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MT1302
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­The twenty-first century sees men living in both utopian 20 Mar 2024, 03:18
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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. Weaken: Genetic constitution, and not social environment, shapes the personality of a man.
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48% (02:33) correct 52% (02:37) wrong based on 1820 sessions

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­The twenty-first century sees men living in both utopian and utilitarian societies. Unlike the utilitarian man, who endows a practical, contemporary outlook towards everyday life, the utopian man still holds arcane, idealistic values of the past. The utopian man difers from the utilitarian man in being simple in his daily life, in restricting himself to certain pre-defined notions and thoughts, and exposing himself only to a homogenous society. Studies show that the utopian man is less culturaly aware and adaptable, and emotionaly weaker than the utilitarian man. Therefore, the nature of society at large must have, to a great extent, molded the lifestyle, outlook, and temperament of the twenty-first century man.

Select Strengthen for the statement that would, if true, most strengthen hte argument, and select Weaken for the statement that would, if true, most weaken the argument. Make only two selections, one in each column.
Strengthen Weaken
Genetic constitution, and not social environment, shapes the personality of a man.
While the modernity of urban areas reflects technological development, the simplicity of the rural/tribal areas reflects the absence of technological development.
The utopian man and the utilitarian man of the twenty-first century are similar in their biological constitution but different in their behavioral characteristics.
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.
Religion plays an important role in shaping a man's personality.
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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. Weaken: Genetic constitution, and not social environment, shapes the personality of a man.
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­The twenty-first century sees men living in both utopian 15 Jun 2024, 16:03
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Conclusion :- The nature of society at large must have, to a great extent, molded the lifestyle, outlook, and temperament of the twenty-first century man. Hence we need to show that the society plays the important role in deciding whether the man would behave like an utopian or an utilatarian .
Strengthener :- When everything else is same in terms of societal influence , no change in behaviour is observed.
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. ==> Says the same and is the strengthener.

Weakener : - Genetic constitution, and not social environment, shapes the personality of a man.
Alternate reason like genetic make up has been cited for the said behavior.­
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­The twenty-first century sees men living in both utopian 03 Aug 2024, 03:17
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was confused with C - but looks like its just the fact restated and not really a strengthener
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­The twenty-first century sees men living in both utopian 17 Aug 2024, 01:32
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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 twenty-first century sees men living in both utopian 09 Oct 2024, 04:12
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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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­The twenty-first century sees men living in both utopian 04 Mar 2025, 21:43
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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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­The twenty-first century sees men living in both utopian 03 Jul 2025, 14:28
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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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­The twenty-first century sees men living in both utopian 06 Dec 2025, 22:44
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Can someone help me understand this choice ?

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.

Are we not saying that the utilitarian child and the utopian child will have a similar lifestyle, outlook, and temperament even though they are born in different societies ?

In addition , how do we infer that only lifestyle, outlook, and temperament define personality ?
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­The twenty-first century sees men living in both utopian 07 Dec 2025, 00:42
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Yudhajit22
Can someone help me understand this choice ?

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.

Are we not saying that the utilitarian child and the utopian child will have a similar lifestyle, outlook, and temperament even though they are born in different societies ?

In addition , how do we infer that only lifestyle, outlook, and temperament define personality ?
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