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#34821
Complete Question Explanation
Method of Reasoning—AP. The correct answer choice is (B)
The astrologer quoted in this stimulus discusses the claims of some scientists that no correlation exists between one’s astrological sign and one’s personality type. The astrologer concludes that this claim is unjustified, based on the fact that no scientific criteria exist for distinguishing personality types, so no such correlation can be disproven. Reordered, the argument’s components can be broken down as follows:
Answer choice (A): This answer choice describes the first premise, upon which the sub-conclusion is based. However the statement referenced in the question stem is actually the sub-conclusion itself, so this choice should be ruled out of contention.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. The statement in question is a subsidiary conclusion, sometimes called a secondary conclusion or a sub-conclusion. On one hand it is a conclusion based on the premise that there are no scientific criteria to distinguish personality types, but it is also drawn in support of the author’s overall conclusion that the claims of some scientists (that no correlation exists between astrological sign and personality type) are scientifically unjustified.
Answer choice (C): The author’s main conclusion is that the claim of some scientists, that there is no correlation between astrological signs and personality types, is not scientifically justified. The point about the inability to disprove such a correlation is the subsidiary conclusion as discussed.
Answer choice (D): The referenced statement is part of the basis of the author’s argument, so it cannot be a position that the author intends to discredit. This cannot be the Argument Part that this question refers to, so this choice should be ruled out of contention.
Answer choice (E): The author’s point that science cannot disprove a correlation between personality types and any other phenomenon is not a specific instance of a general principle, it is a sub-conclusion upon which the author’s overall conclusion is based.
Method of Reasoning—AP. The correct answer choice is (B)
The astrologer quoted in this stimulus discusses the claims of some scientists that no correlation exists between one’s astrological sign and one’s personality type. The astrologer concludes that this claim is unjustified, based on the fact that no scientific criteria exist for distinguishing personality types, so no such correlation can be disproven. Reordered, the argument’s components can be broken down as follows:
- Premise: There are no scientific criteria that can be used to distinguish one personality type from another.
Subsidiary conclusion: Thus, there is no basis for science to disprove a correlation between people’s astrological signs and their personality types.
Main Conclusion: Therefore, the claim of some scientists that no such correlation exists is scientifically unjustified.
Answer choice (A): This answer choice describes the first premise, upon which the sub-conclusion is based. However the statement referenced in the question stem is actually the sub-conclusion itself, so this choice should be ruled out of contention.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. The statement in question is a subsidiary conclusion, sometimes called a secondary conclusion or a sub-conclusion. On one hand it is a conclusion based on the premise that there are no scientific criteria to distinguish personality types, but it is also drawn in support of the author’s overall conclusion that the claims of some scientists (that no correlation exists between astrological sign and personality type) are scientifically unjustified.
Answer choice (C): The author’s main conclusion is that the claim of some scientists, that there is no correlation between astrological signs and personality types, is not scientifically justified. The point about the inability to disprove such a correlation is the subsidiary conclusion as discussed.
Answer choice (D): The referenced statement is part of the basis of the author’s argument, so it cannot be a position that the author intends to discredit. This cannot be the Argument Part that this question refers to, so this choice should be ruled out of contention.
Answer choice (E): The author’s point that science cannot disprove a correlation between personality types and any other phenomenon is not a specific instance of a general principle, it is a sub-conclusion upon which the author’s overall conclusion is based.