African American publishing entrepreneur John H. Johnson (1918–2005) had a significant impact on American business practices. By successfully disproving a common assumption about marketing and media in the early twentieth century—that a single message and medium could reach all Americans—Johnson helped make possible everything from Telemundo to Ms. Magazine. The very nature of contemporary media hinges on the concept Johnson demonstrated: the profitability of targeting specific niches of consumers, segmented by ethnicity, age, and other demographic characteristics. Johnson devised techniques and concepts whose effectiveness now benefits many American businesses and even multinational corporations facing the challenge of marketing goods and services to a globally diverse population.
In context, 'Telemundo' and 'Ms. magazine' serve as examples of media that:
- A. devised similar marketing techniques
- B. were created by the same media visionary
- C. underwent profound changes as a result of Johnson's work
- D. were designed to appeal to particular groups of consumers
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
Both 'Telemundo' and 'Ms. magazine' were designed to cater to specific audiences, focusing on the needs and interests of their respective consumer groups. Telemundo targets the Hispanic community, providing culturally relevant content, while Ms. magazine addresses feminist issues and women’s rights. Option A is incorrect as there is no evidence that both utilized similar marketing techniques. Option B is misleading; they were not created by the same visionary. Option C is inaccurate; while Johnson's work influenced media, it did not specifically lead to profound changes in either outlet.
Both 'Telemundo' and 'Ms. magazine' were designed to cater to specific audiences, focusing on the needs and interests of their respective consumer groups. Telemundo targets the Hispanic community, providing culturally relevant content, while Ms. magazine addresses feminist issues and women’s rights. Option A is incorrect as there is no evidence that both utilized similar marketing techniques. Option B is misleading; they were not created by the same visionary. Option C is inaccurate; while Johnson's work influenced media, it did not specifically lead to profound changes in either outlet.
Other Related Questions
The author of Passage 2 would most likely respond to the statement in the fifth sentence of Passage 1 ('Environmentalists must face the fact that unless high-yield crop varieties, pesticides, and fertilizers are widely used in developing nations, the world's food supply will be outstripped by spiraling demand') by arguing that:
- A. industrialized nations pose a greater threat to the environment than do developing nations
- B. many fertilizers are organic substances that produce no ill effects in humans
- C. agricultural chemicals can be used on a small scale and still significantly improve crop yields
- D. the use of pesticides is unnecessary if high-yield crop varieties are adopted
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
Option C aligns with the idea that improving crop yields can be achieved through targeted use of agricultural chemicals, suggesting a balanced approach rather than widespread reliance. This reflects the author's likely advocacy for sustainable practices that enhance productivity without overwhelming environmental concerns. Option A diverts the focus to industrialized nations, which may not directly address the statement's emphasis on developing nations' agricultural needs. Option B incorrectly implies that all fertilizers are harmless, overlooking potential environmental impacts. Option D dismisses the potential benefits of pesticides entirely, which may not align with the author's nuanced view on agricultural practices.
Option C aligns with the idea that improving crop yields can be achieved through targeted use of agricultural chemicals, suggesting a balanced approach rather than widespread reliance. This reflects the author's likely advocacy for sustainable practices that enhance productivity without overwhelming environmental concerns. Option A diverts the focus to industrialized nations, which may not directly address the statement's emphasis on developing nations' agricultural needs. Option B incorrectly implies that all fertilizers are harmless, overlooking potential environmental impacts. Option D dismisses the potential benefits of pesticides entirely, which may not align with the author's nuanced view on agricultural practices.
In sentence 13, the narrator most likely uses the image of 'a tightly woven fruit basket' to suggest that the rain is:
- A. a physical challenge that must be endured
- B. falling so heavily that she can barely see through it
- C. a reminder of the weather in harvest season
- D. important because it allows crops to survive
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
The image of "a tightly woven fruit basket" conveys the idea of resilience and endurance, suggesting that the rain is a challenge that must be faced. This metaphor implies that just like a tightly woven basket holds its contents together despite external pressures, the narrator must endure the rain's intensity. Option B misinterprets the imagery; while heavy rain can obscure vision, the metaphor focuses more on endurance than visibility. Option C incorrectly links the rain to harvest season, which is not implied in the context. Option D, while true about rain's importance for crops, does not capture the struggle suggested by the basket imagery.
The image of "a tightly woven fruit basket" conveys the idea of resilience and endurance, suggesting that the rain is a challenge that must be faced. This metaphor implies that just like a tightly woven basket holds its contents together despite external pressures, the narrator must endure the rain's intensity. Option B misinterprets the imagery; while heavy rain can obscure vision, the metaphor focuses more on endurance than visibility. Option C incorrectly links the rain to harvest season, which is not implied in the context. Option D, while true about rain's importance for crops, does not capture the struggle suggested by the basket imagery.
The author implies that the social sciences:
- A. are valued for their techniques
- B. can make no contribution to progress
- C. cannot deal with long-term issues
- D. may someday add to the world's knowledge
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
The social sciences are portrayed as fields that hold potential for future contributions to global knowledge, indicating optimism about their evolving role. Option A suggests that their value lies solely in techniques, which limits their broader impact. Option B dismisses their potential entirely, contradicting the author's implication of future contributions. Option C incorrectly asserts that social sciences cannot address long-term issues, overlooking their capability to analyze historical trends and societal changes. Thus, the emphasis on future contributions aligns best with the text's implications.
The social sciences are portrayed as fields that hold potential for future contributions to global knowledge, indicating optimism about their evolving role. Option A suggests that their value lies solely in techniques, which limits their broader impact. Option B dismisses their potential entirely, contradicting the author's implication of future contributions. Option C incorrectly asserts that social sciences cannot address long-term issues, overlooking their capability to analyze historical trends and societal changes. Thus, the emphasis on future contributions aligns best with the text's implications.
In the second sentence of the passage ('a giant Saturn moon rocket dismantled into pieces for tourists to inspect, like lengths of fossilized bone from a mythic biotech dragon'), the simile primarily emphasizes the rocket's:
- A. dominance
- B. obsolescence
- C. superior engineering
- D. appeal to newcomers
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
The simile compares the dismantled rocket to "fossilized bone from a mythic biotech dragon," highlighting its obsolescence. This imagery suggests that the rocket, once a marvel of technology, now resembles relics of a bygone era, evoking a sense of nostalgia rather than functionality. Option A, dominance, does not apply here, as the imagery does not convey power or superiority. Option C, superior engineering, is contradicted by the notion of the rocket being dismantled and inspected, which implies it is no longer operational. Option D, appeal to newcomers, is less relevant; the focus is more on the rocket's past significance than its current allure.
The simile compares the dismantled rocket to "fossilized bone from a mythic biotech dragon," highlighting its obsolescence. This imagery suggests that the rocket, once a marvel of technology, now resembles relics of a bygone era, evoking a sense of nostalgia rather than functionality. Option A, dominance, does not apply here, as the imagery does not convey power or superiority. Option C, superior engineering, is contradicted by the notion of the rocket being dismantled and inspected, which implies it is no longer operational. Option D, appeal to newcomers, is less relevant; the focus is more on the rocket's past significance than its current allure.