anindame wrote:
In order to be considered a contender during awards season, a film must be widely acclaimed by film critics around the time of its release. The Final Whistle, then, will not be a contender during awards season, as noted critic Benjamin Bourne has awarded the film his lowest rating of the year thus far.
Which of the following is a necessary assumption of the argument above?
A) No films other than The Final Whistle received similarly low ratings from critic Benjamin Bourne.
B) Benjamin Bourne’s film ratings do not always match the ratings of the majority of his peers.
C) No film has ever received Benjamin Bourne’s lowest rating while still remaining a contender during awards season.
D) Benjamin Bourne uses the same ratings system as does the majority of film critics.
E) Benjamin Bourne’s opinion of The Final Whistle was not dissimilar from other opinions of the film.
In order to be considered a contender during awards season, a film must be widely acclaimed by film critics around the time of its release.
Noted critic Benjamin Bourne has awarded the film his lowest rating of the year thus far.
Conclusion: The Final Whistle will not be a contender during awards season.
The argument says that to be contender, the film must be widely acclaimed by critics. BB has awarded the film his lowest rating of the year. So the film will not be a contender. The assumption is that since BB has given low rating, the film will not be widely acclaimed. Note that the argument does not say that since BB has given low rating, it will not be a contender. It says that to be a contender, it must be widely acclaimed.
Hence assumption is (E)
Negate (E): Benjamin Bourne’s opinion of The Final Whistle was dissimilar from other opinions of the film.
Other opinions gave it good rating. Then it could be a contender. The conclusion doesn't stand.
Negate (C): Some films have received Benjamin Bourne’s lowest rating while still remaining a contender during awards season.
What happened to some films is irrelevant. We know what a film needs to be a contender - wide acclaim. We know this film has low rating from BB. But does this film have wide acclaim? Some films which had low rating from BB must have had wide acclaim to be a contender.
The assumption we are making is about this film.
Hence answer has to be (E).
Can you explain how to pick between 2 choices. I get always stuck b/w 2 and more often than not, pick the wrong one. How can I improve on this weakness ?