P’s argument is vulnerable to which

Answer choices

1. A

   Not Necessary4% picked this

   It fails to demonstrate that the Phoenician alphabet alone could have provided the basis for

   Whenever we see Flaw answer choices start with takes for granted / presumes / fails to establish / fails to demonstrate they are presenting an idea that supposedly is something the author needed to assume but never established. Did P need to assume that "the Phoenician alphabet alone could have provided the basis for the Greek alphabet"? Not at all. First of all, that's a very extreme idea (the Phoenician alphabet alone could do it). More importantly, P is shooting down the hypothesis that the Greek alphabet was invented by someone who knew the Phoenician writing system. So P doesn't need to assume anything that would help that hypothesis be true.

   4%
2. B

   Too Strong: first text ever Opposite2% picked this

   It incorrectly assumes that the first text ever written in Greek was

   This question is about P's argument. Was P assuming that "the first text ever written in Greek was a Homeric poem"? No, the opposite. P is saying that this hypothesis is laughable.

   2%
3. C

   Out of Scope14% picked this

   It confuses the requirements for a complex oral tradition with the requirements of

   Out of Scope: requirements of oral/written Neither person identifies anything that's required of a complex oral tradition or of a written language.

   14%
4. D

   Bad Conclusion / Evidence Match Opposite3% picked this

   It attempts to demonstrate the truth of a hypothesis merely by showing that

   Does P's argument attempt to demonstrate the truth of a hypothesis? The opposite. P is arguing that a hypothesis is laughably untrue.

   3%
5. E

   Correct77% picked this

   It overlooks the possibility that the person who invented the Greek alphabet did so with the intention of

   Why this is right

   Whenever a Flaw answer choice begins with fails to consider / overlooks the possibility the answer is presenting a supposed Objection. Would it hurt P's argument to say, "maybe the person who invented the Greek alphabet was planning to teach it to others"? Sure! P was saying, "Why would you bother writing down a poem you already know in a language that only you know?" This answer choice is responding, "Because ... I was planning to then teach my new language to people. Then they could read the copy of Homer's epics that I wrote down in my new language".

   Skill tested: Flaw · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

   77%