Read the following English comprehension passage about art as an escape and about the philosopher Aristotle on poetry, then choose the most appropriate answer from the four alternatives. All art is, in an important sense, an escape. There is a sense in which the capacity to escape from the present experience, to use the accumulated consciousness of the past to project a vision of the future, is the greatest and most distinctive human ability. We must not forget the force of the argument by Aristotle that poetry is valuable precisely because it shows human beings not simply as they are, but as they ought to be or, in terms more sympathetic to us today, as they are capable of becoming. According to this passage, what does Aristotle mainly argue about the nature of poetry and its value?

Introduction / Context:
This question is based on a short English reading comprehension passage about art as an escape and the way the philosopher Aristotle explains the value of poetry. The passage explains that human beings can escape from their present experience by using memories of the past and imagination about the future, and then connects this power of imagination to the role of poetry. The learner has to identify what, according to Aristotle in this passage, poetry mainly is or why it is considered valuable.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The passage states that all art is in an important sense an escape from present experience.
• It says that people can use their accumulated consciousness of the past to project a vision of the future.
• It adds that this capacity for imaginative escape is a distinctive human ability.
• Aristotle is mentioned as arguing that poetry is valuable for a specific reason.
• The text explains that poetry shows human beings not simply as they are, but as they ought to be or as they are capable of becoming.

Concept / Approach:
To answer a reading comprehension question of this type, the safest method is to go back to the exact sentence in the passage that talks about the key idea, instead of relying on vague memory. We then restate that idea in simple language and compare it carefully with each of the four options. We must choose the option that matches the core message in the passage, not what we personally believe about art or poetry in general. In this case, we are looking specifically for what Aristotle says about poetry and why he thinks it is valuable.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Locate the line in the passage that mentions Aristotle and poetry. Step 2: The passage states that poetry is valuable precisely because it shows human beings not simply as they are, but as they ought to be or as they are capable of becoming. Step 3: Restate this idea in simple language. Aristotle thinks poetry is valuable because it presents an ideal or improved vision of human character, rather than just a plain copy of everyday reality. Step 4: Compare this restated idea with the given options. The correct option will focus on poetry being valuable due to its power to show how humans ought to be or can become. Step 5: Reject any option that focuses only on escape, only on a technical art form, or only on copying life as it is, because these do not capture the main point of Aristotle in the passage.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick way to verify the answer is to ask what Aristotle is doing in that sentence. He is not defining art in general and he is not talking about all possible functions of poetry. Instead, he is giving one central reason for its value. If an option mentions that poetry is valuable because it shows people as they ought to be and as they are capable of becoming, then it is consistent with the text. If an option says that poetry is just an escape, only an art form, or only a mirror of ordinary life, then it fails to include the special value that Aristotle stresses.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Option B suggests that poetry is valuable mainly because it helps people escape from reality. While the passage begins with the idea of escape in art, the specific line about Aristotle clearly points to an ethical and aspirational function, not simple escape.
• Option C reduces poetry to a neutral technical art form and ignores the message that poetry presents ideal possibilities of human character. This does not match the passage.
• Option D claims that poetry only copies everyday life. This directly contradicts the text, which says that poetry does more than show life as it is; it shows what people ought to be and what they can become.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners rush through reading comprehension passages and keep only a vague impression that art and poetry are somehow connected with escape. As a result, they sometimes choose an option that mentions escape, even when the specific part of the passage they are asked about is focusing on a more precise point. Another common mistake is to ignore the phrase valuable precisely because in the line about Aristotle. That phrase signals that the author is about to state the main reason for the value of poetry. If we miss that clue, we are more likely to guess based on personal opinion about poetry rather than on the actual text.

Final Answer:
The correct conclusion from the passage is that Aristotle considers poetry valuable because it shows human beings not just as they are but as they ought to be or as they are capable of becoming. Therefore, the correct option is Poetry is valuable because it shows human beings not just as they are but as they ought to be or as they are capable of becoming.