RC 1

Passage 1

Film scholars agree that Hollywood portrayals of America

at war follow a cyclical pattern. During and immediately

after a conflict, important films trumpet glory and sacrifice.

Ten to fifteen years later, questioning and sometimes

pacifistic movies about the conflict dominate. In the late

1960's, "the raging bulls" of Hollywood—the young

trendsetters rising to prominence—proclaimed this pattern

obsolete. However, the passage of time has demonstrated

this cultural pattern to be more resilient than it seemed in

those days of social change.

Throughout the majority of the last century, evidence of

the cyclical portrayal of war in film abounds. After America

declared war against Germany during World War I, the

still infant film industry glorified the fight against "the Hun."

By the early 1930's, major releases had changed their

tone; for example, All Quiet on the Western Front put

forth an anti-war message by displaying the horrors of

combat. After World War II began, the industry shifted

gears. Suddenly, important pictures again portrayed

glories and courage without the questioning or despair.

For example, Guadalcanal Diary, produced during the war,

showed "the ultimate sacrifice" as a noble and undoubted

good. Once again, though, by 1957, films such as The

Bridge on the River Kwai won awards for depicting the

moral confusion of war.

Those who later declared this pattern dead based their

conviction on their hearts rather than their minds. During

the Vietnam War, the only major film about that conflict

was The Green Berets, starring John Wayne and far closer

in tone to Guadalcanal Diary than to The Bridge on the

River Kwai. Similarly, years went by before more complex

visions of war, such as Apocalypse Now, and then Platoon,

emerged.

While today's film industry is more diverse and its audience

more culturally fragmented, this cycle largely continues.

Jarhead, a layered depiction of the first gulf war, premiered

more than ten years after that conflict. Further evidence

of this pattern can be seen in the release of Apocalypse

Now Redux, which contained additional footage that the

producers originally thought would repel audiences. Thus,

the famous aphorism "The more things change, the more

they stay the same" certainly applies to this aspect of the

film industry.

1. According to the passage, Apocalypse Now Redux

differed from Apocalypse Now in which of the following

ways?

< The added footage made it less appealing to a more

culturally diverse audience.

< The added footage made its portrayal of war less

glorified and more ambiguous.

< The added footage made its portrayal of war less

harsh and more glorified.

< The added footage made it more similar in tone to

other war movies.

< The removed footage made its portrayal of war less

glorified and less appealing.

2. The passage implies that the combat depicted in All

Quiet on the Western Front least resembles the

depiction of combat in which of the following?

< Jarhead

< Apocalypse Now

< The Bridge on the River Kwai

< Platoon

< Guadalcanal Diary

3. In the second paragraph, the author implies that "the

Hun" refers to which of the following?

< The Huns

< The Hungarians

< The Austro-Hungarians

< The Germans

< The Russians

4. What is the main point made by the author?

< Hollywood has never fully supported America's armed

conflicts.

< In the last century, the film industry has become more

culturally diverse.

< An established cultural pattern is more durable than

was thought during a time of social upheaval.

< The film industry has only supported American military

efforts during the actual conflict.

< Cyclical patterns determine the type of big budget

films produced by Hollywood more than individuals

do.

5. What is the function of the last paragraph of the

passage?

< It shows that, despite changes in the industry and

audience, the pattern discussed still exists.

< It points out that the film industry never changes.

< It shows that changes in the film industry and its

audience have made the pattern previously discussed

obsolete.

< It discusses how Jarhead and Apocalypse Now Redux

are fundamentally different from all the war movies

that preceded them.

< It demonstrates that war movies have changed to

reflect the more culturally diverse audience.

6. Which one of the following does the author believe is

true about The Bridge on the River Kwai?

< It deserved the awards that it won.

< It is a more intelligent and well-crafted movie than

The Green Berets.

< It was the first movie to portray the moral confusion

of war.

< Its portrayal of war is more ambivalent than that in

Guadalcanal Diary.

< It was more financially successful than any war movie

that came before it.