Summarize Argument: Counter-Position
Terrence Gurney is incorrect in believing that he has not received sufficient credit for his literary achievements because his books are popular with a wide audience. It is more likely that Gurney has not received much praise for literary achievement because his writing is flat and leaves no lasting impression on the reader.
Identify Conclusion
The stimulus's conclusion is the author's opinion that Terrence Gurney is mistaken. Specifically, the author concludes that Gurney is wrong in thinking he hasn't received enough credit for his literary achievements simply because his books appeal to a wide audience.
A
Terrence Gurney is mistaken when he suggests that the wide appeal of his books has prevented him from being given due credit for his literary achievements.
This reflects the main conclusion that Terrence Gurney is operating under an incorrect belief. The stimulus supports this by providing an alternative reason for why Gurney has not received literary praise, stating that Gurney’s writing is flat and leaves no lasting impression.
B
Terrence Gurney’s books are not significant literary achievements.
This misstates a claim in the argument’s context. The author notes that Gurney believes he hasn’t received enough credit for his literary achievements. However, (B) incorrectly interprets this as a claim that Gurney’s books are objectively not significant literary achievements.
C
Even though Terrence Gurney’s books tell interesting stories, his writing is flat and leaves no lasting impression on the reader.
This restates a premise. The author cites Gurney’s flat writing and lack of lasting impression to support the conclusion that Gurney is mistaken about why he hasn't received credit for his literary achievements. Since this supports another claim, it can’t be the main conclusion.
D
Terrence Gurney has not been given due credit for his literary achievements because his books appeal to such a wide audience.
This statement is context. It describes Gurney’s belief, which the author disputes. By explaining Gurney’s belief, this context provides the background needed to understand the author’s counterargument that Gurney’s belief is incorrect.
E
Terrence Gurney should have received some praise for his literary achievements despite the fact that his writing is flat and leaves no lasting impression on the reader.
This is not a claim made in the argument. The author simply explains why Gurney has not received praise for his literary achievements. The author does not discuss whether Gurney’s lack of praise is deserved or not.
"Surprising" Phenomenon
How could lightning have produced the first amino acids on Earth, even though Earth’s atmosphere at that time had a lot of oxygen, and amino acids break apart unless the spark that produced them occurs in an atmosphere that has a lot of hydrogen and not much oxygen (a “reducing” atmosphere)?
Objective
The correct answer should explain how there still could have been a “reducing” atmosphere necessary to allow the first amino acids to form and persist, even though Earth’s atmosphere had a lot of oxygen (and so was not a “reducing” atmosphere).
A
Meteorite impacts at the time life began on Earth temporarily created a reducing atmosphere around the impact site.
This raises the possibility that lightning could have produced amino acids around the impact sites of meteors, which temporarily had a reducing atmosphere.
B
A single amino acid could have been sufficient to begin the formation of life on Earth.
This doesn’t address how an amino acid could have formed and avoided breaking apart in an atmosphere that wasn’t reducing. If there was no reducing atmosphere, how would that single amino acid have come about?
C
Earth’s atmosphere has changed significantly since life first began.
The current atmosphere doesn’t matter, since the stimulus tells us Earth’s atmosphere “was” - meaning, at the time of the first amino acids - rich in oxygen. So, if the atmosphere wasn’t reducing, how could the amino acids form and avoid breaking apart?
D
Lightning was less common on Earth at the time life began than it is now.
But if there was lightning, however rare it was, how could that have produced amino acids in a non-reducing atmosphere? This doesn’t provide a theory about how this happened.
E
Asteroids contain amino acids, and some of these amino acids could survive an asteroid’s impact with Earth.
We’re interested in explaining how lightning could have produced the first amino acids. It doesn’t matter whether asteroids could have already had amino acids. Those aren’t amino acids produced by lightning on Earth.
Summarize Argument: Phenomenon-Hypothesis
The manager concludes that the policy change caused the increase in mail-order sales. He supports this by noting that mail-order sales increased 25%, starting around the time the company began offering free shipping on all orders, instead of just on orders over $50.
Notable Assumptions
The manager assumes that there are no alternative hypotheses to explain the observed correlation— that is, he assumes there’s no other explanation for the recent increase in mail-order sales, like increased online ordering across companies or increased advertising.
A
Mail-order sales have been decreasing for companies that do not offer unlimited free shipping.
This rules out the alternative hypothesis that mail-order sales have also increased across other companies. It also strengthens the causal connection between unlimited free and increased mail-order sales by suggesting that without it, such sales may not increase.
B
The company did not widely advertise its change in policy.
This weakens the argument by suggesting that many customers didn’t know about the company’s unlimited free shipping. If they didn’t know about it, it’s unlikely that it influenced their mail-order purchases.
C
The company’s profits from mail-order sales have increased since the change in policy.
Irrelevant. The manager only addresses an increase in mail-order sales, not an increase in profits from mail-order sales. The fact that profits increased doesn’t help to establish that the policy change caused the increase in sales.
D
The company’s change in policy occurred well after its competitors started offering unlimited free shipping.
Irrelevant. Even if other companies have been offering unlimited free shipping much longer, we still need to determine whether unlimited free shipping caused the increase in mail-order sales at the manager’s company.
E
Most companies offer free shipping only on mail-order purchases over $50.
Irrelevant. Even if most companies don’t offer unlimited free shipping, we still need to determine whether unlimited free shipping caused the increase in mail-order sales at the manager’s company.