standardized math and English tests

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standardized math and English tests

by NSNguyen » Mon Aug 04, 2008 8:18 am
In 1981, for the first time in over two decades, the average scores of high school students on standardized math and English tests did not decline. During the same year, millions of American students enjoyed their first exposure to the new world of the microcomputer, whether in schools, video arcades, or other settings. The conclusion is clear: far from stultifying the intellectual capacities of students, exposure to computers can actually enhance them.
The most serious weakness of the argument above is its failure to
(A) discuss the underlying causes of the twenty-year decline in students’ test scores
(B) cite specific figures documenting the increases in test scores
(C) distinguish among the various types of computer being used by high school students
(D) define the intellectual capacities tested by the standardized math and English tests referred to
(E) explain exactly how high school students’ abilities on math and English tests could have been enhanced by exposure to computers
Please share your idea and your reasoning :D
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Re: standardized math and English tests

by Sunny22uk » Tue Aug 05, 2008 1:41 pm
NSNguyen wrote:In 1981, for the first time in over two decades, the average scores of high school students on standardized math and English tests did not decline. During the same year, millions of American students enjoyed their first exposure to the new world of the microcomputer, whether in schools, video arcades, or other settings. The conclusion is clear: far from stultifying the intellectual capacities of students, exposure to computers can actually enhance them.
This argument is a very week argument.The bold line is the conclusion.There are 2 premises on which he conclusion is based:-
1)In 1981, for the first time in over two decades, the average scores of high school students on standardized math and English tests did not decline.
2) During the same year, millions of American students enjoyed their first exposure to the new world of the microcomputer, whether in schools, video arcades, or other settings
THe most serious weakness in drawing the conclusion is that it doesnot explain the correlation between the scores and introduction of microcomputers.

The answer should be E
Hope it helps
Last edited by Sunny22uk on Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
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by raunekk » Tue Aug 05, 2008 8:30 pm
imo:D

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by Vignesh.4384 » Wed Aug 06, 2008 1:35 am
IMO E

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by pranavc » Wed Aug 06, 2008 7:23 am
IMO: E

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by some14myself » Fri Feb 05, 2010 7:54 am
guys whats wrong with option D ?!

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by Osirus@VeritasPrep » Fri Feb 05, 2010 7:57 am
some14myself wrote:guys whats wrong with option D ?!
D is wrong mainly because its irrelevant. The intellectual capacities taught before 1981 and after 1981 are the same. What the test measures is not in question or even up for debate. The conclusion is based on computers contributing to scores not declining.
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by komal » Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:24 am
NSNguyen wrote:In 1981, for the first time in over two decades, the average scores of high school students on standardized math and English tests did not decline. During the same year, millions of American students enjoyed their first exposure to the new world of the microcomputer, whether in schools, video arcades, or other settings. The conclusion is clear: far from stultifying the intellectual capacities of students, exposure to computers can actually enhance them.
The most serious weakness of the argument above is its failure to

(A) discuss the underlying causes of the twenty-year decline in students� test scores
Incorrect : Issue is not about causes of 20-year decline in score, it is about causes of no decline in scores for the first time in over 20 years

(B) cite specific figures documenting the increases in test scores
Incorrect : Specifying figures is irrelevant to the scope of the argument

(C) distinguish among the various types of computer being used by high school students
Incorrect : What has a PC or a LAPTOP or NOTEBOOK or MACBOOK blah blah blah type of computer got to do with it? Eliminated !!

(D) define the intellectual capacities tested by the standardized math and English tests referred to
Incorrect : Issue here is enhanced intellectual capacities, not definition of intellectual capacities.

(E) explain exactly how high school students� abilities on math and English tests could have been enhanced by exposure to computers
Correct : The argument above fails to explain the ways in which computers could have enhanced the students math and english abilities.

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by joseph32 » Sun May 15, 2016 11:12 pm
E seems to be the best choice here