Logical Reasoning

PT128 · S2 · Q6 The effects of technology on language

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The effects of technology on language and the effects of language on culture as a whole are profound and complex.

Statements

causal (the effects are profound / complex)

Technology ⇢ language ⇢ culture

causal (X changed Y, in turn made Z)

telegraph, changed the way telephone, ⇢ people speak to television one another

loosening of relationships Email ⇢ language usage ⇢ between people rules more casual

Evaluate / Goal

The correct answer on Proposition / Generalization questions is usually a very safely worded takeaway that summarize or reinforces the Causal relationship identified in the passage.

In this case, the statements emphasized the impact of technology (such as email) on language (loosening of the rules), and the effect of language on culture (relationships are more casual).

There is a causal chain from Technology to Culture / Interpersonal Relationships, so the answer may reward us for seeing that A ⇢ B ⇢ C connection.

6.

Which one of the following propositions is best illustrated by the statements above?

  1. Technology can adversely affect the

    Out of Scope: adversely

    The only effect we heard about was that relationships are more causal than before, and there's no common sense link from "more casual" to "adversely affected".

    11% picked this

  2. Correct

    Changes in communication media can

    Why this is right

    This is supported by the final sentence (which has a pronoun referring to the second to last sentence). When email came on the scene, it led to a "widespread loosening of language usage rules". Both communicating by email and relaxing language usage rules are examples of changes in communication. The final sentence says that this in turn made relationships between people (interpersonal relationship) more causal (which means they changed). Since the language is so soft, X can cause Y, we only need one example of this happening to fully support that it is a true statement. Thus we can basically prove this answer is true based on the statements we read.

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

    84% picked this

  3. A decrease in linguistic sophistication

    Reversed Causal Direction

    The paragraph only spoke of Technology leading to changes in Language. This answer is talking about a change in Language leadings to a change in Technology. We don't have any support for causality in that direction.

    1% picked this

  4. A widespread loosening of overly

    Out of Scope: overly rigid / improve

    This answer is adding two judgments that weren't anywhere in the prompt. We heard that there was a loosening of language usage rules, but that doesn't mean that previously people adhered in an overly rigid fashion. It could mean that NOW they adhere in an overly lax fashion and that the previous standard was preferable. We also heard that relationships got more casual, but there's no common sense link between "more causal communication" and "improved communication". That would just be someone's opinion. There are many opinions to the contrary from people who like the politeness and beauty of more formal speech.

    2% picked this

  5. Changes in interpersonal relationships can

    Reversed Causal Direction

    The paragraph only spoke of changes in Language leading to changes in Culture / Interpersonal Relationships. This answer is talking about a change in Interpersonal Relationships leading to a change in Language. We don't have any support for causality in that direction.

    2% picked this

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