Critical Reasoning

Another one. Let me know what you think! Good Luck!

David


Teacher: Spanish has become the dominant "foreign" language taught in American high schools. This is probably due to the fact that a large percentage of the US population is more fluent in Spanish than in English, with some people not speaking English at all. In most states, Spanish is the second most common language spoken, behind English. Therefore, most schools in the United States should emphasize Spanish. Yet in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, French should continue to be more commonly taught in schools due to the relative scarcity of Spanish-speakers in those three states and the large proportion of French-only speakers in the neighboring Canadian province of Quebec.

Which of the following principles would provide the best justification for the teacher's recommendations?

A) The foreign language that is spoken by the most people worldwide should be emphasized in American schools.

B) The foreign language spoken by the most people in the state or in areas bordering the state should be emphasized.

C) The foreign language most likely to be needed in international travel should be emphasized.

D) The foreign language that is historically most important in a region should be emphasized in that region.

E) The foreign language most likely to be spoken by visitors to the state should be emphasized.

It seems too straight forward an answer for a question posted by you David. But I'll still go with B.

IMO: B

What's the OA?

OA is B.

Sorry if this was not as difficult - just remember that you have to do well on the more straight-forward ones as well. Nice job! I will give you something tough (yet fair) for tomorrow.


The correct answer will be the principle that, when applied, leads to the conclusion that Spanish should be the foreign language emphasized in the schools of most states but French should be emphasized in northern New England. The stimulus states that Spanish is widespread throughout the United States, but that in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine there are more French-speakers and French is the language spoken in the neighboring province of Quebec.

Choice B is the correct answer because the principle that the language spoken by the most people in that state and in areas bordering the state should be emphasized would lead to the desired conclusion.

Choice A is too broad, the language spoken by the most people worldwide is not mentioned and it is very likely a language other than Spanish and French.

Choice C is incorrect because it is unclear which language will be needed in international travel and it depends on travel to which country.

Choice D would return to the language that is historically most important, but this many not match the pattern listed in the conclusion and is not the best principle for this question.

Choice E also points to facts that are not in evidence; the foreign language most spoken by visitors to the state could vary for each state and may not match the pattern the conclusion requires.

David, your questions are always challenging. However, don't know how but I am getting them correct.

Thanks for posting good questions. Waiting for another one.

With all due respect David, your questions so far have been well written and employed good reasoning, but this one is not one of them.

You have two arguments here that the teacher makes.

1. Spanish has become a dominant language in "most of the states" so therefore it should be emphasised. There are only four states that border Mexico, "most of the country is not four states.

2. Areas bordering Quebec should emphasise French. For this second argument option B works. For the first it does not. Georgia, Illinois, New York, Florida etc... in all Spanish is a dominant second language. Not one of your options bridges the gap between these two arguments, although D could potentially work, but then you are assuming a lot of stuff.

IMO B .It was an easy one

Thanks Jaiti -

I will definitely take those points into consideration. This argument was designed for the word "or" in answer choice D to help make that the correct answer. The way I read it, it is not necessary to have both conditions in each place. In a place like Texas it could be both conditions - Texas borders Mexico and Spanish is the language most spoken (besides English). As you mention, other states like Florida and New York do have lots of Spanish speakers while not bordering Mexico. So this is only one of the conditions, but it should work, because of the "or."

The argument does have a problem in the case of New York state, though. As you mention, New York state has lots of Spanish speakers, especially in the large cities. New York state also borders Quebec, very near to Montreal - the largest French-speaking city in North America. What to teach in New York state? Spanish spoken in the state - or French spoken by the neighbors in Quebec? Looks like we need a little edit here since the "or" in the answer choice cannot save us here!

Thanks again, Jaiti.