Video games are commonly criticized

Answer choices

1. A

   Too Strong: most4% picked this

   we should expect most new forms of popular culture to be criticized

   The argument compares video games to a few other forms of pop culture—novels, movies, and rock music. We aren't told if these examples are typical or representative of most forms of pop culture. An answer like this one, which makes a prediction about "most new forms of popular culture," is too strong. We might even say that new forms of popular culture other than video games are outside the scope of the argument.

   4%
2. B

   Unsupported Comparison: preferred0% picked this

   we should prefer forms of popular culture that have matured to those that are still in their

   The argument doesn't compare different forms of pop culture in any way which supports the idea that one should be preferred over another.

   0%
3. C

   Correct92% picked this

   we can expect these concerns about video games to fade

   Why this is right

   This might not be exactly what we predicted, but it is strongly supported. The beginning of the final sentence in the argument describes the criticism of novels as "silly." Instead of directly piggybacking off of that by saying that current criticism of video games is also silly, this answer plays off of a comment in the preceding sentence. That sentence mentions novels and other forms of popular culture being criticized "in their early stages of development." If it seems "silly" to criticize novels that way now, that supports the idea that this particular criticism of novels has faded. Thus, we would also expect the current criticism of video games to fade.

   Skill tested: Most Supported · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

   92%
4. D

   Too Strong: condemn Opposite (if anything)1% picked this

   we should condemn forms of popular culture that allow people to imagine themselves

   The argument only talks about criticism. Condemning is generally seen as much stronger than merely criticizing. If you're not totally convinced that a difference between condemn vs. criticize is enough to make this answer incorrect, let's dig deeper. According to the argument, what is the correct way to view forms of popular culture that allow people to imagine themselves transgressing conventional morality? It's not entirely clear, but the argument indicates that it's silly to view this as "morally corrupting." You might reasonably conclude that the argument is refuting the criticism as a whole, including the idea that video games actually allow people to imagine themselves transgressing conventional morality. If anything, the argument supports the opposite of what this answer choice is stating.

   1%
5. E

   Opposite (if anything)2% picked this

   it is silly to suggest that video games do not allow people to imagine themselves

   A correct answer would state that the current criticism of video games is silly. This answer states that it would be silly to disagree with one aspect of the criticism: in other words, we should agree with this aspect of the criticism. To take it even a bit further, the person making this argument might or might not agree that video games allow people to imagine themselves transgressing conventional morality. The argument isn't really about whether or not video games allow people to do this; the point is that video games are not morally corrupting even if they do allow people to do this.

   2%