Questions 17-18

Zelda: Dr. Ladlow, a research psychologist, has convincingly demonstrated that his theory about the determinants of rat behavior generates consistently accurate predictions about how rats will perform in a maze. On the basis of this evidence, Dr. Ladlow has claimed that his theory is irrefutably correct.

Anson: Then Dr. Ladlow is not responsible psychologist. Dr. Ladlow’s evidence does not conclusively prove that his theory is correct. Responsible psychologists always accept the possibility that new evidence will show that their theories are incorrect.

17. Which one of the following can be properly inferred from Anson’s argument?
(A) Dr. Ladlow’s evidence that his theory generates consistently accurate predictions about how rates will perform in a maze is inaccurate.
(B) Psychologists who can derive consistently accurate predictions about how rats will perform in a maze from their theories cannot responsibly conclude that those theories cannot be disproved.
(C) No matter how responsible psychologists are, they can never develop correct theoretical explanations.
(D) Responsible psychologists do not make predictions about how rats will perform in a maze.
(E) Psychologists who accept the possibility that new evidence will show that their theories are incorrect are responsible psychologists.

18. Anson bases his conclusion about Dr. Ladlow on which one of the following?
(A) an attack on Dr. Ladlow’s character
(B) the application of a general principle
(C) the use of an ambiguous term
(D) the discrediting of facts
(E) the rejection of a theoretical explanation

17. Not at all sure

18. B

17. E
18. B

(E) and (B) without doubt.

Initially, for (18), even I thot that the answer shud be (A) since Anson attacks the character of Dr. But on a closer observation found that the conclusion is based on a general principle which Anson states in the end.
So, (B).

E ignores the possibility that psychologists can "accept the possibility that new evidence will show that their theories are incorrect" and still NOT be "responsible psychologists".

17) The wording 'cannot responsibly conclude' in B scared me. But E does not sound good either and uses almost same wording as in stimulus, which is always a red flag. So, chose B.
18) Somewhat easier than 17. B. Ladlow applies a general principle. I have seen 'attack on character' as correct answer very rarely even though that answer choice seems to be ubiquitous.