Something interesting: mistake in 'The Official Guide to the New TOEFL® iBT'

[Trier]

true or fault ?

... McGraw Hill’s The Official Guide to the New TOEFL iBT, International Edition 2006, printed in Singapore. ...

In the Explanation on pages 34-35, Choice 6 is among the Correct Choices, and Choice 1 among the Incorrect. I chose differently when I did the question. When I looked at the corresponding Explanations, they failed to convince me.

Choice 6 reads: In the twentieth century, artists working in the fine arts often treat materials in new ways whereas applied arts specialists continue to think of crafts in terms of function.

There are two problems with this choice. First, The first sentence of the last paragraph says: “Even though the fine arts in the twentieth century often treat materials in new ways, the basic difference in attitude of artists in relation to their materials in the fine arts and the applied arts remains relatively constant.” The weight of the sentence is clearly on the second and main clause, since the first clause (starting “Even though”) is merely a concession. Thus, the whole sentence merely reaffirms that “the basic difference … remains relatively constant.” Choice 6 says “In the twentieth century, artists working in the fine arts often treat materials in new ways….” This repeats the content of the “Even though…” clause, which stands in logical contrast to the main clause, the clause that contains the main idea. Therefore, Choice 6 is far from being an accurate summary of any main idea in the passage.

Second, after the author makes a passing reference of a new trend in the fine arts in the twentieth century as a concession, he immediately returns to his main thesis and goes on to conclude: “It would therefore not be too great an exaggeration to say….” The structure of the last paragraph indicates that the concluding sentence is a summary of the main idea, whereas the sentence preceding it (on which Choice 6 is erroneously based) is merely a supporting detail. Therefore, Choice 6 is clearly incorrect.

Choice 1 reads: The fine arts are only affected by the laws of physics because of the limitations of the materials that are used.

The Explanation for Choice 1 goes: “This answer is incorrect because it is a minor point mentioned in sentence 4 of paragraph 2. The statement is true, but it is made only to support the broader theme (of the second correct answer choice above) about the differences between the two forms of art. Thus, it is used as an example in support of a major idea and is not itself one of the major themes in the passage.”

This Explanation necessitates a look at “the second correct answer choice,” which is this: Applied-art objects are bound by the laws of physics in two ways: by the materials used to make them, and the function they are to serve. This answer choice deals with “applied-art objects” only. Therefore, the theme of Choice 2 is neither broader nor narrower than that of Choice 1. Since the passage as a whole is a contrast between fine arts and applied arts, Choice 2 covers only half the theme (the half that has to do with applied arts); Choice 1 covers the other half (the half that deals with fine arts).

The first two sentences of paragraph 2 serve as transition that leads to the third: “This assumption misses a significant difference between the two disciplines,” and thus to the fourth and fifth sentences: “Fine-art objects are not constrained by the laws of physics in the same way that applied-art objects are. Because their primary purpose is not functional, they are only limited in terms of the materials used to make them,” which is basically what Choice 1 says. Sentence 5 (not sentence 4 as the Explanation says) truly points out a “significant difference” between the two kinds of arts. All the remaining sentences of this paragraph (seven in all) are devoted to supporting and developing this difference.

Explanation for Choice 2 says that “five or six” sentences are used to develop the major theme of the first paragraph, which is that applied-art objects are bound by physical laws both in function and in material. Now “seven” sentences are used to develop the major theme of the second paragraph, which is that fine-art objects are bound by physical laws only in material—exactly what Choice 1 says. If Choice 2 is correct, then Choice 1 must be correct. ...

... spotted another mistake--this time a rather obvious one--in the same book (The Official Guide to the NEW TOEFL iBT, International Edition 2006). Question 1 on page 70 is a simple, straightforward Factual Information Question. The answer should be Choice 2. Your book gives Choice 3 as the answer, and offers some very lame explanations on page 75. ...

excerpted from http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/jw!GFGhGimWHxN4wRWXG1UDIL_XSA--/article?mid=1&prev=43&next=-1

true or fault ???