Although it has been suggested that Arton’s plays have a strong patriotic flavor, we must recall that, at the time of their composition, her country was in anything but a patriotic mood. Unemployment was high, food was costly, and crime rates were soaring. As a result, the general morale of her nation that any apparent patriotism in Arton’s work must have been intended ironically.
What this question is testing
Conclusion
The author is saying: Arton's plays look patriotic, but really she was being ironic.
Evidence
The country was in a glum, non-patriotic mood when she wrote — unemployment, costly food, crime, low morale.
Evaluate
Notice the silent leap. Just because the country was glum doesn't mean Arton was glum, or that she shared the national outlook. Writers often write against the grain — sometimes their work is uplifting because the times are bad. The argument assumes Arton was in tune with the national mood, and so her patriotism must have been a sarcastic mirror of it. But that's not given — it's an unstated assumption.
Imagine a comedian writing jokes during a recession. We wouldn't infer that her jokes are ironic just because the country isn't in a laughing mood. People can write against their times.
Goal
The right answer says the argument takes for granted that Arton was attuned to the prevailing national mood.
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