Section: Critical Reading Section 2

111)

	Eugene O’Neill is truly a playwright of ideas, ideas that speak to a fundamental aspect of humanity. Many of O’Neill’s plays are set firmly on American soil at a particular time in history,
(5)	and it is easy to imagine that since the characters on stage are American, the only viable audience for such a play must be American as well. While a logical conclusion, this does not allow for the con sistently strong record of production of O’Neill
(10)	plays in Europe. His plays encompass ideas rele vant to everyone, not just Americans.

The “logical conclusion” (line 8) is contradicted by O’Neill’s

1. primarily American audiences
2. knowledge of American humanity
3. mastery of playwriting
4. authentically American characters
5. popularity in Europe

First, you need to identify the logical conclusion—O’Neill’s plays are very American, so the audience must also be American. The author then goes on to say that this is not true, The plays are also quite popular in Europe. This matches the correct answer.