Multiple choice

The changes made in the format of “Engineering Journal” are nothing but a myopic move by the management. By adding a new section “Books For Professional Readers,” opposite to the present section “Books For Your Enjoyment”, the editors think they will generate interest in the research and development that is taking place in industry and thereby increasing readership. This is not the case. The titles of the two sections suggest that research literature is not enjoyable reading, a suggestion that will repel the Monthly's readers from such literature. Thus, the audience will be less interested in research articles and literature and less able to distinguish serious research from some new offbeat ideas. The editors of the Monthly could have done better by maintaining status quo.

The author of the passage above assumes that the “Engineering Journal” readers will draw which of the following conclusions from the editors' change of the book-review format?

  1. The editors are attempting to stimulate the market for their magazine.

  2. Books reviewed in “Books for Professionals” will tend not to be enjoyable reading.

  3. A reader of serious literature has more discriminating tastes than other readers.

  4. A reader can enjoy serious literature as well as popular literature.
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B Correct answer
Explanation

The 'alienation' that the author talks of is not from 'Engineering Journal' but from 'Books For Professionals Readers' The author's argument is that by naming the new column as Books For Professional Readers, reviewing serious literature in that column and printing it opposite the regular column 'Books For Your Enjoyment', the readers of the magazine will be forced to think that serious literature is not for enjoyment; and therefore they will refrain from reading the books reviewed in the new column. Choice (2) says that the new column, because of its name, will somehow or the other, will tend to repel readers as they will think that these are not for their liking. So choice (2) is the answer.

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