A recent study of perfect pitch—the ability to identify the pitch of

Question

A recent study of perfect pitch—the ability to identify the pitch of an isolated musical note—found that a high percentage of people who have perfect pitch are related to someone else who has it. Among those without perfect pitch, the percentage was much lower. This shows that having perfect pitch is a consequence of genetic factors.

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

(A) People who have relatives with perfect pitch generally receive no more musical training than do others.
(B) All of the researchers conducting the study had perfect pitch.
(C) People with perfect pitch are more likely than others to choose music as a career.
(D) People with perfect pitch are more likely than others to make sure that their children receive musical training.
(E) People who have some training in music are more likely to have perfect pitch than those with no such training.

Sid0403 · Answer

This is an example of cause-effect type in critical reasoning.

The premise states that " having perfect pitch is a consequence of genetic factors".

Now to solidify this ,in the case of cause effect we need to show that there is no alternative cause which could have this effect.

Option A does exactly that... it shows us that alternate cause(more training than others) is not the cause for perfect pith.
(B) All of the researchers conducting the study had perfect pitch.--Not relevant
(C) People with perfect pitch are more likely than others to choose music as a career.--Again not relevant
(D) People with perfect pitch are more likely than others to make sure that their children receive musical training.-- This Opposite answer hurts the argument by suggesting that children whose
parents have perfect pitch receive more musical training, and may develop perfect pitch as a result
of such training. Because alternate causes weaken the argument, this type of wrong answer choice appears frequently in Strengthen questions.
(E) People who have some training in music are more likely to have perfect pitch than those with no such training.--If anything, this answer may hurt the argument by showing that having perfect
pitch is also correlated with (and may thus be the result of) musical training. However, because we
do not know if such training is the result of having relatives who have perfect pitch, this answer does
not contribute to the causal explanation of the correlation cited by the study.

akela · Answer

Complete Question Explanation

Strengthen, CE. The correct answer choice is (A)

The conclusion of the argument suggests that having a perfect pitch is a consequence of genetic
factors:

Premise: A person who has perfect pitch has a higher chance of being related to
someone else who has it than a person without perfect pitch

Conclusion: Having a perfect pitch is a consequence of genetic factors

The relationship between premise and conclusion is a causal one, which can be diagrammed as:

GF = genetic factors
PF = perfect pitch

Cause  .....  Effect
GF  --- -->  --- PF

As with all causal arguments, you must critically evaluate the causality described in the conclusion.
The conclusion, which is easy to spot due to the conclusion indicator “this shows that,” is based on
a study that observed a correlation between having perfect pitch and having a relative who also has
perfect pitch. Correlations between two variables do not automatically imply that one causes the
other, as they may be coincidental effects of another cause, among other reasons. For instance, what
if people who have relatives with perfect pitch are more likely to attend concerts, study the piano,
or receive musical training? To strengthen the cause and effect relationship, look for answers that
eliminate such alternate causes and show that nothing else but genetics can explain why those who
have perfect pitch tend to be related to someone else who has it.

Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice , as it strengthens the argument by
eliminating an alternate cause for the stated effect. If people who have relatives with perfect pitch
are no more likely to receive superior musical training, their perfect pitch cannot be the result of
such training. Note that this answer choice does not prove the cause and effect relationship—it is
still possible that other causes could account for the stated effect. In Strengthen questions, your
choice should be based upon a comparative analysis between the five answer choices, and the correct
answer choice does not have to prove the conclusion 100% to be correct.

Answer choice (B): Whether the researchers conducting the study had perfect pitch is irrelevant to
our evaluation of the study’s conclusion. This answer choice is incorrect.

Answer choice (C): Discussing the implications of the stated effect (perfect pitch) is a digression that
neither strengthens nor weakens the causal argument.

Answer choice (D): This Opposite answer hurts the argument by suggesting that children whose
parents have perfect pitch receive more musical training, and may develop perfect pitch as a result
of such training. Because alternate causes weaken the argument, this type of wrong answer choice appears frequently in Strengthen questions.

Answer choice (E): If anything, this answer may hurt the argument by showing that having perfect
pitch is also correlated with (and may thus be the result of) musical training. However, because we
do not know if such training is the result of having relatives who have perfect pitch, this answer does
not contribute to the causal explanation of the correlation cited by the study.

jkolachi · Answer

Question is asking to identify the option that will help strengthen the argument that genetics play a key role in having a perfect pitch.

One way to weaken the argument would be to introduce musical training into the mix. If there was another reason why some people had perfect pitch i.e., having musical training then this would weaken the argument.... using the same logic we can make this a simpler argument... lets assume the argument states that people who run fast is because of genetics.... one weakness of this argument is that people who train could run faster.... but if you take out the training factor by saying that fast runners have no more training than others.... than the only way to explain the difference in speed is genetics.... Hence A is the answer. Hope this helps.

unraveled · Answer

A recent study of perfect pitch—the ability to identify the pitch of an isolated musical note—found that a high percentage of people who have perfect pitch are related to someone else who has it. Among those without perfect pitch, the percentage was much lower. This shows that having perfect pitch is a consequence of genetic factors.

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

A. Anything that suggests ancestry/genes being the reason would be our answer since it would be strengthening the conclusion.
B. Anything that suggests anything other than ancestry/genes as the reason would weaken and should be rejected.
C. Anything that goes offtrack in neither a strengthener nor a weakener and thus should be rejected.

(A) People who have relatives with perfect pitch generally receive no more musical training than do others. - CORRECT. Not straightforward but it eventually suggests to support conclusion.
(B) All of the  researchers  conducting the study  had perfect pitch . - WRONG. C
(C) People with perfect pitch are  more likely than others to choose music as a career . - WRONG. C
(D) People with perfect pitch are  more likely than others  to make sure that their  children receive musical training . - WRONG. C
(E) People who have some training in music are more likely to have perfect pitch than those with no such training. - WRONG. B

Answer A.

Shadyshades · Answer

If i conclude that the perfect pitch is a consequence of genetic factors, i am assuming that there is nothing apart from genetics that lead to perfect pitch. 
Option A eliminates the ambiguity, making the argument airtight, by clearing out that the perfect pitch is not because of musical training.

Gozmit5 · Answer

Well for most of us the situation becomes a bit complicated while considering Option D and Option A. Remember, the author attributes genetic basis for the ability of Perfect Pitch. Option D is not strengthening the argument as it also brings out the fact that such people often receive some kind of training which can be attributed for the same. Option A clears the fact that everyone in general receives the same kind of training thus strengthening the argument.

VerbalBot · Answer

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A recent study of perfect pitch—the ability to identify the pitch of

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