Most of Western music since the Renaissance has been based on a seven-note scale known as the diatonic scale, but when did the scale originate? A fragment of a bone flute excavated at a Neanderthal campsite has four holes, which are spaced in exactly the right way for playing the third through sixth notes of a diatonic scale.
The entire flute must surely have had more holes, and examination of the find shows that
the flute was made from a bone that was long enough for these additional holes to have allowed a complete diatonic scale to be played. Therefore, the Neanderthals who made the flute probably used a diatonic musical scale.
In the argument given, the two portions in
boldface play which of the following roles?
The argument’s main conclusion is that the Neanderthals who made the flute probably used a diatonic scale. The first boldface is not that main conclusion; it is an intermediate judgment that helps support it. The second boldface gives evidence that the flute could physically have had enough holes to play the full scale.
So the first is a supporting judgment, and the second is supporting evidence.
A. The first states the hypothesis that the argument seeks to support; the second presents evidence to support a conclusion that, in turn, supports the argument’s main conclusion.
This is incorrect. The first boldface is not the main hypothesis. The main hypothesis is that the Neanderthals probably used a diatonic scale.
B. The first states the hypothesis that the argument seeks to support; the second introduces evidence that has been used to argue against the argument’s main conclusion.
This is incorrect. The second boldface supports the argument; it does not argue against the conclusion.
C. The first is a judgment that is used to support the main conclusion of the argument; the second introduces evidence to support that conclusion.
This is correct. The first boldface helps support the idea that the flute may have been capable of playing a full diatonic scale. The second boldface gives evidence that the bone was long enough for the additional holes needed for such a scale.
D. The first is a judgment that is used to support the main conclusion of the argument; the second presents evidence restricting the scope of that judgment.
This is incorrect. The second boldface does not restrict the first; it supports the possibility that the full flute had the needed additional holes.
E. The first is a conclusion drawn on the basis of evidence stated elsewhere in the argument; the second is the argument’s main conclusion.
This is incorrect. The second boldface is not the main conclusion. The main conclusion is that the Neanderthals probably used a diatonic musical scale.
Answer: (C)