- Thu Apr 07, 2016 6:41 pm
#22846
Complete Question Explanation
Must Be True. The correct answer choice is (A)
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. Even though the public distrusts mass media as too powerful, that distrust is promulgated by the information reported by the media itself. It is reasonable to conclude that the public would have a hard time discerning real media bias in the news, if such a bias were ever to exist.
Answer choice (B): There is no evidence to suggest that the mass media tailor their reports to conform to a specific political agenda. Even if the media is biased, such bias may come in a variety of ways that are not necessarily politically motivated. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (C): Whether the media bias results from a conscious effort to distort the news or not is completely unsupported by the information presented in the stimulus. Even if you feel that Answer choice (C) is true in the "real world," you should not use your own knowledge, experience or bias to answer this question.
Answer choice (D): Whether news reporters and the public share the same views about what is most important in society is an irrelevant consideration that is not supported by the stimulus. The stimulus discusses the issue bias, not views. Furthermore, we have no way of knowing what is most important and what is not. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (E): If the public's predisposition is influenced by the mass media and the news event contradicts an already established stereotype, chances are the public will disbelieve the reporting of that news event since its reporting would deviate from the expected norm. At best, we cannot know how the public would react in this case. This answer choice is not supported by the stimulus and is incorrect.
Must Be True. The correct answer choice is (A)
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. Even though the public distrusts mass media as too powerful, that distrust is promulgated by the information reported by the media itself. It is reasonable to conclude that the public would have a hard time discerning real media bias in the news, if such a bias were ever to exist.
Answer choice (B): There is no evidence to suggest that the mass media tailor their reports to conform to a specific political agenda. Even if the media is biased, such bias may come in a variety of ways that are not necessarily politically motivated. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (C): Whether the media bias results from a conscious effort to distort the news or not is completely unsupported by the information presented in the stimulus. Even if you feel that Answer choice (C) is true in the "real world," you should not use your own knowledge, experience or bias to answer this question.
Answer choice (D): Whether news reporters and the public share the same views about what is most important in society is an irrelevant consideration that is not supported by the stimulus. The stimulus discusses the issue bias, not views. Furthermore, we have no way of knowing what is most important and what is not. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (E): If the public's predisposition is influenced by the mass media and the news event contradicts an already established stereotype, chances are the public will disbelieve the reporting of that news event since its reporting would deviate from the expected norm. At best, we cannot know how the public would react in this case. This answer choice is not supported by the stimulus and is incorrect.