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- Fri May 06, 2016 9:05 am
#24019
Complete Question Explanation
Assumption—CE. The correct answer choice is (D)
The final sentence of the stimulus is the conclusion. This conclusion relies on the premise that increased classroom instruction and greater emphasis on cockpit communication (the airlines’ training approach) can not compensate for a lack of actual flying time in diminishing pilot error. But what do we know about a lack of flying time? How do we know it’s important to compensate for a lack of actual flying time? Look for an answer that protects the idea of actual flying time being essential to the lessening of pilot error.
Answer Choice (A): This straightforward answer appears tempting at first. By suggesting an alternative approach (one that addresses lack of actual flying time over classroom instruction and communication skills) to the problem, one might assume that the author must hold that there is a training program that can eliminate pilot error. The goal, however, is not total elimination of pilot error, but simply addressing the problem (and presumably minimizing it). Negate the answer and ask, “How would the author respond to this?” The author might reply that the currently proposed plan cuts pilot error by 55%, but one addressing lack of actual flying time might do so by 99%. Neither program eliminates pilot error, but the argument remains potentially valid.
Answer Choice (B): Whether or not commercial airline pilots routinely undergo additional training throughout their careers is irrelevant to the original argument. If we negate the statement to read “commercial pilots do not routinely undergo additional training throughout their careers” the argument’s conclusion remains intact as it is only concerned with the airlines rethinking their approach because it does not address a lack of flying time.
Answer Choice (C): Though also an attractive answer choice, the author concludes only that the airlines should rethink their strategy, as classroom instruction and an increased emphasis on communication can not compensate for lack of actual flying time. The author does not hold that an increase in actual flying time will have any effect (in fact, an increase in flying time is not mentioned), only that the specific plan proposed by the airlines does not adequately compensate for the lack of actual flying time.
Answer Choice (D): This is the correct answer choice. The stimulus explicitly states that the airlines should rethink their training approach as it is unrealistic to expect their proposed measures to compensate for actual lack of flying time. If lack of flying time is in fact an important contributor to pilot error in commercial plane crashes (the problem the airlines are attempting to remedy), training approaches that do not adequately address this important contributor are inadequate and should be rethought.
Answer Choice (E): The author does not assume that communication skills are not important to pilot training programs, only that they can not compensate for a lack of actual flying time.
Assumption—CE. The correct answer choice is (D)
The final sentence of the stimulus is the conclusion. This conclusion relies on the premise that increased classroom instruction and greater emphasis on cockpit communication (the airlines’ training approach) can not compensate for a lack of actual flying time in diminishing pilot error. But what do we know about a lack of flying time? How do we know it’s important to compensate for a lack of actual flying time? Look for an answer that protects the idea of actual flying time being essential to the lessening of pilot error.
Answer Choice (A): This straightforward answer appears tempting at first. By suggesting an alternative approach (one that addresses lack of actual flying time over classroom instruction and communication skills) to the problem, one might assume that the author must hold that there is a training program that can eliminate pilot error. The goal, however, is not total elimination of pilot error, but simply addressing the problem (and presumably minimizing it). Negate the answer and ask, “How would the author respond to this?” The author might reply that the currently proposed plan cuts pilot error by 55%, but one addressing lack of actual flying time might do so by 99%. Neither program eliminates pilot error, but the argument remains potentially valid.
Answer Choice (B): Whether or not commercial airline pilots routinely undergo additional training throughout their careers is irrelevant to the original argument. If we negate the statement to read “commercial pilots do not routinely undergo additional training throughout their careers” the argument’s conclusion remains intact as it is only concerned with the airlines rethinking their approach because it does not address a lack of flying time.
Answer Choice (C): Though also an attractive answer choice, the author concludes only that the airlines should rethink their strategy, as classroom instruction and an increased emphasis on communication can not compensate for lack of actual flying time. The author does not hold that an increase in actual flying time will have any effect (in fact, an increase in flying time is not mentioned), only that the specific plan proposed by the airlines does not adequately compensate for the lack of actual flying time.
Answer Choice (D): This is the correct answer choice. The stimulus explicitly states that the airlines should rethink their training approach as it is unrealistic to expect their proposed measures to compensate for actual lack of flying time. If lack of flying time is in fact an important contributor to pilot error in commercial plane crashes (the problem the airlines are attempting to remedy), training approaches that do not adequately address this important contributor are inadequate and should be rethought.
Answer Choice (E): The author does not assume that communication skills are not important to pilot training programs, only that they can not compensate for a lack of actual flying time.
