Critical Reasoning

OG12-CR#117
Scientists typically do their most creative work before the age of forty. It is commonly thought that this happens because aging by itself brings about a loss of creative capacity. However, studies show that of scientists who produce highly creative work beyond the age of forty, a disproportionately large number entered their field at an older age than is usual. Since by the age of forty the large majority of scientists have been working in their field for at least fifteen years, the studies' finding strongly suggests that the real reason why scientists over forty rarely produce highly creative work is not that they have aged but rather that scientists over forty have generally spent too long in their field.

In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

(A)The first is a claim, the accuracy of which is at issue in the argument; the second is a conclusion drawn on the basis of that claim.

(B)The first is an objection that has been raised against a position defended in the argument; the second is that position.

(C)The first is evidence that has been used to support an explanation that the argument challenges; the second is that explanation.

(D)The first is evidence that has been used to support an explanation that the argument challenges; the second is a competing explanation that the argument favors.

(E)The first provides evidence to support an explanation that the argument favors; the second is that explanation.

OA:E

I crossed out A, B, chose C in the end.
can someone explain how to solve this? thank u so much!!!

amysky_0205 wrote:OG12-CR#117
Scientists typically do their most creative work before the age of forty. It is commonly thought that this happens because aging by itself brings about a loss of creative capacity. However, studies show that of scientists who produce highly creative work beyond the age of forty, a disproportionately large number entered their field at an older age than is usual. Since by the age of forty the large majority of scientists have been working in their field for at least fifteen years, the studies' finding strongly suggests that the real reason why scientists over forty rarely produce highly creative work is not that they have aged but rather that scientists over forty have generally spent too long in their field.

In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

(A)The first is a claim, the accuracy of which is at issue in the argument; the second is a conclusion drawn on the basis of that claim.

(B)The first is an objection that has been raised against a position defended in the argument; the second is that position.

(C)The first is evidence that has been used to support an explanation that the argument challenges; the second is that explanation.

(D)The first is evidence that has been used to support an explanation that the argument challenges; the second is a competing explanation that the argument favors.

(E)The first provides evidence to support an explanation that the argument favors; the second is that explanation.

OA:E

I crossed out A, B, chose C in the end.
can someone explain how to solve this? thank u so much!!!

Boldface CRs are a MATCH GAME.
Determine the PURPOSE of each boldface portion.
Look for an answer choice that MATCHES.

WHY do scientists typically do their most creative work before the age of forty?

BOLDFACE 2 = the passage's explanation: Scientists over forty have generally spent too long in their field.
BOLDFACE 1 = a premise in support of the passage's explanation: Of scientists who produce highly creative work beyond the age of forty, a disproportionately large number entered their field at an older age than is usual (and thus HAVE NOT spent too long in their field).

Only answer choice E matches.
The first provides evidence to support an explanation that the argument favors; the second is that explanation.

The correct answer is E.

GMATGuruNY wrote:

amysky_0205 wrote:OG12-CR#117
Scientists typically do their most creative work before the age of forty. It is commonly thought that this happens because aging by itself brings about a loss of creative capacity. However, studies show that of scientists who produce highly creative work beyond the age of forty, a disproportionately large number entered their field at an older age than is usual. Since by the age of forty the large majority of scientists have been working in their field for at least fifteen years, the studies' finding strongly suggests that the real reason why scientists over forty rarely produce highly creative work is not that they have aged but rather that scientists over forty have generally spent too long in their field.

In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

(A)The first is a claim, the accuracy of which is at issue in the argument; the second is a conclusion drawn on the basis of that claim.

(B)The first is an objection that has been raised against a position defended in the argument; the second is that position.

(C)The first is evidence that has been used to support an explanation that the argument challenges; the second is that explanation.

(D)The first is evidence that has been used to support an explanation that the argument challenges; the second is a competing explanation that the argument favors.

(E)The first provides evidence to support an explanation that the argument favors; the second is that explanation.

OA:E

I crossed out A, B, chose C in the end.
can someone explain how to solve this? thank u so much!!!

Boldface CRs are a MATCH GAME.
Determine the PURPOSE of each boldface portion.
Look for an answer choice that MATCHES.

WHY do scientists typically do their most creative work before the age of forty?

BOLDFACE 2 = the passage's explanation: Scientists over forty have generally spent too long in their field.
BOLDFACE 1 = a premise in support of the passage's explanation: Of scientists who produce highly creative work beyond the age of forty, a disproportionately large number entered their field at an older age than is usual (and thus HAVE NOT spent too long in their field).

Only answer choice E matches.
The first provides evidence to support an explanation that the argument favors; the second is that explanation.

The correct answer is E.

Hii Guru, tks in advance for ur great explanation!
I would like to ask whether is there any tips that can raise my accuracy in choosing the right BOLDFACE answer?
or I just simply have to understand what the boldfaces' meaning?

thank u so much (:

There is a strategy that will work here.

Start the problem as you should for any "normal" critical reasoning problem. Normal means that the stimulus is likely to have a conclusion - so inference and paradox are the two question types that are consistently "not normal."

So this means begin by identifying the main conclusion. There may not be a main conclusion on a bold faced problem. The stimulus might be a paradox for example, but there usually is a main conclusion, so if there is one find it. If there is not, don't worry about it just figure out why there is no main conclusion (is it a paradox for example?).

Once you have the main conclusion take each bold statement and ask yourself three things:

1) Is there a clear role for the statement? Categories are "Prediction" "main conclusion" "evidence" "opinion" etc. If the role of the statement is not clear then proceed to the next step.

2) How does the statement relate to the main conclusion? Is it the conclusion? Is it evidence in support of the conclusion? Does it undermine the conclusion? etc...

3) How does the statement relate to the other statement? Does it support the other statement? Does the other bold support it? Does it undermine the other statement? etc...

If you understand these three things - usually not too hard to do on most questions - then you are ready to work through the answer choices pretty efficiently.

As Mitch said earlier you can then play the match game and find the choices that agree with what you have figured out.