Question 2

Modern sound equipment can accurately reproduce natural sounds.

The author suggests that we have been misled into thinking that modern sound equipment can accurately reproduce natural sounds, which is not true due to its limitations.

A) That sounds recorded in the natural world must be recorded in stereo

This option is incorrect because the author does not imply that stereo recording is a necessity for capturing sounds. Instead, the focus is on the limitations of sound reproduction rather than the format in which sounds are recorded.

B) That sounds recorded in the field must be placed in context

This option is not supported by the extract. The author discusses the context of sounds after they are recorded but does not claim that field recordings must inherently be placed within a context, thus making this choice incorrect.

C) That sounds recorded in the natural world have few dimensions

While the author mentions that recorded sound replicates our world in fewer dimensions than we believe, this is not the central claim regarding being "conned." Therefore, this option does not accurately reflect the author's assertion about our misconceptions.

D) That modern sound equipment can accurately reproduce natural sounds

This option is correct as the author clearly indicates that the elaborate equipment developed for capturing sounds is limited and does not replicate the natural world accurately. The phrase "we have been conned into believing" directly refers to this misconception about the capabilities of modern sound equipment.

E) That modern sound equipment can be operated only by an engineer

This option is incorrect because the author does not make any claims about the exclusivity of operating sound equipment. The focus is on the limitations of the equipment itself rather than who can operate it.

Conclusion

The correct answer, D, captures the author's critique of the misconception surrounding modern sound equipment's ability to accurately reproduce natural sounds. All other options either misinterpret the author's intent or fail to address the central theme of deception regarding our understanding of sound reproduction technology.