Your task is to determine the role that each boldface statement plays in the argument, At one level, there are three primary options for each statement:
(1) The statement in boldface is the author's CONCLUSION.
(2) The statement in boldface is a premise that SUPPORTS the author's conclusion.
(3) The statement in boldface is a premise that WEAKENS the author's conclusion.
Thus. you should classify each statement according to these categories.
Consider the following example:
Mathematician: Recently, Zubin Ghosh made headlines when he was recognized to have solved the Hilbert Conjecture, made a hundred years ago. Ghosh simply posted hiswork on the Internet, ratherthan submitting it to established journals. In fact, he has no job, let alone a university position; he lives alone and has refused all acclaim.? n reporting. on Ghosh, the press
unfortunately has reinforced the popular view that mathematicians are antisocialloners.
But mathematicians clearly form a tightly knit community, frequently collaborating on important efforts; indeed, teams of researchers are working together to extend Ghosh's findings.
In the argument above, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
(A) The first is an observation the author makes to illustrate a social pattern; the second is a generalization of that pattern.
(B) The first is evidence in favor of the popular view expressed in the argument; the second is a brief restatement of that view.
(C) The first is a specific example of a generalization that the author contradicts; the second is a reiteration of that generalization.
(0) The first is a specific counterexample to a generalization that the author asserts; the second is that generalization.
(E) The first is a Judgment that counters the primary assertion expressed in the argument; the second is a circumstance on which that judgment is based.
The author's conclusion is that mathematicians actually form a tightly knit community. The
counterargument is that mathematicians are antisocial loners. Now, label each statement as
either Conclusion, Premise For, or Premise Against. In the above argument, the first boldface
represents an example that supports the counterargument. Thus, the first statement is
Premise Against. The second boldface represents the author's conclusion. Now we can write
down our assessment of the boldface statements:
Turning to the answer choices, we should assess each one methodically.
Evaluate the first half of choice (A) first. This says that the author uses this statement to
illustrate a social pattern. In other words, this choice asserts that statement #1 is Premise
For. We have labeled the first statement as Premise Against, so this choice is incorrect.
The first half of choice (B) says the first statement supports the popular view. The popular
view is the counterargument, so this choice argues that #1 is Premise Against. The second
half of choice (B),.hoWever, says that the second statement is the popular view. The second
statement is the author's conclusion, not the counterargument. Eliminate this 'choice.
The first half of choice (C) says that the first statement is an example of the counterargument
(in other words, Premise Against). The second half of choice (C) says that the second
statement reiterates the counterargument, but the second statement is the author's own conclusion.
The first half of choice (D) says that the first statement is a counterexample to the author's
conclusion (in other words, Premise Against). The second half of choice (D) says that the
second statement is the author's conclusion. We agree with these labels, so this is the correct
answer. As always, you. should read all the answer choices, but you may be at the twominute
mark already, in which case you should select (D) and move on.
The first half of choice (E) says that the first statement is a premise against the author's conclusion
(in other words, Premise Against). The second half of this choice, however, says that
the second statement is another Premise Against. Eliminate this choice.
| 
京公网安备11010202008513号 京ICP证101109号 京ICP备12012021号
发表于 2012-3-1 22:18:17
收藏
收藏
楼主
谢谢楼主~
