- PowerScore Staff
- Posts: 8916
- Joined: Feb 02, 2011
- Mon Jan 20, 2014 12:00 am
#36399
Complete Question Explanation
Method of Reasoning. The correct answer choice is (A)
The columnist notes that although both unsigned letters and certain news sources are anonymous, the
news sources are usually accepted without question. However, because in both cases a person may be
able to make incorrect statements with impunity, the columnist concludes that it makes sense to be
skeptical of anonymous news sources.
Because the author is making a comparison, ask yourself if the two items are in fact comparable.
Is an unsigned letter the same as an anonymous news source? Not really. The columnist confuses
the news story sense of “anonymous,” which is generally a source that a journalist is aware of, but
protects from exposure.
The question stem asks you to identify the method of reasoning, and you should seek an answer that
describes the comparison made by the author.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. A comparison between two like things is an
analogy, so any answer using the word “analogy” would be an initial Contender. Let’s break down
this answer choice and make sure it passes the Fact Test:
“pointing out that a certain attitude would presumably be adopted in one situation…”
The “certain attitude” is skepticism, and the “one situation” is skepticism toward an unsigned letter.
“…in order to support the claim that a similar attitude would be justifi ed in an analogous
situation”
The “similar attitude” is again skepticism, and the “analogous situation” is anonymous news sources.
Thus, each element of the answer does occur, and this does correctly describe the reasoning used by
the author.
Note that the validity of the analogy is irrelevant, because you are not asked to describe the fl aw in
the reasoning.
Answer choice (B): This response may seem attractive because it also references an “analogy.”
However, the answer is wrong for two reasons. Perhaps the easiest fl aw to focus on is the fact that
this choice claims that the “latter attitude is more justifi ed than the former,” but the argument claimed
that the skepticism toward the letter—the former attitude presented—was the more justifi ed. Thus,
this answer has the relationship backward, and that alone is enough to eliminate this choice.
Furthermore, the analogy was between the sources, not the attitudes.
Answer choice (C): This argument involved an analogy between different things that actually occur,
and not a generalization from a hypothetical situation, so this choice is incorrect.
There is also a problem with the phrase “all situations of a given type,” because the “given type”
would refer to anonymous items, yet there has only been a discussion of two types of anonymous
items (and therefore not “all situations”).
Answer choice (D): This response may also seem attractive because it references an “analogy.” But,
the argument does not show that any evidence is “usually false,” only that a person would likely have
some doubts and should be skeptical.
Answer choice (E): The argument does not conclude that the evidence is “likely to be false,” only
that a person would likely have some doubts and should be skeptical.
Method of Reasoning. The correct answer choice is (A)
The columnist notes that although both unsigned letters and certain news sources are anonymous, the
news sources are usually accepted without question. However, because in both cases a person may be
able to make incorrect statements with impunity, the columnist concludes that it makes sense to be
skeptical of anonymous news sources.
Because the author is making a comparison, ask yourself if the two items are in fact comparable.
Is an unsigned letter the same as an anonymous news source? Not really. The columnist confuses
the news story sense of “anonymous,” which is generally a source that a journalist is aware of, but
protects from exposure.
The question stem asks you to identify the method of reasoning, and you should seek an answer that
describes the comparison made by the author.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. A comparison between two like things is an
analogy, so any answer using the word “analogy” would be an initial Contender. Let’s break down
this answer choice and make sure it passes the Fact Test:
“pointing out that a certain attitude would presumably be adopted in one situation…”The “certain attitude” is skepticism, and the “one situation” is skepticism toward an unsigned letter.
“…in order to support the claim that a similar attitude would be justifi ed in an analogous situation”The “similar attitude” is again skepticism, and the “analogous situation” is anonymous news sources.
Thus, each element of the answer does occur, and this does correctly describe the reasoning used by
the author.
Note that the validity of the analogy is irrelevant, because you are not asked to describe the fl aw in
the reasoning.
Answer choice (B): This response may seem attractive because it also references an “analogy.”
However, the answer is wrong for two reasons. Perhaps the easiest fl aw to focus on is the fact that
this choice claims that the “latter attitude is more justifi ed than the former,” but the argument claimed
that the skepticism toward the letter—the former attitude presented—was the more justifi ed. Thus,
this answer has the relationship backward, and that alone is enough to eliminate this choice.
Furthermore, the analogy was between the sources, not the attitudes.
Answer choice (C): This argument involved an analogy between different things that actually occur,
and not a generalization from a hypothetical situation, so this choice is incorrect.
There is also a problem with the phrase “all situations of a given type,” because the “given type”
would refer to anonymous items, yet there has only been a discussion of two types of anonymous
items (and therefore not “all situations”).
Answer choice (D): This response may also seem attractive because it references an “analogy.” But,
the argument does not show that any evidence is “usually false,” only that a person would likely have
some doubts and should be skeptical.
Answer choice (E): The argument does not conclude that the evidence is “likely to be false,” only
that a person would likely have some doubts and should be skeptical.