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ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS Explanation for Correct Answer D : Choice (D) is correct. It properly identifies the people whose "goal" is being discussed ("political candidates"), and it describes the goal with an appropriate infinitive phrase ("to win elections"). Explanation for Incorrect Answer A : Choice (A) is unsatisfactory because the words "their" and "them" have an unclear referent; they seem to refer to the "candidates" mentioned two sentences previously. Moreover, it makes no sense to describe a "goal" with a phrase starting with "if." Explanation for Incorrect Answer B : Choice (B) is unsatisfactory because it duplicates both problems of the original: the unclear referent and the improper expression of the "goal." Explanation for Incorrect Answer C : Choice (C) is unsatisfactory because it makes no sense to describe a "goal" with a phrase starting with "when." Explanation for Incorrect Answer E : Choice (E) is unsatisfactory because it is unclear to whom the phrase "this person" refers. 32
ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS Explanation for Correct Answer A : Choice (A) is correct. "It" in sentence 9 refers to "run[ning]a campaign aimed at smearing the opponent," which is best characterized as a strategy. Explanation for Incorrect Answer B : Choice (B) is unsatisfactory because there is no indication that the strategy "It" refers to results from a lack of planning. Explanation for Incorrect Answer C : Choice (C) is unsatisfactory because "It" refers to sleazy campagning, not to complaints about sleazy campaigning. Complaints are not mentioned in paragraph 2. Explanation for Incorrect Answer D : Choice (D) is unsatisfactory because there is no indication in paragraph 2 that the strategy "It" refers to is lying about an opponent. Explanation for Incorrect Answer E : Choice (E) is unsatisfactory because there is no reference to a promise or promises anywhere in paragraph 2. 33
ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS Explanation for Correct Answer B : Choice (B) is correct. The sentence contains unnecessary information about the author and an out-of-place reference to candidates' character. Deleting sentence 6 would improve the passage. Explanation for Incorrect Answer A : Choice (A) is unsatisfactory because the sentence interrupts the flow of the passage with irrelevant information. Explanation for Incorrect Answer C : Choice (C) is unsatisfactory because the information presented in the sentence is not a consequence of any information given previously. The previous sentence refers to a candidate's results, not to character. Explanation for Incorrect Answer D : Choice (D) is unsatisfactory because it adds an unnecessary phrase to an unnecessary sentence. Explanation for Incorrect Answer E : Choice (E) is unsatisfactory because the sentence contains irrelevant information; rephrasing the same information would not fix the problem. 34
ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS Explanation for Correct Answer D : Choice (D) is correct. Changing "they say it's because" to "saying that" addresses the coordination problem of the original. The resulting dependent clause ("saying that…newsworthy") properly describes the media's justification. Explanation for Incorrect Answer A : Choice (A) is unsatisfactory because the sentence uses improper coordination. Two complete thoughts ("The media report the lies" and "they say it is…newsworthy") are joined by only a comma. Explanation for Incorrect Answer B : Choice (B) is unsatisfactory because sentence 15 refers to the "vicious circle" involving the media, an idea that is introduced in this sentence. Explanation for Incorrect Answer C : Choice (C) is unsatisfactory because changing the verb does not fix the coordination problem: two complete thoughts are joined by only a comma. Explanation for Incorrect Answer E : Choice (E) is unsatisfactory because changing this phrase does not change the fact that two complete thoughts ("The media report the lies" and "they say...it is news") are joined by only a comma. 35
ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS Explanation for Correct Answer E : Choice (E) is correct. "This practice" refers to the specific type of negative campaigning―attacking a candidate's character, often with lies, and counting on the media to spread the information―that is the main focus of the passage, and the tone of the sentence is consistent with that of the passage as a whole. Explanation for Incorrect Answer A : Choice (A) is unsatisfactory because the "bright side" of the smear tactics discussed in the passage is never mentioned. Explanation for Incorrect Answer B : Choice (B) is unsatisfactory because the passage does not mention any "restrictions." Explanation for Incorrect Answer C : Choice (C) is unsatisfactory because, while "the media should refuse to participate in it" is a logical thought to follow sentence 15, the phrase "in conclusion" suggests that this thought will sum up the entire passage. The media's role is only relevant at the end of the third paragraph, however, so the final sentence only concludes a three-sentence discussion. Explanation for Incorrect Answer D : Choice (D) is unsatisfactory because the passage does not discuss the cost of political campaigns. |