Logical Reasoning

PT112 · S4 · Q13 Joseph’s statement that “this alleged

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Joseph: My encyclopedia says that the mathematician Pierre de Fermat died in 1665 without leaving behind any written proof for a theorem that he claimed nonetheless to have proved.

Your task

Break the argument into its conclusion and evidence, then do exactly what the question stem asks with that structure.

Common trap

Answers that sound relevant to the topic but don't connect to the argument's actual reasoning.

Winning move

Predict what a right answer must do, then test each choice against the conclusion-evidence gap.

13.

Joseph's statement that "this alleged theorem simply cannot be proved" plays which one of the following roles in his argument?

  1. an assumption for which no

    Trap

    6% picked this

  2. Correct

    a subsidiary conclusion on which

    Why this is right

    Answer B is correct.

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

    86% picked this

  3. a potential objection that his

    Trap

    4% picked this

  4. the principal claim that his

    Trap

    3% picked this

  5. background information that neither supports

    Trap

    1% picked this

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