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Bunuel
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M: The Greek alphabet must have been invented by some individual who 31 Mar 2020, 02:15
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E
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45% (medium)

Question Stats:

69% (02:11) correct 31% (02:17) wrong based on 618 sessions

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M: The Greek alphabet must have been invented by some individual who knew the Phoenician writing system and who wanted to have some way of recording Homeric epics and thereby preserving expressions of a highly developed tradition of oral poetry.
P: Your hypothesis is laughable! What would have been the point of such a person’s writing Homeric epics down? Surely a person who knew them well enough to write them down would not need to read them, and no one else could read them, according to your hypothesis.

P’s argument is vulnerable to which one of the following criticisms?


(A) It fails to demonstrate that the Phoenician alphabet alone could have provided the basis for the Greek alphabet.

(B) It incorrectly assumes that the first text ever written in Greek was a Homeric poem.

(C) It confuses the requirements for a complex oral tradition with the requirements of a written language.

(D) It attempts to demonstrate the truth of a hypothesis merely by showing that it is possible.

(E) It overlooks the possibility that person who invented the Greek alphabet did so with the intention of teaching it to others.
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E
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M: The Greek alphabet must have been invented by some individual who 31 Mar 2020, 03:34
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Clear (E)

P: Your hypothesis is laughable! What would have been the point of such a person’s writing Homeric epics down? Surely a person who knew them well enough to write them down would not need to read them, and no one else could read them, according to your hypothesis. Yes, sure he may not need to read them, but what if this was intended to be passed down generations / taught to others?

Only E addresses this point.

(E) It overlooks the possibility that person who invented the Greek alphabet did so with the intention of teaching it to others -> Correct
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M: The Greek alphabet must have been invented by some individual who 31 Mar 2020, 03:46
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Ans:E
e) It overlooks the possibility that person who invented the Greek alphabet did so with the intention of teaching it to others.

I think this is the answer.
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M: The Greek alphabet must have been invented by some individual who 31 Mar 2020, 12:30
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I would go with E on this one.

P's argues by saying that the person who invented didn't find any need to write it down just because he already knew the poetry and he wouldn't need to read it later. But if the person who invented wrote it down with some other intention i.e. not just to read it by himself at a later point, the argument would be weakened.

Answer - E
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M: The Greek alphabet must have been invented by some individual who 31 Mar 2020, 14:15
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Quote:
M: The Greek alphabet must have been invented by some individual who knew the Phoenician writing system and who wanted to have some way of recording Homeric epics and thereby preserving expressions of a highly developed tradition of oral poetry.
P: Your hypothesis is laughable! What would have been the point of such a person’s writing Homeric epics down? Surely a person who knew them well enough to write them down would not need to read them, and no one else could read them, according to your hypothesis.

P’s argument is vulnerable to which one of the following criticisms?


(A) It fails to demonstrate that the Phoenician alphabet alone could have provided the basis for the Greek alphabet.

(B) It incorrectly assumes that the first text ever written in Greek was a Homeric poem.

(C) It confuses the requirements for a complex oral tradition with the requirements of a written language.

(D) It attempts to demonstrate the truth of a hypothesis merely by showing that it is possible.

(E) It overlooks the possibility that person who invented the Greek alphabet did so with the intention of teaching it to others.
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argument
[m] ga was invented by one who knew pws and wanted to keep a record of hpoems;
[p] if one can record hpoems why would he want to write it down?
[p] also, who else could read this if only he understood it?

Ans (E) what if he invented the ga with intent to teach it? then, hpoems' record would be understood and read by many!
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M: The Greek alphabet must have been invented by some individual who 12 Nov 2024, 23:00
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Answer E

M:
Suggests that the Greek alphabet was invented by a person who knew the “Phoenician writing system”.
That person wanted to write down the “Homeric epics” in the “Phoenician writing system” / in Greek alphabets to preserve the tradition of oral poetry.

P:
Calls ‘M’ approach as futile (M should not use the “Phoenician writing system”).
'P' states that if that person knew the “Homeric epics” so well, then why is there a need to write them (as that person already knows it well). That person can verbally teach people.

'P' also adds that others (general public here) should also know the “Phoenician writing system” in order to read “Homeric epics” written using Greek alphabets / language by ‘M’.

Flaw:

With the logic of 'P', there should not be any writing and hence, no effort by anyone to learn a new language to read and write - so as to gain knowledge of traditional oral poetry if it is written in Greek alphabets.

'P' assumed that everything was aimed by ‘M’ just to teach a new language. Whereas the real aim of 'M' was to preserve a precious knowledge of oral poetry by writing it in the Greek alphabet / language (Phoenician writing system).
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M: The Greek alphabet must have been invented by some individual who 06 May 2025, 01:49
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hi samarpan.g28
could you help me with this Q

I believe none of the options are accurate

E is not accurate because it kind of support's P's claim , does not weaken it

the issue between M and P here is the reason behind invention of alphabet

M says it was done to preserve epic
P says it was not done to preserve Homeric epic

E kind of gives an alternate explanation for invention of alphabet (thus strengthening P's claim that the invention was not done to preserve epic)


can we discount this Q as having poorly worded options?


Bunuel

Competition Mode Question



M: The Greek alphabet must have been invented by some individual who knew the Phoenician writing system and who wanted to have some way of recording Homeric epics and thereby preserving expressions of a highly developed tradition of oral poetry.
P: Your hypothesis is laughable! What would have been the point of such a person’s writing Homeric epics down? Surely a person who knew them well enough to write them down would not need to read them, and no one else could read them, according to your hypothesis.

P’s argument is vulnerable to which one of the following criticisms?


(A) It fails to demonstrate that the Phoenician alphabet alone could have provided the basis for the Greek alphabet.

(B) It incorrectly assumes that the first text ever written in Greek was a Homeric poem.

(C) It confuses the requirements for a complex oral tradition with the requirements of a written language.

(D) It attempts to demonstrate the truth of a hypothesis merely by showing that it is possible.

(E) It overlooks the possibility that person who invented the Greek alphabet did so with the intention of teaching it to others.
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M: The Greek alphabet must have been invented by some individual who 06 May 2025, 13:57
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Hi RiyaJ0032, I think you misunderstood the conclusion here. Let us break down the individual arguments.

M: The Greek alphabet must have been invented by some individual who knew the Phoenician writing system and who wanted to have some way of recording Homeric epics and thereby preserving expressions of a highly developed tradition of oral poetry.

The underlined part fits best as M's conclusion. Whenever you find the conclusion in an argument, always ask 'WHY' it is happening. Why does M say that the Greek Alphabets were invented by someone who knew the Phoenician writing system? Because they wanted to have some way of recording the epics and preserving expressions....

Let us look at P now.
P: Your hypothesis is laughable! What would have been the point of such a person’s writing Homeric epics down? Surely a person who knew them well enough to write them down would not need to read them, and no one else could read them, according to your hypothesis.
The conclusion is that M's hypothesis is laughable. WHY? Because "What would have been the point of such a person’s writing Homeric epics down? Surely a person who knew them well enough to write them down would not need to read them, and no one else could read them, according to your hypothesis."

Now, I have to weaken P's conclusion i.e. I have to show M's hypothesis has some point definitely. I have to find some gaps in P's way of thinking. If I can find the alternate reason or the gap, that will be my way of weakening P's conclusion. Let us check the options now.

(A) It fails to demonstrate that the Phoenician alphabet alone could have provided the basis for the Greek alphabet. This is M's conclusion and this is what P counters - here is nothing to weaken.

(B) It incorrectly assumes that the first text ever written in Greek was a Homeric poem. - P never assumes this.

(C) It confuses the requirements for a complex oral tradition with the requirements of a written language. - P does not confuse, irrelevant.

(D) It attempts to demonstrate the truth of a hypothesis merely by showing that it is possible. This is what P tries to attack, so this strengthens P's criticism, not weakens it.

(E) It overlooks the possibility that person who invented the Greek alphabet did so with the intention of teaching it to others. - Correct. P maybe missing this gap that the purpose of inventing the alphabet and writing the epics might have been to teach others to read and pass the knowledge down, not just for personal use.

I would appreciate a kudos if this helps!
RiyaJ0032
hi samarpan.g28
could you help me with this Q

I believe none of the options are accurate

E is not accurate because it kind of support's P's claim , does not weaken it

the issue between M and P here is the reason behind invention of alphabet

M says it was done to preserve epic
P says it was not done to preserve Homeric epic

E kind of gives an alternate explanation for invention of alphabet (thus strengthening P's claim that the invention was not done to preserve epic)


can we discount this Q as having poorly worded options?


Bunuel

Competition Mode Question



M: The Greek alphabet must have been invented by some individual who knew the Phoenician writing system and who wanted to have some way of recording Homeric epics and thereby preserving expressions of a highly developed tradition of oral poetry.
P: Your hypothesis is laughable! What would have been the point of such a person’s writing Homeric epics down? Surely a person who knew them well enough to write them down would not need to read them, and no one else could read them, according to your hypothesis.

P’s argument is vulnerable to which one of the following criticisms?


(A) It fails to demonstrate that the Phoenician alphabet alone could have provided the basis for the Greek alphabet.

(B) It incorrectly assumes that the first text ever written in Greek was a Homeric poem.

(C) It confuses the requirements for a complex oral tradition with the requirements of a written language.

(D) It attempts to demonstrate the truth of a hypothesis merely by showing that it is possible.

(E) It overlooks the possibility that person who invented the Greek alphabet did so with the intention of teaching it to others.
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M: The Greek alphabet must have been invented by some individual who 07 May 2025, 00:11
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Hi samarpan.g28,

thank you for taking the time out and explaining to me

I just had a slight doubt

in P's argument, P is not opposing whether Greek alphabet was invented or not
but opposing the reason given by M for the Greek alphabet's invention

The reason given by M is that , this invention was done to record epics and was done by one who knew Phoenician system

P attacks this reason that it cannot be done to write epics

E says, it was not done to write Homeric epic but to teach the alphabet to others

where is it weakening P's argument here (his argument is simply that it was not done to write epics, E states an alternate reason for inventing the alphabet, not in contradiction to P's argument?)

You say - "purpose of inventing the alphabet and writing the epics might have been"
but we are given purpose of inventing the alphabet is to record the epics (As per M, but not as per P- which is exactly what we have to weaken)


samarpan.g28
Hi RiyaJ0032, I think you misunderstood the conclusion here. Let us break down the individual arguments.

M: The Greek alphabet must have been invented by some individual who knew the Phoenician writing system and who wanted to have some way of recording Homeric epics and thereby preserving expressions of a highly developed tradition of oral poetry.

The underlined part fits best as M's conclusion. Whenever you find the conclusion in an argument, always ask 'WHY' it is happening. Why does M say that the Greek Alphabets were invented by someone who knew the Phoenician writing system? Because they wanted to have some way of recording the epics and preserving expressions....

Let us look at P now.
P: Your hypothesis is laughable! What would have been the point of such a person’s writing Homeric epics down? Surely a person who knew them well enough to write them down would not need to read them, and no one else could read them, according to your hypothesis.
The conclusion is that M's hypothesis is laughable. WHY? Because "What would have been the point of such a person’s writing Homeric epics down? Surely a person who knew them well enough to write them down would not need to read them, and no one else could read them, according to your hypothesis."

Now, I have to weaken P's conclusion i.e. I have to show M's hypothesis has some point definitely. I have to find some gaps in P's way of thinking. If I can find the alternate reason or the gap, that will be my way of weakening P's conclusion. Let us check the options now.

(A) It fails to demonstrate that the Phoenician alphabet alone could have provided the basis for the Greek alphabet. This is M's conclusion and this is what P counters - here is nothing to weaken.

(B) It incorrectly assumes that the first text ever written in Greek was a Homeric poem. - P never assumes this.

(C) It confuses the requirements for a complex oral tradition with the requirements of a written language. - P does not confuse, irrelevant.

(D) It attempts to demonstrate the truth of a hypothesis merely by showing that it is possible. This is what P tries to attack, so this strengthens P's criticism, not weakens it.

(E) It overlooks the possibility that person who invented the Greek alphabet did so with the intention of teaching it to others. - Correct. P maybe missing this gap that the purpose of inventing the alphabet and writing the epics might have been to teach others to read and pass the knowledge down, not just for personal use.

I would appreciate a kudos if this helps!
RiyaJ0032
hi samarpan.g28
could you help me with this Q

I believe none of the options are accurate

E is not accurate because it kind of support's P's claim , does not weaken it

the issue between M and P here is the reason behind invention of alphabet

M says it was done to preserve epic
P says it was not done to preserve Homeric epic

E kind of gives an alternate explanation for invention of alphabet (thus strengthening P's claim that the invention was not done to preserve epic)


can we discount this Q as having poorly worded options?


Bunuel

Competition Mode Question



M: The Greek alphabet must have been invented by some individual who knew the Phoenician writing system and who wanted to have some way of recording Homeric epics and thereby preserving expressions of a highly developed tradition of oral poetry.
P: Your hypothesis is laughable! What would have been the point of such a person’s writing Homeric epics down? Surely a person who knew them well enough to write them down would not need to read them, and no one else could read them, according to your hypothesis.

P’s argument is vulnerable to which one of the following criticisms?


(A) It fails to demonstrate that the Phoenician alphabet alone could have provided the basis for the Greek alphabet.

(B) It incorrectly assumes that the first text ever written in Greek was a Homeric poem.

(C) It confuses the requirements for a complex oral tradition with the requirements of a written language.

(D) It attempts to demonstrate the truth of a hypothesis merely by showing that it is possible.

(E) It overlooks the possibility that person who invented the Greek alphabet did so with the intention of teaching it to others.
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