Logical Reasoning

PT121 · S1 · Q5 Compact discs (CDs) offer an improvement

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Compact discs (CDs) offer an improvement in artistic freedom over vinyl records.

Conclusion

CDs offer an improvement in artistic freedom over vinyl records. Rephrase: CDs provide greater artistic freedom than vinyl records.

Evidence

As the record needle moves in toward a vinyl record’s center, it must fight centrifugal force. Wide, shallow, or jagged grooves will cause the needle to jump; consequently, the song nearest the center—the last song on the side—cannot have especially loud, high-pitched, or low-pitched passages. The CD suffers no such limitations, leaving artists free to end recordings with any song.

Evaluate

The conclusion is the very first sentence in the argument. The author makes a clear opinionated statement - that CDs offer an improvement in artistic freedom over vinyl records. This follows one of the two dominant patterns on Main Conclusion: the conclusion is found in the first sentence. The rest of the argument then provides support for this conclusion, explaining why the CD offers more artistic freedom than the vinyl record.

Goal

Find the best available meaning match for "CDs provide greater artistic freedom than vinyl records."

5.

Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion of the argument?

  1. Correct

    CDs provide greater artistic latitude

    Why this is right

    It is synonymous with our conclusion. CDs providing "greater artistic latitude" matches our conclusion that "CDs provide greater artistic freedom." So choice (A) is the correct answer.

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

    89% picked this

  2. On vinyl records, the song

    Premise

    This isn't the conclusion of the argument. Instead, it provides some additional information about vinyl records that is used to support the main conclusion.

    1% picked this

  3. As the record needle moves

    Premise

    This is a premise used to support the main conclusion. It isn't a conclusion in itself because it is more fact than opinion and it supports another claim without being supported by any explicit claim in the argument.

    1% picked this

  4. CDs represent a considerable technological

    Too Strong

    This statement goes beyond what is claimed in the main conclusion. The argument does not suggest that CDs represent a "considerable technological advance" over vinyl records but only that they offer greater artistic freedom.

    7% picked this

  5. CDs can have louder passages,

    Inference-Bait

    This could be inferred from the argument, and it's true given the premises about the limitation of vinyl records, but it never comes up in the author's conclusion. The conclusion concerns artistic freedom, not volume or pitch.

    2% picked this

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