Summary
To stop the production of counterfeit bills, it’s necessary that at least some images on real bills be hard to measure accurately. This is because accurate measurements are involved in at least some counterfeiting methods.
Missing Connection
The conclusion is that interfering with measurement is necessary to stop counterfeiting. But the premise just tells us that measurements can be involved in the process, without saying how important those measurements actually are. That’s not good enough to reach such a strong conclusion. Couldn’t there be other ways to stop counterfeiting besides dealing with the measurement issue?
If we knew that making accurate measurements was sufficient, all on its own, for counterfeiting, then the conclusion would properly follow. In that case, dealing with the measurement issue would have to be part of counterfeit prevention!
A
Today’s copying technology is sophisticated enough to replicate almost any paper product with great precision.
This doesn’t explain why measurement is so important to the counterfeiting process. We still have no reason to think that interfering with measurement is the only way to stop counterfeiting.
B
Once the images printed on a banknote have been measured accurately, there is no further impediment to the banknote’s being exactly replicated.
This says that being able to make accurate measurements is sufficient to be able to counterfeit a bill. This is simply the contrapositive of the conclusion! So assuming (B) guarantees that the conclusion follows.
C
Governments have better printing technology available to them than counterfeiters do.
This doesn’t explain why measurement is so important to the counterfeiting process. We still have no reason to think that interfering with measurement is the only way to stop counterfeiting.
D
Few countries produce banknotes with images that are difficult for counterfeiters to measure accurately.
What countries actually do is irrelevant. The conclusion is conditional, meaning it’s entirely hypothetical: if counterfeiting is to be stopped, then images must be hard to measure. Whether any countries happen to follow that advice has no effect on the validity of that advice.
E
New designs in banknotes generally lead to decreases in the amount of counterfeit currency in circulation.
This doesn’t explain why measurement is so important to the counterfeiting process. We still have no reason to think that interfering with measurement is the only way to stop counterfeiting.
Summarize Argument
The author concludes that the Andersen family’s real income must have increased over the last 5 years. This is based on the fact that the real average income for families has risen over the last five years, and this year the Andersen family’s income is average for families.
Identify and Describe Flaw
The author overlooks the possibility that the Andersen family’s income hasn’t changed in five years. Although they are at the average for family’s this year, that doesn’t mean they experienced an increase in income from previous years. They might have been above average in previous years, and the nation’s average income for families has simply caught up to their income.
A
ambiguously uses the term “average” in two different senses
“Average” in “average income for families” means the same thing as “average” in “income is average for families.” It refers to the figure taken by adding up the total income for all families and dividing the figure by the number of families.
B
fails to take into account inflation with respect to the Andersen family’s income
The argument concerns “real” income, which is defined as income that is “adjusted for inflation.” So the argument already takes into account inflation.
C
overlooks the possibility that most families’ incomes are below average
This possibility doesn’t undermine the argument, because the author never assumed that most families incomes are not below average. The argument is based on the average income for families. Reliance on that average doesn’t imply a belief about “most” families’ income.
D
fails to consider the possibility that the Andersen family’s real income was above average in the recent past
This shows why the Andersens’ income might not have increased. They are at the average for today, but that doesn’t imply they had a lower income in the past. They might have been above average in the past, and the average income has increased to their level.
E
presumes, without providing justification, that the government makes no errors in gathering accurate estimates of family income
The author doesn’t assume that the government never makes errors in gathering estimates for family income. Maybe, for example, the data for one family was reported incorrectly. That wouldn’t necessarily have significant impacts on the overall average income calculation.
Jung-Su: Although artists, like musicians, may reject literal representation, makers of abstract art choose to represent the purely formal features of objects, which are discovered only when everyday perspectives are rejected. Thus, whatever others might come to say, abstract art is part of the artistic mainstream.
Speaker 1 Summary
Abstract art will eventually been seen as an aberration. Why? Because abstract art does not represent. Representation is necessary for art.
Speaker 2 Summary
Abstract art is art. Why? Because it represents purely formal features of objects.
Objective
We need a statement that Richard and Jung-Su disagree on. They disagree on whether abstract art is representational. Richard thinks abstract art is not representational. Jung-Su thinks that abstract art is representational because it represents formal features of objects.
A
makers of abstract art reject literal representation
Both speakers agree with this statement. Richard thinks this is the reason why abstract art will eventually be seen as an aberration. Jung-Su concedes that abstract art doesn’t literally represent objects, but represents purely formal features.
B
the fundamental requirement of art is that it represent
Jung-Su does not express an opinion on this statement. Jung-Su does not counter Richard’s claim that art must represent something.
C
musicians may reject literal representation
Richard does not express an opinion on this statement. Richard’s comments are limited to abstract art.
D
abstract art will be seen as an aberration
Jung-Su does not express an opinion on this statement. Jung-Su does not comment on the future viewpoint surrounding abstract art. Her comments are limited to how abstract art could be viewed now.
E
abstract art is representational
Richard and Jung-Su disagree on this statement. Richard disagrees and thinks that abstract art is not art because it lacks the representation requirement of art. Jung-Su thinks abstract art satisfies the representation requirement by representing formal features.