V05-01

Official Solution:


Economist: Although open-source software has gained popularity in the last couple of years, its usefulness is quite limited. This is because the most creative ideas come from professional software designers, not volunteers.

Journalist: I, too, was once skeptical about whether open-source software would become a permanent feature of our world. However, I realized that this article could not have been produced without the open-source software volunteers who allowed me to interview them.

The journalist’s response to the economist is flawed for which of the following reasons?


A. The journalist has changed his mind about open-source software, making his response invalid.
B. The journalist refused to interview any professional software designers for his article.
C. The journalist does not address the economist’s argument that professional software designers are more creative than volunteers.
D. The journalist has written a series of articles on software development.
E. The journalist does not discuss the popularity of open-source software.


Situation: An economist argues that open-source software has limited usefulness because professional software designers are more creative than the volunteers who develop open-source materials. A journalist objects to this, claiming that his article would not have been possible without open-source software volunteers to interview.

Reasoning: Which option describes the biggest flaw in the journalist’s response? The economist’s argument is based on a comparison between professional software designers and volunteers, who are primarily responsible for open-source software development. The economist argues that professional designers are more creative, and that, therefore, open-source software developed by volunteers will not be as useful. In order to be valid, the journalist’s response must specifically address the comparison drawn in the economist’s argument.

A. That fact that the journalist has changed his mind does not invalidate his response.

B. This can not be concluded based only on the information in the passage.

C. CORRECT. This option correctly identifies the fact that the journalist has ignored the main point of the economist’s argument: that professional software designers are more creative than volunteers.

D. The journalist’s other writings are not at issue here.

E. Though this is true, it does not identify the flaw in the journalist’s response to the economist.


Answer: C