKR · Answer

i agree with  Brian123  explanation. 
My another 1 cent to the knowledge sharing.

To reform this situation, a first step might well be ( direct solution of a problem) 
Problem: too much time on opinion pools
solution: give less time to these pools- C option
( You can't challenge this solution )

D. handover books etc. Even you choose D option, still there would be open questions whether your goal of reducing time can be achieved? What if this solution is not effective? What if it doesn't work there. This could be future steps for the awareness of citizens . Your goal is to reduce time for the pools. D option doesn't seem to be related at all.

C is clear winner.

svasan05 · Answer

Hi Amol

The passage and the conclusion are about the poor role that  television  plays in election coverage, and not about the role that the voter plays. Please remember, our job is to select the correct conclusion as informed  by the passage , and not merely  a correct conclusion .

Coming back to this, informing the public about issues that television fails to address may fill  a gap , but the passage wants to "reform  this  situation", which refers to the " flaw  in television’s coverage". We do not know that voters do not obtain the information in the "literature" information from other sources, merely that they do not get it from television. Therefore, we cannot be certain that option (D) rectifies any situation, only that it  may . Thus, option (C) is clearly the better option.

Hope this helps.

Jayant9090 · Answer

Here is my two cents for confusion between option C and D-
Take simple analogy, i was supposed to pour vodka on a glass (coverage of the issues and the candidates’ positions on them), but by mistake, i have started pouring beer(Opinion poll).
To correct this situation, what would be my first step?
will it be start pouring Vodka without stopping beer? or first, i have to stop pouring beer, then think of pouring vodka?
In my opinion, first step will be stop pouring beer first (i.e. opinion poll).
Hence, Option C.

theguywhoasked · Answer

I believe Option C talks about only a part of the problem, the passage says "...concentrate on the question "Who's winning?" at the expense of substantive coverage of the issues...", reducing television coverage does not necessarily result in coverage of the issues and the candidates' position on them.

Hence, I think option D is a better choice.

VisheshRaina · Answer

D is supported for sure, but as a 'first step' you'd wanna go with C. 
D seems more like a later step or an eventuality.

DmitryFarberMPrep · Answer

The thing is, they're not asking us to set up measures to improve the overall situation. They're only asking us to start the process of reforming TV news. So anything that doesn't have to do with TV news is out. It might be a great measure, but it wouldn't be a reform of TV.

Adit_ · Answer

Yes D is definitely an option to consider, however D is not right because the final line says "what is the first step.." The first step is not to straightaway act on everything possible, the first step is to mitigate the big issues first and then educate the public naturally. Hence C fits perfectly.

The most serious flaw in television’s coverage of election campaigns

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