123. Codex Berinensis, a Florentine copy of an ancient Roman medical treatise, is undated but contains clues to when it was produced. Its first 80 pages are by a single copyist, but the remaining 20 pages are by three different copyists, which indicates some significant disruption. Since a letter in handwriting identified as that of the fourth copyist, mentions a plague that killed many people in Florence in 1148, Codex Berinensis was probably produced in that year. Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the hypothesis that Codex Berinensis was produced in 1148? (A) Other than Codex Berinensis, there are no known samples of the handwriting of the first three copyists. (B) According to the account by the fourth copyist, the plague went on for 10 months. (C) A scribe would be able to copy a page of text the size and style of Codex Berinensis in a day. (D) There was only one outbreak of plague in Florence in the 1100’s. (E) The number of pages of Codex Berinensis produced by a single scribe becomes smaller with each successive change of copyist.
Reasoning Which information supports the hypothesis dating the Codex to 1148? Consider the basis of the hypothesis: the succession of copyists indicating the work was significantly disrupted, and the fourth copyist’s letter indicating the plague of 1148 caused serious loss of life. From this it is argued that the plague of 1148 was the reason for the multiple copyists and that the work can thus be dated to that year. What if there were multiple plagues? In that case, Codex Berinensis could have been produced at another time. If instead only one plague occurred in the 1100’s, the elimination of that possibility supports the hypothesis that the work was done in 1148.
The answer is D
------------ 15. A researcher studying drug addicts found that, on average, they tend to manipulate other people a great deal more than nonaddicts do. The researcher concluded that people who frequently manipulate other people are likely to become addicts. Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the researcher’s conclusion? (A) After becoming addicted to drugs, drug addicts learn to manipulate other people as a way of obtaining drugs. (B) When they are imprisoned, drug addicts often use their ability to manipulate other people to obtain better living conditions. (C) Some nonaddicts manipulate other people more than some addicts do. (D) People who are likely to become addicts exhibit unusual behavior patterns other than frequent manipulation of other people. (E) The addicts that the researcher studied were often unsuccessful in obtaining what they wanted when they manipulated other people.
Reasoning What weakens the conclusion? Consider how the researcher reached the conclusion. The researcher assumed that being manipulative precedes becoming a drug addict. What justification is given for this progression? What if the sequence is reversed and becoming a drug addict instead leads people to become manipulative? If it could be that being an addict makes people manipulative, the researcher’s conclusion would be weakened.
the answer is A ---------------------------------------------
I don't know why, even though I have read the explanation. The explanation of #15 seems silly........
It basically hints that all the copyist died except the last one. And if there was only one such fatal plague, then most likely these copyist died in the same year of the plague.
It basically hints that all the copyist died except the last one. And if there was only one such fatal plague, then most likely these copyist died in the same year of the plague.
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发表于 2011-3-17 11:00:21
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