OFFICIAL EXPLANATION QUESTION #1



The question asks what the author of the passage considers to be most analogous, which is an indication that this is a type of specific purpose question. The subject of the question is the highlighted passage, which states that critics seem to presuppose that great literature must be somehow burdensome to the reader; it must be difficult for the uninitiated to understand. The task of the question is to determine which of the answer choices is most analogous to this viewpoint. In order to answer this question, evaluate the answer choices individually, looking for viewpoints or situations that are similar to the highlighted text.

Choice (A): Correct. This choice mimics the viewpoint of the critics in the passage that they believe great literature must be burdensome to the uninitiated by drawing a comparison to how avant-garde movies with complicated storylines are seen in relationship to Hollywood blockbusters with straightforward narrative.

Choice (B): No. The choice contains the memory trap inferior, which is reminiscent of the passage’s claims about the beliefs of critics of great literature. However, this choice does not consider the difficulty the uninitiated may face when considering the contents of the journal and documentaries, so it is out of scope.

Choice (C): No. This choice discusses that poetry is considered superior to prose not because it is burdensome, as is outlined in the passage, but because it is shorter. The critics from the passage make no mention of the length of the literature, so this choice is out of scope.

Choice (D): No. The choice uses the extreme language too controversial which is a comparison tool that is not employed by the passage, which instead uses as a comparison tool the difficulty the uninitiated have understanding the literature as a prerequisite for success. Choice (E): No. The inclusion of the phrase artistically superior makes this choice out of scope. The passage is not concerned with artistic value.

The correct answer is (A).