Which of the following stories' messages is significantly distorted through the use of an irrelevant detail?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. In the news report about a local citizen protesting property tax rates that includes details about an immigration violation he committed twenty years previously, the irrelevant detail about the immigration violation distracts from the main message of the protest against property tax rates. The inclusion of this detail shifts the focus away from the citizen's current concerns and the reasons for his protest, thus distorting the story's message. Choices A, B, and C do not include irrelevant details that significantly distort the main messages of the stories. Choice A mentions political differences with bandmates but still focuses on the politician's part-time rock band. Choice B discusses the employment of illegal laborers but remains centered on the business owner's political aspirations. Choice C talks about ongoing hostilities in the Middle East but does not veer away from the main focus on the local Jewish and Arab business leaders.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The author of Passage 1 explicitly mentions language, ideas, and foods as examples of things that travel from place to place through human movement. However, fairy tales are not mentioned in the text as one of the elements that travel through human movement. While fairy tales do spread geographically through human retelling, they are not directly supported as an example in this context, making choice A the correct answer. Choices B, C, and D are mentioned in the passage as elements that do travel through human movement, further emphasizing that fairy tales are the exception in this specific context.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: In hypotheses of the form 'All x are y,' the hypothesis is making a claim that all instances of x also fall under y. Therefore, if something is y but not x, it disproves the hypothesis because it contradicts the assertion that all x are y. Choice A is incorrect because something that is neither x nor y doesn't provide evidence against the hypothesis. Choice B is incorrect because if something is both x and y, it actually supports the hypothesis. Choice C is incorrect as something that is x but not y doesn't disprove the hypothesis, as it could still be consistent with the claim that all x are y.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Encountering an automobile with eighteen wheels contradicts the hypothesis that all automobiles have only four wheels. This contradicts the initial hypothesis, proving it to be false. The passage explains that when evidence disproves a hypothesis, it directly contradicts the hypothesis, leading to its disproof. In the context of the monkey example provided, encountering a hairless monkey out of many hairy monkeys disproved the hypothesis 'All monkeys are hairy.' Therefore, the presence of an automobile with eighteen wheels disproves the hypothesis that all automobiles have only four wheels. Other choices are incorrect because encountering such an automobile directly contradicts the initial hypothesis, leading to its disproof, rather than proving it, raising its probability, or decreasing its probability.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The primary purpose of the passage is to suggest that viewers think critically about the underlying assumptions in the movies they watch. It discusses how American war movies often conform to a Western paradigm and urges readers to analyze these portrayals and question the messages being conveyed. Choice A is incorrect because the passage does not focus on analyzing an interesting feature of American cinema but rather on prompting critical thinking. Choice B is incorrect as the passage does not aim to refute the Western paradigm but rather to highlight its influence on American war movies. Choice C is incorrect as the passage does not suggest a way to improve war movies but rather encourages viewers to be more mindful and aware of the underlying assumptions in the movies they consume.