Comprehension

Even if we’re a bit snooty about them, we should go down on our knees and thank heaven for movies like Jurassic Park and directors like Steven Spielberg who make them. They fill the cinemas, if only because the hype is virtually irresistible. And because they do so, hundreds of maniacs all over the world continue to finance films. But is this an example of a worldwide jackpot movie? Yes and no. Yes, because it delivers dinosaurs by the dozen, in as weird a fashion as have been seen on the screen before. And no, because the accompanying story, courtesy Michael Crichton, has little of the real imagination that made Spielberg’s E.T. and Close Encounters into the jackpot movies of their time. Technically, it works like a dream but, as a cinematic dream, it’s unmemorable. This may be because of its cardboard human characters, dwarfed by the assemblage of their prehistoric ancestors and serviced by a screenplay that makes the abortive mating calls of this weirdly asexual zoo seem eloquent in comparison.
What kind of park is this?, enquires Sam Neill. “Oh, it’s right up your alley”, says Richard Attenborough. More likely, though it has something to do with the development of the story which at no point engages us properly on the human level, except perhaps to hope that the kids and Neill’s grumpy scientist who learns to love them will finally escape from the grasp of the velociraptors chasing them. We’re looking at nothing but stunts, and they get tiresome laid end to en(d) Crichton’s book was scarcely much better but at least it had a convincing villain in John Hammond, Jurassic Park’s billionaire developer, whereas Attenborough’s approximation seems merely enthusiastically misguide(d) And Crichton’s warning of what might happen if we muck about with nature becomes weaker in the film.
What we actually have in Jurassic Park is a non-animated Disney epic with affiliations to Jaws which seems to amuse and frighten but succeeds in doing neither well enough to count. Its real interest lies in how Spielberg’s obsession with childhood now manifests itself in his middle age. It looks like being on automatic pilot — gestural rather than totally convinced but determined to remain the subject of analytical study. The whole thing, of course, is perfectly adequate fun once the ludicrously simplistic explanation of DNA has been traversed in Hammond’s costly futuristic, computerised den. Even I could understand it. Thereafter, the theme park’s creaky inability to deal with an ordinary old typhoon as its VIPs travel around hoping the investment will work, leads to predictable disasters, proficiently worked out but never truly frightening.
But then this is a film for children of all ages, except perhaps those under 12, and one shouldn’t expect sophistication on other than the technological level. Jurassic Park is more of a roller-coaster ride than a piece of real cinem(a) It delivers, but only on a certain plane. Even the breaking of the barriers between our civilization and a monstrous past doesn’t have the kick it could have ha(d)
Possibly one is asking for a different film which in the end would not have appealed across the box-office spectrum as well as this obviously does. But still one leaves it vaguely disappointe(d) All that work and just a theme park roars. It’s wonderful story, but told with more efficiency than inspiration — possibly a sign of the times, along with the merchandising spree which follows it so readily

Question: 1

Which of the following has not been mentioned as a Steven Spielberg movie in the passage?

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When asked about what is "mentioned," focus strictly on the explicit mentions in the passage, not on outside knowledge.
Updated On: Aug 6, 2025
  • Jaws
  • E.T.
  • Close Encounters
  • Jurassic Park
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

The passage explicitly mentions Spielberg's \textit{E.T.}, \textit{Close Encounters}, and \textit{Jurassic Park} as his films. \textit{Jaws} is referenced but not as a Spielberg-directed film in the context of this passage; rather, it is mentioned in comparison to \textit{Jurassic Park} in terms of style and genre. Therefore, among the options, \textit{Jaws} is the one not directly stated as Spielberg's movie in this passage.
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Question: 2

In which way does the author find the film inferior to the original book?

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Look for explicit comparative statements in the passage for "inferior to" type questions.
Updated On: Aug 6, 2025
  • The book is more interesting
  • The book had a more convincing villain
  • The book is easier to understand
  • The story had a good author but a bad director
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

The author clearly notes that Crichton's book had "a convincing villain in John Hammond," whereas in the film, Attenborough's portrayal was merely "enthusiastically misguide(d)" This is a direct comparison where the villain’s effectiveness is highlighted as the area where the film falls short compared to the book.
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Question: 3

The passage is most probably

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Identify the main subject and the type of evaluation being done to determine whether it’s a review, commentary, or article.
Updated On: Aug 6, 2025
  • a book review
  • a film critic's comments
  • a film review
  • a magazine article
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

The passage analyses the merits and shortcomings of the film \textit{Jurassic Park}, compares it with its source material, and discusses the director's choices, characters, and plot. This matches the structure and purpose of a film review, making (c) the most appropriate choice.
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Question: 4

The book Jurassic Park is written by

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Always scan for direct attributions of authorship for such factual questions.
Updated On: Aug 6, 2025
  • Crichton
  • Attenborough
  • Hammond
  • Neil
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

The passage explicitly states “courtesy Michael Crichton” and refers to “Crichton’s book,” making it clear that the author of \textit{Jurassic Park} is Michael Crichton.
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Question: 5

Which of the following does the author say of the film?

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Separate the technical execution from narrative quality when both aspects are discusse(d)
Updated On: Aug 6, 2025
  • The film is technically inferior and does not have a good storyline.
  • The film is technically inferior but has a good storyline.
  • The film is technically slick but does not have a good storyline.
  • The film is technically slick and has a good storyline.
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

The passage describes the film as “Technically, it works like a dream” but criticises its lack of engaging story and human characters. This clearly aligns with the description in (c).
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Question: 6

The writer’s opinion of the film Jurassic Park may be said to be

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Tone can often be deduced from the adjectives used and overall verdict statements at the end of the passage.
Updated On: Aug 6, 2025
  • very favourable
  • very depressing
  • excellent
  • not very favourable
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Although the author acknowledges the film’s technical achievements and entertainment value, the overall tone conveys disappointment — citing lack of sophistication, weak storytelling, and unmemorable impact. Therefore, the opinion is not very favourable.
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Question: 7

Why according to the author, should we thank heaven for movies like Jurassic Park, even though they may not be very good aesthetically?

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For “why” questions, locate explicit cause-effect reasoning stated in the passage.
Updated On: Aug 6, 2025
  • Because they fill the halls, and thus people will finance more films.
  • Because it is one of the major hits of the year.
  • Because the film has brilliant technical wizardry.
  • Because of the hundreds of films being produced, this is one of the few excellent ones.
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

The first paragraph states that such films “fill the cinemas” and “because they do so, hundreds of maniacs all over the world continue to finance films.” This directly supports option (a).
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Question: 8

According to the author, Jurassic Park

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Pay attention to qualifiers like “seems to” or “but” — they often reverse or diminish an initial claim.
Updated On: Aug 6, 2025
  • is very amusing
  • is very frightening
  • Both (a) and (b)
  • Neither (a) nor (b)
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

The author says it “seems to amuse and frighten but succeeds in doing neither well enough to count.” This directly supports (d) as neither effect is achieved satisfactorily.
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Question: 9

The phrase “muck about,” in the context of the passage, means

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For idiomatic expressions, use the surrounding sentence to infer whether the tone is positive, negative, or cautionary.
Updated On: Aug 6, 2025
  • make dirty
  • interfere with
  • be frivolous about
  • to mask
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

In the passage, “muck about with nature” refers to tampering or interfering with natural processes, warning against unintended consequences. Thus, “interfere with” is the most accurate contextual meaning.
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