GED Reasoning Through Language ArtsReading ComprehensionEasy
A journalist is writing an article about a new city park. She wants to ensure her article presents a balanced view. She interviews the mayor, who highlights the park's economic benefits and recreational opportunities. She also interviews local residents, some of whom express concerns about increased traffic and noise, while others praise the park's open space. To achieve a balanced perspective, which element should the journalist prioritize in her article?
- AFocusing primarily on the mayor's positive statements to showcase civic achievement.
- BPresenting all viewpoints fairly, acknowledging both positive and negative impacts.
- CExcluding any controversial opinions to maintain a neutral tone.
- DEmphasizing the residents' negative concerns to highlight potential problems.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Presenting all viewpoints fairly, acknowledging both positive and negative impacts.
A balanced perspective requires acknowledging and presenting all significant viewpoints, both positive and negative, without undue emphasis on any single one. Option C directly addresses this by stating the need to present all viewpoints fairly.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This would present a biased view, favoring the official perspective.
- C. Excluding controversial opinions would result in an incomplete and potentially misleading article, not a balanced one.
- D. This would also present a biased view, highlighting only the negative aspects.
Balanced Perspective
Presenting multiple viewpoints or sides of an issue fairly and without bias, allowing the reader to form their own informed opinion.
- Involves including diverse opinions and evidence.
- Requires avoiding favoritism towards one side.
- Aims for objectivity and completeness.
Memory trick: Weigh both sides equally to find the middle ground.