The use of fingerprint analysis to identify criminal suspects dates

Question

The use of fingerprint analysis to identify criminal suspects dates back to the late 1800s, although the theory behind the technique existed long before it was actually used in practice.  In fact, the hypothetical possibility was so intriguing to Mark Twain that he used fingerprint identification as a plot device in his quasi-memoir  Life on the Mississippi  nearly a decade before fingerprints were used to solve a crime in real life . Since then, fingerprint analysis has become a standard law enforcement technique for real and fictional detectives alike. Yet, despite its widespread use, the practice has never been subjected to rigorous scientific study, and some of the assumptions that underpin its use—such as the notion that each person has a unique set of fingerprints—may not be accurate.  The time has come for the legal community to acknowledge that fingerprint analysis is an unsubstantiated forensic science and to advocate for more research in the field.

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

(A) The first is a detail that supports the author’s main idea, and the second raises a contrary opinion.

(B) The first is a detail that supports one opinion, and the second is a contrary opinion held by the author.

(C) The first introduces an opinion, and the second contradicts that opinion.

(D) The first is a detail that supports the author’s main idea, and the second is additional evidence for the author’s main idea.

(E) The first is a detail that supports a claim made in the argument, and the second is the author’s main point.

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chanhthang1802 · Answer

I think the answer is  (E) 
(A) The second doesn't raises a contrary opinion
(B) The second isn't a contrary opinion held by the author
(C) The second doesn't contradict the first at all
(D) The second is not evidence for the main idea, but is the main idea itself
 (E)  Correct. The first is a detail that supports a claim made in the first sentence. The second is the author's main point, namely his support for fingerprint analysis.

Zitkin8 · Answer

I think Option E is incorrect since second bold phase is not a conclusion. The correct answer can be option B. The second bold phase is an opinion by author. The conclusion is unique set of fingerprints- may not be accurate.

chanhthang1802 · Answer

Hi, I think the second boldface is not a contrary opinion to the one that the first boldface supports. Moreover, the part that says "each person has a unique set of fingerprints—may not be accurate" is not the main port. This is because in the passage, the author said despite the widespread use of fingerprint, it is still not studied enough and it is also undermined by false assumptions. Then in the last sentence, the author emphasizes the usefulness of fingerprint analysis and demands further research in the field. This is the main port of the whole argument.

tsraeroshad · Answer

Can someone come up with an official answer to this.

I feel that option A is correct. 
2nd boldface definitely looks like an opinion. 1st boldface is a detail that is true.

Zitkin8 · Answer

I would like to believe that but if I ask the Why aspect in the conclusion, I cannot get a reasoning for the second bold phase

szcz · Answer

I am going to try and clear some doubts in this question. First of all in option B the second part of the sentence is definitely correct. BF2 is the main point as well as a contrary opinion held by the author (as can be seen from the word "yet" in the passage). Second, the reason option B is wrong is because of the first part of the sentence. BF1 is not a detail to support the earlier opinion. Instead it is a detail that is supporting the first sentence in the passage (note the use of "in fact"). Hope this clears up the doubt of why option B is incorrect.

chanhthang1802 · Answer

When I read option (B), what I understand is that the first boldface introduces a fact that support an opinion (Let me call opinion 1), and the second boldface is a contrary opinion to opinion 1 itself, not the opinion in the sentence you mentioned. Therefore this option is not correct.

joe123x · Answer

I would like to believe that but if I ask the Why aspect in the conclusion, I cannot get a reasoning for the second bold phase

I am going to try and clear some doubts in this question. First of all in option B the second part of the sentence is definitely correct. BF2 is the main point as well as a contrary opinion held by the author (as can be seen from the word "yet" in the passage). Second, the reason option B is wrong is because of the first part of the sentence. BF1 is not a detail to support the earlier opinion. Instead it is a detail that is supporting the first sentence in the passage (note the use of "in fact"). Hope this clears up the doubt of why option B is incorrect.

Answer is E.

You are wrong, the second boldface is not contrary to the the previous claim (the first claim only states that the use of fingerprints as evidence started long before it's first use in detective works and we are giving the first boldface to give something to support this claim, the second boldface is a what the author believes in.)

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Zitkin8 · Answer

I am going to try and clear some doubts in this question. First of all in option B the second part of the sentence is definitely correct. BF2 is the main point as well as a contrary opinion held by the author (as can be seen from the word "yet" in the passage). Second, the reason option B is wrong is because of the first part of the sentence. BF1 is not a detail to support the earlier opinion. Instead it is a detail that is supporting the first sentence in the passage (note the use of "in fact"). Hope this clears up the doubt of why option B is incorrect.

Answer is E.

You are wrong, the second boldface is not contrary to the the previous claim (the first claim only states that the use of fingerprints as evidence started long before it's first use in detective works and we are giving the first boldface to give something to support this claim, the second boldface is a what the author believes in.)

Posted from my mobile device

The first bold phase is an author's opinion because he is mentioning about someone else over there. Am I right in concluding this?

Bunuel · Answer

KAPLAN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

STEP 1: IDENTIFY THE QUESTION TYPE 
Because the question stem asks you to identify the roles of statements in boldface, this is a Bolded Statement question.

STEP 2: UNTANGLE THE STIMULUS 
The stimulus begins by providing some history about the use of fingerprint analysis and states that, over time, the technique has become a routine component of police investigations in real life and in popular culture. The key word “ et” signals an important shift: despite the widespread use of fingerprint analysis, it isn’t a well-studied science. From here, the author pivots to her recommendation that the legal community do more to encourage scientific research into the reliability of fingerprint analysis.

STEP 3: PREDICT THE ANSWER 
The first bolded statement is part of the history of fingerprint analysis presented by the author. The author uses it as an example to support the claim made in the previous sentence that the theory of fingerprint identification predates its actual use. The second bolded statement is a recommendation made by the author. Because the other information presented in the stimulus build toward this recommendation, it is the author’s main point.

STEP 4: EVALUATE THE CHOICES 
 (E) matches the prediction and is correct.  (A) incorrectly states that the second statement is “contrary” to the author’s main idea, when in fact the opposite is true. (B) is incorrect because the first statement is supporting a factual claim, not an opinion, and the second statement is not a “contrary” opinion. Similarly, (C) claims that the first statement is an opinion, but it’s actually a supporting detail, and that the second statement “contradicts” the first, but there is no conflict between them. Finally, (D) is incorrect because it asserts that the second statement is evidence, but it is actually the author’s main point or conclusion.

The use of fingerprint analysis to identify criminal suspects dates

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The use of fingerprint analysis to identify criminal suspects dates

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