Passage Summary: Critics think reporters' negativity is ruining society, but the commentator argues that's impossible because reporters have always been negative—even more so in the old days.

Conclusion: The critics are wrong to claim that journalists' cynicism contributes to the undermining of society's well-being.

Reasoning: Journalists have always been cynical, and in the past, they were even more cynical than they are today.

Analysis: The commentator assumes that because a factor (cynicism) has always been present, it cannot be the cause of a current problem (undermining well-being). This is a logical error; a long-standing condition can still be a contributing cause, or perhaps society has become more susceptible to that cynicism over time. Look for an answer that suggests the commentator ignores the possibility that a persistent factor can still have a negative impact, or that other changes in society have made this old cynicism more damaging than it used to be.