(12) General audiences, according to Netflix, still prefer dubs. (13) The company now defaults to dubbing because its data indicate that viewers are more likely to finish a movie or show if it’s presented in the viewer’s native language. (14) These viewers say they prefer to unwind while watching television, which is easier to do when a movie is dubbed. (15) Surprisingly, even some television critics admit that they prefer dubs so they can do other things while watching, like check their phones or wash the dishes. (16) Therein lies the crucial distinction: because subtitles demand constant attention, dubbing allows for shorter attention spans and multitasking while viewing.

The writer wants to add a conclusion at the end of the passage that summarizes the main argument. Which of the following best achieves that goal?


A. Movie studios may one day tailor films to audience tastes by making them shorter and faster paced and including interactive features to keep audiences engaged.

B. Serious viewers, therefore, should choose subtitles to become fully engrossed in the story and the actors’ performances, while casual viewers, who often divide their attention between their television screens and their smartphone screens, should content themselves with dubbing.

C. In the future, audiences may be just as excited to view all the Academy Award nominees for Best Foreign Language Film as they are to see the nominees for Best Picture.

D. However, Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki argues that subtitles are no more authentic a translation than dubbing: “When you watch the subtitled version you are probably missing just as many things. There is a layer and a nuance you’re not going to get.”

E. Even though people generally watch movies for entertainment, researchers cite intriguing studies that show a correlation between watching subtitled films in a different language and having a greater proficiency in that language.