Summarize Argument: Phenomenon-Hypothesis
The author concludes that some people have a “sixth sense.” Her evidence is a study where people guessed correctly 60% of the time whether or not they were being watched.
Notable Assumptions
60% is only slightly higher than chance, so the author must believe that the sample size is large enough to account for this. Moreover, the author must believe participants in the survey couldn’t have identified any useful pattern or clue (i.e. a reflection from the window) that would help them detect whether or not they were being watched. Anything besides an independent “sixth sense” would compromise the study.
A
Most of the time, subjects said they were being watched.
We don’t care how often they said they were being watched or not watched. The participants were right 60% of the time, and we’re trying to strengthen the claim they were right because of a “sixth sense.”
B
The person recording the experimental results was careful not to interact with the subjects after the experiment ended.
We don’t care what happened after the experiment ended.
C
A similar result was found when the subjects were watched from another room on a video monitor.
This tells us that the window didn’t give the participants any hints as to whether or not they were being watched. Moreover, it replicates an experimental result. In turn, this increases sample size.
D
The room in which the subjects were seated was not soundproof.
If the room wasn’t soundproof, then the subjects might’ve heard the person who was watching them. This weakens the author’s argument.
E
The subjects were mostly graduate students in psychology from a nearby university.
Irrelevant. It’s hard to see how the choice of subjects could make a difference in this experiment.
Summarize Argument
The author argues that CDs are superior in artistic freedom when compared with vinyl records. The support for this conclusion is that vinyl records have some technical constraints that CDs do not have. These technical constraints mean that vinyl records cannot have loud, high-pitched, or low-pitched parts on the last song of each side of the record, because these sounds are associated with grooves that can cause the record needle to jump; CDs do not have these limitations, so artists using CDs can end their recordings however they would like.
Identify Conclusion
The conclusion is that CDs provide more artistic freedom than vinyl records: “Compact discs (CDs) offer an improvement in artistic freedom over vinyl records.”
A
CDs provide greater artistic latitude than do vinyl records.
This is a paraphrase of the first sentence of the argument, which is the argument’s conclusion. The rest of the argument acts as support for this claim.
B
On vinyl records, the song farthest from the center can have loud, high-pitched, or low-pitched passages.
The argument does not discuss songs farthest from the center on vinyl records, so this is not the main conclusion.
C
As the record needle moves in toward the vinyl record’s center, the centrifugal force on the needle becomes stronger.
This answer may be supported by the argument, but this relationship is not directly specified in the argument. Further, this answer is not a paraphrase of the first sentence of the argument, so it is not the main conclusion.
D
CDs represent a considerable technological advance over vinyl records.
The argument’s conclusion is about artistic freedom. The idea of technological advancement is distinct from artistic freedom, so this is not the main conclusion. Also, the modifier “considerable” is not supported from the information given.
E
CDs can have louder passages, as well as both higher- and lower-pitched passages, than can vinyl records.
We know that the last songs on vinyl records cannot have especially loud, high-, or low- pitched sounds; we do not have information to compare generalized sound ranges for CDs with those of vinyl records. E makes unsupported generalized comparisons.
Summary
The public interest is comprised of many varying interests, and broadcast media must serve them all. Although most television viewers would prefer an action show to an opera, a constant stream of action shows on all channels would not be in the public interest. Thus…(the correct answer will be the conclusion)
Strongly Supported Conclusions
If the broadcast media plays action shows all day, they will not be serving the public interest.
Programming decisions should not be based solely on popularity.
Programming decisions should not be based solely on popularity.
A
broadcasters’ obligations are not satisfied if they look only to popularity to decide their programming schedules
The stimulus acknowledges that while most people might prefer action shows (popularity), it would not be in the public interest. This is because broadcast media must cater to all interests (not just what is most popular).
B
television networks should broadcast more artistic and cultural shows and fewer action shows
The stimulus does not give any information as to what broadcast companies are *currently* airing. The balance between arts and action shows may be in balance. Thus, this kind of comparative statement is not supported.
C
the public interest should be considered whenever television producers develop a new program
The stimulus says nothing about what should be considered when *developing* new shows. It receives no support from the stimulus, so it does not logically complete it.
D
the popularity of a television program is a poor indicator of its artistic quality
This requires the assumption that action shows (or what is popular) is not of high artistic quality. The stimulus does not mention any standard to measure artistic quality.
E
broadcast media could be rightly accused of neglecting the public interest only if all channels carried mostly action shows
This has the lawgic flipped and is too restrictive. There are many other reasons that the broadcast company neglects public interest, not just *only* showing action shows.