The existing works of ancient

Answer choices

1. A

   Correct72% picked this

   Works that contain frequent references to other works tend to

   Why this is right

   The existing works we have contain frequent references to other works. According to this answer choice, that means that the existing works we have are probably derivative. Being derivative means that you're using / ripping off someone else's idea, not originating your own. So saying that these works are probably derivative is strong support for the idea that these works are "not the most original works".

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

   72%
2. B

   Too Weak5% picked this

   Many extant works have laudable things to say about the

   It does help the argument a bit to learn that the works being cited are being praised (i.e. lauded) rather than mocked. The author is definitely acting like these missing works are being cited in some reverential way, like, "As we know from authoritative text X .... ". But "many" is a weak quantity, and saying that many of the existing works say nice things about the missing works is definitely not as strong support as the correct answer.

   5%
3. C

   Too Weak14% picked this

   A surprisingly large number of ancient texts have been

   This mildly strengthens the author's case just through sheer numbers. If a surprisingly large number of ancient texts have been lost, that probabilistically increases the odds that the most original works could have been among those works lost. But this answer has nothing to do with the Evidence (frequent citations) and only adds a weak uptick in mathematical plausibility for the potential truth of the conclusion.

   14%
4. D

   Out of Scope: subversive1% picked this

   Subversive ideas tend to be suppressed whenever they

   This answer is trying to make "subversive" and "original" synonyms, which is not gonna work. They can certainly overlap, but subversive means to go against the mainstream, to try to upend the status quo. We could say that the current fad for socialism within far-left political circles is subversive to mainstream democratic principles, but that doesn't mean that this socialism is an original idea. Conversely, something could be original (the first solar panels, for example) without being subversive. We also shouldn't be attracted to this answer choice if we know that correct answers on Principle are all about that 1/2 Premise, 1/2 Conclusion feel. There's nothing in this answer touching on the Evidence, which was 'frequent citations'.

   1%
5. E

   Out of Scope: current original ideas7% picked this

   Most current ideas regarded as original were already proposed in

   This argument is only about whether the surviving ancient texts we have are the most original of the ancient texts. Talking about current works is totally out of scope.

   7%