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

Question

Anders: The physical structure of the brain plays an important role in thinking. So researchers developing “thinking machines”—computers that can make decisions based on both common sense and factual knowledge—should closely model those machines on the structure of the brain.

Yang: Important does not mean essential. After all, no flying machine closely modeled on birds has worked; workable aircraft are structurally very different from birds. So thinking machines closely modeled on the brain are also likely to fail. 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.

The statement “thinking machines closely modeled on the brain are also likely to fail’ serves which one of the following roles in yang’s argument?

(A) the main conclusion of the argument

(B) a subsidiary conclusion used in support of the main conclusion

(C) a principle of research invoked in support of the conclusion

(D) a particular example illustrating a general claim

(E) background information providing a context for the argument

chaitralirr · Answer

Anders: The physical structure of the brain plays an important role in thinking. So researchers developing “thinking machines”—computers that can make decisions based on both common sense and factual knowledge—should closely model those machines on the structure of the brain.

Yang: Important does not mean essential. After all, no flying machine closely modeled on birds has worked; workable aircraft are structurally very different from birds. So thinking machines closely modeled on the brain are also likely to fail. 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.

Stimulus: Ander states that physical stature of brain plays a major role in thinking; So researchers developing “thinking machines”—computers that can make decisions based on both common sense and factual knowledge should model the machines similar to the structure of the brain.

Yang states that important is not essential the flying model which was similar to bird failed. Similarly the thinking machine would also fail. Researcher to focus on the brains features and not physical structure. IMo C

The statement “thinking machines closely modeled on the brain are also likely to fail’ serves which one of the following roles in yang’s argument?

(A) the main conclusion of the argument

(B) a subsidiary conclusion used in support of the main conclusion

(C) a principle of research invoked in support of the conclusion

(D) a particular example illustrating a general claim

(E) background information providing a context for the argument

gmat2020trgt770 · Answer

Analysing Yang's argument :

Premise :  Important does not mean essential. After all, no flying machine closely modeled on birds has worked; workable aircraft are structurally very different from birds. 
So thinking machines closely modeled on the brain are also likely to fail.

Conclusion :  researchers would therefore increase their chances of success if they focus on the brain’s function and simply ignore its physical structure.

Ques : The statement “thinking machines closely modeled on the brain are also likely to fail’ serves which one of the following roles in yang’s argument?

Pre-thinking : The statement "thinking machines closely modeled on the brain are also likely to fail" is clearly not the main conclusion on the argument. But, it is the intermediate conclusion on which the main conclusion is arrived.

Lets analyse the options now :
(A) the main conclusion of the argument -   Incorrect

(B) a subsidiary conclusion used in support of the main conclusion -   Correct

(C) a principle of research invoked in support of the conclusion -   Incorrect  . No research citing this finding has been mentioned but a similar example has been pointed to arrive at this statement.

(D) a particular example illustrating a general claim - -   Incorrect

(E) background information providing a context for the argument - -   Incorrect

poojakhanduja3017 · Answer

The main conclusion of Yang's argument is : researchers would therefore increase their chances of success if they focus on the brain’s function and simply ignore its physical structure

The statement “thinking machines closely modeled on the brain are also likely to fail’ serves which one of the following roles in yang’s argument?

Pre-thinking: This statement just appears before the main conclusion and doesn't present a fact but Yang's opinion. It can also be termed as an  intermediate   conclusion  because once he establishes this, he goes on with confidence to claim the main conclusion.  
 Options:  
A) the main conclusion of the argument :   Main conclusion is the last line

(B) a subsidiary conclusion used in support of the main conclusion   Correct

(C) a principle of research invoked in support of the conclusion   Incorrect as this is not research/fact but opinion

(D) a particular example illustrating a general claim.    This is a a general claim and not example

(E) background information providing a context for the argument   Again, it is more of an opinion

NiftyNiffler · Answer

Anders: The physical structure of the brain plays an important role in thinking. So researchers developing “thinking machines”—computers that can make decisions based on both common sense and factual knowledge—should closely model those machines on the structure of the brain.

Yang: Important does not mean essential. After all, no flying machine closely modeled on birds has worked; workable aircraft are structurally very different from birds. So thinking machines closely modeled on the brain are also likely to fail.  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.

The statement “thinking machines closely modeled on the brain are also likely to fail’ serves which one of the following roles in yang’s argument?

The answer should be  B , IMO. Yang concludes that similar functional behavior rather than similar physical structure leads to successful model machines. He reaches to that conclusion by also mentioning that copying physical structure might fail.

(A) the main conclusion of the argument  -- No, the main conclusion is in bold above.

(B) a subsidiary conclusion used in support of the main conclusion  -- correct

(C) a principle of research invoked in support of the conclusion -- This is Yang's opinion, not a principle

(D) a particular example illustrating a general claim  -- Not an example, rather a statement (Bird is given as an example)

(E) background information providing a context for the argument  -- It's an opinion, not background info

AliciaSierra · Answer

poojakhanduja3017

how many minutes you took to resolve this question ?

poojakhanduja3017 · Answer

1 min 47 sec exactly. Let me know if you need any more clarification on the explanations provided.

sambitspm · Answer

Anders: The physical structure of the brain plays an important role in thinking. So researchers developing “thinking machines”—computers that can make decisions based on both common sense and factual knowledge—should closely model those machines on the structure of the brain.

Yang: Important does not mean essential. After all, no flying machine closely modeled on birds has worked; workable aircraft are structurally very different from birds. So thinking machines closely modeled on the brain are also likely to fail. 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.

The statement “thinking machines closely modeled on the brain are also likely to fail’ serves which one of the following roles in yang’s argument?

Yang is saying to focus on the functionality instead of the physical structure. And the thinking machines are likely to fall is a projection or a conclusion given by Yan.
A - It is not the main conclusion NO
B - We can say it is a subsidiary conclusion. CONTENDER
C - It is not a principle, it is a prediction NO
D - It is not an example NO
E - It is clearly not background information NO

Hence answer is B.

(A) the main conclusion of the argument 
 (B) a subsidiary conclusion used in support of the main conclusion 
 (C) a principle of research invoked in support of the conclusion
(D) a particular example illustrating a general claim
(E) background information providing a context for the argument

unraveled · Answer

Anders: The physical structure of the brain plays an important role in thinking. So researchers developing “thinking machines”—computers that can make decisions based on both common sense and factual knowledge—should closely model those machines on the structure of the brain.

Yang: Important does not mean essential. After all, no flying machine closely modeled on birds has worked; workable aircraft are structurally very different from birds.  So  thinking machines closely modeled on the brain are also likely to fail. 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.

The statement “thinking machines closely modeled on the brain are also likely to fail’ serves which one of the following roles in yang’s argument?

(A) the  main conclusion  of the argument - WRONG. 2nd best choice but we do have a buildup after this sentence in Yang's argument. Texts signalling this can be the main conclusion or intermediate are in blue. HTHs.

(B) a  subsidiary conclusion  used in support of the main conclusion - CORRECT. Since the buildup after the quote gives us an insight of what Yang brings on table finally, we can say that the quote is supporting the main conclusion. Thus, it's an intermediate conclusion.

(C) a  principle of research  invoked  in support  of the conclusion - WRONG.

(D) a particular  example  illustrating a general claim - WRONG. Example is given in previous sentence.

(E)  background information  providing a context for the argument - WRONG. Not the background info.

Answer B.

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

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

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

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards