Historian: In the Drindian Empire, censuses were conducted annually to

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Historian: In the Drindian Empire, censuses were conducted annually to determine the population of each village. Village census records for the last half of the 1600’s are remarkably complete. This very completeness makes one point stand out; in five different years, villages overwhelmingly reported significant population declines. Tellingly, each of those five years immediately followed an increase in a certain Drindian tax. This tax, which was assessed on villages, was computed by the central government using the annual census figures. Obviously, whenever the tax went up, villages had an especially powerful economic incentive to minimize the number of people they recorded; and concealing the size of a village’s population from government census takers would have been easy. Therefore, it is reasonable to think that the reported declines did not happen.

In the historian’s argument, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

(A) The first presents a finding to support the position the historian seeks to establish; the second is a consideration that has been used to argue against that position.

(B) The first provides a context for certain evidence that supports the position that the historian seeks to establish; the second is the judgement advanced to support that position.

(C) The first is a position that the historian seeks to establish; the second is evidence that has been used to argue against that position.

(D) The first is an assumption that the historian explicitly makes in support of a certain position; the second is that position.

(E) The first is the claim that the historian rejects; the second is a conclusion drawn to justify that rejection.

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B

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kinjiGC · Answer

Historian: In the Drindian Empire, censuses were conducted annually to determine the population of each village.  Village census records for the last half of the 1600’s are remarkably complete . This very completeness makes one point stand out; in five different years, villages overwhelmingly reported significant population declines. Tellingly, each of those five years immediately followed an increase in a certain Drindian tax. This tax, which was assessed on villages, was computed by the central government using the annual census figures. Obviously,  whenever the tax went up, villages had an especially powerful economic incentive to minimize the number of people they recorded;  and concealing the size of a village’s population from government census takers would have been easy. Therefore, it is reasonable to think that the reported declines did not happen.

In the historian’s argument, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

A) The first presents a finding to support the position the historian seeks to establish ; the second is a consideration that has been used to argue against that position.
 The first is a fact which is used to establish author's position.The second actually supports that position

B) The first provides a context for certain evidence that supports the position that the historian seeks to establish ; the second is the judgement advanced to support that position ->  Correct

C) The first is a  position  that the historian seeks to establish ; the second is  evidence  that has been used to argue against that position.
 First is a fact and second is author's view point or a judgement.

D) The first is an  assumption  that the historian explicitly makes in support of a certain position ; the second is that position.
 The first is a fact and can be verified by anyone.

E) The first is the claim that the historian rejects ; the second is a conclusion drawn to justify that rejection. 
 The first is used to establish the historian's position

Konstantin1983 · Answer

Tough question. But we can eliminate all incorrect answers. Hope it is clear

Kurtosis · Answer

Question Type: Bold Face

Conclusion: It is reasonable to think that the reported population declines in census did not actually happen.
BF1: Village census records for the last half of the 1600’s are remarkably complete - Surprising fact
BF2: Whenever the tax went up, villages had an especially powerful economic incentive to minimize the number of people they recorded - Conclusion of the argument is derived from BF2

(A) The first presents a finding to support the position the historian seeks to establish; the second is a consideration that has been used to argue against that position. - BF2 doesn't argue against the position that the historian seeks to establish.

(B) The first provides a context for certain evidence that supports the position that the historian seeks to establish; the second is the judgement advanced to support that position. - Correct.

(C) The first is a position that the historian seeks to establish; the second is evidence that has been used to argue against that position. - BF2 isn't against the position that the historian seeks to establish

(D) The first is an assumption that the historian explicitly makes in support of a certain position; the second is that position. - BF1 is not an assumption.

(E) The first is the claim that the historian rejects; the second is a conclusion drawn to justify that rejection. - The historian doesn't reject BF1.

Answer: B

KittyDoodles · Answer

Hi Experts,

Please help in rejecting Option E.

The 1st BF "Village census records for the last half of the 1600???s are remarkably complete"- How can we be sure this is not a claim and its a fact.

As per the conclusion of the argument "Therefore, it is reasonable to think that the reported declines did not happen." can we say that the historians are rejecting this claim?

I rejected this option solely based on the 2nd part of Option E "the second is a conclusion drawn to justify that rejection.". The 2nd BF supports the conclusion and isn't the conclusion itself. Though the 2nd BF does seem to be some sort of claim.

Please advise whether my basis for selecting Option B.

The historian's position is the final line of the passage. We are basing this on the below points.

1. Each of those five years immediately followed an increase in a certain Drindian tax.
2. Whenever the tax went up, villages had an especially powerful economic incentive to minimize the number of people they recorded

Thus the records (1st BF) were the basis on which we could conclude that the tax increase in those specific five years was the reason why there was a drop in the census.

Thanks

RonTargetTestPrep · Answer

• Facts are stated as facts. Claims—which need to be supported with an argument—will be expressed in language that shows that they're claims.

and, of course,
• The nature of claims is that they have to be supported with logical argumentation, starting from statements that are NOT claims (factual premises). Therefore,  if something is a claim, the passage has to present an argument to support it!

As an illustration, my friend Sonia is 44 years old. If her age is already an established fact (that's being used to argue something else), then this will be stated as
 Sonia   is   44 years old.

If, on the other hand, the speaker/writer doesn't actually  know  Sonia's age, and instead is trying to  support a guess  (= a claim) that she's about 44 years old, then, first, the argument must actually BE there, and, second, the conclusion about her age needs to appear in different language.
e.g.,
  ]  ...   so  Sonia  must be  about 44 years old.

Just realizing that "Census records are very complete" is a statement of fact, by the way, is enough for you to eliminate C and E—because a factual statement cannot be a "position" or a "claim".

You can eliminate D as soon as you set eyes on it—without even needing to look at the passage!
An  assumption , by definition, is  not stated!  Therefore, any answer choice that calls a statement  that's actually written in the text of the passage  an "assumption" is automatically wrong, as it immediately violates the basic definition of an assumption.

RonTargetTestPrep · Answer

You're good with everything here.

One thing worth noting: In THIS part of your post—specifically, where you wrote "The records (first boldface) were the basis on which we can conclude..."—you definitely have a firm understanding that "the records" are things that historians HAVE, and that they can physically look at.
This means, in turn, that statements made about those records—such as the first boldfaced statement—are going to be factual observations.

In other words, if you look at the words   that YOU wrote   right here, you've got exactly what you need to make the realization that boldface #1 is a statement of fact.

Raman109 · Answer

Understanding the argument - 
Historian: In the Drindian Empire, censuses were conducted annually to determine the population of each village. Fact
Village census records for the last half of the 1600’s are remarkably complete. Fact
This very completeness makes one point stand out; in five different years, villages overwhelmingly reported significant population declines. Fact
Tellingly, each of those five years immediately followed an increase in a certain Drindian tax. Fact 
This tax, which was assessed on villages, was computed by the central government using the annual census figures. Fact 
Obviously, whenever the tax went up, villages had an especially powerful economic incentive to minimize the number of people they recorded (Author's judgment or belief); and concealing the size of a village’s population from government census takers would have been easy. 
Therefore, it is reasonable to think that the reported declines did not happen. The main conclusion that the argument seeks to establish.

In the historian’s argument, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

(A) The first presents a finding to support the position the historian seeks to establish (ok); the second is a consideration that has been used to argue against that position. (No. It supports the main conclusion)

(B) The first provides a context for certain evidence that supports the position that the historian seeks to establish (ok); the second is the judgement advanced to support that position. (ok)

(C) The first is a position that the historian seeks to establish (No its not the main conclusion); the second is evidence that has been used to argue against that position. (No, moreover its not supporting the first boldface)

(D) The first is an assumption that the historian explicitly makes in support of a certain position (It's a fact and not an assumption); the second is that position (the first BF is not stated to support BF2. Instead, the BF 2 is judgment-advanced to support the main conclusion.

(E) The first is the claim that the historian rejects (the first is not a claim. Its a fact and the historian is not rejecting it); the second is a conclusion drawn to justify that rejection. (the second is not a conclusion drawn to support BF1. Instead it used to support the main conclusion)

sarthak1701 · Answer

Exactly, B didn't sound too appealing at least on the initial analysis but the rest of them felt wrong.

Bish0p · Answer

a] Purpose of each bold face
1. Fact 
2. Analysis or POV

b] Relationship b/w each-other
Highlight the flaw in reporting

c] Relationship with Cx
1. Doesn't impact much
2. Go with the cx

a. wrong, first doesn't seek to establish anything.
c. wrong, first doesn't seek to establish anything.
d. wrong, second is not a position
e. wrong, second is not a position
b. Correct by eliminating above

durant25 · Answer

Hey Ron, great response, I just wanted to follow up on your last sentence. An assumption is something that is stated as true, so it should be synonymous with fact/premise (correct?)

guddo · Answer

Historian: In the Drindian Empire, censuses were conducted annually to determine the population of each village. Village census records for the last half of the 1600’s are remarkably complete. This very completeness makes one point stand out; in five different years, villages overwhelmingly reported significant population declines. Tellingly, each of those five years immediately followed an increase in a certain Drindian tax. This tax, which was assessed on villages, was computed by the central government using the annual census figures. Obviously, whenever the tax went up, villages had an especially powerful economic incentive to minimize the number of people they recorded; and concealing the size of a village’s population from government census takers would have been easy. Therefore, it is reasonable to think that the reported declines did not happen. 
 
In the historian’s argument, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

The historian’s conclusion is that the reported population declines probably did not happen.

The first boldface does not support that conclusion directly. It provides context: because the records are complete, the pattern of reported population declines is noticeable and meaningful.

The second boldface supports the conclusion directly. It explains why villages would have had a strong reason to underreport their populations after a tax increase.

(A) The first presents a finding to support the position the historian seeks to establish; the second is a consideration that has been used to argue against that position.

This is incorrect. The second boldface supports the historian’s position; it does not argue against it.

(B) The first provides a context for certain evidence that supports the position that the historian seeks to establish; the second is the judgement advanced to support that position.

This is correct. The first boldface sets up the context for the evidence: complete records make the reported decline pattern stand out. The second boldface is a judgment used to support the historian’s conclusion that the reported declines were probably false.

(C) The first is a position that the historian seeks to establish; the second is evidence that has been used to argue against that position.

This is incorrect. The first boldface is not the historian’s conclusion. Also, the second supports the historian’s conclusion.

(D) The first is an assumption that the historian explicitly makes in support of a certain position; the second is that position.

This is incorrect. The second boldface is not the main position. The main position is that the reported declines did not happen.

(E) The first is the claim that the historian rejects; the second is a conclusion drawn to justify that rejection.

This is incorrect. The historian does not reject the completeness of the census records.

Answer: (B)

egmat · Answer

Hi durant25,

Good follow-up, and the instinct behind it is exactly why this question is worth slowing down on.

Here's the key flip: an  assumption is the opposite of something stated . It's a premise the argument  needs to be true  but never actually puts on the page. So it isn't synonymous with a fact or a premise - it's the unstated gap between them.

Stated vs. assumed

- A  premise / fact  is written down for you. The historian  states  that population declines followed tax increases, that the tax used census figures, and so on. You can point to the sentence.
- An  assumption  is  not  written down. It's the bridge the argument silently leans on. You can only find it by asking, "What has to be true for this conclusion to hold, even though the author never said it?"

That's the whole reason  D  is wrong on this question. D calls the first bold portion an "assumption the historian  explicitly  makes" - but those two ideas cancel each other out. If something is stated explicitly, it isn't an assumption; it's evidence. The first bold portion is given to you as fact, so the word "assumption" disqualifies the choice. That's the point being made about the last line.

A quick word-play test to lock it in

"I missed the bus, so I was late." 
-  Stated:  I missed the bus. I was late.
-  Assumed  (never said): the bus was my only way to get there on time.

Notice the assumption is the one piece you have to supply yourself - it's true  for the argument to work , but nobody wrote it down. Flip it ("I had a car in the driveway") and the argument collapses. That's the test: a real premise is on the page; an assumption is the silent thing holding it up.

Answer: B

Historian: In the Drindian Empire, censuses were conducted annually to

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Historian: In the Drindian Empire, censuses were conducted annually to

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