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

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

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

poojakhanduja3017

how many minutes you took to resolve this question ?

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

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

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.