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- Thu Feb 23, 2012 12:00 am
#35685
Complete Question Explanation
Method of Reasoning—AP. The correct answer choice is (C)
The stimulus contains an argument/counterargument structure, which can be summarized as follows:
(1) Argument (some argue that…):
Premise: If the town’s charter is not restored, it will soon deteriorate.
Conclusion: The preservation grant should be used to restore the charter.
(2) Counterargument (but…):
Premise: The town’s charter has no scholarly value.
Conclusion: The grant should be spent preserving documents that have significant
scholarly value.
Because the argument structure in Method—AP questions tends to be more complex than usual, it is
critical to identify each argument part correctly and understand how they relate to each other before
attacking the answer choices. Based on the analysis above, the claim whose function we are asked to
describe is a premise (note the premise indicator “since” in line 4). Furthermore, it is a premise for a
conclusion that the librarian seeks to undermine. This prephrase agrees with answer choice (C).
Answer choice (A): This answer can be immediately eliminated, since the librarian never disputed
the fact that the town’s charter is bound to deteriorate if it is not restored. The issue is whether to
spend the money necessary to preserve it.
Answer choice (B): We know this answer is incorrect because it claims that the statement in question
is a conclusion. It is not.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. The statement referenced in the question
stem supports the conclusion that the grant should be used to restore the charter, which is something
the librarian’s argument rejects.
Answer choice (D): This answer choice can be immediately eliminated because the argument part
mentioned in the stem is a premise used to support the opposing viewpoint, not the librarian’s
conclusion.
Answer choice (E): There is no reason to believe that the librarian’s argument requires the truth of
the claim mentioned in the question stem. On the contrary: the librarian argues that the grant money
should be spent elsewhere despite the imminent demise of the town charter.
Method of Reasoning—AP. The correct answer choice is (C)
The stimulus contains an argument/counterargument structure, which can be summarized as follows:
(1) Argument (some argue that…): Premise: If the town’s charter is not restored, it will soon deteriorate. Conclusion: The preservation grant should be used to restore the charter. (2) Counterargument (but…): Premise: The town’s charter has no scholarly value. Conclusion: The grant should be spent preserving documents that have significant scholarly value.Because the argument structure in Method—AP questions tends to be more complex than usual, it is
critical to identify each argument part correctly and understand how they relate to each other before
attacking the answer choices. Based on the analysis above, the claim whose function we are asked to
describe is a premise (note the premise indicator “since” in line 4). Furthermore, it is a premise for a
conclusion that the librarian seeks to undermine. This prephrase agrees with answer choice (C).
Answer choice (A): This answer can be immediately eliminated, since the librarian never disputed
the fact that the town’s charter is bound to deteriorate if it is not restored. The issue is whether to
spend the money necessary to preserve it.
Answer choice (B): We know this answer is incorrect because it claims that the statement in question
is a conclusion. It is not.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. The statement referenced in the question
stem supports the conclusion that the grant should be used to restore the charter, which is something
the librarian’s argument rejects.
Answer choice (D): This answer choice can be immediately eliminated because the argument part
mentioned in the stem is a premise used to support the opposing viewpoint, not the librarian’s
conclusion.
Answer choice (E): There is no reason to believe that the librarian’s argument requires the truth of
the claim mentioned in the question stem. On the contrary: the librarian argues that the grant money
should be spent elsewhere despite the imminent demise of the town charter.