Assumption vs. Strengthen Critical Reasoning Questions Whats the Difference

I had a discussion with a tutoring student the other day about the distinction between Assumption and Strengthen questions in the Critical Reasoning section. The two categories feel similar, after all. They  are different, however, and the difference, as with most Critical Reasoning questions, lies mainly in the texture of the language that would be most appropriate for a correct answer in either category. To illustrate, let’s take a simple argument:  Dave opens a coffee shop in Veritasville called Dave’s Blends. According to surveys, Dave’s Blends has the best tasting coffee in the city. Therefore, Dave’s Blends will garner at least 50% the local market. First, imagine that this is a simple Strengthen question. In order to strengthen this somewhat fanciful conclusion, we’re going to want strong language. For example:  Virtually all coffee drinkers in Veritasville buy coffee daily from Dave’s. That’s a pretty good strengthener. The statement increases the likelihood that Dave’s Blends will dominate the local market. But an answer choice such as, Some people buy coffee at Dave’s, would be a lousy choice, as the fact that Dave’s has at least one customer is hardly a compelling reason to conclude that it will get to at least a 50% market share. Now imagine that we take the same argument and make it an Assumption question. The first aforementioned answer choice is now much less appealing. Can we really assume that virtually everyone in town will get their coffee at Dave’s? Not really. If Dave’s has 51% of the market share, it doesn’t mean that virtually everyone gets their coffee there. But now consider the second answer choice   if we’re concluding that Dave’s will get at least half of the local market, we are assuming that some people will purchase coffee there, so now this would be a good answer. The difference is that in a Strengthen question, we’re looking for new information that will make the conclusion more likely. In an Assumption question, we’re looking for what is true based on the conclusion.   Put another way, strong language (virtually everyone) is often desirable in a Strengthen question, whereas softer language (some people) is usually more  desirable in an Assumption question. Let’s see this in action with a GMAT practice question: For most people, the left half of the brain controls linguistic capabilities, but some people have their language centers in the right half. When a language center of the brain is damaged, for example by a stroke, linguistic capabilities are impaired in some way. Therefore, people who have suffered a serious stroke on the left side of the brain without suffering any such impairment must have their language centers in the right half.   Which of the following is an assumption on which the reasoning in the argument above depends? (A) No part of a persons brain that is damaged by a stroke ever recovers. (B) Impairment of linguistic capabilities does not occur in people who have not suffered any damage to any language center of the brain. (C) Strokes tend to impair linguistic capabilities more severely than does any other cause of damage to language centers in the brain. (D) If there are language centers on the left side of the brain, any serious stroke affecting that side of the brain damages at least one of them. (E) It is impossible to determine which side of the brain contains a persons language centers if the person has not suffered damage to either side of the brain. First, lets  break this argument down: Conclusion: People who suffer a stroke on the left side of the brain and don’t’ suffer language impairment have language centers in the right half of the brain. Premises: Most people have language centers on the left side of the brain, while some have them on the right. Damage impairs linguistic capabilities. This is an Assumption question, so we’re looking for what is be true based on the way the premises lead to the conclusion. Put another way, softer language might be preferable here. Now lets examine each of the answer choices: (A) Notice the extreme language, No part†¦ever recovers. Can we really assume that? Of course not   some portion might recover. No good. (B) We don’t know this. Imagine someone has a part of his or her brain removed and this part of the brain doesn’t contain a language center. Surely we can’t assume that this person will have no language impairment at all. No good. (C) Again, notice the extreme language, more severely than other cause. Can we assume that a stroke is worse than every other kind of brain trauma? Of course not. No good. (D) Now we’re talking. Here, we are given more  generous language: damages at least one of them. â€Å"At least one† is a pretty low bar. Remember that the conclusion is that someone who suffers a left-brain stroke and doesn’t have language impairment must have language centers on the right side. Well, that only makes sense if theres  some damage somewhere on the left. This answer choice looks good. (E) Notice again the extreme language, it is impossible. There may be some other way to assess where the language centers are. No good. Therefore, our answer is D. Takeaway: Strengthen questions and Assumption questions are not identical. In a Strengthen question, we want a strong answer choice that will make a conclusion more likely. In an Assumption question we want a soft answer that is indisputable based on how the premises lead to the conclusion. Attention to details in the language (some vs. most vs. all) is the key. Plan on taking the GMAT soon? We have  GMAT prep courses  starting all the time. And be sure to follow us on  Facebook,  YouTube,  Google+  and  Twitter! By  David Goldstein,  a Veritas Prep GMAT instructor based in  Boston. You can find more articles written by him  here.

Research Papers for Vietnam War - 1341 Words

Vietnam War Research Paper: During the 30 years of XX century Vietnam was at war. It all started in the 1940†²s, when the Communists fought against French colonial rule, and was completed in 1975 with the fall of Saigon. The period, which the Vietnamese know as the â€Å"American War† and the Americans call the â€Å"Vietnam War†, lasted from 1965 to 1973, during the time of the U.S. intervention. The communist leader Ho Chi Minh led his forces based in the north and defeated the French in 1954. Agreements was signed, which divided the country into the pro-American South and communist north, with a demilitarized zone between them. Continue reading → This entry was posted in Research papers and tagged how to write a research paper on the†¦show more content†¦In the study of the spectral range of 400-200 nm devices are used built on the same optical scheme as those for studying the visible range of the spectrum, the difference is only in the glass pri sms, lenses, and other optical components. When measuring the intensity of UV emission, as a reference is used source in the UV region of the spectrum with known distribution of the spectral brightness (band tungsten lamp, coal arc, and synchrotron radiation). A thermocouple and graded solar cells are standard receivers in this region of the spectrum. Continue reading → This entry was posted in Research papers and tagged UV Spectroscopy research paper, UV Spectroscopy research proposal on May 19, 2013. Research Paper on Tilapia Tilapia Research Paper: Tilapia is a common name designating fishes of the Cichlidae family. This brand name comes from the Latin form of thiape, a word that means â€Å"fish† in bà ©chouana – an African language. It includes three genera within cichlids: Oreochromis, Tilapia, and Sarotherodon. They originate in Africa and Near or Middle East. The size varies between 5 and 50 centimeters. These fresh or brackish fishes water are bred and consumed widely in the world. The first notes of the tilapia breeding go back to ancient Egypt 4,000 years ago, but its commercial exploitation begins in South AfricaShow MoreRelated Social Attitudes Toward Vietnam Veterans Essay1562 Words   |  7 PagesToward Vietnam Veterans I have always been interested in the Vietnam War and the results of â€Å"the longest war in America.† Therefore, I have decided to examine the social attitudes toward Vietnam veterans. Since I feel so passionately about the way that Vietnam veterans are viewed, the purpose of my paper is to inform others about the way that the veterans have been criticized and misrepresented. Personally, I hope to gain a further understanding of the attitudes and views towards Vietnam veteransRead MoreThe Vietnam War Has Far Reaching Consequences For The United States1710 Words   |  7 PagesFailure is a hard word, and no matter how you analyze the Vietnam War, that is precisely what it was. The War was a personal failure on a national scale. From its covert commen- cements, through the bloodiest, most tenebrous days and determinately to the acrid end, this ten-year period of American history is a national disgrace. This research paper will deal with some of the more intriguing aspects and effects of this war. Since the Vietnam conflict made absolutely no sense politically, militarilyRead MoreExploring Howard Zinns Life 1575 Words   |  6 PagesThis paper explores Howard Zinn’s life as an influential historian and public intellectual. It argues for his critical, singular position as an academic who left a mark on generations of Americans as well as international persons by guiding us all to critically view various institutions and structures of power, particularly in the realm of government. By looking at four major aspects of his life, as radical historian, civil rights crusader, anti-war activist, and labor rights activist, the paper delineatesRead MoreAn Anti Climax1500 Words   |  6 PagesCenter several times to address this prob lem before the submission of the revised paper. The paper limps to an end. Pages 40-44 are an anti- climax mired in too much detail. I recommend that you eliminate most of the discussion there. As I noted in the margins, these last pages should be devoted to summing up your argument, discussing the significance of your findings, and pointing to the next stage in your research. I admit that this part is redundant, but there may be other options than deletingRead MoreWhat Role Did the American Media Play in the Vietnam War1741 Words   |  7 Pageskeep them in business. Media’s Importance and Limitations: Sometimes the media can under-report events such as the war in Afghanistan. The Afghan War was one of the most under-reported wars in United States history. In 2010, only four percent of American newspaper media was devoted to the Afghan War (Hanrahan). The American people had substantially limited information about the war; therefore opinions about it were rather vast—some supported it, while others did not. A major reason for this was theRead MoreAgent Orange, Ddt, And Benzene809 Words   |  4 Pagesreleased into the environment can create devastating health problems such as cancer in humans. This paper will evaluate three of the many carcinogenic chemicals that have the propensity to cause cancer and other health problems. Therefore, the paper will evaluate Agent Orange, DDT, and Benzene. In addition, the paper will discuss incidents relating to each respective chemical. Also depicted in this paper is the type of cancers caused by each chemical and other related health problems associated withRead MoreAgent Orange, Ddt, And Benzene821 Words   |  4 Pagesreleased into the environment can create devastating health problems such as cancer in humans. This paper will evaluate three of the many carcinogenic chemicals that have the propensity to cause cancer and other health problems. Therefore, the paper will evaluate Agent Orange, DDT, and Benzene. In addition, the paper will discuss incidents relating to each respective chemical. Also depicted in this paper is the type of cancers caused by each chemical and other related health problems associated withRead MoreU.s. Foreign Policy Policies Essay1312 Words   |  6 Pageseffects and changes of endogenous inside the government of the United States. Outstanding assertions like the policies of Monroe, intercontinental encounters such as the Second World War, War of the Spanish and Americans, and the cold war and also conflicts that were termed as local including the Korean War and the Vietnam War considerably shaped the American foreign policy (Kissinger et al., 1969). The recent occurrences such as the 11th September 2001, epitomized the important exogenous watershed whichRead MoreThe Vietnam War and the War on Terror1833 Words   |  7 Pageswell with the president and their co-legislators during such circumstances. This phenomenon was observed in the early stages of the War on Terror following the events of September 11, 2001 as well as during the Vietnam War. In this research paper several factors will be considered in comparing the powers of the presidency and Congressional powers during the two wars named, ranging from the presidents during each, to public opinion, as well as the change in each of these aspects over time. One mustRead MoreAmerican Foreign Policy During The United States Essay1315 Words   |  6 Pageseffects and changes of endogenous inside the government of the United States. Outstanding assertions like the policies of Monroe, intercontinental encounters such as the Second World War, War of the Spanish and Americans, and t he cold war and also conflicts that were termed as local including the Korean War and the Vietnam War considerably shaped the American foreign policy (Kissinger et al., 1969). The recent occurrences such as the 11th September 2001, epitomized the important exogenous watershed which

Social Statification Summary - 995 Words

Social Stratification Summary Social stratification is the division of large numbers of people into layers according to their relative power, property, and prestige. It applies to both nations and to people within a nation, society, or other group. Social stratification affects all of one s life chances from the access to material processions to their position in society to their life expectancy. Although they may differ as to which system of social stratification they employ, all societies stratify their members. The four major systems of social stratification are slavery, caste, estate, and class. Slavery is defined as a form of social stratification in which some people own other people. It has been common in world history with†¦show more content†¦By dominating their society s major social institutions and, thereby, controlling information and ideas, members of the ruling elite are able to socialize other group members into accepting their proper places in the social order. Marx believed the elite maintained their position at the top of the stratification system by seducing the oppressed into believing that their welfare depend on keeping society stable. Gerhard Lenski suggested the key to understanding stratification is based on the accumulation of surplus. Depending on the political climate and resources available to those in power and those who are ruled, the stratification system is maintained by various means. This means include controlling ideas, controlling information, controlling technology, and the use of force. Of all methods, the use of force is the least efficient. Stratification is universal, although the methods for stratification vary from culture to culture. Two examples of how stratification differs are illustrated by social stratification in Great Britain and the former Soviet Union. In Britain, the most striking features of the class system are differences in speech (including accents) and education. In the former Soviet Union, communism resulted in one set of social classes being replaced by another. The nations of the world can be divided into three categories, using the extent

Symbolism Of The Great Gatsby Essay Research free essay sample

Symbolism Of The Great Gatsby Essay, Research Paper Symbolism IN THE GREAT GATSBY Frazer McIntoshs There are many grounds why F. Scott Fitzgerald is renowned as one of the greatest writers of his clip, and one of those grounds is his sophisticated usage of symbolism. This is apparent throughout The Great Gatsby, one of Fitzgerald s most celebrated plants. While there are infinite cases of the usage of symbolism, some of those most of import to the subjects in The Great Gatsby are the East and West Eggs, the green visible radiation, and the eyes of T.J. Eckleburg. From the really first chapter, there is a noticeable difference between the two parts of the metropolis. In fact, Nick make the point that West Egg is, the well, the less stylish of the two ( 9 ) . The importance of this difference lies in the fact that one of the major subjects of the novel is category and societal standing. We will write a custom essay sample on Symbolism Of The Great Gatsby Essay Research or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Most of the characters face some kind of category boundaries, so the East and West Eggs act as a symbol for the barriers by demoing a physical separation of the two categories. The people populating in East Egg, Tom and Daisy, are the more refined of the two groups. They represent the old money and are particularly superficial and mercenary. Those who come from West Egg, on the other manus, are non a sophisticated in the eyes of the East Eggers, and can non hold a genuinely high societal standing, irrespective of how affluent they are, since they are new money. The societal barrier is can be found in that Gatsby can non hold Daisy because she is a true rich miss, and the fact that neither Tom nor Daisy are willing to accept what the see at Gatsby s 2nd party, even though Tom is being hypocritical when you consider that his ain parties were no more refined in nature than Gatsby s. Gatsby is hop elessly separated from his dream, merely as East Egg is separated from West Egg. In add-on to the physical spread that Gatsby wishes to shut, the green visible radiation coming from Daisy s dock symbolizes the yearning Gatsby has for Daisy. Additionally, it besides represents Gatsby s great dream a whole. He longs for wealth and credence every bit good as Daisy. No how much he has, nevertheless, his yearning is still at that place every bit long as Daisy is non with him, since everything else he wants is in actuality merely portion of his dream to hold Daisy once more. It is deserving taking note that his yearning is represented by the colour viridity, which is associated with money and enviousness. So, the green visible radiation that ever burns at the terminal of dock, represents everything Gatsby longs for. At the terminal of the book, Nick remarks on the green visible radiation: # 8220 ; Gatsby believed in the green visible radiation, the orgastic hereafter that twelvemonth by twelvemonth recedes before us. It eluded us so, but that # 8217 ; s no matter- to morrow we will run quicker, stretch out our weaponries farther # 8230 ; And one mulct morning- # 8221 ; ( 189 ) . A concluding major symbol of The Great Gatsby is the hoarding near Wilson s garage, with the eyes of Dr. Eckleburg. Because most of the characters do non look to hold any values or guilt for their misbehaviors, Fitzgerald implements the eyes of Eckleburg as a agency of judging those who do non fear judgement for their careless actions. They are near Wilson s house because of the events that happen at that place, particularly the struggle between Tom, Myrtle and George, ( and Daisy to some extent ) where they are all rip offing on one another, and of class, Myrtle s decease due to the careless behaviour of Daisy. Fitzgerald uses the judging eyes of Eckleburg to stress the deficiency of guilt in this civilization, and to do a point that possibly these offenses do necessitate to be punished.