BTG question pool CR

This topic has expert replies
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 28
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2010 1:05 am

BTG question pool CR

by focusgmat » Mon Dec 13, 2010 11:46 am
Paula: In recent years, DNA evidence has cleared many people who had been wrongfully executed by the state. Capital punishment is therefore morally wrong and ought to be abolished.
Phil: It is certainly tragic that innocent people have been put to death. But this is a problem with the application of the death penalty, and as such does not invalidate the death penalty itself. Many innocent people are wrongfully imprisoned, but I doubt you would argue that imprisonment is wrong.
Phil does which of the following in response to Paula's argument?
1. He introduces new evidence that undermines Paula's claim.
2. He points out that Paula's argument is selfcontradictory.
3. He uses the same evidence to draw the opposite conclusion.
4. He rejects the source of Paula's evidence.
5. He dismisses Paula's evidence as support for her conclusion.

[spoiler]oa : 5[/spoiler]

Please explain the answer. I went with 1 thinking that it Phil introduces new evidence to counter Paula's arg.
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

User avatar
Community Manager
Posts: 1048
Joined: Mon Aug 17, 2009 3:26 am
Location: India
Thanked: 51 times
Followed by:27 members
GMAT Score:670

by arora007 » Mon Dec 13, 2010 12:32 pm
I committed the same mistake... I guess the keyword is "evidence" I doubt we have clarity about it!
https://www.skiponemeal.org/
https://twitter.com/skiponemeal
Few things are impossible to diligence & skill.Great works are performed not by strength,but by perseverance

pm me if you find junk/spam/abusive language, Lets keep our community clean!!

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 219
Joined: Mon Mar 08, 2010 8:51 pm
Thanked: 62 times
Followed by:5 members
GMAT Score:750

by fitzgerald23 » Mon Dec 13, 2010 4:20 pm
Argument 1 boils down to these two points:

1. DNA evidence clears many who were executed
2. This proves the death penalty is morally wrong

In the rebuttal Phil is simply turning the evidence around to make a different argument that Paula would think is illogical which is as follows

1. Innocent people are jailed
2. This proves imprisonment is wrong

His conclusion is that it is the application of the death penalty (such as not taking more steps to clear a person) not a problem with the death penalty itself being immoral

A. Incorrect. There is no new evidence here. He basically agrees with her evidence that innocent people are put to death. He draws a different conclusion with the evidence.

B. Incorrect. He doesnt point out anything about her evidence being contradictory.

C. Incorrect. This is one that I could see people going to since he does not agree with her, but the opposite conclusion would be that her evidence proves that the death penalty is good. He never says that the evidence proves that.

D. Incorrect. He never disputes her evidence

E. Correct. He is stating that her evidence is not convincing. The conclusion should be that the application is wrong, not the penalty itself.