Carla: Professors at public universities

Answer choices

1. A

   Correct83% picked this

   ignores the part of Carla's remarks that could provide an answer

   Why this is right

   This is a weird answer, especially since David doesn't seem to ignore her remarks in the sense that he says "even if you are right about the beneficial effects of research". But this is still the best available answer. It reflects our feeling of hearing David ask "why should we pay them to take time off from teaching" and thinking, "didn't you hear her say why? She said it would improve their teaching by keeping them up to date in their field"

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

   83%
2. B

   Too Strong: "only"10% picked this

   takes for granted that the only function of a university professor

   We can't accuse David of assuming that the only function of a professor is teaching. He might believe that professors have numerous functions, while still believing that we shouldn't fund teachers for doing research.

   10%
3. C

   Too Strong2% picked this

   incorrectly takes Carla's remarks as claiming that all funding for professors comes

   Too Strong: "all funding" / Out of Scope: "tax money" No one ever mentioned tax money. Yes, it's a public university, but when David talks about "limited resources", we don't know if he's referring to "total tax dollars spent on public universities" or whether he means "the total budgets of universities, including public funds and private donations". So there's no way to say he thinks Carla is claiming that "all funding comes from taxes".

   2%
4. D

   Too Strong: "only function"4% picked this

   takes for granted that providing the opportunity for research is the only function of paid

   David isn't assuming that doing research is the only function of paid leaves of absence. It's the only type of paid leave of absence being discussed right now, but no one has indicated it's the only one that exists.

   4%
5. E

   Out of Scope: "vacations"1% picked this

   presumes, without providing justification, that professors do not

   No one is talking about vacations. Yes, David's language of "time off from teaching" starts to drift in that direction, but he might readily agree that being paid to do research is not the same as being paid to take a vacation.

   1%