"Surprising" Phenomenon
Why do runners who train by running for shorter periods of time every day perform better than those who train by running longer periods of time?
Objective
The correct answer will present an unsatisfactory hypothesis, one that fails to explain why athletes who train on shorter times perform better in marathons. Every wrong answer, meanwhile, will state a difference between runners who train by running 90 minutes a day and those who train by running 120 minutes a day that explains this discrepancy.
A
The longer the period of time that one runs daily, the greater the chances of suffering adverse health effects due to air pollution.
This would explain why runners who train on shorter times achieve better results. Those who run for shorter periods are less likely to suffer consequences from air pollution that would hinder their training or slow them down during a race.
B
The longer the period of time that one runs daily, the easier it is to adjust to different race lengths.
This would explain the opposite discrepancy. If runners who train on longer time periods can adjust more easily, then if anything they should perform better than runners who train on shorter time periods.
C
The longer the run, the more frequent is the occurrence of joint injuries that significantly interfere with overall training.
This is a reason runners who train on shorter periods achieve better results. Less time spent training means a lower risk of injury, which means a higher chance of training consistently.
D
Runners who train over 90 minutes per day grow bored with running and become less motivated.
This would explain why runners who train on shorter time periods achieve better results. Those who run 90 minutes a day are less likely to lose motivation, and thus more likely to maintain their training and perform to their abilities.
E
Runners who train over 90 minutes per day deplete certain biochemical energy reserves, leaving them less energy for marathons.
This would explain why runners who train for 90 minutes a day achieve better results. They do not deplete their energy reserves before race day, while those who train on longer time periods use some of those reserves in training.
Michiko: But the idea of the modern Olympics is to showcase the world’s finest athletes, regardless of their backgrounds or resources. Hence, professionals should be allowed to compete.
Speaker 1 Summary
Juan thinks that having professional athletes compete in the Olympics violates the spirit of fairness underpinning the games. Why? Because professional athletes will likely not be seriously challenged by amateurs. This is further backed up by the fact that professionals generally have more resources than amateurs.
Speaker 2 Summary
Michiko argues that professional athletes should be allowed to compete in the Olympics. Why? Because the point of the Olympics is to display the best athletes in the world, even if they’re the best because they have more resources.
Objective
We need to find a point of disagreement. Juan and Michiko disagree about the most important principle behind the Olympics: Juan thinks it’s fairness, but Michiko thinks it’s showcasing excellence.
A
whether the participation of both amateur and professional athletes is in accord with the ideals of the modern Olympics
Juan thinks that the participation of professionals is not in accord, but Michiko thinks it is—this is the disagreement. This is because Juan thinks that fairness is the key ideal of the Olympics, but Michiko thinks the Olympics are about displaying athletic excellence.
B
whether both amateur and professional athletes competed in the ancient Olympic games upon which the modern Olympics are based
Juan claims in passing that amateurs and professionals did not both compete in the ancient Olympics, but Michiko neither agrees nor disagrees. Michiko just talks about the modern Olympics.
C
whether the athletes who compete in the modern Olympics are the world’s finest
Neither speaker actually says whether modern Olympic athletes are the world’s best or not. Michiko indicates that they should be the best, but even then doesn’t discuss whether that reflect reality.
D
whether any amateur athletes have the financial or material resources that are available to professional athletes
Neither speaker makes an absolute claim that no amateurs have the same resources as professionals. Juan says that amateurs “rarely” have those resources, and Michiko says nothing at all about who has resources.
E
whether governments sponsor professional as well as amateur athletes in the modern Olympics
Neither speaker mentions government sponsorship of athletes at all.
Tracy: I disagree. Our equipment sells to consumers who associate our company with quality. Moving into the low-cost market would put our competitors in the high-cost market on an equal footing with us, which could hurt our overall sales.
Speaker 1 Summary
Jean concludes that we should add a low-cost model of our navigational equipment. This is because it would allow us to increase our overall sales while continuing to dominate the high end.
Speaker 2 Summary
Tracy concludes that we shouldn’t add a low-cost model. This is because adding a low-cost model would allow competitors to be on an equal footing in the high-cost market, which might hurt our overall sales.
Objective
We’re looking for a point of disagreement. The speakers disagree about whether we should add a low-cost model. They also disagree about whether adding a low-cost model would still allow us to dominate the high end market.
A
There is a greater potential for profits in the low-cost market than there is in the high-cost market.
Neither speaker expresses an opinion. They do have opinion about whether we can increase our overall sales by adding a low-end model, but that doesn’t imply an opinion about whether there’s more money to be made in the low-end market vs. the high-end market.
B
The proposed cheaper model, if it were made available, would sell to customers who would otherwise be buying the company’s present model.
Neither speaker expresses an opinion. Nobody says anything suggesting a belief about whether low-end purchasers would have purchased the current model.
C
The company could dominate the low-cost market in the same way it has dominated the high-cost market.
Jean doesn’t express an opinion. Although she thinks we could increase our sales by selling a low-cost model, that doesn’t mean she thinks we can dominate the low-cost market. Maybe she thinks we can make a small amount of additional money.
D
The company would no longer dominate the high-cost market if it began selling a low-cost model.
The speakers disagree. Jean thinks we can continue to dominate the high end even after selling a low-cost model. Tracy thinks selling a low-cost model would put our competitors on an equal footing with us in the high-cost market. That means we wouldn’t dominant anymore.
E
Decreased sales of the high-cost model would result in poor sales for the proposed low-cost model.
Neither expresses an opinion. Jean doesn’t mention decreased sales of the high-cost model. Tracy suggest our sales might decrease in the high-end market by introducing a low-cost model, but doesn’t discuss how this would affect sales of a low-cost model.