A) Several similar experiments using older children and adults found that these subjects, too, had a general tendency to pay more attention to octaves, fifths, and fourths than to other musical intervals.

Hmmm ... seems pretty good but I don't like the whole "had a general tendency to pay more attention" phrase.

B) None of the babies in the experiment had previous exposure to music from any culture.

I really like this one. If the babies had no exposure to music prior to the experiment then that really strengthens the conclusion that there is a "biological disposition."

C) All of the babies in the experiment had been exposed to music drawn equally from a wide variety of cultures around the world.

This weakens the conclusion because one can argue that since the babies heard the music prior to the experiment the disposition was influenced by other sources. It may be that a baby has a biological disposition to octaves, fifths and fourths but by exposing a baby to music leaves the door open for a counterargument.

D) In a second experiment, these same babies showed no clear tendency to notice primary colors more than other colors.

Irrelevant.

E) Octaves, fifths, and fourths were played more frequently during the experiment than other musical intervals were.

Weakens. If octaves, fifths and fourths are introduced more frequently an argument can be made that bias was introduced into the experiment and thus the reason for a baby's significant attention is familiarity with the octaves, fifths, and fourths.

this one is tough IMO B
OA pls

gmatnmein2010 wrote:In an experiment, researchers played a series of musical intervals - two-note sequences - to a large diverse group of six-month old babies. They found that the babies paid significantly more attention when the intervals were perfect octaves, fifths, or fourths than otherwise. These intervals are prevalent in the musical systems of most cultures around the world. Thus, humans probably have a biological predisposition to pay more attention to those intervals than to others.

Which one of the following, if true most strengthens the argument?

Cause : BIOLOGICAL DISPOSITION to pay more attention to 8th 5th n 4th intervals
Effect : Babies paid more attention to 8th 5th n 4th intervals

We can strengthen the above argument if we can show that there is no other cause for the stated effect.

A) Several similar experiments using older children and adults found that these subjects, too, had a general tendency to pay more attention to octaves, fifths, and fourths than to other musical intervals.
Incorrect : This one is a close contender but it does nothing to strengthen the conclusion

B) None of the babies in the experiment had previous exposure to music from any culture.
Correct : An alternate cause (exposure to music from any culture) is eliminated here which strengthens the conclusion.

C) All of the babies in the experiment had been exposed to music drawn equally from a wide variety of cultures around the world.
Incorrect : Weakens the argument by showing an alternate cause (babies were exposed to music from many cultures).

D) In a second experiment, these same babies showed no clear tendency to notice primary colors more than other colors.
Incorrect : Second experiment is irrelevant to the scope of the argument.

E) Octaves, fifths, and fourths were played more frequently during the experiment than other musical intervals were.
Incorrect : Weakens the argument by showing an alternate cause (8th, 5th n 4th played more frequently)

Hope this helps : )

thanks to bth of u
OA is B

Well I feel D is the answer. I guess I'm right. If some expert could throw light on the reasoning it would be a big help.