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- Sun Feb 21, 2016 12:00 am
#32720
Complete Question Explanation
Point at Issue. The correct answer choice is (A)
James argues that the primary goals of community colleges differ from those of universities: the former strive to meet the educational needs of their communities, whereas the latter do not. Margaret disagrees, claiming that universities, too, aim to serve the needs of their communities. She also observes that people attend colleges and universities for the same reason: to prepare themselves for a career. The last observation is quite unexpected, as it is entirely irrelevant to the central point at issue.
The correct answer to this Point at Issue question will contain a factual statement that passes the Agree/Disagree Test, i.e. it must produce responses where one speaker would say, “Yes, I agree with this statement” and the other speaker would say, “No, I disagree with it.” Unless both responses are produced, the answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice, because Margaret would agree with the statement and James would disagree with it. Margaret begins her argument by suggesting that the primary goal of any university is to serve the needs of the community where it is located. James believes that to be true of community colleges, but not of universities, as their primary goals differ in that respect. Answer choice (A) passes the Agree/Disagree Test, and is therefore the correct answer choice.
Answer choice (B): Whether universities adequately serve the educational needs of their communities cannot be deduced from either argument.
Answer choice (C): This answer choice is incorrect, because it does not pass the Agree/Disagree Test. Margaret would clearly agree with this statement, claiming that the main reason people have for attending either academic institution is to prepare themselves for a career. James’ response, on the other hand, would be less than clear. His argument focuses on the institutional goals of colleges and universities, not on the personal goals and aspirations of those who attend them. Consequently, we cannot determine his opinion regarding people’s motivations for attending a university.
Answer choice (D): Neither speaker delves into the specific educational needs of a “typical community.” This answer choice falls entirely outside the scope of either argument.
Answer choice (E): As with answer choice (C), this answer choice is incorrect because it does not pass the Agree/Disagree Test. Margaret would clearly agree with this statement; in fact, it directly restates the second sentence of her response. It is unclear, however, whether James would agree or disagree with this claim. As mentioned earlier, his argument focuses on the institutional goals of colleges and universities, not on the personal goals of those who attend them. These are two separate issues altogether. Consequently, he would not necessarily disagree with the statement that people attend a university for the same reason as they do a community college.
Point at Issue. The correct answer choice is (A)
James argues that the primary goals of community colleges differ from those of universities: the former strive to meet the educational needs of their communities, whereas the latter do not. Margaret disagrees, claiming that universities, too, aim to serve the needs of their communities. She also observes that people attend colleges and universities for the same reason: to prepare themselves for a career. The last observation is quite unexpected, as it is entirely irrelevant to the central point at issue.
The correct answer to this Point at Issue question will contain a factual statement that passes the Agree/Disagree Test, i.e. it must produce responses where one speaker would say, “Yes, I agree with this statement” and the other speaker would say, “No, I disagree with it.” Unless both responses are produced, the answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice, because Margaret would agree with the statement and James would disagree with it. Margaret begins her argument by suggesting that the primary goal of any university is to serve the needs of the community where it is located. James believes that to be true of community colleges, but not of universities, as their primary goals differ in that respect. Answer choice (A) passes the Agree/Disagree Test, and is therefore the correct answer choice.
Answer choice (B): Whether universities adequately serve the educational needs of their communities cannot be deduced from either argument.
Answer choice (C): This answer choice is incorrect, because it does not pass the Agree/Disagree Test. Margaret would clearly agree with this statement, claiming that the main reason people have for attending either academic institution is to prepare themselves for a career. James’ response, on the other hand, would be less than clear. His argument focuses on the institutional goals of colleges and universities, not on the personal goals and aspirations of those who attend them. Consequently, we cannot determine his opinion regarding people’s motivations for attending a university.
Answer choice (D): Neither speaker delves into the specific educational needs of a “typical community.” This answer choice falls entirely outside the scope of either argument.
Answer choice (E): As with answer choice (C), this answer choice is incorrect because it does not pass the Agree/Disagree Test. Margaret would clearly agree with this statement; in fact, it directly restates the second sentence of her response. It is unclear, however, whether James would agree or disagree with this claim. As mentioned earlier, his argument focuses on the institutional goals of colleges and universities, not on the personal goals of those who attend them. These are two separate issues altogether. Consequently, he would not necessarily disagree with the statement that people attend a university for the same reason as they do a community college.