Researchers believe that we will ultimately be able to explain

Question

Researchers believe that we will ultimately be able to explain all “psychic” phenomena. Achieving this goal requires knowledge of how mental images are “sent” and “received” over distance and how senders and receivers interact at a biological level. At present, there is a substantial amount of fundamental knowledge about receiving images and sending images. Thus, as researchers claim, psychic phenomena will soon be explainable.

Which one of the following indicates an error in the reasons in the passage?

(A) The conclusion contradicts researchers.
(B) The passage fails to describe what is currently known about senders and receivers.
(C) The passage does not indicate that any knowledge has been achieved about how senders and receivers interact at a biological level.
(D) The argument does not indicate whether this information will be useful.
(E) The passage is not specific about what psychic phenomena are being researched.

Source: Nova GMAT

anugrahs · Answer

IMO - C

2 things are required to explain all “psychic” phenomena
 1-- how mental images are “sent” and “received” over distance
 2 -- how senders and receivers interact at a biological level

It is given there is enough information to validate point 1 but nothing is mentioned about point 2.
Thus 'researchers claim, psychic phenomena will soon be explainable' is wrong.

This is what option C says... 'The passage does not indicate that any knowledge has been achieved about how senders and receivers interact at a biological level.'

CrackverbalGMAT · Answer

here is the argument --

Premise 
 Explain "psychic" phenomena --> requires knowledge of how mental images are “sent” and “received” over distance and how senders and receivers interact at a biological level

Conclusion 
 substantial amount of fundamental knowledge about receiving images and sending images --> psychic phenomena will soon be explainable

There are several flaws in this line of reasoning --
1. the conclusion does not talk about "mental images"
2. it does not talk about sending images "over distance".
3. it does not talk about "how senders and receivers interact at a biological level".

We have been asked to indicate a flaw in the reasoning above. The correct answer should talk about one of these points.

Option A - Incorrect

the conclusion does NOT contradict researchers. "Thus, as researchers claim, ..." indicates precisely the opposite.

Option B - Incorrect

"what is currently known about senders and receivers" is not relevant to the conclusion.

Option C - Correct answer

this is talked in point #3.

Option D - Incorrect

In fact it does. One necessary condition is knowledge of how mental images are sent and received.

Option E - Incorrect

The specifics of psychic phenomena are not relevant

doeadoer · Answer

I am not able to zero in on the answer.. can some one please explain this one

priyabratg · Answer

To explain all “psychic” phenomena,knowledge of 2 things are required: 1.how mental images are “sent” and “received” over distance 2.how senders and receivers interact at a biological level But presently,information about only first point is known and nothing is mentioned about the second point and this is the flaw which only option C states. (A) The conclusion contradicts researchers. There is no contradiction in the passage. (B) The passage fails to describe what is currently known about senders and receivers. This is very vague and broad. (C) The passage does not indicate that any knowledge has been achieved about how senders and receivers interact at a biological level. Correctly replicates the flaw. (D) The argument does not indicate whether this information will be useful. Does not indicate the flaw in reasoning. (E) The passage is not specific about what psychic phenomena are being researched. Does not indicate the flaw in reasoning. Share Kudos

nrisbood · Answer

I had a confusion between B and C but the correct answer is C as it talks about the biological interaction between sent and received. The statement following it talks about available fundamental knowledge. It does not tells us how the connection is established as that is the main point. That's why C

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

Two conditions are introduced as necessary for achieving the goal of explaining psychic phenomena:

1) how mental images are sent and received over distance
2) how senders and receivers interact at a biological level

The first is partially fulfilled. The passage states that we know a substantial amount about receiving images and sending images. However, it does not mention anything about how senders and receivers interact. Hence the passage does not meet the very conditions it requires—this is an error in reasoning.

The answer is (C).

Researchers believe that we will ultimately be able to explain

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Researchers believe that we will ultimately be able to explain

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