Reading Comprehension
Passage Breakdown
Both passages debate whether tax money should pay for the arts. Passage A says yes: public funding helps people who can’t afford or don’t have access to cultural events, and arts bring people together and boost civic involvement. Passage B says no: subsidies usually reflect the tastes of committees, not most taxpayers, people can buy the art they want themselves, and the government shouldn’t choose art for people. In short, A argues for funding to promote fairness and community; B argues against it to protect individual choice.
Logic Breakdown
Look for a general claim both authors accept about when taxpayer funds for the arts are justified. Passage A opens by asking what public interest is served and says subsidies need public justification; Passage B says a justification must show direct benefit to taxpayers. Choose the option that states this shared principle.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage9.Which one of the following principles underlies both passages?
Correct Answer
B
Both passages state that public funding of the arts requires demonstration of public benefit. Passage A begins by asking, “What public interest is served by an earmarked tax for the arts? … unless the public interest is somehow served, proponents of arts subsidies will be hard pressed to justify the transfer of money from taxpayers in general….” Passage B likewise says, “Yet a justification for such subsidies must show the direct benefit of spending taxpayers' money on things the taxpayers themselves would not have chosen.” Together these lines support the principle that public funding is justifiable only if it serves the public good.
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