Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions based on the passage:
In schools, studying literature often means closely reading a novel, play, or poem without relying much on outside sources. This approach, known as practical criticism, was developed by I.A. Richards (1893-1979) in the 1920s. He believed that focusing on the words themselves and how the writing creates effects would help people judge if a poem was truly 'good' or just had a good reputation. Practical criticism seeks connections among images, themes, and language patterns. Richards and his colleagues saw this method as scientific and thought it led to objective judgments about value. He was part of a group of Cambridge University lecturers who helped shape English Literature as a discipline. Their ideas influenced the New Critics, like John Crowe Ransom (1888-1974) and Cleanth Brooks (1906-94), and their peers in the United States. By examining literature in this way, they created a hierarchy of texts: some were seen as having universal meaning and artistic value, while others were considered too formulaic for serious study. The group of texts seen as most important is often called the literary canon.
Why did Richards and his colleagues call practical criticism 'scientific'?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Evidence from the Text: The passage states that Richards and his colleagues believed that 'focusing on the words themselves and how the writing creates effects would help people judge if a poem was truly 'good'.' It further explains that they saw this method as 'scientific' because they believed it led to 'objective judgments about value.'