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­Strengthen:

A child born to parents in a utilitarian society and another child born to parents in a utopian society, both raised in an identical, controlled society, tend to display similar lifestyle, outlook, and temperament.


This statement directly supports the argument by demonstrating that even when environmental factors are controlled, differences in societal upbringing lead to different outcomes, suggesting that society is a primary factor in shaping individuals.


Weaken:

Genetic constitution, and not social environment, shapes the personality of a man.

This statement directly contradicts the argument by asserting that genetics, not society, is the primary determinant of personality.

---
While the modernity of urban areas reflects technological development, the simplicity of the rural/tribal areas reflects the absence of technological development.
This statement is neutral in terms of strengthening or weakening the argument as it does not directly address the influence of society on personality.

The utopian man and the utilitarian man of the twenty-first century are similar in their biological constitution but different in their behavioral characteristics.
This is exactly the argument so it does not do much as strenthener to support the argument

Religion plays an important role in shaping a man's personality.
This statement could potentially strengthen the argument if it is assumed that religion is part of the social environment. However, it is less direct than other statements in its impact on the argument.­
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The conclusion is based on the connection between social environment - utopian or utilitarian - and
lifestyle, outlook, and temperament of the twenty-first century man. For a preposition to
strengthen or weaken the argument, it must increase or decrease the strength of this relationship.
Let’s evaluate all answer choices.
A) This proposition, if true, indicates that genetic constitution, instead of social environment,
is at the root of the personality of a man. This weakens the connection made in the
argument.
Hence, for the Weakens column, A is the correct answer choice.
B) This proposition, even if true, neither strengthens or weakens the argument.
C) This proposition is just a fact re-stated from the argument. It neither strengthens nor
weakens the argument.
D) This proposition reinforces that the social environment is at the root of lifestyle, outlook,
and temperament. Hence, this choice strengthens the argument.
Hence, for the Strengthens column, D is the correct answer choice.
E) This proposition is out of the scope of the argument and thus, even if true, neither
strengthens nor weakens the argument.
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Thanks Gemmie.

I struggle with option C not being a strengthener and option D being a strengthener.

Option C: The utopian man and the utilitarian man of the twenty-first century are similar in their biological constitution but different in their behavioral characteristics.
>> The underlined part is not mentioned in the stem, so this provides a new condition that eliminates the possibility that utopian and utilitarian men differ because of differences in biological constitution. I also see this option as very much the opposite of option A, so if option A is an obvious weakender, wouldn't this be a strengthener?

Option D: A child born to parents in a utilitarian society and another child born to parents in a utopian society, both raised in an identical, controlled society, tend to display similar lifestyle, outlook, and temperament.
>> I agree that this partially supports the arguement, as you explained below. However, it uses a specific example that's up to intepretation - are these children any child in general, or particular children that are not representative of the general situation? If the options wording was amended to "all children", I would have agreed this option D is a clear strengthener.

Any help is appreciated.
Gemmie
­Strengthen:

A child born to parents in a utilitarian society and another child born to parents in a utopian society, both raised in an identical, controlled society, tend to display similar lifestyle, outlook, and temperament.


This statement directly supports the argument by demonstrating that even when environmental factors are controlled, differences in societal upbringing lead to different outcomes, suggesting that society is a primary factor in shaping individuals.


Weaken:

Genetic constitution, and not social environment, shapes the personality of a man.

This statement directly contradicts the argument by asserting that genetics, not society, is the primary determinant of personality.

---
While the modernity of urban areas reflects technological development, the simplicity of the rural/tribal areas reflects the absence of technological development.
This statement is neutral in terms of strengthening or weakening the argument as it does not directly address the influence of society on personality.

The utopian man and the utilitarian man of the twenty-first century are similar in their biological constitution but different in their behavioral characteristics.
This is exactly the argument so it does not do much as strenthener to support the argument

Religion plays an important role in shaping a man's personality.
This statement could potentially strengthen the argument if it is assumed that religion is part of the social environment. However, it is less direct than other statements in its impact on the argument.­
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C only weakens one other hypothesis (biology), leaving many possible explanations still on the table—so it doesn’t make the author’s case that society is what molds you.

D directly shows that when everything except the social environment is held constant, personality still tracks the environment, exactly the kind of positive proof the argument needs.



JuniqueLid
Thanks Gemmie.

I struggle with option C not being a strengthener and option D being a strengthener.

Option C: The utopian man and the utilitarian man of the twenty-first century are similar in their biological constitution but different in their behavioral characteristics.
>> The underlined part is not mentioned in the stem, so this provides a new condition that eliminates the possibility that utopian and utilitarian men differ because of differences in biological constitution. I also see this option as very much the opposite of option A, so if option A is an obvious weakender, wouldn't this be a strengthener?

Option D: A child born to parents in a utilitarian society and another child born to parents in a utopian society, both raised in an identical, controlled society, tend to display similar lifestyle, outlook, and temperament.
>> I agree that this partially supports the arguement, as you explained below. However, it uses a specific example that's up to intepretation - are these children any child in general, or particular children that are not representative of the general situation? If the options wording was amended to "all children", I would have agreed this option D is a clear strengthener.

Any help is appreciated.
Gemmie
­Strengthen:

A child born to parents in a utilitarian society and another child born to parents in a utopian society, both raised in an identical, controlled society, tend to display similar lifestyle, outlook, and temperament.


This statement directly supports the argument by demonstrating that even when environmental factors are controlled, differences in societal upbringing lead to different outcomes, suggesting that society is a primary factor in shaping individuals.


Weaken:

Genetic constitution, and not social environment, shapes the personality of a man.

This statement directly contradicts the argument by asserting that genetics, not society, is the primary determinant of personality.

---
While the modernity of urban areas reflects technological development, the simplicity of the rural/tribal areas reflects the absence of technological development.
This statement is neutral in terms of strengthening or weakening the argument as it does not directly address the influence of society on personality.

The utopian man and the utilitarian man of the twenty-first century are similar in their biological constitution but different in their behavioral characteristics.
This is exactly the argument so it does not do much as strenthener to support the argument

Religion plays an important role in shaping a man's personality.
This statement could potentially strengthen the argument if it is assumed that religion is part of the social environment. However, it is less direct than other statements in its impact on the argument.­
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