Brain-scanning technology provides information about processes occurri

hello
i am very weak in critical reasoning and i want your precious advice
in this question how can we eliminate option c as it says should be regarded with great skepticism and the author also says that the researchers cannot cannot rely upon the report which means they should regard it with great skepticism

Hello, honey1. First off, I would like to point out that this is an LSAT question. Although it is written well for that test, and it can serve as supplemental practice for a GMAT™ CR question, you should look to center your studies on official GMAT™ material. Logical reasoning on the LSAT tends to rely more on formal logic. With that said, choice (C) is a relatively easy elimination, since the conclusion that the results of brain-scanning research should be regarded with great skepticism is the opposite of what the author of the passage is driving at. Transitions and strong language can help us follow that point or conclusion.



In the context of the passage, must be able is akin to need to be able, which is a call for accurate verbal reports, but not a statement against the accuracy of all current verbal reports. The transition otherwise provides a hypothetical scenario in which brain-scan data and verbal reports do not match up, but again, this is not a declaration of how the current process is flawed. If we examine choice (E), we can see how the conditional only if statement parallels the second sentence of the passage. Compare:


Now, the passage:



I considered choice (D) for a moment—I like its use of vague, non-committal language—but it distorts the information in the passage when it says that brain scans can shed light on the accuracy of the verbal reports. Perhaps indirectly, but whether you are dealing with a logical reasoning question or a critical reasoning question, you want the most direct answer you can find, one that is both anchored in the passage and answers the question being asked.

I hope that helps. If you have further questions, feel free to ask.

- Andrew

Hi experts,
Please help us to understand reason why each choice is right or wrong. Thank you so much.

KAPLAN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

(E) Main Point
When reading an argument in a Main Point question, look for a strong statement of the author’s point of view.
We need to treat arguments in Main Point questions like short Reading Comp passages: the key is to read critically to home in on the author’s point. “However” in the second sentence should leap out as an indicator of authorial opinion. Brain-scanning technology shows us what’s going on in the brain, but the author tells us that for brain scans to provide information about how we think, researchers must be able to trust the verbal reports given by subjects during the scanning process. The next sentence, beginning with “otherwise,” tells us what could happen if that necessary condition is not met, so the middle sentence must be the main idea of the argument. (E) is a lovely summary of that main idea.

(A) The author doesn’t conclude that brain scans will never help researchers understand the way we think. The author just tells us what must happen for researchers to effectively utilize brain scans.

(B) The author says that researchers must be able to trust the accuracy of subjects’ reports, which certainly implies that there could be a way for them to know for certain that the reports are accurate.

(C) The author doesn’t conclude that brain scan results should be regarded with skepticism, just that their results can be used for research purposes only if subjects are truthfully and accurately reporting their thoughts.

(D) The author’s point isn’t that brain scans can tell us whether subjects are giving accurate verbal reports; it’s that the accuracy of those reports have to be trusted for the information in brain scans to be of use to researchers.

Hi prateekchugh,
Could you please explain more why C is wrong. Thank you.

Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.