Midwinter in the southern hemisphere comes in June and July, and midsu

Question

Midwinter in the southern hemisphere comes in June and July, and midsummer comes in December. The opening of spring comes in August and September, and autumn approaches in February and March. But while in the northern hemisphere the difference between the heat of midsummer and the cold of midwinter is somewhat lessened by the changing distance of the sun,  in the southern hemisphere this effect is intensified, because the earth comes to perihelion in the southern midsummer . However, on account of the swifter motion of the earth from October to March than from April to September,  the southern summer is shorter enough to compensate for the sun’s being nearer , so that the southern summer is practically no hotter than the northern.

In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

A. The first is an assertion made by the argument in support of a position; the second states that position.
B. The first is a claim made by the argument; the second qualifies the claim by presenting another assertion.
C. The first is the summary of the argument’s position; the second provides evidence supporting that position.
D. The first presents an example that is contrary to the argument’s position; the second adds another opposing example.
E. The first is a concession that the position the argument establishes is not absolute; the second provides an exception to the argument’s position.

Mavisdu1017 · Answer

Why B? B says BF2 qualifies BF1, but I think BF2 is  opposite with  BF1.
As BF1 says "in the southern hemisphere this effect is intensified"--->means southern summer should be hotter; 
And BF2 means southern summer is practically no hotter than the northern.

Anybody can explain? Thanks

cyrwr1 · Answer

I also have problem with "qualify". doesn't it contradict?

BF 1 talks about weather extremes intensified during the summer and winter months
BF 2 talks about though more extreme, the period is shorter --->> average summer is similar in north and south.

wouldn't that mean we look something about BF 1 supporting initial argument and BF 2 supporting the main point of the passage?

Carcass · Answer

(B) The first portion in boldface makes a claim, or assertion, that “in the southern hemisphere this effect is intensified.” The second portion provides another assertion that qualifies or restricts, the earlier assertion, by giving a reason that compensates for the sun’s greater intensity, i.e., that the southern summer is shorter

let me know if you do need more explanations

let me know if you do need more explanations

Gigii101 · Answer

Let me try to explain this step by step;

This is the  conclusion/main point  of the passage, where all the information is leading to.

First Boldface is a claim/assertion -  This effect is intensified , then it goes ahead to tell us why its intensified. This "effect" is that the difference between summer and winter in temperature for the southern is lesser than that of the northern because its closer to the sun midsummer ... so we are thinking hey! this should make summer hotter in south since its closer to the sun (perihelion) right?

Second boldface is another claim made by the author, basically saying (in other words) "even though the sun is nearer in southern mid-simmer , it's summer is shorter due to Earth's faster orbital speed during that period"....so this makes me think hmm, so while the earth is nearer the time is shorter hence north summer = south summer.

To be honest i did not like the word "qualified" in B, but it was the best answer.

A is clearly wrong because the first is going the opposite direction and not supporting, the second is not the main point

correct answer- the first is a claim. (note that is didn't say what the claim did but just that its a claim -which is true given what the passage says) The second is also a claim that gives more context and counterbalances the first claim (its not necessarily weakening the first one, but giving a contrary premise that says - hey, even though that is true, there is another factor we haven't considered.)

This is clearly wrong in both parts based on the above analysis of the arguments structure

This was tempting but its wrong. They are both CLAIMS not examples, and the second does not add another opposing example, it somewhat opposes the first. (this was how i ruled it out)

The first boldface is not a "concession" to an opposing view but a claim within the argument. An "exception to the argument’s position" would mean that the second boldface introduces a case where the argument’s conclusion doesn’t hold. But in this case, the second boldface explains why that conclusion holds by providing a compensating factor (shorter duration)- thus it  supports  the conclusion.

Hope this helps

Midwinter in the southern hemisphere comes in June and July, and midsu

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Midwinter in the southern hemisphere comes in June and July, and midsu

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