OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
Disease Z is a medical condition which is transmitted by an airborne virus. The Epidemic Control Center of Country X has conducted tests in all the countries in the breakout area of Disease Z and found that
countries that had a popular public transportation system suffered from a higher rate of infections. Therefore, it was determined that countries with advanced mass transit systems are more liable to experience a breakout of Disease Z.
However, it is also known that all of these countries have a good health system which is able to prevent a breakout by quickly identifying the first infections.In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
A. The first is a fact providing support for the conclusion presented in the argument; the second is that conclusion.
Incorrect.
This is a Boldface Type question, in which you are required to define the role of the two boldface sections in the argument. Read the argument and break it down using indicative words:
- Sentence 1 is a premise because it cites a fact.
- The first boldface portion, in sentence 2, reports findings (found that) so it's a premise.
- Sentence 3 begins with the conclusion conjunction Therefore and is a conclusion based on the previous sentence.
- The last sentence, the second boldface portion, begins with however, an opposition conjunction. It uses the phrase it is also known, indicating it is a premise, contradicting or alleviating data.
While this answer choice defines the first boldface part correctly, it defines the second incorrectly. The second portion in boldface is a premise and not a conclusion since it simply presents a known fact and does not make any judgment based on other premises. B. The first is the conclusion of the argument; the second is a point which weighs against that conclusion.
Incorrect.
The first portion in boldface is not a conclusion, it's a premise which presents the findings of the tests that were conducted. This is purely factual information. You can immediately eliminate answer choices that incorrectly define the first boldface part; do not waste time reading the rest.C. The first is a general opinion which the argument favors; the second is evidence which supports this opinion.
Incorrect.
The first portion in boldface is not an opinion. It's a premise which presents the findings of the tests that were conducted. This is purely factual information. You can immediately eliminate answer choices that incorrectly define the first boldface part; do not waste time reading the rest.D. The first is a fact which stands in opposition with later evidence; the second is a conclusion that is in line with that later evidence.
Incorrect.
While this answer choice defines the first boldface part correctly, it defines the second incorrectly. The second portion in boldface is a premise and not a conclusion since it simply presents a known fact and does not make any judgment based on other premises. E. The first is a fact providing support for the conclusion presented in the argument; the second is an additional fact which weighs against that conclusion.
The first boldface portion provides data that supports the main conclusion presented in the argument - that of the Epidemic Control Center. The second is additional data that weighs against the ECC's conclusion.