Expert help needed :)

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Expert help needed :)

by crimson2283 » Thu Feb 10, 2011 9:10 am
As recommended by Powerscore CR, I normally read the entire argument but focus mostly on the conclusion to weaken/ strengthen it except may be if the question has statistical/ causal flaw. However, this strategy doesn't work in all cases.

For eg, for the below question,

Government support for the arts will almost certainly interfere with the freedom of the creative process. Money, inevitably controlled by the politically powerful, will accumulate around established, conservative institutions when a certain philosophy prevails, or shift to the more experimental and radical groups when the political pendulum swings. Practicing artists will alter their own work accordingly, pursuing government funds at the expense of their own inner-directed development.

The author's logic in the argument above would be most weakened if it were true that

approximately the same number of individual creative artists are associated with so-called established institutions as with the more experimental groups
many people who would not otherwise experience the arts have had the opportunity to do so because of government funding
while it can be argued that political ideas swing in and out of fashion, it is equally arguable that trends in the arts are often short-lived
in every era, a few of the greatest individual artists do not tailor their efforts to attract money, either private or public
in assigning money to the arts, the politically powerful heed the advice of independent committees composed of artists respected in their fields

If I'd only focus on the conclusion I'd pick B but the answer is E. Can an expert please clarify?
I want my strategy to work all the time :)
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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by crimson2283 » Thu Feb 10, 2011 10:41 am
David, Brian? Please share your thoughts.

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by David@VeritasPrep » Thu Feb 10, 2011 10:42 am
It is correct for you to give the conclusion the most focus in a strengthen, weaken, assumption, method, etc. type of question.

Brian Galvin, my colleague a Veritas says, "The conclusion is king." Which means that the conclusion deserves more focus than anything else and that every word of the conclusion can be important.

On the other hand, the conclusion is not the only thing. Take the following example from the Veritas Critical Reasoning 1 book (I will start by giving you only the conclusion and we will see what the best answer is):

"Therefore Daylight Savings Time should be abandoned completely within the United States"

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the claim above about Daylight Savings Time?


Here are the two answer choices I want you to think about:
  • A) Because of the shift in twilight hours, pedestrians are three times as likely to be hit and killed by cars right after the DST switch.

    D) With the advent of air conditioning devices, the "energy curve" in the summer months means DST causes a net increase in U.S. electricity costs.
Now if you have only the conclusion I can only hope that you would chose Answer Choice A. I mean people are hit and killed! D only talks about saving money.

But what if I add in the entire argument?

"Daylight Savings Time (DST) was originally conceived by Benjamin Franklin to reduce the costs associated with artificial lighting, such as candles. By shifting the "time" of the summer months to one hour later, studies have shown that DST reduces the yearly cost of lighting and small appliances in a home by approximately 4%. Nevertheless, greater energy savings might be realized without DST. Therefore Daylight Savings Time should be abandoned completely within the United States.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the claim above about Daylight Savings Time?"

  • A) Because of the shift in twilight hours, pedestrians are three times as likely to be hit and killed by cars right after the DST switch.

    D) With the advent of air conditioning devices, the "energy curve" in the summer months means DST causes a net increase in U.S. electricity costs.
Now we see that D) is the better answer because the argument is discussing energy savings not pedestrians and cars. So you are right that we have to go beyond the conclusion to understand the argument.

Please see this article that I wrote that came out on Monday that may help you understand the roles played by different parts of the stimulus and the attention you can give to each.

https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/02/ ... duncan-way

Good luck!
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by crimson2283 » Thu Feb 10, 2011 11:15 am
Thank you so much David.

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by mundasingh123 » Thu Feb 10, 2011 11:23 am
David Can u please help with the CR in this thread as well.
E is the OA
but it requires an additional assumption that the respected artists from the respective fields will also advise the Politicians in accordance with what motivates the practising artists so the artists dont have to abandon what spurs their inner development
D says a few artists will still continue not to be influenced by Political Tastes.
I Seek Explanations Not Answers