Reading Passage Question
In a recent survey, Garber and Holtz concluded that the average half-hour children's television show contains 47 violent acts. When asked about the survey, network television executive Jean Pater responded, "I sure as heck don't think that Bugs Bunny's pouring a glass of milk over a chipmunk's head is violence." Unfortunately, both Garber and Holtz and Pater beg the question. The real issue is whether children view such acts as violence.
The violence programming aimed at children almost always appears in the context of fantasy. Cartoon violence generally includes animation, humor, and a remote setting; make-believe violence generally uses only the first two cues; realistic, acted violence, which is not used in programming for children, depends entirely on the viewer's knowledge that the portrayal is fictional. Most children as young as four years can distinguish these three contexts, though there is no support for the idea that children, especially young children, can differentiate types of violence on a cognitive or rational basis—for example, by justification of the motives for the violent behavior.
There is no evidence of direct imitation of television violence by children, though there is evidence that fantasy violence can energize previously learned aggressive responses such as a physical attack on another child during play. It is by no means clear, however, that the violence in a portrayal is solely responsible for this energizing effect. Rather, the evidence suggests that any exciting material can trigger subsequent aggressive behavior and that it is the excitation rather than the portrayal of violence that instigates or energizes any subsequent violent behavior. "Cold" imitation of violence by children is extremely rare, and the very occasional evidence of direct, imitative associations between television violence and aggressive behavior has been limited to extremely novel and violent acts by teenagers or adults with already established patterns of deviant behavior. The instigational effect means, in the short-term, that exposure to violent portrayals could be dangerous if shortly after the exposure (within 15 to 20 minutes), the child happens to be in a situation that calls for interpersonal aggression as an appropriate response, e.g., an argument between siblings or among peers. This same instigational effect, however, could be produced by other exciting but nonviolent television content or by any other excitational source, including, ironically, a parent's turning off the set.
So there is no convincing causal evidence of any cumulative instigational effects such as more aggressive or violent dispositions in children. In fact, passivity is more likely a long-term result of heavy viewing of television violence. The evidence does not warrant the strong conclusions advanced by many critics who tend to use television violence as a scapegoat to draw public attention away from the real causes of violence--causes like abusive spouses and parents and a culture that celebrates violence generally.
“In a Recent Survey, Garber and Holtz Concluded that the Average Half” is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates must have a solid grip in English GMAT reading comprehension. There are comprehension questions in the above GMAT Reading Comprehension passages. GMAT Reading Comprehension Questions are delineated to evaluate candidates’ abilities to analyze and be conceptual for the answers. Candidates can brace up and take preparation by answering GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.
Solution and Explanation
- The primary purpose of the passage is to
(A) correct a popular misconception
(B) outline the history of a theory
(C) propose a solution to a social problem
(D) criticize the work of earlier researchers
(E) offer a theory of criminal behavior
Answer: A
Explanation: The passage executes that the main problem is whether children view such acts as an act of violence. The proof does not warrant the rigid results advanced by many critics. These critics tend to use television violence as a fall guy in order to draw real reasons of violence from public attention. It basically caused an environment of abusive spouses, parents and culture celebrating violence. Thus option(A) truly highlights the needs or purpose of the passage.
- According to the passage, all of the following would deter a child from regarding an incident of television violence as real EXCEPT:
(A) including easily recognized cartoon characters
(B) explaining that characters mean to do no harm
(C) having characters laugh at their misfortunes
(D) using a futuristic setting with spaceships and robots
(E) setting the action in prehistoric times
Answer: B
Explanation: The concluding line of the last paragraph defines this answer. The urging effect could be formed by other impressive but non-violent television programmes. It could also be created by other interesting origins. In an ironic term, turning off the television set by the parents. Therefore, the characters of the television programme are nothing but fictitious and are not to create physical or mental harm to the children. So, option(B) justifies here.
- The author implies that a child who has an argument with a sibling two to three hours after watching fantasy violence on television would
(A) almost surely be more aggressive than usual
(B) tend to act out the fantasy violence on the sibling
(C) probably not be unusually violent or aggressive
(D) likely lapse into a state of passivity
(E) generally, but not always, be more violent
Answer: C
Explanation: Option(C) will be applicable against the above statement. The urging effect, in the short term, defines that disclosure of violent portrayings could be harmful for the children. In the time span of 15-20 minutes after the exposure, the child could be in a dangerous situation. This situation can be termed as an interpersonal aggression as an appropriate response, for instance, an argument between siblings and the child. Thus, a child being aggressive with a sibling after watching the violent content on television, probably not be violent generally.
- The author mentions the possible effect of a parent's turning off a television (Highlighted) in order to
(A) demonstrate that children are able to distinguish fantasy violence from real violence
(B) highlight the fact that it is not violence but energy level that stimulates behavior
(C) refute the suggestion that children are able to understand the motive for a violent action
(D) question the evidence for the proposition that television violence causes violent behavior
(E) show that reducing the number of hours a child watches television effectively eliminates passivity
Answer: B
Explanation: The possible outcomes of a parent’s turning off a television highlights that is the energy level that arouses behavior rather than violence.The other interesting but non-harming television programmes could result in an urging effect, which could be violent. It could be a parent’s turning off the television set. So, option(B) perfectly fits here for the question.
- The author would most likely agree with which of the following statements?
(A) The question of how television affects children cannot be answered by defining or redefining the term "violent" but only by assessing the effect of programming on behavior.
(B) The lack of direct causal evidence of any long-lasting effect of television viewing on the behavior of children proves that children's programs do not contain violence.
(C) The number of violent acts in a television program provides an indication of the cumulative energizing effect that viewing the program is likely to have on behavior.
(D) Adult action programming which features actors engaged in violent behavior is likely to have the same behavioral effects as a cartoon showing similar behavior.
(E) The disagreement between the television industry and its critics over the content of programming for children could be resolved by finding an appropriate definition of "violent."
Answer: A
Explanation: Option(A) sounds legit for the above question. Analyzing the above passage it can be said that there is no convincing causal proof of any increasing instigation effects. The effects such as combative or violence dispositions in children. Excessive viewing of television violence may result in insensitivity indeed. Thus the question of how television programmes affect children cannot be explained by defining the term “violent”. It can be answered only by claiming the effect of monitoring the behavior.
- Which of the following best describes the author's attitude about critics who say that television is an important cause of violent behavior in children?
(A) qualified endorsement
(B) contemptuous dismissal
(C) enthusiastic acceptance
(D) moderate skepticism
(E) cautious criticism
Answer: B
Explanation: The answer for this question lies in the last paragraph of the passage. It states that the proof does not warrant the strong outcomes advanced by many critics. The effects such as combative or violence dispositions in children. Excessive watching of the violence contents in television may result in insensitivity indeed. The proof does not warrant the strong outcomes which are advanced by many critics. These critics tend to use television violence as “a scapegoat” to reach the public's attention away from the real reasons causing the violence.
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