vineetgupta wrote:
Until recently it was thought that ink used before the sixteenth century did not contain titanium. However, a new type of analysis detected titanium in the ink of the famous Bible printed by Johannes Gutenberg and in that of another fifteenth-century Bible known as B-36, though not in the ink of any of numerous other fifteenth-century books analyzed. This finding is of great significance, since it not only strongly supports the hypothesis that B-36 was printed by Gutenberg but also shows that the presence of titanium in the ink of the purportedly fifteenth century Vinland Map can no longer be regarded as a reason for doubting the map's authenticity.
The reasoning in the passage is vulnerable to criticism on the ground that
(A) the results of the analysis are interpreted as indicating that the use of titanium as an ingredient in fifteenth-century ink both was, and was not, extremely restricted
(B) if the technology that makes it possible to detect titanium in printing ink has only recently become available, it is unlikely that printers or artists in the fifteenth century would know whether their ink contained titanium or not
(C) it is unreasonable to suppose that determination of the date and location of a document's printing or drawing can be made solely on the basis of the presence or absence of a single element in the ink used in the document
(D) both the B-36 Bible and the Vinland Map are objects that can be appreciated on their own merits whether or not the precise date of their creation or the identity of the person who made them is known
(E) the discovery of titanium in the ink of the Vinland Map must have occurred before titanium was discovered in the ink of the Gutenberg Bible and the B-36 Bible
Until recently it was thought that ink used before the sixteenth century did not contain titanium.
However, titanium was found in the ink of the famous Bible printed by Johannes Gutenberg and in that of another fifteenth-century Bible known as B-36
Though it was not in the ink of any of numerous other fifteenth-century books analyzed.
This finding supports the hypothesis that B-36 was printed by Gutenberg (since the other Bible of Gutenberg used titanium ink) and also that Vinland Map of 15th century with Titanium ink can no longer be regarded as a reason for doubting the map's authenticity.
Now, here is something odd. We are supporting that ink containing Titanium found in a Bible printed by Gutenberg implies that B-36 was also printed by Gutenberg (implying extremely restricted use of Titanium ink, perhaps by Gutenberg alone)
and also saying that Vinland map must be printed in 15th century only (implying unrestricted use of Titanium ink)
This is our option (A) and is certainly a criticism of the reasoning.
(B) if the technology that makes it possible to detect titanium in printing ink has only recently become available, it is unlikely that printers or artists in the fifteenth century would know whether their ink contained titanium or not
Irrelevant. We don't care whether the artists knew.
(C) it is unreasonable to suppose that determination of the date and location of a document's printing or drawing can be made solely on the basis of the presence or absence of a single element in the ink used in the document
Not necessary as criticism. Say a unique chemical is created in the lab in the 20th century with 20th century technology. If found in any document's ink, that document is bound to be printed in the 20th century only.
(D) both the B-36 Bible and the Vinland Map are objects that can be appreciated on their own merits whether or not the precise date of their creation or the identity of the person who made them is known
Irrelevant. The argument does not debate the merit of the objects.
(E) the discovery of titanium in the ink of the Vinland Map must have occurred before titanium was discovered in the ink of the Gutenberg Bible and the B-36 Bible
Quite possibly true. But this is no criticism of the argument's reasoning. It is implied by the argument when it says "fifteenth century
Vinland Map can no longer be regarded as a reason for doubting the map's authenticity" implying that at some time it was regarded as a reason for doubting the map's authenticity. So titanium was probably discovered in its ink before it was discovered in the ink of the Bibles using the new type of analysis.
Answer (A)
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