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Zoologist (why is c wrong pls explain)

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Zoologist (why is c wrong pls explain)

by max37274 » Sun Feb 21, 2010 8:31 am
Zoologist: Animals can certainly signal each other with sounds and gestures. However, this doesnot confirm the thesis that animals possess language, for it does not prove that animals possess the ability to use sounds or gestures to refer to concrete objects or abstract ideas.

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the zoologist's argument depends?

a. animals donot have cognitive capabilities to entertain abstract ideas
b. if an animal's sounds or gestures is not a language, then that animal is unable to entertain abstract ideas
c when signaling each other with sounds or gestures, animals refer neither to concrete objects nor abstract ideas
d. if a system of sounds or gestures contains no epressions referring to concrete objects or abstract ideas, then that system is not a language
e. Some animals that possess a language can refer to both concrete objects and abstract ideas
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by komal » Sun Feb 21, 2010 9:20 am
max37274 wrote:Zoologist: Animals can certainly signal each other with sounds and gestures. However, this doesnot confirm the thesis that animals possess language, for it does not prove that animals possess the ability to use sounds or gestures to refer to concrete objects or abstract ideas.

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the zoologist's argument depends?

According to the argument :
1. for animals to possess language = they should possess the ability to use sounds or gestures to refer to concrete objects or abstract ideas.
2. language = ability to use sounds or gestures to refer to concrete objects or abstract ideas

a. animals donot have cognitive capabilities to entertain abstract ideas
Incorrect : This must not be true in order for the argument to be true. Hence Eliminated.

b. if an animal's sounds or gestures is not a language, then that animal is unable to entertain abstract ideas
Incorrect : If this answer choice is negated, the argument is not weakened. Hence Eliminated.

c when signaling each other with sounds or gestures, animals refer neither to concrete objects nor abstract ideas
Incorrect : In assumption questions it is always better to be wary of 'extreme' answer choices. This statement is way too extreme to be an assumption.

d. if a system of sounds or gestures contains no epressions referring to concrete objects or abstract ideas, then that system is not a language
Correct : If this answer choice is negated, the argument falls apart.

e. Some animals that possess a language can refer to both concrete objects and abstract ideas
Incorrect : Argument is not about 'some' animals or 'all' animals... it is about animals in general.
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by max37274 » Sun Feb 21, 2010 9:48 am
but if i negate c also the argument falls apart. pls convince why not c
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by komal » Sun Feb 21, 2010 9:52 am
max37274 wrote:but if i negate c also the argument falls apart. pls convince why not c
I eliminated (C) because it is way tooooo extreme. And it is always better to see extreme answer choices in assumption question with suspicion. However i do wish some experts chip in and show us some other approach.
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by vijju » Sun Feb 21, 2010 10:00 am
Yes if C is negated then it should be corect, but the question demands an assumption on which the argument is built

The answer choice

'if a system of sounds or gestures contains no epressions referring to concrete objects or abstract ideas, then that system is not a language '

clearly fits in

why??? still

Animals can certainly signal each other with sounds and gestures. However, this doesnot confirm the thesis that animals possess language, for it does not prove that animals possess the ability to use sounds or gestures to refer to concrete objects or abstract ideas.

The author says that the animals posses an ability to make gestures or sound , but basing on that we cannot conclude that the animals use a language. Which means without guestures or sounds there is no language.

which is stated in D!!!

So D is correct
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by gmatmachoman » Sun Feb 21, 2010 10:11 am
max37274 wrote:but if i negate c also the argument falls apart. pls convince why not c
Actually D & C seems to be a close call.
Infact C is a strengthner for Zoologist claims.

& D is the assumption on which the claim is made.
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by ajith » Sun Feb 21, 2010 10:20 am
max37274 wrote:Zoologist: Animals can certainly signal each other with sounds and gestures. However, this doesnot confirm the thesis that animals possess language, for it does not prove that animals possess the ability to use sounds or gestures to refer to concrete objects or abstract ideas.

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the zoologist's argument depends?

a. animals donot have cognitive capabilities to entertain abstract ideas
b. if an animal's sounds or gestures is not a language, then that animal is unable to entertain abstract ideas
c when signaling each other with sounds or gestures, animals refer neither to concrete objects nor abstract ideas
d. if a system of sounds or gestures contains no epressions referring to concrete objects or abstract ideas, then that system is not a language
e. Some animals that possess a language can refer to both concrete objects and abstract ideas
While I agree that D is an assumption

Why not C? apart from it looking extreme?
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by rohan_vus » Sun Feb 21, 2010 11:14 am
Agreed its close between C & D. I dont think being extreme is a issue here with choice C.

C is indeed a strengthner but certainly not an assumption which is really necessary for the agrument to hold.

Here's why ( my take )

The stimulus states that its has not been proven that animal refer to concrete objects or abstract ideas. Does this mean the author is assuming animals neither refer to concrete object nor abstract idea? ..Nope, lets say , 'Its not been proven that Mars can support life"..When i say this do i mean that Mars cannot support life ? or do i mean that i am just skeptical because there is no concrete proof ..Well i can assume either , but among my assumptions which one is really necessary or got be true in all cases for argument to hold water .

When question stem states 'assumption on which conclusion relies on' , its referring to a necessary assumption , an assumption which must be true for argument to hold .

In choice C , lets negate it , after negation we get 'when signaling each other with sounds or gestures, animals refer either to concrete objects or abstract ideas '.. Ok , so does this really influence my conclusion ( the conclusion that "this doesnot confirm the thesis that animals possess language") ??
Even if animals indeed refer to concrete objects and abstract ideas , can i still say with firm conviction they use language ?.
The case is like this ,
A(Language)-->B(Concrete Objects/ideas) but that doesnt mean B-->A ( This can be true but something which is notnecessary or must be true )

This is a classic argument technique and same is being used here.

A-->B can only be assumed as not B --> not A for argument to be true.

Now take choice D , it follows as, not B --> not A ( Not concrete objects --> Not Language) , This is something which if negated will kill the real base of the argument.
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by gmatmachoman » Sun Feb 21, 2010 11:40 am
gmatmachoman wrote:
max37274 wrote:but if i negate c also the argument falls apart. pls convince why not c
Actually D & C seems to be a close call.
Infact C is a strengthner for Zoologist claims.

& D is the assumption on which the claim is made.
@Rohan

U nailed it precisely. way to go!! I was bit lazy to draft that lengthy one..U did that.. Cool..
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