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PowerScore Staff
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#64003
Complete Question Explanation

Must Be True—PR. The correct answer choice is (C)

The linguist in this stimulus presents an interesting contrast: although most people can tell when
a sentence in their first language is grammatically correct, not many know the specific underlying
grammatical rules.

The question requires that we identify the answer choice which best illustrates the principle from the
stimulus, which is basically this: many can recognize an attribute (in the stimulus’ case, grammatical
correctness) without necessarily knowing what defines that attribute.

Answer choice (A): This choice illustrates a different principle—that the ability to create an accurate
narrative is different from the ability to create a moving poem.

Answer choice (B): This answer choice is incorrect, as it draws a comparison that is quite different
from that in the stimulus. Rather than the recognition of an attribute without the ability to fully
define it, the principle in this answer choice is that those who apply certain technologies in some
cases require more knowledge than those who discovered the principles at work.

Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice because it manifests the principle from the
stimulus, in a slightly different context. Most people know a waltz when they hear it, despite the fact
that most do not know exactly what defines a waltz.

Answer choice (D): This answer choice is similar to incorrect answer choice (A) above. Rather than
presenting the principle reflected in the stimulus—the distinction between recognition and complete
understanding—the dichotomy drawn here is between the ability to enjoy one’s journeys and the
ability to vividly describe them.

Answer choice (E): This choice may look appealing at first because of the reference to an
understanding of rules. In the stimulus, though, the author tells us that most people can recognize a
particular attribute, yet few understand all of the underlying rules defining that attribute. This answer
choice provides an idea that is slightly different: Most people know the rules, but few are good at the
game.
 adlindsey
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#43082
I dismissed the correct answer C, because it has the quantity indicators, some and majority, switched from the stimulus' premise and conclusion. Can I get some clarification? Thanks.
 Claire Horan
PowerScore Staff
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#43197
Sure, adlindsey. It's good to notice quantity indicators and I see why the difference might make you second-guess that answer choice, but try not to lose sight of what you are being asked. This question asks you for an answer choice that uses the same principle, so it is unlikely that you can figure out the correct answer without focusing on what that principle is.

You are looking for a common principle between the stimulus and the answer choices, so try to prephrase the principle that you understand from the stimulus.

The prephrase might be something like: Within a group of people who can recognize something as X, only a small percentage will be able to explain what makes it X.

With a prephrase, you will see that none of the other answer choices are talking about the same principle. This principle is the difference between tacit knowledge and explicit knowledge (the psychology terms for knowing something you can't put it into words vs. knowing something you can explain verbally).

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