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Clarinet reeds often lose their freshness – become less responsive – after a few weeks of intense use. One clarinetist has hypothesized that a buildup of oil, rather than changes in the material properties of the reed, were responsible.

conclusion: buildup of oil, rather than changes in the material properties of the reed, were responsible.


reason: few weeks of intense use.

underlying assumptions : 1)few weeks of intense use does not change the material properties of the weed
2)intense use causes build up of oil
3) build up of oil doesn't cause any changes in the material of the clarinet



we therefore need an answer choice that connects the underlying assumptions to the conclusion i.e how intense use causes the Clarinet to loose its freshness

answer choice analysis:

A. Determining what kind of wood is used to make the reeds used by jazz clarinetists.
the kind of wood is irrelevant; no information about the link between intense use and changes in the clarinet is mentioned

B. Determining whether jazz clarinetists make their reeds lose their freshness faster than do classical clarinetists.
jazz clarinets vs classical clarinets is out of scope we are concerned about clarinets in general.

C. Determining whether identical lengths of reeds, of the same thickness, lose their freshness at different rates when put onto various brands of clarinets.

we are only evaluating the effect of intense use of a clarinet therefore different characteristics of a clarinet is out of scope.


D. Determining whether rubbing various substances on the new reed causes them to lose their freshness.

this is the correct answer! as this option examines whether changes in the material caused by action of rubbing causes the clarinet to loose any freshness!!

correct option!


E. Determining whether a fresh reed and one that has lost its freshness produce different qualities of sound.

this is irrelevant as per the argument a clarinet that has lost its freshness tends to be unresponsive- we always take the premises of a CR at face value but we always attack the conclusion.

therefore D is the correct option
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conclusion ;
that a buildup of oil, rather than changes in the material properties of the reed, were responsible.

use variance test on option D: Determining whether rubbing various substances on the new reed causes them to lose their freshness
we get both strengthen and weaken conclusion
IMO D

Clarinet reeds often lose their freshness – become less responsive – after a few weeks of intense use. One clarinetist has hypothesized that a buildup of oil, rather than changes in the material properties of the reed, were responsible.

Which of the following investigations is most likely to yield significant information that would help to evaluate the hypothesis?

A. Determining what kind of wood is used to make the reeds used by jazz clarinetists.
B. Determining whether jazz clarinetists make their reeds lose their freshness faster than do classical clarinetists.
C. Determining whether identical lengths of reeds, of the same thickness, lose their freshness at different rates when put onto various brands of clarinets.
D. Determining whether rubbing various substances on the new reed causes them to lose their freshness.
E. Determining whether a fresh reed and one that has lost its freshness produce different qualities of sound
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D. The hypothesis has two parts: first, that intense use does not bring material changes that cause the reed to lose its freshness and, second,that oil causes the phenomenon. The experiment suggested in choice D directly test this hypothesis by contaminating strings that are known to have their originalmaterial properties



OA:D

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Clarinet reeds often lose their freshness – become less responsive – after a few weeks of intense use. One clarinetist has hypothesized that a buildup of oil, rather than changes in the material properties of the reed, were responsible.

Which of the following investigations is most likely to yield significant information that would help to evaluate the hypothesis?

A. Determining what kind of wood is used to make the reeds used by jazz clarinetists.
B. Determining whether jazz clarinetists make their reeds lose their freshness faster than do classical clarinetists.
C. Determining whether identical lengths of reeds, of the same thickness, lose their freshness at different rates when put onto various brands of clarinets.
D. Determining whether rubbing various substances on the new reed causes them to lose their freshness.
E. Determining whether a fresh reed and one that has lost its freshness produce different qualities of sound.

Stimulus: the clarinetist says that its not the material properties change in clarinet that makes it less responsive it is the oil build up.

If the material properties are not changing then the sound produced by new clarinet and the one which has lost freshness to clarinet should produce same sound. hence IMO E
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Bunuel

Competition Mode Question



Clarinet reeds often lose their freshness – become less responsive – after a few weeks of intense use. One clarinetist has hypothesized that a buildup of oil, rather than changes in the material properties of the reed, were responsible.

Which of the following investigations is most likely to yield significant information that would help to evaluate the hypothesis?

A. Determining what kind of wood is used to make the reeds used by jazz clarinetists.
B. Determining whether jazz clarinetists make their reeds lose their freshness faster than do classical clarinetists.
C. Determining whether identical lengths of reeds, of the same thickness, lose their freshness at different rates when put onto various brands of clarinets.
D. Determining whether rubbing various substances on the new reed causes them to lose their freshness.
E. Determining whether a fresh reed and one that has lost its freshness produce different qualities of sound

Official Explanation



Correct Answer: D

The best answer is D. The hypothesis has two parts: first, that intense use does not bring material changes that cause the reed to lose its freshness and, second, that oil causes the phenomenon. The experiment suggested in choice D directly test this hypothesis by contaminating strings that are known to have their original material properties.
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