Cliche - Marvel EDU

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Practice Listening: Highlight Correct Summary ID: #3954 Medium Cliche

Instructions ›

You will hear a recording. Click on the paragraph that best relates to the recording.

Transcript:

A cliche, as you know, is an overused and worn out phrase - and.. . um ... these are to be avoided like the plague in your essays. Indeed, someone once said, I quote, " there is no greater danger to either education or thinking than the popular phrase". Let me digress a little further; originally a cliche was a printer's term, back in the days when letters were set one by one, for a ready-made block of type of frequently used phrases, usually in the newspaper business. So .. . there you are ... urn ... cliches were also known as stereotypes. Now, if you think of graphic design as a language with its own vocabulary, grammar, and so on, it too must have its cliches. Obvious examples would be, urn, the twin Greek masks of comedy and tragedy that symbolize the theater and ,more popularly known, the heart as a symbol of love, especially on Valentine cards, and so on. Far from being a terrible fault - as it would be in literature - the visual cliché is essential in the world of graphic communication. This is certainly true when it comes to advertising and propaganda. The visual cliché can give immediate life to an idea and a clear meaning to what could be a mere abstraction.

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The speaker tells us that cliches are the enemy of literature and art. They are words, phrases and images that have become stale through overuse and therefore have nothing new to say to us. They are an enemy to clear and original thinking, although they are sometimes useful in advertising to get a simple message across. While cliches in writing reveal lazy thinking and are to be avoided at all costs, in the graphic arts they become essential, helping to get the message across quickly, clearly and with emotional force. This is especially true of advertising and propaganda where the impact must be immediate. Cliches are worn out, overused and over familiar phrases, and the etymology of the word helps to explain this. Originally, a cliche or stereotype was a printer’s term for a pre-set block of type with phrases used frequently in the newspapers. The words has since adopted a negative meaning and careful writers avoid them where they can.

Result:

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Option 2: "While cliches in writing reveal lazy thinking and are to be avoided at all costs, in the graphic arts they become essential, helping to get the message across quickly, clearly and with emotional force. This is especially true of advertising and propaganda where the impact must be immediate."

Explanation: This option accurately summarizes the text by contrasting the negative perception of cliches in writing with their positive role in graphic arts. It reflects the main idea that while cliches should be avoided in literature, they serve a crucial purpose in advertising and propaganda, providing clarity and emotional impact. The phrase 'helping to get the message across quickly' aligns with the text's assertion about the effectiveness of visual cliches.

Option 1: "The speaker tells us that cliches are the enemy of literature and art. They are words, phrases and images that have become stale through overuse and therefore have nothing new to say to us. They are an enemy to clear and original thinking, although they are sometimes useful in advertising to get a simple message across."

Explanation: This option incorrectly emphasizes that cliches are solely the enemy of literature and art, which contradicts the text's assertion that visual cliches can be essential in graphic communication, especially in advertising. The text highlights the dual nature of cliches, stating they are detrimental in writing but beneficial in visual contexts. Thus, this option presents a partial view and fails to capture the main idea.

Option 3: "Cliches are worn out, overused and over familiar phrases, and the etymology of the word helps to explain this. Originally, a cliche or stereotype was a printer’s term for a pre-set block of type with phrases used frequently in the newspapers. The words has since adopted a negative meaning and careful writers avoid them where they can."

Explanation: This option focuses too heavily on the definition and etymology of cliches, which is only a part of the text. While it mentions that careful writers avoid cliches, it fails to address the text's key point about their usefulness in graphic communication and advertising. Therefore, it presents an incomplete summary that does not capture the full scope of the author's argument.

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