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: 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: Choice C correctly matches the samples with incompletely met criteria. It states that sample 1's evidence is not relevant, sample 2's evidence is not factual, and sample 3's evidence is not sufficient. This aligns with the criteria mentioned, indicating a lack of relevance, factual accuracy, and sufficiency in each sample, respectively. Choices A, B, and D do not accurately match the samples with the given criteria, making them incorrect. In choice A, while sample 1's evidence is not sufficient, sample 2's evidence is not relevant, and sample 3's evidence is not factual, the order in which these aspects are mentioned is not aligned with the criteria provided. Choice B has the correct order but mismatches the criteria with the samples. Choice D incorrectly assesses the evidence of the samples, focusing on sufficiency and relevance but not aligning with the specified criteria for each sample.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Statement B is an opinion because it expresses a personal viewpoint about the act of reading and satisfaction related to different reading formats. The phrase 'just as satisfying to the reader' reflects subjective feelings and preferences rather than objective facts. Choices A, C, and D are not opinions but statements of fact. Choice A discusses the continued popularity of printed media despite the Internet's advancement. Choice C talks about the change in reliance on books due to the Internet. Choice D states the historical presence of stories in the world, which is a factual statement about the past.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Statement C directly provides evidence of coastal land erosion by stating that Louisiana has lost a significant amount of coastal land area. This supports the passage's claim that many coastal islands are eroding. Choice A is incorrect because the expense of recent hurricane seasons does not directly relate to coastal land erosion. Choice B is incorrect as the active period of the Atlantic Basin does not specifically address coastal land erosion. Choice D, while related to coastal storms, does not directly support the claim that many coastal islands are eroding.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The author did not mention everyone riding horses as an element of the Western paradigm in the provided passage. The passage discusses the virtuous hero in the white hat, the evil villain in the black hat, and the community made up of upstanding citizens as elements of the Western paradigm. The hero being highly skilled at warfare and the community having morally upstanding citizens were also mentioned. Therefore, option C is the correct answer. Options A, B, and D are incorrect because they were all examples given by the author in the passage.

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: C

Rationale: The author implies that she believes the hero should be more nuanced and less unconditionally good in U.S.-made movies. This is evident from her claim that it is hard to find a movie that presents the hero as anything other than supremely morally worthy, suggesting a desire for more complexity and depth in the portrayal of the hero character. Choice A is incorrect because the author does not advocate for the hero always appearing morally worthy. Choice B is incorrect as the author does not suggest that the hero should never appear morally worthy. Choice D is incorrect as the author does not state that the hero is an uninteresting character, but rather emphasizes the need for a more nuanced portrayal.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The type of writing used in the passage is expository. Expository writing aims to provide information, explain concepts or ideas, and present factual details without trying to persuade or tell a story. In the passage, the text focuses on providing factual information about 'The Five,' their backgrounds, and their influence on classical music without any persuasive elements or narrative storytelling. The passage educates and informs the reader about the topic, which aligns with the characteristics of expository writing. Therefore, 'expository' is the correct description. Choice A (narrative) is incorrect as the passage does not tell a story but rather presents factual information. Choice B (persuasive) is incorrect because there is no attempt to persuade the reader in the passage. Choice D (technical) is also incorrect as the passage does not involve technical instructions or specialized technical details, but rather general information about the subject matter.