Some researchers claim that people tend to gesture less when they

Question

Some researchers claim that people tend to gesture less when they articulate what would typically be regarded as abstract rather than physical concepts. To point out that such a correlation is far from universal is insufficient reason to reject the researchers' claim, because some people perceive words like "comprehension" as expressing a physical action, like grasping something, rather than a state of understanding, which is abstract.

Which one of the following most accurately describes the method of reasoning used in the argument?

(A) appealing to the ambiguity of a word in an attempt to show that a correlation is universal

(B) appealing to a universal psychological generalization in an attempt to support a claim about the use of gestures

(C) citing a psychological fact to try to reconcile a generalization with apparently disconfirming evidence

(D) advocating an explanation for a phenomenon by attempting to demonstrate that other possible explanations are implausible

(E) offering a reason for believing that a widely accepted generalization requires still more supporting evidence

guddo · Answer

Some researchers claim that people tend to gesture less when they articulate what would typically be regarded as abstract rather than physical concepts. To point out that such a correlation is far from universal is insufficient reason to reject the researchers' claim, because some people perceive words like "comprehension" as expressing a physical action, like grasping something, rather than a state of understanding, which is abstract.
 
 Which one of the following most accurately describes the method of reasoning used in the argument?

The argument defends the researchers’ general claim against an objection. It says that some apparent counterexamples may not really be counterexamples, because some “abstract” words may be mentally treated as physical concepts.  The method  is to use a psychological fact to explain away  apparently disconfirming evidence .

(A) appealing to the ambiguity of a word in an attempt to show that a correlation is universal

This is incorrect. The argument does not try to prove the correlation is universal. It only says lack of universality is not enough to reject the claim.

(B) appealing to a universal psychological generalization in an attempt to support a claim about the use of gestures

This is incorrect. The argument does not give a universal psychological rule. It says some people perceive certain words physically.

(C) citing a psychological fact to try to reconcile a generalization with apparently disconfirming evidence

This is correct. The generalization is that people gesture less with abstract concepts. The apparently disconfirming evidence is that the correlation is not universal. The psychological fact is that some people treat words such as “comprehension” as physical, not abstract.

(D) advocating an explanation for a phenomenon by attempting to demonstrate that other possible explanations are implausible

This is incorrect. The argument does not eliminate other explanations.

(E) offering a reason for believing that a widely accepted generalization requires still more supporting evidence

This is incorrect. The argument defends the researchers’ claim; it does not argue that more evidence is needed.

Answer: (C)

Auro411 · Answer

Let's decode the stem: Look at the structure of the argument:

Fact 1: Some researchers claim they gesture less when they articulate abstract concepts than physical concepts

Fact 2: Some claim this correlation is universally insufficient by providing a counterexample.

Fact 3: But that counterexample is perceived as physical action instead of abstract.

Let's look at the options:

(A) In this ambiguity, there is OF COMPREHENSION as physical and abstract, but attempting to show that correlation is universal is a trap answer; no attempt has been made to show that correlation is universal. Eliminate

(B) Even if it was true, it is stated in reverse form, use of gestures to support generalization. But as of now, no structure is stated in this form, Eliminate.

(C) It is as true as the structure is stated in the above statement that Counterexample is stated to reconcile a universal relation with disconfirming evidence. Keep it as a strong  contender.

(D) There are no multiple and possible explanations in the stimulus, and there is no advocacy; it is the opposite of it: the counterexample is refuted.

(E) There is no mention that the stimulus requires further supporting evidence.

Hence the answer option is  C.

Some researchers claim that people tend to gesture less when they

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

Some researchers claim that people tend to gesture less when they

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards