Anders: The physical structure of the brain plays an important role in

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Yang’s argument is as follows:

Premise: Important does not mean essential.

Premise: No flying machine closely modeled on birds has worked; workable aircraft are structurally very different from birds.

Premise/Subconclusion: So thinking machines closely modeled on the brain are also likely to fail.

Conclusion: In developing a workable thinking machine, researchers would therefore increase their chances of success if they focus on the brain’s function and simply ignore its physical structure.”

Yang’s conclusion is very strong: “simply ignore the physical structure of the brain” when developing a thinking machine. As you might expect, this extreme conclusion and the relatively weak supporting evidence plays a role in the correct answer. Also note that the question stem uses the word “whether” to turn each answer choice into a question.

Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer. The Variance Test proves the answer:

If the answer is “Yes, they did provide crucial information” then developers should not ignore the physical structure of the brain because the reasoning used to make that judgment (via the flying machine analogy) is faulty.

If the answer is “No, they did not provide crucial information” then the argument is strengthened because the analogy suggests it would be acceptable to ignore the physical structure of the brain. Because the varied responses produce different evaluations of the argument, this answer is correct.

Answer choice (B): The conclusion is about ignoring the physical structure of the brain, and information about what constitutes thinking will not help evaluate the argument. Apply the Variance Test to disprove this answer by using opposite answers of “Yes” and “No.”

Answer choice (C): The relative amount of time spent on each project is not an issue in the stimulus. Apply the Variance Test to disprove this answer, using opposite answers of “Yes, as much time was spent” and “No, not as much time was spent.”

Answer choice (D): The argument does not involve the background of the researchers and the projects they work on, only what they should focus on when trying to succeed. Hence, this answer is incorrect. Apply the Variance Test, using opposite answers of “Yes, they are among those trying to develop thinking machines” and “No, they are not among those trying to develop thinking machines.”

Answer choice (E): The analogy in the argument is about flying machines that were modeled on birds. The possibility that some flying machines failed that were not modeled on birds has no place in the argument. Apply the Variance Test, using opposite answers of “Yes, some failed” and “No, none failed.”