shasadou wrote:
The young orchestral conductor Sabado Domingo is a true
prodigy, able to recognize when any single instrument in his orchestra is even a bit out of tune. In a recent test, an orchestra played a hundred selections from different well-known classical pieces; in approximately half of the selections, exactly one instrument would be played slightly out of tune. In every instance in which an instrument was played out of tune, Domingo pointed out that the orchestra was out of tune, and correctly identified the instrument at fault.
Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the conclusion of the argument above?
(A) During the test, the orchestra was arranged in a traditional arrangement, similar to the arrangement in which they would be seated in a classical concert.
(B) Domingo did not mistakenly label any of the orchestra’s in-tune performances as out of tune.
(C) Many of the musicians who intentionally played out of tune as part of the test have played perfectly in tune in every concert for the last ten years.
(D) The instruments played out of tune were all played at a pitch exactly one half-step lower than the true pitch.
(E) Because the test was performed in an empty concert hall, the acoustics of the concert hall differed somewhat from those of a concert hall populated by an audience.
Option (B) is NOT the same as that given in the argument. Please note:
Conclusion:
Domingo is a true
prodigy, able to recognize when any single instrument in his orchestra is even a bit out of tune.
The implication is clear - when any single instrument is a bit out of tune, he will recognise. Also, if no instrument is out of tune, he will know that everything is fine. If every time the orchestra plays and he declares that something is out of tune, it does not establish him as a
prodigy. He needs to know when something is out of tune and when it is not.
The argument tells us that in a test, 50% of the times, one instrument was played out of tune. In every instance in which an instrument was played out of tune, he pointed out the instrument that was out of tune. So 50% of the times, he correctly identified that an instrument was out of tune and also which instrument was out of tune.
This is good. But what will help further establish that he is a
prodigy and that he is extremely accurate?
That every time no instrument was out of tune, he said that no instrument is out of tune. He judged the other 50% correctly too.
What if of the rest of the 50% times when every instrument was played in sync, he still said that something was out of tune? Then can we say that he judges correctly? No.
Option (B) gives us this flip side
(B) Domingo did not mistakenly label any of the orchestra’s in-tune performances as out of tune.
Hence (B) strengthens our conclusion.