Critical Reasoning

The spacing of the four holes on a fragment of a bone flute excavated at a Neanderthal campsite is just what is required to play the third through sixth notes of the diatonic scale-the seven-note musical scale used in much of Western music since the Renaissance. Musicologists therefore hypothesize that the diatonic musical scale was developed and used thousands of years before it was adopted by Western musicians.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the hypothesis?

(A) Bone flutes were probably the only musical instrument made by Neanderthals.
(B) No musical instrument that is known to have used a diatonic scale is of an earlier date than the flute found at the Neanderthal campsite.
(C) The flute was made from a cave-bear bone and the campsite at which the flute fragment was excavated was in a cave that also contained skeletal remains of cave bears.
(D) Flutes are the simplest wind instrument that can be constructed to allow playing a diatonic scale.
(E) The cave-bear leg bone used to make the Neanderthal flute would have been long enough to make a flute capable of playing a complete diatonic scale.

dear experts,

I am sunk in D and E.

please help how to distinguish D and E.

and point out my fault


my reasoning as following:
The spacing of the four holes on a fragment of a bone flute excavated at a Neanderthal campsite is just what is required to play the third through sixth notes of the diatonic scale-the seven-note musical scale used in much of Western music since the Renaissance. Musicologists therefore hypothesize that the diatonic musical scale was developed and used thousands of years before it was adopted by Western musicians.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the hypothesis?


4 hole fragment flute is required to play 3~6 notes of diatonic scale,
because the flute is fragment, we don't whether the whole fragment can play another musical scale which is overlap 3-6 notes with diatonic scale.
so if strengthen , we need a premise that can prove the whole flute can play diatonic scale


(A) Bone flutes were probably the only musical instrument made by Neanderthals.

flute is only musical instrument, this is cannot prove the whole flute can play diatonic scale -- OUT

(B) No musical instrument that is known to have used a diatonic scale is of an earlier date than the flute found at the Neanderthal campsite.

no musical instrument before can use diatonic scale , this is cannot prove the whole flute can play diatonic scale -- OUT


(C) The flute was made from a cave-bear bone and the campsite at which the flute fragment was excavated was in a cave that also contained skeletal remains of cave bears.

this one only can prove the flute is thousands years old, cannot prove the whole flute can play diatonic scale -- OUT



(D) Flutes are the simplest wind instrument that can be constructed to allow playing a diatonic scale.

seems this is can prove the whole flute can play diatonic scale, it states flutes are the wind instrument that can be played a diatonic scales and the flutes are the simplest instrument --- keep it


(E) The cave-bear leg bone used to make the Neanderthal flute would have been long enough to make a flute capable of playing a complete diatonic scale.

seems this is can prove the whole flute can play diatonic scale ,it states the flute can play a complete diatonic scale --- keep it


thank a lot
have a nice day
>_~

Hi Zoe,

Start with putting it in points:

Premise 1: Diatonic scale is the 7-note musical scale used in Western Music since Renessaince
Premise 2: Spacing of the 4 holes on a fragment of bone flute from Neanderthal campsite is adequate to play 3rd to 6th notes of the diatonic scale

Conclusion: Diatonic musical scale was developed and used 1000s of years before being adopted by Western musicians

Now, checking for the options:
A. Does not help in any way with the relationship of the bone flute and the diatonic scale. Incorrect
B. The premise is based on the bone flute and the conclusion does not have anything to do with whether the diatonic scale can be before the period of the bone flute. Incorrect
C. There is no suspicion raised on the dating of the bone flute which is what this premise seems to clear. Incorrect
D. While this shows a connection between flutes and the diatonic scale, the connection between this particular bone flute and the diatonic scale remains weak. Incorrect
E. The premise in the question stem mentions that the fragment would have enabled 3rd to 6th note to be played for the diatonic scale. This premise strengthens it by confirming that the bone was long enough to play all 7 notes strengthening the conclusion that the diatonic scale was invented much earlier than when it was put to use by Western musicians. Correct

Thus, the correct option is option E.

MBA Challengers wrote:D. While this shows a connection between flutes and the diatonic scale, the connection between this particular bone flute and the diatonic scale remains weak. Incorrect
.

hi friends,
would you explain further why the connection is weak ?

thanks a lot
have a nice weekend

>_~

Hi Zoe,

The premise on which the conclusion is based is the bone flute discovered from a pre-historic era. In order for the conclusion to hold valid, that particular artefact has to tie in for the conclusion of the diatonic note dating much earlier. Option D talks about flutes in general and not the bone flute excavated from the pre-historic era.

Hope this clarifies the confusion.

MBA Challengers wrote:Hi Zoe,

The premise on which the conclusion is based is the bone flute discovered from a pre-historic era. In order for the conclusion to hold valid, that particular artefact has to tie in for the conclusion of the diatonic note dating much earlier. Option D talks about flutes in general and not the bone flute excavated from the pre-historic era.

Hope this clarifies the confusion.

thanks so much friend,

I got it,

D exaggerates the bone flute to be flute.

have a nice weekends
>_~